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"Well," said the headuised horror, "we have our work cut out for us"

"Indeed we do"

Sophronia stopped chewing long enough to ask the one question that was still really bothering her "What was the prototype of?"

Mademoiselle Geraldine looked deeply confused "Prototype? Linette, what is the child talking about?"

Lady Linette gave Sophronia a fierce look, and then covered it up by toying with a curl "I have no idea, Geraldine, no idea at all You know these irls--they will have their little joke"

Oh, dear, thought Sophronia, ILady Linette’s discernment and discretion mandate already Exactly howfroh I know nothing of what is going on with young persons these days They seem to talk in cipher Don’t you find?"

"Indubitably, Geraldine"

Sophronia, for lack of any other option, gave a huge, guileless smile and stuffed her face with more tea cake

A knock ca open, and Professor Braithwope’s unstableowner, trotted in

"Do pardonmusically related has come up It requires your immediate attention"

Lady Linette stood "You’d better corabbed a handful of finger sandwiches "Thank you for the tea, Head"

"Very prettily said, my dear At least we knoon’t have any trouble with your elocution No, dear, don’t curtsy I couldn’t bear it--not twice in one night" With that, the headmistress turned back to her tea Sophronia surmised that they had been dismissed

Lady Linette hustled her and Professor Braithwope out into the corridor "What could possibly be so i-scanup Possibly adversaries"

Sophronia said, "She doesn’t know, does she?"

"Who doesn’t knohat?" Lady Linette’s attention swiveled

Discernment and discretion, indeed! "The head on here"

"Oh, and what is that?"

"I haven’t quite figured out the particularsher in the dark intentionally, aren’t you?"

"No, dear, you’re keeping her in the dark intentionally You students It’s part of the training"

"You’re keepingout? Is this a test?"

"Lady Linette," interrupted the professor, "we really haven’t the time"

"Oh, yes, lead on, do To the squeak deck"

"Whot-ho"

"I suppose you’d better follow, Miss Te about the tassel section on your own The h a series of corridors Professor Braithwope led the ith a kind of controlled speed that hinted at a truly heightened fitness level under those fancy clothes--heonto one of the observation decks, he veered off and felt around the back of a railing There must have been a lever hidden there, for a secret door snapped down, revealing a set of stairs The three of theas, and there were no s It was only the regularity of the steps that kept Sophronia froed out onto one of the very top decks, directly under one of the three colossal balloons This deck was a full circle, stretching fro on a rooftop Looking down over one of the railings, Sophronia could see various other sets of decks bulging out, like enorness Looking across, she could see there were two other decks just like hers, one under each of the other two massive balloons Out the far back of the ship was a crow’s nest, raised up to be al about, she saw that at the front, near them, was another crow’s nest This one was enclosed It looked like a bathtub overturned on top of another bathtub There was no apparentit up was a set of struts and one long beam

She pointed "What’s that?"

"Pilot’s bubble," Lady Linette answered froe of the deck

Professor Braithwope ht sky His itation--it was difficult to tell which

"How does it land?" Sophronia wanted to know

"What?" Lady Linette was distracted

"The school, how does it land?"

"It doesn’t, dear Not all the way Mostly, we drift," replied Lady Linette

"Then why do you need a pilot?"

Professor Braithwope turned piercing eyes upon her "You ask a lot of questions, little bite"

"Well, Professor, sir, you are providingthe skies Suddenly he pointed "There!"

Lady Linette swiveled her telescope around, following his pointing finger "Ah, yes, I see Oh, dear Flywaymen"

"A direct attack? I hardly think that likely, whot?"

"Nevertheless, best warn the engine chamber Have them wake up all the sooties"