“The Aviatrix” by Dark End

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You’re listening to The Voice of Dog.

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I’m Khaki, your faithful fireside companion,

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and today’s story is

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“The Aviatrix” by Dark End,

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editor at Sofawolf Press.

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You can find more of his stories on his FurAffinity,

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SoFurry, or Patreon page.

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“The Aviatrix”

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by Dark End "We got her cornered this time.

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Faster, men," belted a boorish looking old bulldog.

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Far up above, a trio of police dirigibles converged onto the museum,

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shining bright searchlights all over it.

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The roads were swarming with constables,

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running with one hand holding their bobbies on tight

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and the other clutched round the butt of their revolvers.

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A terrier ran up to the bulldog.

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"Chief inspector..." He gasped for breath.

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"Have you set up the perimeter?"

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The bulldog demanded.

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"Yes, sir, chief inspector.

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inspector." The terrier straightened and tried to finish his report.

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"We saw her plane in the area half an hour ago.

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On a hunch, I had the place staked out. She was sighted inside, and that's when we contacted you. My boys haven't seen anyone go in or out since.

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Last we received word from the dirigibles, she had been on the rooftop.

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rooftop." All around him, the rest of the chief inspector's team had knelt in a defensive position,

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revolvers trained on the building,

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for all the good it would do.

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"Excellent, excellent.

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excellent." The bulldog pulled out a cigar,

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lit it, took a few puffs,

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and continued. "I'll take a few boys in to finish it from here.

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I want to put the cuffs on her myself.

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myself." He took a step towards the museum and paused.

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"Don't you worry, sargeant.

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I may get the credit in the papers,

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but I'll make sure you get a promotion for this.

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this." "Thank you, sir!" The terrier looked so excited he just might faint.

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His tail was wagging behind him as fast as the propeller of a plane.

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The bulldog pointed to a few of his best

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and motioned them to follow him into the museum.

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It was dark and grimy inside,

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but the chief inspector didn't care.

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He made immediately for the stairs

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and towards the roof,

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letting his men go first,

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in case she was armed.

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Up top, the air was cool,

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the Thames was quietly rumbling in the distance,

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the thrum of dirigibles was high above him,

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and six barrels were all pointed at the same grinning husky,

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who leaned against the edge of the roof.

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The chief inspector took a puff from his cigar.

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Oh, it was such a good day.

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He took his time.

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Savored the moment.

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It was his first time seeing her up close.

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The husky wore what he would have called a

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modified dirigiblist's suit.

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She even had a set of goggles hanging loosely around her neck.

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A wrapped package was in her hands

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(that must have been the pearl, he reasoned)

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and she had a large backpack strapped tightly across her back.

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The bulldog glanced to the side as a fluttering motion caught his eye.

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The discarded remains of a parachute

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were there. "The Great Aviatrix, they call you.

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The ingenious thief behind a dozen heists."

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"That you know about,"

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the husky interjected.

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Her voice was smooth,

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almost aristocratic.

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He coughed. "How many more have there been?"

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"Oh, no, no, no," she chided.

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"I do not want to make your job too easy."

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The bulldog bristled.

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She was treating him like an insolent child.

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"At least tell me your name.

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I want to have something to tell the papers."

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"I am afraid I must refuse."

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"I'll find out eventually."

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"I do not think you will.

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will." Her smile had widened across her entire face.

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She was... She was wagging.

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The impudence of it all.

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"You're trapped!" the chief inspector roared,

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his patience at an end.

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"You have nowhere to go.

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The building is surrounded.

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If you come quietly, the judge might be lenient."

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The husky laughed and rose to her feet.

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With one hand she pulled the goggles up over her eyes.

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"Do you think they call me the Aviatrix because I enter on a plane?

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Oh no. That's wrong.

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Quite wrong." The bulldog chomped at the end of his cigar.

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"What are you doing?"

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"Leaving," she said simply

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and with a pull of a hidden lever,

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the pack on her back burst apart at the seams

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as a massive pair of wings unfurled themselves,

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extending themselves

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to a full 12 foot wingspan.

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Most of the constable gaped in awe,

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but one cocked his revolver.

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"No, you fool!" The bulldog shouted,

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seeing his career flash before his eyes.

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"You might hit the pearl."

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The husky slowly spun round. "Ta

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-ta, chief inspector.

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Til next time." She took a three-step start

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and launched herself into the air.

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One of the constables had tried to catch her,

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but only ended up tripping.

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The bulldog, eyes smoldering,

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chomped straight through the cigar.

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As the Aviatrix's laughter filled the air,

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he rounded on his men.

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"Well, what are you waiting for?

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Get after her!" The men scrambled and the bulldog walked slowly to the edge of the roof,

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thinking how he was going to explain this to his superiors.

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Perhaps he could turn this into an opportunity,

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how the London police needed more resources than a few dirigibles.

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He smiled to himself.

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The London Police Aeronautical Unit

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had a nice ring to it.

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Yes, and enemy number one:

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the Aviatrix.This was

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“The Aviatrix” by Dark End,

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read for you by Khaki,

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your faithful fireside companion.

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Thank you for listening

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to The Voice of Dog