Also by Scott Westerfeld The first book in the trilogy ... - Webgarden

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considerable noise on the way down.”
Volger groaned softly, his fists unclenching. “Very well, then. I suppose if it comes to a fight, we could
use it as a hostage.”
Alek nodded, unbuttoning his jacket. The creature poked its head out.
Volger turned away with a shudder. “Just keep it quiet, or I shall silence it myself. After you, Your
Highness.”
Alek began to make his way toward the bow, the others following in silence. They climbed along the
ratlines just above the airship’s waist, the ropes sagging under the weight of the five men and their heavy
bags. It was slow going, and poor old Klopp wore a look of terror on his face, but at least no one on the
spine could see them.
When the newborn beast began to squirm, Alek opened his jacket the rest of the way. It crawled out
and climbed onto his shoulder, its huge eyes narrowing in the breeze.
“Just be careful,” he whispered. “And stay quiet.”
The creature turned to him with a bored expression, as if Alek were saying something terribly obvious.
Soon the awful flechette bats were everywhere.
The bow of the airship was covered with them, a seething mass of small black shapes all softly clucking.
Dylan had once explained to Alek that the clicks made echoes, which the creatures used to “see” in the
dark. They had eyes as well—a thousand beady pairs were following Alek expectantly. No matter how
carefully he moved, the bats fluttered about him. It was like trying to sneak through a flock of pigeons on
a footpath.
“Why are they watching us so keenly?” Klopp whispered.
“They think we’re here to feed them,” Alek said. “Dylan always feeds the bats at night.”
“You mean they’rehungry ?” Klopp asked, his face shiny with sweat in the moonlight.
“Not to worry. They eat figs,” Alek said, leaving out the part about metal spikes.
“I’m glad to hear—,” Klopp began, but suddenly a bat fluttered up in front of him. As it shot past his
face, his boots slipped from the ratlines.
Klopp jerked to a halt a moment later, his hands white-knuckled on the ropes, but his large body swung
into the side of the airship’s membrane, sending it billowing out in all directions. Around them bats
launched into the air, their clicking noises changing into shrieks and calls.
Alek grabbed for Klopp’s wrist as the man struggled to get his feet back on the ropes. A moment later
he was safe, but the disturbance was spreading, bats fluttering outward like ripples in a dark pond.
We’re done for now,Alek thought.
The creature on his shoulder perked up, its claws sinking painfully into Alek’s shoulder. A soft clucking
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