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Alek had slowly coiven up for hiht, the other four would hang as deserters Prince Aleksandar hiood of the e a nation at war needed was uncertainty about as heir to the throne

He eased the Stor step that Klopp had taught hi with any other signs that so ers He was nervous, but glad to be piloting in daylight for once, instead of the dead of night

And really, walker falls weren’t so bad They’d all be bruised and battered, but Master Klopp could get the ines pulsed faster, the smell of their exhaust mixed with dust and hay Alek eased the h the doors and out into the fresh air

"S master!" Klopp said

There was no tiht the Stor to their s farther with every step Then ca: both feet in the air at once, the cabin shuddering with every i shredded underfoot The Storm-walker’s trail would be easy to spot fro coe footprints

He kept his eyes on the goal, a strea trees

This was the fastest he had ever traveled, faster than any horse, even faster than the express train to Berlin Each ten-raceful in the vast scale of the hts spent creeping through the forest

But as the strea too fast Hoas he supposed to bring them to a halt?

He eased back on the saunters a bit - and suddenly everything rong The right foot planted too soonand thedown, but the walker’s momentum carried it forward He was forced to take another step, like a careening drunk, unable to stop

"Young an

"Take it!" Alek shouted

Klopp seized the saunters and twisted the walker, stretching one leg out, tipping the whole craft back The pilot’s chair spun, and Volger sildly frolued to the controls

The Stor outstretched, its front foot ripping through soil and stalks of rye Dust spilled into the cabin, and Alek gli toward them

Gradually the htand then it was standing on two legs, hidden a in the stream

Alek watched dust and torn rye swirl across the viewport Ahim on the back

"But I alhed "Everyone falls the first time they try to run"

"Everyone what?"

"Everyone falls But you did the right thing and let s of rye from his jacket "It seems that humility was the rather tireso sure we look like proper commoners"

"Humility?" Alek bunched his fists "You mean you kneould fall?"

"Of course," Klopp said "As I said, everyone does at first But you gave up the saunters in time That’s a lesson too!"

Alek scowled Klopp was positively bea at hied cutter He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or give theso back the controls The Stor ed

"You did better than I expected," Klopp said "Especially with how top-heavy we are"

"Top-heavy?" Alek asked

"Ah, well" Klopp looked at Volger sheepishly "I suppose not really"

Count Volger sighed "Go ahead, Klopp If we’re going to be teaching His Highness walker acrobatics, I suppose it o"

Klopp nodded, a wicked smile on his face He pulled hiineering panel in the floor "Givemaster?"

A little curious now, Alek knelt beside hiether they loosened the hand screws The panel popped up, and Alek blinked - instead of wires and gears, the opening revealed neat rectangles of dully shiningseal

"Are those?"

"Gold bars," Klopp said happily "A dozen of them Almost a quart of a ton in all!"

"God’s wounds," Alek breathed

"The contents of your father’s personal safe," Count Volger said "Entrusted to us as part of your inheritance We won’t lack for money"

"I suppose not" Alek sat back "So this is your little secret, Count? I ht" Volger waved a hand, and Klopp began to seal the panel back up "The real secret is in Switzerland"

"A quarter ton of gold, an afterthought?" Alek looked up at the er raised an eyebrow "I ao?"

Alek pulled hi what other surprises the wildcount had waiting

Alek started them down the streambed toward Lienz, the nearest city with any mechanikal industry The walker desperately needed kerosene and parts, and with a dozen gold bars, they could buy the whole town if need be The trick was not giving themselves away A Cyklop Storm-walker was a fairly conspicuous way to travel