The Shadows of God - J. Gregory Keyes [77]
“Yes, and now I see why. Though I didn't know you tended toward doddering hags. Really, she could be your mother.”
“Oh, I'm quite sure I taught him more than his mother ever did,” Vasilisa remarked sweetly.
“I don't doubt that,” Lenka said, “no, I don't.”
Franklin's brain was a sea of confusion, but something did manage to swim to the surface finally. “You were going to kill me, Vasilisa?”
The Russian sighed. “Don't be stupid, Benjamin. I was going to kidnap you.”
“By stabbing me?”
“If you take note, the pin has a subtle poison on it. It brings deep sleep, not death.”
Franklin frowned and picked up the fallen needle. There was something whitish smeared on it.
“I can test this on you, then? A scratch will do?”
“If you want.”
“I don't. I'd rather have you awake, to answer a few questions. Exactly what were you after by kidnapping me— again?”
“To work on the countermeasure. But not here. Somewhere safe.”
“Why don't you think New Paris is safe?”
She smiled faintly. “Because several thousand men and several tens of airships are on their way here, along with the dark engines themselves. I doubt very much that we can devise our countermeasure before they arrive. I also doubted that I could persuade you, though you must admit I did try.”
“To my eye you were doing a fine job,” Lenka said. “You were a fool to use your pin so early. Another moment would have persuaded him.”
“Lenka, that isn't true,” Franklin said.
“How would you know, Benjamin? Women always bring every bit of the fool in you to the surface, like sap rising in a tree.”
“If you don't mind my opinion,” Vasilisa said, “he was not foolish at all when he chose you.”
“No, but he's damn foolish in how he treats me,” Lenka snapped.
“Lenka, how did you ever persuade Don Pedro to let you travel as one of his men?”
“I told him that it was either that or I would follow on my own. Don Pedro is too gallant to allow something like that— besides which he has that Indian respect for women, something you might learn.”
“And Voltaire knew about this, I suppose. All of you conspired against me?”
“Benjamin Franklin, you will not remonstrate with me— not after I find you in the arms of another woman and still bother to save your life.” Her face was bright red beneath the mustache and beard.
“Lenka—”
“Hush,” she snapped. “I don't see why I bothered.”
With that she stalked off. Franklin rose to follow her but then saw Vasilisa rising to make her escape. He dithered for an instant. “Wait, Vasilisa. Stop there.”
“Will you have me arrested, Benjamin?”
“Arrested? I ought to kill you.”
“But you won't.”
“No. How did you plan to escape with me?”
“I have an airship.”
“A winged one or the other sort?”
“Winged. I no longer trust ships that rely entirely on malakim. They are … unreliable. Have me arrested, Benjamin, and I will be no help to you. We can still escape. Take your little firebrand, there, if you wish, but if you want to truly win this battle, we must leave.”
Franklin stared at her for a long moment. “I won't, not after all I've done to bring this alliance together. I won't, and you aren't going either. We will work out our countermeasures here, or we will die. Both of us. All of us. Do you understand?”
“This is foolish. Even if the countermeasures work, there is still an army that dwarfs any you might raise.”
“Tell me where your airship is.”
“I don't think I will.”
“Then I will have you arrested, and you can be sitting in a cell when the barbarians reach the gates. Or you can be free, helping me do the best I can. Your choice, milady.”
Vasilisa studied him for a moment more, then shrugged her shoulders. “As you wish. My life is borrowed as it is, I suppose. Perhaps it's time to give it back.” She raised her chin. “However, when the army does reach this place, do remember I tried, won't you? I don't want your last thoughts of me to be uncharitable.”
“Good. Let's go find some of my rangers to watch you, shall we? I have other