diff options
27 files changed, 2136 insertions, 109 deletions
diff --git a/drafts/2021-09-26-forget-autorandr-automate-display-switching-with-devd-on-freebsd.php b/drafts/2021-09-26-forget-autorandr-automate-display-switching-with-devd-on-freebsd.php deleted file mode 100644 index 8ae50f7..0000000 --- a/drafts/2021-09-26-forget-autorandr-automate-display-switching-with-devd-on-freebsd.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,41 +0,0 @@ -<?php -$title = "Forget autorandr, Automate Display Switching with devd(8) on FreeBSD"; -if (isset($early) && $early) { - return; -} -include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/includes/head.php'); -?> - -<p class="description"> - <a href="https://github.com/phillipberndt/autorandr"><code>autorandr</code></a> and <a href="https://github.com/libthinkpad/dockd"><code>dockd</code></a> have been around for a while. Both let you automatically switch to or from external displays when your laptop is plugged into a hub or hooked up to a docking station. But those are largely Linux- and Thinkpad-centric solutions. Let's do it the FreeBSD way. -</p> - -<p> - Here are my requirements. I have an E-series Dell laptop with a docking station. My docking station is hooked up to one large Dell monitor. When the laptop is attached to the docking station, I want... -</p> - -<ol> - <li>The laptop to use the larger, external monitor exclusively (no mirroring)</li> - <li>The default sound device to switch to the external monitor's speakers</li> - <li>Disable automatic locking via <code>xautolock(1)</code></li> - <li>Disable suspend on lid close</li> -</ol> - -<p>When the laptop is removed from the docking station, I want...</p> - -<ol> - <li>The laptop to switch to its internal display</li> - <li>The default sound device to switch back to the internal laptop speakers</li> - <li>Automatic locking to re-enable</li> - <li>Suspend on lid close to re-enable</li> -</ol> - -<p>To do this we'll need the following:</p> - -<ol> - <li><code>devd(8)</code> for launching userland applications when kernel events occur</li> - <li><code>xrandr(1)</code> for switching displays</li> - <li><code>xautolock(1)</code> for automatic locking</li> - <li><code>sysctl(8)</code> for changing hardware knobs</li> - <li>Some core utilities and a tiny shell script to bring it all together</li> -</ol> diff --git a/drafts/2021-09-27-imagemagick-display-and-svg-patterns.php b/drafts/2021-09-27-imagemagick-display-and-svg-patterns.php deleted file mode 100644 index 16a09ee..0000000 --- a/drafts/2021-09-27-imagemagick-display-and-svg-patterns.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8 +0,0 @@ -<?php -$title = "imagemagick display and svg patterns"; -if (isset($early) && $early) { -return; -} -include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/includes/head.php'); -?> - diff --git a/drafts/2021-10-22-drilling-out-wide-block-cylinder-heads-for-1-2-head-bolts.php b/drafts/2021-10-22-drilling-out-wide-block-cylinder-heads-for-1-2-head-bolts.php deleted file mode 100644 index 1082337..0000000 --- a/drafts/2021-10-22-drilling-out-wide-block-cylinder-heads-for-1-2-head-bolts.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9 +0,0 @@ -<?php -$title = "Drilling Out Wide Block Cylinder Heads for 1/2" Head Bolts"; -if (isset($early) && $early) { -return; -} -include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/includes/head.php'); -?> - -Stepping up from 17/32 to 18/32 to 19/32. Center row is smallest, next two rows out are medium, final row is largest. Based on factory dimensions, but increased. diff --git a/drafts/2021-12-06-roma.php b/drafts/2021-12-06-roma.php deleted file mode 100644 index e8e62b4..0000000 --- a/drafts/2021-12-06-roma.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9 +0,0 @@ -<?php -$title = "ROMA"; -if (isset($early) && $early) { - return; -} -include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/includes/head.php'); -?> - -https://wydaily.com/our-historic-home/2021/11/30/roma-a-forgotten-local-tragedy-part-3/ diff --git a/drafts/365 days of working from home.php b/drafts/365 days of working from home.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/365 days of working from home.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/aiming-headlights.php b/drafts/aiming-headlights.php deleted file mode 100644 index 79393dd..0000000 --- a/drafts/aiming-headlights.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1 +0,0 @@ -Last week I aimed and adjusted the headlights on Ol' Blue. diff --git a/drafts/alternators and 12v systems on old hudsons b/drafts/alternators and 12v systems on old hudsons deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/alternators and 12v systems on old hudsons +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/avoiding null in csharp.php b/drafts/avoiding null in csharp.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/avoiding null in csharp.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/biz class internet is worth it.php b/drafts/biz class internet is worth it.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/biz class internet is worth it.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/california is doing weird stuff.php b/drafts/california is doing weird stuff.php deleted file mode 100644 index 0fda874..0000000 --- a/drafts/california is doing weird stuff.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4 +0,0 @@ -https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/26/dell_energy_pcs/ --> but all-evs by what year? - -mechanics not being able to fix own cars diff --git a/drafts/clementine.php b/drafts/clementine.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/clementine.