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Sophronia saw blood splatter everywhere Top hats and flyway Madame Spetuna flew into the air, like a child tossed by an enthusiastic uncle

And thethrough which Sophronia was looking shattered outward into her face

Sophronia jerked back, so shocked by the blast she let go of her perch and fell off the side of the dirigible

Instinct had her shooting her hurlie at the side of the ship, grabbing on to the rope Good thing, too, as she couldn’t see anything There was so in her eyes--she could only hope it was lass Thankfully, the hooks of the hurlie found purchase on soht Then her arms were jerked almost out of their sockets and she crashed into the side of the ship, face-first

The dark red of pain shredded through her brain, and then, blessedly, a bleak vacant black

FALLING DOWN ON THE JOB

Sophronia had no idea how long she dangled, but itti--upon which she wore the hurlie--was entirely nu she’d ever experienced before A tender touch with her working hand suggested her nose was likely broken and lass She tried not to think about the consequences of scarring Any future as an agent provocateur would definitely be iry, yet stomach-sick fro All that blood It was almost as painful as her shoulder out of its socket

Madeuns on the squeak decks, or surely they would have seen her At least Sophronia hadn’t becoled

Every part of her hurt--belly, head, face, back, ar to rescue her She had to ignore the pain and get herself to Sister Mattie’s classroom to rendezvous with the head, for she’d given Made, under normal circumstances, were old chums But now? The very idea made her want to scream

When asked afterward, Sophronia never could articulate how she htmare of a climb Somehow she traversed two-thirds of the ship with eyes partly closed frolass hadn’t blinded her--and only one working arm It made her rethink all previous hardships in her life I’ll never coain

Eventually, shethe potted plants She was grateful for the leaves canopied over her, an odd kind of protection The sky was turning gray beyond them, the sun soon to rise Never in her life had it taken so long to climb anywhere She hoped fervently that there was a vampire in residence to carry her to safety, because as she craith one arm toward the balcony door, she was convinced she would never walk again

The door was locked and bolted She knocked, but no one answered She fumbled in her pocket for lockpicks, but the world seeood hand wasn’t working, either And then she found, to her surprise and e She wondered, around an odd buzzing in her brain, if she was the first to arrive Shouldn’t the others have coo? Was it possible that they were in worse trouble than she?

And then she wasn’t wondering anything at all She was sliding down a long soft peaceful tunnel into a numb sleep

A loud shriek, like an upset teakettle, woke Sophronia Disorientated, she jerked, only then registering the pain shooting through her body

Ouch Wait, is that ht, not her stoainst her ribs

Bulike a fish because she was lying on his strap Every ony She tried to concentrate on which parts hurt ht be Her face seeht That’s why h the potted plants were doing their best to protect her They h to be above the clouds Oh, no, I’ll get freckles and Lady Linette will be so disappointed

Auto to stop his noise