Page 58 (1/2)

"Stop where you are!" The Chutney, his two bully boys, and the Pickle hall appeared on the squeak deck All of theuns, and all of them were pointed at Monique and Sophronia

Now that Sophronia was facing hi awfully faly recorder What was under that trimmed beard and mustache?

Sophronia was pleased to see there were no flywayiven up this lark after the exploding wicker chicken and abandoned the cause

The recorder with his too-black hair looked hard at Sophronia His posture changed He see at hier and silver last time she saw him Also, he’d been clean-shaven and in a very nice suit

"Miss Temminnick, I should have known," said the Grand Gherkin, otherwise known as Duke Golborne

"Why, Duke Golborne, I only recently spoke with your son"

"Little traitor What about hiards"

"Have you been on board all along?"

Sophronia tilted her head at hie!" He glared at his companion "I told you our little flywayencer of that caliber to take herself out of the ga someone That someone is Miss Temminnick here I don’t know the blonde"

Monique looked upset at that but wasn’t suckered into revealing anything She stood, having produced a little gun fro it with a remarkably steady hand, pointed at the Picklemen

Sophronia felt introductions were in order "Miss Pelouse, may I present the Duke of Golborne, also known as the Grand Gherkin, and--I believe--this is the Chutney Forgive me, sir, I do not know your real name Gentleave her a sideways glance that suggested she felt Sophronia needn’t have included her affiliation, but she didn’t comment She swiveled a bit to make certain she had the Chutney covered

Does everyone always have a gun butany other projectile, she hoisted the crossbow, already loaded with the final bolt, and pointed it at the duke She pal fake pastry in her injured hand

The duke was not impressed "I a wooden stick"

Sophronia didn’t say anything

Behind the Pickleible continued to fall apart rather spectacularly, and sos

"Propeller boilers?" Sophronia suggested this conversationally to Monique

Monique inclined her head "Most likely"

"There’s no way out of this, ladies" Duke Golborne was forcing hiirls "You are outgunned and outmanned"

"Nonsense, Mr Gherkin, we aren’t ht there would only be three facing theht miscalculation Still, there was no time like the present

"Now!" She dropped to the deck

Monique was a split second behind her