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/evs b/drafts/evs deleted file mode 100644 index 1e8afc6..0000000 --- a/drafts/evs +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14 +0,0 @@ -- my emotional reaction to conversation revolving around how I feel about EVs is profoundly negative simply because I'm tired of conversation revolving around EVs -- I realized while thinking through numerous electric vehicle debates at work and with family that I don't care about electric vehicles for the same reason I don't care about hardly any vehicle made after the year 2000. I have always loved old cars. Antique cars. I've never been very interested in newer, modern, or contemporary cars regardless of their fuel source. And that's unlikely to change. -- detractors should understand and appreciate the benefits whereas devoted promoters must understand exactly how far we have to go and all of the implications that this new fuel source brings with it -- as always, we generate problems as a result of our solutions, and it takes time to solve those newer problems -- EVs are now where the automobile was when the Ford Model A was build -- electric vehicle should be separate from turning all new vehicles into smartphones on wheels -- i will always prefer a car that I can fix over a car that I cannot -- i will always prefer a car with longevity; I will rebuild an engine twice before throwing in the towel if i can help it; i know this isn't realistic for everyone but there are enough right to repair debates with all forms of technology and mass-produced engineering products that I can't ignore that factor when weighing in on EVs -- as a computer programmer I'm exhausted by the complications that arise from locked down software platforms. I'm a free software and open-source advocate and I don't see dumping all my eggs into a vendor-locked, manufacturer-variable tech-laden drive control system a very good idea. -- moving forward with EVs doesn't have to mean moving forward with giant touchscreens and poorly named autopilot features that I believe will continue to make people less attentive worse drivers, not better ones -- people make fun of detractors who mention the effects of lithium mining and overtaxed power grids; I know solutions will be found for these problems and that these problems maybe cannot stand in the way of progress (after all, necessity is the mother of invention) but to ignore them or laugh at those who bring these concerns to the table is unfair and wrong. there's a balance to be struck -- I enjoy engines and that's not going to change. I know that's not true for everyone out there, but don't threaten to take away the thing i love in order to drive up adoption of what's supposed to be a superior product. If and when electric vehicles become the better alternative, people will gravitate toward them naturally. Arbitrarily enforcing that adoption with litigation or shame is a step backwards. -- engine lovers have to understand that electric vehicles are here to stay and will only get better -- battery lovers have to understand that the internal combustion engine is going to be around a lot longer than you or I estimate and inventing a timeframe for their elimination is a useless endeavor diff --git a/drafts/flatout2mods.md b/drafts/flatout2mods.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff3a8f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/drafts/flatout2mods.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +I've been a long-time enjoyer of FlatOut 2. It's frankly the best racing +game I've ever played. My brother and I spent immeasurable hours on the +PS2 throwing cars at each other and launching drivers through their +windshields (usually through a ring of fire). + +Last year FlatOut 2 got Steam Workshop access which re-introduced me to +the world of game modding. I've never actually produced a mod for a +game, let alone a 3D racing game, so I saw this as my opportunity to +realize a childhood dream. + +Here's how to make a car skin mod for FlatOut 2 in 2025 and publish it on the +Stema Workshop. + +I used these tools + +- https://github.com/xNyaDev/bfstool, which is bundled with the steam install + and mod manager +- Gimp https://www.gimp.org/ +- notes on dds files from steam diff --git a/drafts/form-fields.php b/drafts/form-fields.php deleted file mode 100644 index 0aed689..0000000 --- a/drafts/form-fields.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15 +0,0 @@ -<p> - I've been trying to increase my knowledge and ability with designing user - interfaces better. I've been reading and watching learning materials by - experts to try to build better interfaces. One of the things I've been trying - to get better at is web form design. I want my forms to be clear, accessible, - and understandable. There's one piece of advice that I've gotten that has left - both me and some other users confused in pursuit of cleaner, slicker looking - web apps. Form input placeholders Form input placeholders seem great in theory - but they're confusing, inaccessible, and less clean in my opinion insert video - by great web designer and author about cleaning up a form users can't see what - they inserted data form validation hints are gone once text is inserted leaves - fields looking pre-populated as optional, unimportant, not a mental TODO -</p> - -<p>https://www.nngroup.com/articles/form-design-placeholders/</p> diff --git a/drafts/living with freebsd.php b/drafts/living with freebsd.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/living with freebsd.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/living with linux.php b/drafts/living with linux.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/living with linux.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/my first car is a 1953 hudson hornet.php b/drafts/my first car is a 1953 hudson hornet.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/my first car is a 1953 hudson hornet.