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Dr Barlow turned a cold gaze on Deryn "Are you saying that my life’s as destroyed by accident?"
"Not by accident, ma’a at the egg, and then the automaton went and squashed your poor beastie, all on its own!"
Dr Barloas silent for a moment, then slowly nodded "Of course I’ineers, so they were in control, not the sultan They forced his hand, so to speak"
"Aye" Deryn stared back at the water The Sta into the distance But she could still see the forbidding shape of the Tesla cannon, its struts covered with fluttering seabirds "Makes you wonder how they’ll force the sultan’s hand next, doesn’t it?"
"Indeed, Mr Sharp"
Deryn looked at the water stretching into the distance The Royal Navy’s Mediterranean fleet was stationed just south of the strait, still waiting for the Goeben and Breslau to ee And in the opposite direction, the Russian navy sat in its Black Sea ports, not yet aware that their old enemy the sultan had t ironclads
All it would take was a quick sortie by Admiral Souchon in either direction, and the Ottoed into war
Chapter Nineteen
"It’s probably foolish, leaving the hotel with so many Germans about"
There was no reply as Alek buttoned the jacket of his new suit
"But the Germans don’t knohat I look like," he continued "And the Ottomans don’t even knoe’re here"
Alek put on the fez and stared at hiain no reply came
"Anyone would think I was a proper Turk in these clothes" Alek flicked at the fez’s tassel Was it ht? "And if I have to speak Ger my common accent, so I don’t sound like such a prince anymore"
"Such a prince," the creature finally said
"Well, that’s your opinion," Alek said, then sighed How had he gotten into this habit of talking to the beast? The ani all his secrets
It was better than sharing his doubts with theabout the creature’s wise, contented expression that , not just repeating words at random
Alek checked himself in the ood little beastie, and Master Klopp will co I’ll be back soon"
The creature gave hi, hard look, then seemed to nod
"Be back soon," it said
Corporal Bauer was dressed in his new civilian clothes and aiting in the room he shared with Klopp The master of mechaniks himself couldn’t leave the hotel He was too well known a the Clanker technical class, and Constantinople was full of Gerht before, Alek had counted a dozen construction projects flying a black eagle on a yellow pennant, the kaiser’s flag of friendship The ancient walls of the city bristled with shiny new smokestacks, steam pipes, and wireless antennae Alek re this policy of mekanzimat, the reformation of Ottoman society around theaway from the wireless and a pad full of dots and dashes
"No one will recognize me," Alek said "My father was very careful to not let raphs Hardly anyone outside my family knohat I look like"
"But remember what happened in Lienz!"
Alek drew a slow breath, re commoners "Yes, Klopp, I acted exactly like a little prince But I think my common touch has ied
"And if we’re going to hide in the Ottoreat powers are up to here I’ besides Geraze for a ic, young er were here too," Alek said softly "But I’ll be taken good care of Right, Bauer?"
"At your service, sir," Bauer said
"Indeed," Alek said "But that reminds me, no sirs while we’re outside this room"
"Yes, sir That is, umWhat should I call you, sir?"
Alek s will think we’re Turkish, so let’s pick a good German name How about Hans?"
"But that’s my name, sir"
"Ah, yes, of course" Alek cleared his throat, wondering if he’d ever known Corporal Bauer’s first name Perhaps he should have asked before now "I’ll be Fritz, then"
"Yes, sir I mean - yes, Fritz," Bauer said, and Alek saw that Klopp was slowly shaking his head
So much for the coest ht Alek and Bauer followed the crowds, looking for a place where Gerossip
Soon they were inside the bazaar, a gaslit labyrinth of shops under high arched ceilings The owners cried their wares - lamps, linens, carpets, silks, jewelry, tooled leather, and es Mechanikal donkeys pushed their way through the crowds, chestnuts and skewers of ine blocks Veiled wos, wary servants walking on either side