Finding a Way (8) - The Skyrider

I was flying!

It still amazes me when I think about it. Incredible. I will attempt to suppress my excitement but please forgive me if I become too exuberant when the memories resurface. 

Now with that out of the way, let me tell you what has happened.

o 0 O 0 o

When it came to the next attempt to reach Chunglewood, Xenophon Treefellow was efficient in his organisation. He had discussed the weather forecast with Primrose Evergreen - a lady with an amazing record of climate prediction - and secured Cedric Walnut's availability with his flying machine. I would travel with Cedric and Xenophon in the Skyrider and the rest of the expeditionary team would again use Ricardo Porcini's van.

I won't go into details about the lead-up to the flight. Suffice to say that I was in a good frame of mind. One may have thought I'd be wary of going aloft for the first time but that wasn't really the case. I was uncertain of what to expect, certainly, but the excitement of seeing Mellowdene from above was overwhelming any negative aspects.

 

As I've already implied, it was exhilarating. We set off from just outside the village so I didn’t get to see my house or any other familiar dwellings from above. Whilst this was initially disappointing, Cedric explained that he didn't want to startle people, these being the early days of Skyrider's flights. Word would spread in time. Until then, Cedric had chosen to fly over sparsely populated areas within the county. We landed close to Tall Tree Forest to clarify our tasks.

Cedric was extremely happy that his craft had been used for a practical purpose, that being Xenophon's survey of the Tall Tree Forest. He was now delighted that it would be a key part of a plan to access the forest clearing and the community of Chunglewood. He did, however, have some concerns having heard the details of that plan and told Xenophon.

"I can keep the Skyrider reasonably immobile whilst we hover if I react to minor air movements. I hope that will be enough. We're lucky that there is barely a breeze today but even so you need to be aware I can only maintain a static position for so long. That's because I have to concentrate in order to react quickly and make micro movements."

"What does that mean, practically?" I asked.

"You will only have a short time to create an opening," said Xenophon.

"Under these conditions, ten minutes is the best I can guarantee," said Cedric. "It might be a little longer but don't count on it."

I addressed Xenophon. "Is that long enough for me to align the crystal and create an opening that you can pass through?"

"I hope so, but we won't be able to do everything at once. Two stages might do it. Cedric will wait until I get through, then he will fly back and land outside the forest. I will aim to get everything prepared with the Chunglewood people. Give me two hours then return."

"How should we go about lowering a basket?" I asked.

"Actually, I wouldn't recommend that; practically it's not the best idea," said Cedric. "I'd like to minimise additional forces on the Skyrider. Lowering and lifting a basket would make it harder to maintain stability."

"Hmm," said Xenophon. "I might be able to fly carrying one crystal, but carrying more than one..." He sighed. "I had hoped to retrieve a few. Multiple journeys is a solution but it would, of course, take longer."

Cedric winked at me. "Let's see how it goes." 

 

It was a plan.

o 0 O 0 o

 

 

Once aloft, Cedric flew us towards the clearing and took sightings to ensure we could return to the same general position. As we progressed, the random sky pools became visible, appearing like puddles of rainwater suspended in the air. Proof that space was still distorted and that we would have been unable to land the flying machine.

 

Once we were over the centre of the clearing, Xenophon stirred himself and then took flight.

 

Before too long Cedric gave me a nod.

"We're as stable as we're going to get, Jackson. Go to it." 

I switched my attention to the targeting apparatus Bruno Redbear had secured to the Skyrider. It was time to adjust the orientation of the proto-crystal once again.

 

The difference to my experience in Tall Tree Forest was pronounced. Without the hundreds of trees distorting space through multiple portals, the sounds I heard from the proto-crystal were far less numerous. I could hear just four musical notes that I needed to bring together by my manipulation of the proto-crystal. My previous experience helped and I was making rapid progress. Three or four minutes of adjustments and I knew I'd been successful. One of the sky pools drained away, seeming to confirm my success. I admit I felt a touch smug that my idea of an aerial approach had borne fruit.

Xenophon had been gliding in circles and responded to my shout of "Now!" He had been watching the area I had been targeting and he swooped down at my signal. 

 

 

Within seconds he had left our sight.

We watched for a couple more minutes before Cedric commented. "I think we can have a break. I've noted the chronometer reading. Let's go and join the others."

Xenophon was on his own.

o 0 O 0 o

 

 Rolf Billabong listed attentively to our experience in the Skyrider.