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/oh sh*t (the case for better brakes and tires).php b/drafts/oh sh*t (the case for better brakes and tires).php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/oh sh*t (the case for better brakes and tires).php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/quarantine to vaccine: Corona Blues Review.php b/drafts/quarantine to vaccine: Corona Blues Review.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/quarantine to vaccine: Corona Blues Review.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/rip-full-time-linux.php b/drafts/rip-full-time-linux.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/rip-full-time-linux.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/server closets in the summer.php b/drafts/server closets in the summer.php deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 --- a/drafts/server closets in the summer.php +++ /dev/null diff --git a/drafts/surprisingly simple.php b/drafts/surprisingly simple.php deleted file mode 100644 index 840f1b2..0000000 --- a/drafts/surprisingly simple.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2 +0,0 @@ -who would win? python, pip, mysql, password storage, dockerfiles OR a really -long shell script one-liner? diff --git a/drafts/what is a script no really.php b/drafts/what is a script no really.php deleted file mode 100644 index 9d97844..0000000 --- a/drafts/what is a script no really.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1 +0,0 @@ -glues programs together diff --git a/drafts/what is programming.php b/drafts/what is programming.php deleted file mode 100644 index 4b4e26d..0000000 --- a/drafts/what is programming.php +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5 +0,0 @@ -programming isn't coding programming is computational problem solving (see -CSCI101) programming is getting data from point A to point B see what -programming isn't about informal lecture being a good programmer isn't about -following best practices or paradigms. it's still possible to write bad programs -using test-driven development and "Clean Architecture" diff --git a/includes/foot.php b/includes/foot.php index e8432b9..7b8bb01 100644 --- a/includes/foot.php +++ b/includes/foot.php @@ -6,9 +6,16 @@ <p> © 2019-<?php printf('%s', date('Y')); ?> Adam Carpenter <br> +<?php +if (!isset($nolicense)) { + printf('%s', <<<EOF Content released under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>. <br> Source code released under <a href="https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause">BSD 3-Clause</a>, unless otherwise stated. + <br> +EOF); +} +?> <noscript> JavaScript? Where we're going we don't need JavaScript. </noscript> diff --git a/posts/2025-10-19-first-voyage-of-the-aerie.php b/posts/2025-10-19-first-voyage-of-the-aerie.php new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f112912 --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/2025-10-19-first-voyage-of-the-aerie.php @@ -0,0 +1,773 @@ +<h1>On Weightless Wings: First Voyage of the <em>Aerie</em></h1> + +<p class="description"> +Last year, I decided to halt my fiction writing dark ages by contributing this story to <a href="https://nat1publishing.com/wwoo/qa/">Write, Wrong or Otherwise</a>, a two-week short-story challenge. It's hosted by Nat 1 Publishing every year and gives writers a chance to peer review, receive professional edits from the team, and get their stories published in an anthology. Participants also get cool goodies like posters, stickers, and a copy of the anthology at the end. It was an awesome experience, but I was still a coward about publishing this on my site for others to read. After some feedback from friends and family, and with Nat 1's permission, I'm re-publishing this story right here. +</p> + +<p>Kee perched high on one of the many hangar windows, studying the +magnificent craft below. She gripped the cedar sill with two scaly feet, +each ending in sharp, clawed toes, stretching her downy, silver neck out +to get a better look. Kee was what the flightless off-worlders called +<em>Wingfolk</em>. It was more polite than <em>bird,</em> anyway. +Despite the most basic similarities, it was a reduction to be associated +with the tiny animals inhabiting off-worlder skies. Her iridescent green +feathers shimmered as they shifted, her wings fluttering to maintain +balance. She was excited—more than excited—she was <em>eager</em>. +Almost two years of studying and hard work had built up to this moment, +now she finally got to flex her skills as part of this momentous +project.</p> +<p>Below, the great vessel hung mesmerizingly still; it floated in place +without swaying or beating wings. The rounded, tapered nose widened and +stretched out to the other side of the open hangar, where it met four +tail fins. Its ribbed midsection and sparkling metallic surface made it +look like some great silvery fish. Its slippery smoothness was +punctuated by three cars mounted slightly below and away from the hull: +one central and two peripheral. Each car was truncated by a screw +pointed with twisted wooden blades. Slung low along its belly was an +enclosed, stamped aluminum gondola dotted with round portholes along the +sides, which widened in diameter until they met a large, wrap-around +windshield. Therein, the bridge of the gondola glowed with warm +incandescent light.</p> +<p>The <em>Aerie</em> was an airship, or as some off-worlder designers +called it, a <em>dirigible</em>. It was the product of a joint venture +with the off-worlders. Conceived by the Cooperative of Scientific +Communities, its mission was to explore and document the whimsical +matter and physics in Kee’s homeworld skies and extend the range of +shorter wings-on-your-back flights. It was the most technologically +advanced piece of machinery she had ever seen. Despite only being +considered a fledgling mechanist, she knew the ins and outs of the +engines, pumps, dynamos, and the maze of structural girders holding the +ship together (at least in the shop). Her long, thin beak pointed to and +fro as her dark eyes scanned every gleaming surface of the mechanical +marvel, completely assembled for the first time.