A Lonely Job

The clock on the mantelpiece chimed four times. Alic took a last gulp of water, rose from the table and walked the spiral stairs up to the lantern dome. He checked that the power source level was in the green. The cables and pipes were in working order. Both the main and spare bulbs were operative, and then he tested the automatic switch. Everything had to be perfect in the lighthouse, and as usual, it was. Before closing the dome hatch, Alic switched the timer on.

Satisfied, Alic walked back down. A soft tune came from the aetherphone, and he hummed along as he watered the flowers on the window sill. He had never been good with plants, but they reminded him of Holdie. He smiled and checked the clock again. Almost six. She’d soon arrive.

Alic walked out. The high altitude wind caught his long hair, a black mass of tentacles flying round his head, as Holdie had said once. A few steps down and he stood on top of the hangar, looking out to the Sea of Clouds. The sun was dripping, but they’d still have a solid couple of hours.

He saw the falcons first, emerging from the clouds and soaring up, where they started circling each other, waiting. A patch of blue surged from the white tops, and coalesced into Holdie’s balloon. Alic could make out the small propeller at the back of the nacelle that hung underneath. Always the stubborn one, Holdie only used her small agrav engine in emergencies. And visiting him wasn’t one, so she was using ordinary steam power.

In contrast, Alic’s lighthouse floated just above the Sea of Clouds thanks to its bank of agravs, deep in the bowels of the rock were it was built, while the maglinks kept it tethered to its position. Alic patted the wall of his lighthouse, his Thirteen.

Already Alic could notice Holdie moving in the nacelle, getting ready for the landing manoeuvre. She shifted from here to there, pulling at levers, checking gauges, engaging the steam jets and switching the propeller off. Alic stood ready, waiting for the length of rope that had to fall from the nacelle and help moor the balloon.

But it didn’t come. Instead, with deft puffs and sighs, the balloon descended majestically, and the nacelle landed with a muffled thud. Alic ran and moored it down with ropes of his own, as the nacelle hatch opened and out came a bark and a furball that leaped at him, all lolling tongue and wagging tail.

Behind the furball came Holdie. Her tight-fitting aviator uniform almost matched the colour of her brown skin. She took off her goggles to reveal eyes that in turn matched her balloon. Alic felt his stomach jump.

“Show off,” he said. “You don’t need to land like that, you know.”

“Are you going to stay there playing with Mac forever, or are you going to welcome me?” she said. She was still wearing a playful smirk in her face when he kissed her.

***

The last rays of the sun painted the top of the Sea of Clouds red. Alic embraced Holdie for the last time.

“I’d like to stay with you,” she said.

“I know. We’re not what we used to be, but even so, I must be alone.”

She just nodded.

“Be seein’ you,” she said, and turned around to board the balloon. “Mac, come in!”

***

The full moon rose behind Alic as he stared at the fading balloon. He felt his fur grow and his fangs extend.

~~~~

This is my entry for the Weekly Writing Exercise: February 1–7, 2016 on the Writer’s Discussion Group in Google+.

I’m quite happy with this story. Once more my first idea was steampunk, but rather the gaudiest side of it, such as the online webcomic Girl Genius, instead of its most usual gritty, oily and sooty face. But then I noticed that a lighthouse keeper had to be a solitary person who worked well by night… and the little twist at the end presented itself.

Hope you like it.