Tom Fleet’s Machine
()
About this ebook
Rowan Farrell followed in his Uncle Gordon’s footsteps, joining the UniFleet, but went a step farther and became an officer. Assigned to his first command level post, he takes a small patrol ship out to scout a region of interest to the Council and report if any signs of the enemy Angevirian Empire in the area. When one of his crew spots a strange, tiny craft, he decides to capture and study it. After all it could be an Angevirian Trojan horse. But the odd cylindrical vessel holds only one man, unconscious and suffering from hypothermia and lack of oxygen. When the man comes to, he claims to come from the earth ... five centuries in the past!
Deirdre O’Dare
Deirdre writes gay romance channeling a prior life’s gay male twin she calls Danny. Fascinated by love’s diverse shades and guises, she explores and experiences a range of attachments. She still believes in happily ever after, that Love is the One True Thing and genuine Love is never wrong. For more information, visit deirdredares.blogspot.com.
Read more from Deirdre O’dare
The Chap in Chaps Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Burrito Belle's Gringo Guy Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Game of Hearts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMuscle Car Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlways on My Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaved By Sam Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTreading Dangerous Ground Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpecial Delivery Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Last Train to Clarkdale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHomeless in Heaven Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDoggone Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSchnickelfritz in Love Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Rescued by Love Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Thank You, Ranch Romances Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCanine TLC Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sorcerer's Apprentice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Return to Atsileigh Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFire on Ice Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Dogjacked Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHansen and Graber Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA New Leash on Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCatastrophe Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Tom Fleet’s Machine
Related ebooks
Tom Fleet’s Machine Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCuriosity House: The Shrunken Head Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Tyme And Time Again Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Astounding Science Fiction - Volume II Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Storyteller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGhostfire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The King of a Far Off Country Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Fatal Appraisal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Astounding Stories of Super Science, Volume 2: Classic American Sci Fi. February 1930 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rogue Prince Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Vikings Dawn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAndiron Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sting In The Khyber's Tail Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSavage World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAstounding Stories - Volume 1, No. 2: Volume 1, Number 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Strangeways To Oldham: The Belchester Chronicles, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Frost Fair Affair Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Keyworker Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLimitations: A Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wayward World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSir Tom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSherlock Holmes: The Coils of Time & Other Stories: Sherlock Holmes Adventures in Time & Space, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTerry's Trials and Triumphs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhen Rogues Fall Out Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Trouble With The Tumbleweed Twister: A Trouble In Tumbleweed Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSir Tom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Award of Justice Or, Told in the Rockies A Pen Picture of the West Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Great White Queen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Houseful of Girls Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
LGBTQIA+ Romance For You
Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love and Pleasure: A Steamy Lesbian Romance Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Three for Three: Friendly MMF Menage Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yaoified Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coming Out: 14 Erotica Closet Gay Bundle Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Love Triangle - Lesbian FFF Menage Romance Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Snowed Inn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bossy: An Erotic Workplace Diary Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Summary of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: by Taylor Jenkins Reik - A Comprehensive Summary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHim: Him, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Second Chance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Governor Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Worth the Wait Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Consort Academy Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Thieving Threesome Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Swap Tales: Substitute Girlfriend Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Orgy: A Short Story About Desire Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Reality of Us Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Broken Blade Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Visitor: a Friendly MMF Ménage Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Epic: Him, #3 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Blood of the Pack Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Charm Offensive: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Backwoods Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Once Upon a Dream Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Peter & Charlie Trilogy: The Lord Won't Mind, One for the Gods, and Forth into Light Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKeeping Her Secret Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Us: Him, #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lieutenant Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Magpie Lord: A Charm of Magpies, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Tom Fleet’s Machine
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Tom Fleet’s Machine - Deirdre O’Dare
5
Chapter 1
Out of breath from his frantic dash across the grounds, Tom slid into his seat at the family dinner table. Four pairs of eyes swiveled to regard him, three laden with dismay, disdain, and disgust. Only one face, that of his younger brother Jack, held interest and admiration. At ten, Jack was still excited about Tom’s inventions and incessant tinkering. When he could escape his tutor, Jack visited Tom’s workrooms in the old gatehouse and asked endless questions.
Despite the obvious parental disapproval and sisterly scorn, for he was too excited to contain his enthusiasm, Tom blurted out his latest news. Today I almost did it…so close. My rocketing sky-ship machine began to move. Then a belt snapped and it settled again. Tomorrow, or if not then, surely the day after, I will depart this prosaic place for a real adventure.
Mr. Fleet fixed his second son with a stern gaze. "I’m well aware of your projects. Still, can you not arrange to be at the table on time, at least now and then? Is that truly too much to ask? Common courtesy demands you honor your mother with your presence at the start of dinner."
Actually, we’d all be better off if you abandoned these ridiculous matters entirely,
Tom’s sister Eleanor added with an indignant sniff. People are talking of little else all over the village. The strange noises, the disgusting odors, the weird contraptions you trundle about. It’s just a matter of time until word spreads to the city and to court. Then I shall find it near impossible to make a good marriage. Who wants a mad scientist for a brother-in-law?
When my sky-ship zooms off to the moon and beyond, I will not seem mad at all,
Tom began, his voice rising above the polite level of dinnertime conversation.
Children…
Mrs. Fleet interrupted. Please! It’s most crude and ill-mannered to lift voices in dispute at dinner. Pray calm yourselves. Ellie, I’m sure when the time comes there will be an ample crop of suitable young men from among whom you may choose your future spouse. No one will be too concerned with Tom’s minor eccentricities. After all, it’s Edmund who will inherit the title and he’s most respectable.
As a second son, Tom knew himself to be disposable and of little importance to anyone. Perhaps that was one reason he’d taken up the hobby of invention at a young age. Once done with his schooling, there was little else to occupy his time. He had no calling for the church or the military, and few other professions were open to the younger sons of minor nobility.
Indeed, he had no need to do anything so mundane as seeking employment. The trust funds established by his grandfathers would see to his needs and extend to some frivolities for all his days, even if he lived a very long time.
Truth be told, he caused no one great concern. He did not gamble or drink in excess and no amorous scandals had attached to his name. Thus far he had kept his few liaisons very discreet, so much so that he felt sure his parents had no notion he preferred other lads to the foolish, flouncing young ladies of their circle. Immersing himself in his laboratory cum workshop in the old gatehouse gave him work for his hands and mind and caused harm to no one—at least so far. True, a strange noise or a peculiar stench might escape now and then, but nothing to injure anyone or bring out the constable.
At nineteen, he’d become almost a recluse, socially inept and far too immersed in his wild notions to arouse anyone’s interest or attention. He preferred things that way. Once he got a few of his machines to function, he’d soon be far away, long gone and shortly all but forgotten. Other than his mother, he doubted anyone would miss him.
So far, his perpetual motion steam engine was doing famously. He could make a few gallons of water last