</p> +<p>With a whoosh and the click of slender pink toes, a tall and lanky +figure alighted on the sill beside Kee. It was Eudo, and he had a talent +for being annoyingly just on time for everything. Eudo folded his stark +white wings back, gestured his curved orange bill down at the ship, and +beamed his beady eyes at Kee. “Really something, ain’t it?”</p> +<p>“You’re late,” Kee reprimanded and cocked her head sarcastically at +Eudo.</p> +<p>He coiled his long neck. “No later than you at this rate. ’Sides, we +ain’t leaving until you wipe the drool off your beak.”</p> +<p>Eudo was a rigger. He would be working high up in the ship’s hull, +maintaining the canvas covering and the wire supports throughout the +ship. The two fledglings spent countless hours tinkering together over +the past year, Kee with engines and Eudo with construction materials. On +more than one occasion they managed to sneak into the shop where they +had been taught to get in a few hours of practice without the rest of +the group or work on a few pet projects. It wasn’t hard for Kee to +imagine they’d both be going on the <em>Aerie</em>’s first voyage +together. There wasn’t anyone else she trusted to do things right. And +Eudo was always good for a laugh.</p> +<p>Kee hoisted her pack up, tucked in her short arms, and spread her +violet, bladelike wings across her back.</p> +<p>She turned to Eudo. “I gotta prep, no idea where the last egghead +left the carburetors. Probably need to redo everything.”</p> +<p>“Alight, <em>Surly Kee the Talon</em>, but promise you won’t stick +your beak where it doesn’t belong this trip? I’d like to avoid a run-in +with the chief.”</p> +<p>Ignoring Eudo, she lept off the sill and fluttered down to the +gangplank aft of the gondola where the flock of crew assembled. Further +behind the gondola, large bay doors opened to the belly of the ship. +Eudo wafted his long, flowing wings and caught up to her. The +<em>Talons</em>—the ranking officers of the Wingfolk expeditions—were +there calling roll and dishing out orders. They were responsible for +navigation and control of the ship, as well as carrying out the mission. +Kee and a few others were <em>Wings</em>; the mechanists, riggers, +stewards, and other assorted task doers. Kee wouldn’t have it any other +way. Flying was something they all did, Kee admitted; getting around in +the air was a crucial job, sure, but it wasn’t a new or interesting one. +Kee was going to be working on the ship itself.</p> +<p>She approached the Talon taking roll. “Kee Sylph, fledgling +mechanist,” she chirped.</p> +<p>The Talon looked down at Kee and clacked his blue bill, “Kee Sylph, +starboard engine, first shift. Make ready for takeoff.” Still holding +his list, he gestured with a ruddy wing at Kee and then up to the +gangplank.</p> +<p>A few paces behind him stood the captain, arms crossed and wings +furled. He regarded every new crew member intensely with bright yellow +eyes from behind a hooked, raptorial beak. Kee recognized Captain Rhirr; +he was present during the selection of every crew member just a few +weeks prior. His old, mud-colored feathers faded to a grayish white +along his nape and wing tips.</p> +<p>As she click-clacked her way up into the gondola, Kee caught the +captain stretching his left wing gingerly, his right hanging limply and +at a poor angle. Any crew member paying attention knew, without a doubt, +Captain Rhirr was crippled. A long past injury never healed properly, +rendering him incapable of flying. Kee knew this, but she didn’t know +what trauma brought the captain to this low state. She also knew better +than to speak of it while aboard. The captain was here because he knew +the sky better than the rest; he knew where they were going and how to +get there.</p> +<p>Kee glimpsed the bridge at the head of the gondola before fluttering +up a hatch into the ship's hull. A few Talons were inspecting the rudder +and elevator wheels, laying out charts, and testing various equipment. +In the hull along the keel was an immensely long catwalk stretching all +the way to the stern of the ship, above the vast expanse swallowed by +enormous lifting gas bags tied in place with wire. A haughty crew member +with orange feathers and a green tail bumped into Kee as he half-hopped +and half-flew along the corridor. Other crew members scurried here and +there, loading supplies and equipment or doing final inspections.</p> +<p>Eudo popped up through the bay doors and grabbed onto the nearest +ladder. He puffed out his chest and called, “‘Eudo Irriss, gas cells, +first shift,’” in her direction and saluted with his right wing. “I’ll +find you first rotation if you’re not married to the engine yet.”</p> +<p>Kee watched Eudo disappear into the bowels of the ship in a narrow +shaft between two gas cells. She shuffled down the length of the catwalk +and out across the starboard ring from which hung the engine car. Before +the end of the path, a tawny wing flipped out and blocked her way. The +obstruction’s face was dark with a black, almost conical beak. His +cheeks wrapped into a brown nape, each side punctuated by a white spot +directly behind the eye. Kee bowed slightly for the surprise +introduction as he regarded her with a cocked head.</p> +<p>“Kee Sylph, fledgling mech—”</p> +<p>“You’re my mechanist? For the starboard engine?” he interrupted with +beady eyes.</p> +<p>“You’re the chief? Er, I mean, yes sir, that’s my assignment.”</p> +<p>“Chief Halihk, although I don’t know why I need to tell you. I was +expecting someone else,” he mumbled, reviewing his paperwork.