"So Xenophon will only be able to carry one crystal," he said. "Makes sense. He's just a little bloke."

"I had the impression that one should be enough if it was good enough quality," I said.

"That's if we start from the place we used last time," said Feargal Pettyfur. "To get there we'd have fifteen minutes following young Brady Cornflower's route, experiencing all the winding turns that involves. Whilst that's okay to open up an initial path, I think Xenophon would like a more direct route. One that leads from outside Tall Tree Forest straight through to the clearing."

"Fair dinkum," said Rolf, "but there's no rush to do that. Don't forget that, once opened, the Cornflower route can be used to collect further crystals."

"True," nodded Feargal.

"Wait a minute," I said. "Has Xenophon said I'd be needed to create further paths to Chunglewood?"

"Not explicitly," said Feargal. 

"He has said he might need multiple clay pedestals to support crystals," said Rolf.

 

"And holes digging to secure them," said Delvin who had been silent up to that moment.

"He hasn't mentioned that to me," I said, frowning. "It seems I'm being excluded. Are all owls that close-beaked?"

"That is a little unusual," said Feargal. "I wonder why he hasn't asked you?"

 

I had a thought and then smiled. "Maybe he's a tiny bit scared of Cecile." 

Cedric laughed. "My sister loves Cecile. She says she's a strong bunny."

 

I didn't really need confirmation that Cecile was the backbone of our family, but as her good friend, Emma Furbanks was ideally placed to provide it. I responded accordingly.

"True, Cedric. True."

o 0 O 0 o

Two hours later, Cedric and I had flown back to the same general area as before. On his signal I began to re-open an aerial path to the clearing and thankfully the process was short and straightforward. I was clearly becoming more adept in crystal manipulation.

We waited for Xenophon to reappear. 

Five minutes passed and I glanced at Cedric. "Are you okay keeping the Skyrider steady for longer?"

"Yep," he said shortly. "Just need to concentrate."

I was about to reply when Xenophon came into sight. 

 

I immediately noticed he didn't appear to be carrying anything. He was intent on flying towards us and I heard him squawk.

"Keep it open!"

Cedric muttered, "Will do."

The reason became clear. Xenophon wasn't alone. Three birds were following through the opening, their feet clutching bags that I assumed held proto-crystals. 

Birds from Chunglewood. 

o 0 O 0 o

On the ground, I surveyed the three Chunglewood birds. They were wearing unusual outfits that, I discovered, were designed to minimise restrictions on their wings during flight. We learned that the bags held their usual clothes each wrapped around two proto-crystals. Surely six crystals were more than enough.  

Ricardo Porcini made introductions. 

"This is Owen Quiller, Quincy Goldbill and Redd Treefeather."

Quincy looked around. "It's big out here."

Redd nodded. "Feels odd without trees around us."

Ricardo laughed. "It's okay guys. You'll get to enjoy the freedom."

Owen looked at me. "And you're the one that opened the sky?"

"I suppose so," I said. "It's not just me though. I used equipment provided by Xenophon, and Cedric flew his flying machine to put me in the right place."

"Can we get back to Chunglewood the same way?" asked Quincy.

"As I told you," said Xenophon, "it is possible, but it involves work from both Jackson and Cedric, up there in the flying machine. It is also dependent upon the weather.  If you're wanting to go back immediately we could ask them. I would still suggest that you await the opening of a path through the trees." 

"Just asking," said Quincy. "I wouldn't want us to be stranded a long time."

"It would be interesting to take a look around out here," said Owen. "We know Ricardo likes it."

 

"There are spare rooms near mine in Minestrone House where you can stay a while," said Ricardo. 

"I want to examine the proto-crystals we've retrieved," said Xenophon. "Grade their quality and find the best one."

"Does that mean we won't be creating the forest path today?" asked Feargal.

 

"You remember how long it took last time? At best we would be starting mid-afternoon and the daylight may not last. No. Give me time to find the optimal crystal. We have a good selection here and we may as well create as good a path as possible."

"So it's agreed, we're staying a short while?" asked Redd Treefeather. 

"You'll love it," enthused Ricardo.

It appeared that we now wanted to find the best forest path. It wasn't made clear whether or not that was in addition to Brady's route. In any case that wasn't to be today.

Still. It had been a successful day. And - heehee! I'd been flying!

o 0 O 0 o

(To be continued)