Balloon post 3

Second post today to make up for yesterday.
Work in progress, please excuse the mess!

Chapter Two

 

At the top of the stairs Liza hesitated a moment, wondering briefly just how much she should show Mary. When Mary made a small mewing sound of impatience, Liza knew she must show her everything. With a flourish Liza pushed the door open to her bedroom cum laboratory. She smiled at it all as Mary, behind her, took in a sharp breath.

“Sorry it is such a mess-“ Liza began.

“Nonsense.” Mary said curtly, stepping around Liza and going straight for a long wooden work table set up underneath a tall window. Liza liked to work there because the light was so good during most of the day. Mary began to examine the many items strewn across the table, taking a moment to look at each one, occasionally bending over the table a closer look and once even gentle touching a large flat black piece of material that looked like rubber.

“Whale skin.” Liza offered. Mary nodded but was otherwise silent. Liza was not sure exactly what to say, so she waited, her heart pounding, behind Mary, still at the table.

Finally Mary stopped for a long time at what looked like a large silver pocket watch, It was propped open to display the face, but instead of a regular white clock face it had series of marking with the number 28-32 on it. Between each of those numbers were more marks and in the middle, between each number, the number 5. Inset into the main face was a smaller face dial in a cut out section father main face. It was black and had more numbers on it. It was reading just above zero. Mary let her fingers rest on it for a moment.

“That’s an Alti-“

“Altimeter, yes, yes I know.” Mary said quickly. Then she suddenly turned around, red in the face. “Oh, I’m sorry, so sorry, gosh that was very rude of me. It’s just that yes, I recognized it right away.”

Liza’s eyes were wide. “You did?”

Mary nodded. “Do you alight then, in balloons?”

Mary blushed again and looked down on the floor. “Oh no, no, no. I am afraid I am not quite that exciting. I do read lot however, but not much on Aerospace.” The words tumbled out of her, as if she was afraid Liza would cut her off at any moment, but Liza did not. “But, but just the other day, last week, I did happen upon a volume on the sport, sorry, the science, of flight and the importance of altimeters, you know, to determine how far up one has traveled, least one reaches too far… I am sorry, I afraid I am boring you. You must think me some sort of fool, carry on like this…”

“No, no, not at all. I am just, well, dumbfounded to be honest. I don’t think I have met too many girls like yourself Mary. It is I who must apologize to you.”

“Me, but why? You have done nothing wrong!”

“Oh but I have. You see I misjudged you horribly just now, downstairs. I am embarrassed to say I took you for some sort of… socialite or something. Someone totally uninterested in anything I would find interesting…”

To Liza’s surprise Mary laughed. “It’s not funny!”

“No, of course not” Mary said, still laughing. “It’s just that I thought the very same thing. I was sure you were looking down at me as some sort of uncultured country mouse.”

Liza now took a turn laughing and grasped Mary’s hands.

“That is rich! Wait until I tell Grandfather. He’ll be delirious with happiness I suspect. He wants nothing more than for me to be a refined and cultured lady and I am far from it.”

“Not that far.” Mary said her tone serious. “You play a fine hostess.”

“Well, fine enough now tell me Mary, what sort of things to you normally read when not stealing glances at books on human flight…”

“Nothing that exciting, I can assure you, but it does interest me.”

“Go on…”

“Well, I have taken a slight interest in plants, especially plants native to our British Isles and Europe. Mother and Father say I read too much, but I don’t think I read enough, to be honest. There is so much I do not yet know. For example, whilst we were coming into your house I noticed ivy goring up the front…”

“You did? Of our house, ivy?” Liza was puzzled. She’d never noticed it, but as she thought about it she had never noticed any plants in front of the house. Surely there must be some.

“Yes, quite sure. But I am less sure which variety.”

“Variety? There is more than one?”

“Oh yes, many types, and I could tell you the several types that grow well here in the south and in cities, but not which on you have… oh listen to me go on.”

“No, that is fascinating. I just never thought about it. I guess I am too busy tinkering. As I think about it, you know, I have not been out of the house in several days. a whole forest could have grown up outdoors I would never know…”

Mary smiled and then turned back to the table, renewing her focus on the many objects strewn about. “What is all of this then? Are you fixing things for people?”

“For myself. Well, for my grandfather, to be precise. That is his altimeter. I am trying to get everything ready for our trip…”

“Trip? Where? In a balloon? Oh, I am sorry, I am being rude again…”

Liza came up beside Mary and turned to face her. “My dear Mary, let us decide to be friends and if we are friends, then there are no rude questions, agreed.”

Mary blushed again and nodded, she then chuckled.

“What is it Mary?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that Mother sent me down here to meet young people, perhaps a girl my age to teach me proper social graces. And here I am, having met you. Yet I suspect dear mama would not consider this” Mary swept her hand over the table “as proper graces.”

“No, I guess not. Now you are sounding like my grandfather.”

“Does he disapprove?”

“Sometimes, but mostly not. After all the trip is his idea.”

“Yes, the trip, do tell me.”

Liza started to say something but stopped. The she started again.”Mary, I will tell you all, I promise, but I am not sure how much I should tell you… or anyone” she added quickly” until we know more. You see, my grandfather and I have found out something, something that could be amazing. However we need to find out more and to secure.. certain things, and people, first. Until then I am sworn to secrecy,”

“I see, well that sounds very unfair. I thought perhaps I was starting out on some grand adventure, but perhaps not.” Mary sounded genuinely sad. Liza bit her lip.

“Alright, look, I really can’t tell you very much, but I can tell you this. Tomorrow morning Grandfather and I are sailing for a town not far from London to find a Mister Cogwright. We think he can help us. If he agrees too do so then our trip is much more likely.”

“Oh take me with you please! I swear I won;t interfere, but I have never sailed before. In a balloon I mean.”

“Really?” Liza sounded unbelieving but Mary jus nodded. “Well…. I guess it might be alright.”

“Oh thank you, thank you so much!” Mary grabbed Lizas hands and smiled a bright smile. What had seemed like dull grey eyes not seemed like stormy blue ones, full of life and energy.

“Now, I must ask first of you can go, and I guess you should ask your Uncle. We’ll leave early, around eight int he morning.”

“I can be here whenever you like!”

“And you’ll have to wear something sensible…” Mary nodded.