</p> +<p><em>You’re not the only one expecting someone else</em>, Kee thought. +She didn’t recognize Halihk at all. Worse yet, this jerk wasn’t anything +like Llyr, the chief she trained under. Chiefs were finicky about how +you did things on a good day. At worst, they were a huge pain in your +tailfeathers about every little thing.</p> +<p>“Fine, prepare for takeoff. Throttle down, or you’ll blow something +up before we’re in the air. Don’t break anything.”</p> +<p>Kee stayed silent and bowed again as Halihk lowered his wing and gave +access to the engine car. He looked down his beak at her as she +passed.</p> +<p>A ladder ran down from the hull's interior to the car itself. Kee +hovered briefly in the air and dropped down into the car with a clank. +She was going to grumble something obscene under her breath at Halihk +but forgot it an instant later.</p> +<p>She instead marveled at the cathedral of brass and iron cramping the +rest of the car. The cold engine block squatted on stringers in the +center of the compartment. Six monolithic cylinders stood in formation, +topped with a spider-like valvetrain. Pipes for coolant, compressed air, +and fuel wound their way around like blood vessels from their dormant +heart. The mechanist dropped her pack and set to work. She went over +every inch of the engine, checking fluids, adjusting valve lash, and +inspecting moving parts for wear. What any other engineer would consider +overkill for a hunk of metal, Kee carried out dutifully. She did it not +because Halihk told her to but because she loved doing it.</p> +<hr/> +<p>As preparations for the voyage were completed, Captain Rhirr gave the +order to lift the ship from the hangar.</p> +<p>The wide cedar roof parted and retracted, exposing the great argent +fish to the bright sunlight. A few dozen standby crew grabbed hold of +hempen lines along the ship’s length and took to the air. They beat +their wings and tugged at the rope until the neutral airship began to +rise out of the hangar’s roof. Kee gazed out of the engine compartment +porthole as the shady hangar walls were replaced by Yonder—that +beautiful blue shade of sky where all of the Wingfolk soared freely and +breathed fully.</p> +<p>Being in the wide open air was the default state of being. Landing +was just a distraction; a respite or a meal or a place to work before +leaping back into the endless breeze. It was obvious even for an +off-worlder to see why. The world of the Wingfolk was uninhabitable on +the surface—the entire planet covered in sharp, rocky crags that sliced +and choked out the life of anything stubborn enough to try and grow +there. Colossal, pitted stone columns drove up out of the surface and +rose all the way to the cloud layer. On top of each pillar was a Shelf; +a mostly flat surface that collected precipitation and fostered +vegetation and fauna. Some Shelves were vast bowls supporting lakes the +size of seas. Others boasted the nests of enormous settlements of +Wingfolk and looked like huge cities constructed of stone and woven tree +limbs.</p> +<p>Here, on this small, remote Shelf, far from the concentrated flock of +civilization or the bountiful pastures and hunting grounds, Kee looked +down on the hangar from her engine car.</p> +<p><em>Ti-ti-ti-ting,</em> the engine order telegraph rang. On the wall +of the car was a cable-driven bell with a dial indicating the bridge’s +intent. The rounded face displayed basic fractional speeds, direction, +and status conditions for the mechanists to follow.</p> +<p>“Idling, brake off,” Kee confirmed and moved the response lever on +the telegraph to match the bridge order. She quickly began to open fuel +lines and air valves. Finally, she yanked the starting valve.</p> +<p><em>Vvvfff-Boom</em>, the engine erupted with sound and motion, +valves ticked and pistons thrummed as the carburetor throats emitted a +vacuous sucking sound. It was loud, and it smelled like fuel and oil. +Kee was giddy. Her chest puffed up, and her feathers ruffled with glee. +She stamped in place momentarily, ecstatic with the moving mass of +torque-generating metal she cared for so much. She peered out the car +porthole and cocked her head this way and that as she heard two more +engines start-up behind her.</p> +<p>The telegraph rang again, <em>Ti-ti-ti-ting</em>.</p> +<p>“Ahead half,” Kee declared aloud to herself.</p> +<p>She pulled the massive clutch lever, and the long wooden blades of +the propeller swung in time with the idling engine. She slowly stepped +up the throttle and increased the revolutions. The thrum of the pistons +escalated into a cacophonous drone, and the propeller blades all but +disappeared as they carved through the air like thin, slicing wings. +Without any sensation at all, the ship pushed through the +atmosphere.</p> +<p>Kee marveled at the soft motion produced by the orchestra of +shuffling metal. It was magic, this new way of progressing through the +already familiar sky. It was not like being grounded at all. This +revolutionary mechanism could mean staying aloft indefinitely, an +enticing prospect for any Wingfolk.</p> +<p>After a short test flight, the telegraph rang and indicated cruising +speed. Kee made the necessary adjustments and tinkered with the +carburetors, keeping them synchronized and adjusting the mixture to keep +everything running smoothly. The ship was pitching ever so slightly into +the clouds now, and Kee leaned through the porthole to watch as the +hangar they left behind shrank comfortingly into a small dot. Before +long, the great Yonder stretched out in every direction; that endless +cool blue expanse inviting Kee to let the breeze run through the +feathers on her arm, coaxing her to leap out to catch warm thermals +under her wings and savor the currents. The ship ruddered onto a new +course.</p> +<p>The fledgling mechanist wasn’t distracted long before a pair of +pinkish talons worked down the ladder into the engine car. When the +whole figure alighted on the car floor, Kee looked into Halihk’s dark +eyes. Kee bowed again and opened her beak to speak. Halihk seemed to +anticipate this and cut her off. “Shift is over; you’re on rest and then +standby canvas with Irriss,” he squawked over the droning pistons and +ticking valves.</p> +<p>Kee’s feathers bristled. There was no way her shift was over yet. The +crew worked equal rotations: one third of their time was spent on watch, +the second resting, and the third on standby watch with less arduous +tasks. Kee felt the ship had only just lined up with its intended +course. This jerk was relieving her early.</p> +<p>She thought of meeting up with Eudo. She didn’t want their first +conversation to be about mouthing off to the chief, so she regained her +composure.</p> +<p>“I set the mixture just a few dives back but we haven’t gained much +altitude since then.” Halihk began to shuffle between Kee and the intake +manifold. “Oh, and before we set out, one of the number five exhaust +values was almost a hundredth too—<em>oof!</em>”</p> +<p>Halihk forced himself between Kee and the engine, pushing her up +against the hull of the car with his wings. He interrupted, “Not to +worry, I’ll take it from here,” and set to work checking fluids and +mixtures and resetting the throttles.</p> +<p>“I wasn’t worried; I was just giving a report.” Kee mustered her +strength by focusing her eyes on the rocker arms. “Respectfully, chief, +I’m not fatigued yet. I could stay and give you a hand here.”</p> +<p>“You want to help? How about you flutter around the empennage and +lubricate every pulley you find?” As he said this, he mocked two tiny +wings with his fingers and waited for Kee to react. It was a dare, an +opportunity for Kee to make her life aboard much worse. Halihk searched +Kee’s face for a retort or any hint of defiance.</p> +<p>Kee stared directly into his beady dark eyes and gave a short, rushed +bow. She spun around and climbed up the ladder to the hull, the wind +rushing through her down as she passed briefly out of the safety of the +car and into the ship.</p> +<p>“That one is <em>wet shit,</em>” she thought as she stamped her way +to the stern close to the tailfins.</p> +<hr/> +<p>Kee’s rest shift was as far from restful as one could stray. She +diligently traced the rudder and elevator control cables through the +ship’s tail, inspecting and lubing every tensioner, pulley, and gear +that allowed the Talons in the gondola to steer and control the ship’s +pitch. She started the work with clenched fists, but after a while, the +exertion smoothed out her frustration. Satisfied with her work and +comfortably distanced from the chief, she searched for Eudo.</p> +<p>She bumped into him amidships on the axial catwalk. The passageway +ran centrally from nose to tail in the center of the gas cells, +equidistant from the keel catwalk and the highest point on the ship.</p> +<p>“I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Rest’s almost over, thought +you fell out of the engine car or something!” Eudo blurted, spreading +his arms and wings in irritation. He cut his chafing short when he got a +good look at Kee. “You look awful.”</p> +<p>Kee’s feathers were sooty and greasy. They looked matted and +unpreened, abnormally so. It wasn’t uncommon for Eudo to see Kee get +lost in her work and forget some basic hygiene, but this was far more +extreme.</p> +<p>Kee took a deep breath. “I guess I didn’t get along so good with the +chief,” she started, and before Eudo could finish craning his neck for +an <em>I-told-you-so</em>, she finished, “It wasn’t my fault! That wet +shit has it out for me, has since we set out! He cut my shift short and +sent me to lube the chains!”</p> +<p>Eudo stayed silent. This was one of those times Kee needed a friend +instead of a buddy. After a few silent moments, he cawed, “Come with me; +I got something to show you.”</p> +<p>“We’ve got canvas inspection,” she reminded.</p> +<p>“Then that’s what we’ll say we’re doing, c’mere.”</p> +<p>He strutted down the axial corridor closer to the center of the ship. +Kee lagged behind with drooping tailfeathers. More work didn’t sound +like the best medicine at the moment. After clacking along the corridor +for a spell they arrived at the central shaft; a tall ladder rose from +the cargo bay doors below to the observation platform at the ship’s +peak. Eudo grabbed hold of two bundled lines and started to climb up the +ladder. Kee begrudgingly gripped the rungs and followed.</p> +<p>At the top of the shaft, Eudo turned and opened a hatch. Fresh, cool +wind rushed past the opening. He tied off the two lines to rungs on the +ladder and then fastened the other end of one line to his ankle. He +tossed the free end of the other line to Kee and climbed up and out of +the hatch. When he passed through, Kee could see it was night already. +She tied the line around her ankle and finished climbing onto the +observation platform.</p> +<p>Wind rushed past Kee’s face and slipped through every feather on her +body. All around her, the Yonder was a deep shade of cloudless indigo; +the black envelope of darkness sliced only with bright, radiant +moonlight, which made her emerald feathers gleam. The rush of noise +drowned out the faint humming of the engines which normally proliferated +the ship.</p> +<p>“You gonna join me or what?” Eudo squawked down from above and behind +her. He was flying, or at least soaring. The ship was sluggishly +cruising directly into a headwind. That meant it was moving slowly, but +the wind across the hull's surface was stronger. Without flapping his +wings he was able to catch and shape the wash around him to stay aloft. +He rolled left to right almost lazily, savoring the current while the +safety line kept him attached to the vessel.</p> +<p>Kee almost forgot about the rest of her day. She faced forward and +spread her violet wings across her back. Steadying herself, she pitched +her flight feathers and lifted off. The sensation was delightful. She +buzzed her wings occasionally to maintain balance but felt the draft +doing most of the work for her. She allowed herself to hover a little +farther away from the platform. The cool night air channeling around her +body was rejuvenating.</p> +<p>“Not a bad way to spend your shift, huh?” Eudo finally said, dipping +his wing to fly alongside Kee.</p> +<p>“I gotta hand it to you, this is better than I thought,” she +returned. rotating her head and pointing her slender beak at Eudo. “You +riggers do have it pretty good up here.”</p> +<p>“When you’re doing inspection or repair, it’s not as fun. You and +another pair of wings tryna sew a big patch in? That can get kinda +annoying. Not as annoying as what you had to do, though.” Eudo always +knew how to turn the conversation back a few turns.</p> +<p>“You jerk, you’ve got me in therapy right now.” She squinted at Eudo, +who just smirked at the corners of his orange bill. Kee continued, +“Well, I don’t think the chief thinks I’m up for it. He acted all +surprised when I showed up like I wasn’t on his list or he didn’t +approve of me. You’d think the damn chief would know who’s working for +him.”</p> +<p>“There were a couple of last-minute changes on the riggers too,” Eudo +offered. “And some of them think Llyr got switched out for your buddy as +chief. Wonder if Captain had anything to do with it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. But he’s gonna make being on this balloon miserable +for me; I just know it. I just want to be a part of this project. And I +know I have something to offer. Think about what life would be like out +here all the time,” and she did a small roll, washing away her feelings +with more sensation.</p> +<p>“It’s still a shakedown flight for everybody, even the Talons. When +we land you can always let them know what’s up. But for now, stay out of +trouble. In the meantime, you can lend a hand with inspection whenever +you need to cool off,” and he winked a beady eye at Kee.</p> +<hr/> +<p>After another hour of soaring, Kee was invigorated and determined +again. She started to get antsy about the actual inspection they needed +to do, so the two alighted on the platform and clambered down the +hatchway. For the rest of the shift, they split off in the ship’s +interior, tracing the accessible portions of the outer cover and looking +for ripped or loose sections.</p> +<p>At the finish of standby, Kee was back in the starboard engine car, +relieving a puffy crew member with great horned eyebrows and wide, +yellow eyes who barely fit in the engine compartment. He was polite and +gave her no trouble as he climbed back into the ship. Kee set to work +with adjustments and cleaning the obviously ignored air screens. She +enjoyed a trouble-free shift servicing her great iron cathedral, still +thrumming away, twisting the propeller.</p> +<p>The next several rotations were not completely without incident, but +Kee did her utmost to avoid talking back to the chief. Sporadically, he +would come and relieve her early, making snide remarks about her ability +or stamina or some other reason why she couldn’t do the job she was +confident with. To cool off, she would explore other parts of the ship. +Kee often used the extra rest to actually sleep or eat in the galley and +meet the other crew. When she got particularly frustrated, she spent an +hour on the observation platform with Eudo, recharging in the wash of +the <em>Aerie</em>.</p> +<p>For three days and nights, the voyage passed much the same, and Kee +felt it was a rhythm she could sustain, even if it was not ideal. After +the third night, the <em>Aerie</em> was officially halfway complete with +the trial voyage and homeward bound. The next morning Kee hummed along +the catwalk down to the starboard engine car. When she dropped into the +droning, ticking space, she was face to face with the chief again. He +was busy fussing with the carburetor altitude settings.</p> +<p>“Don’t need you this shift,” he chirped over the noise. “Go find +Cleekiirk and inspect the dynamos.”</p> +<p>Kee’s beak hung open in shock and disbelief. This insufferable +egg-smasher was going to push her away for her entire shift.</p> +<p>She chose her words carefully, “Chief Halihk, respectfully, it would +be my preference to remain on starboard engine duty this shift. Perhaps +if my skills are lacking, I can observe and train under you, giving our +entire crew a greater advantage in the shared experience.” And she gave +as much a bow as she could in the cramped compartment.</p> +<p>Halihk bored into Kee with his beady eyes. His chest buffed out, and +his wings untucked, giving him a much larger appearance. “Respectfully? +Respectfully! Why don’t you <em>respectfully</em> listen to orders? Why +don’t you <em>respectfully</em> buzz off when I tell you to? How about +<em>respectfully</em> letting me run this ship exactly as I please and +intend to without sticking your beak into everything? It’s against my +wishes for this crew and vessel that you be here <em>respecting</em> me. +You’re lucky some Talon somewhere thinks you’re cut out for this, or we +would have left you back on that Shelf where you belong! Now, why don’t +you <em>respectfully</em> climb out of my engine car and make a nest +somewhere where I won’t see you.”</p> +<p>Kee fumed, and she clenched her fists. Her head swirled, and she felt +as though the entire compartment lurched, digging the claws on her scaly +feet into the slippery aluminum deck of the compartment for support. She +stretched out her neck and puffed her down, the grease and soot parting +to reveal stripes of cleaner, iridescent layers of feathers beneath. At +full posture, she was still about a foot shorter than the chief, but she +would do her utmost to make a nest out of his tail feathers.</p> +<p>The car’s center of gravity reversed before either of the Wingfolk +could catch themselves. Halihk, on the tips of his toes, fell backward +against the car's frame, bumping his head. Kee realized too late that +the compartment swaying wasn’t her rage and toppled beak forward onto +the floor.</p> +<p><em>Ti-ti-ti-ti-ting</em>, the engine telegraph rang.</p> +<p>Kee whipped around, ignoring the aching pain growing at the front of +her skull.</p> +<p>“Stop engine, brake on,” she repeated to no one, certainly not the +chief, still trying to make sense of what had happened. She responded on +the telegraph and stalled the engine before grabbing the brake lever and +yanking it, quickly stopping the propeller's rotation.</p> +<p>“What did you do? What happened?” Halihk slowly came to his +senses.</p> +<p>“I followed orders. Something must have happened forward.” Before Kee +could complete the thought, the telegraph rang again. It read +<em>report</em>. “Bridge wants a report.”</p> +<p>Halihk sobered quickly, and his subdued anger started to rise again. +“You love reports so much, go give the lame wings at the helm a damn +report and get out of my sight. <em>Respectfully</em>.”</p> +<p>Kee was halfway up the ladder before Halihk finished. She sensed +something had gone wrong, probably dangerously so. Definitely more +dangerous than the chief anyway.</p> +<p>She hopped along the catwalk and arrived at the ladder to the +gondola. She dropped down and clanked on the floor. The Talons shuffled +to and fro, some calling out readings from indicators along the control +panels. A white Talon with a heart-shaped face and dark eyes bumped into +Kee carrying rulers and compasses while others unrolled new charts on +the navigation desks. Everyone was hopping and flitting and causing a +stir except the captain. Arms crossed, he stood with his back to the +helm, listening carefully to Eudo and two other mechanists, probably on +watch in the other engine cars. Through the windshield Kee saw the cool, +blue Yonder, punctuated by scattered clouds and—Kee’s heart skipped a +beat—a wall of floating green masses stretching out on all sides.</p> +<p>The Wingfolk called it a Vork migration. Vork were bunched up, +inanimate blobs suspended in the air. The world of the Wingfolk was full +of these curious, jelly-like collections of elements held aloft by some +unknown principle. Predicting their drift was challenging, and only top +researchers could speculate on their origin. Many variants were +harmless: orbs of atmospheric water sticking together and floating +wherever the wind carried them. Others were deadly amalgams of chemicals +wafting along and burning pockmarks in stone as they collided with +Shelves. Both variants were huge risks for flying Wingfolk. Kee was +stunned. She had never seen a migration this expansive before.</p> +<p>Eudo finished giving his report, and the captain noticed Kee staring +across the gondola.</p> +<p>“Where is Chief Halihk?” he asked in a high, gravelly voice, piercing +Kee with sharp, yellow eyes.</p> +<p>Kee bowed. “The chief sent me forward in his stead, Captain. +Starboard engine is fit for duty.”</p> +<p>The captain almost imperceptibly raised one brow. The crew continued +to survey charts and instruments, occasionally getting distracted +looking forward at the Vork wall. All the while, the captain continued +standing calmly. After a pause, he spoke up again, stretching his left +wing as he did. “Your attention, please.”</p> +<p>The commotion in the car halted abruptly and all eyes fixed on the +captain.</p> +<p>“As you are well aware, our current course has us met with a Vork +migration. From the looks of it, it’s a pretty nasty one, drifting in +our direction as we speak. Four minutes ago, we narrowly dodged a +caustic Vork mass concealed by cloud cover, thanks to the quick reaction +of our helmsman. Eudo informed me that the strain from our extreme hard +rudder has severed control cables, which will take a nontrivial amount +of time to repair. With no steerage, we’re in a bit of a situation. I +asked the mechanists to come forward to help find a solution.” The +captain surveyed each of the engineers in turn. “I suspect the only way +for us to navigate to that solution is by using the port and starboard +engines for steerage. What do you all think?”</p> +<p>The mechanists from the other engine cars nodded, and the larger one +spoke, “Yes, with full reversal on the starboard engine and full ahead +on the port, we should be able to rotate 180 degrees while hovering. +Then, we could fly in the opposite direction while rudder repairs are +made. When we turn to face the wall again, we can navigate through +it.”</p> +<p>The Wingfolk from the other engine car chimed in, “Why can’t we turn +90 degrees and navigate around the migration?”</p> +<p>The Talon with the heart-shaped face answered in his customary shrill +voice, “We estimate the wall is too wide. It’s not very dense but has +extraordinary breadth, like the Vork are in square formation. Changing +our course so drastically will add many miles to the journey and +diminish our remaining supplies.”</p> +<p>“We can patch up the rudder controls in three days at quickest,” Eudo +reiterated. “Maybe we can find a safe Shelf on the map to do that on and +resupply at the same time.”</p> +<p>The captain listened carefully without consenting or refuting any of +the options presented. When the other mechanists were finished, he +fixated his eyes on Kee again. “Engineer Sylph, what do you think?”</p> +<p>Kee was visualizing the alternatives. In her mind, she followed the +journey carefully, painting a mental picture of all of the shifts and +work she would need to do back the way they came, whether they’d have to +land and take off from a Shelf, and what it would be like following the +line of the caustic wall for an unknown amount of time. After careful +consideration, she gave her answer.</p> +<p>“Fuel and oil.”</p> +<p>“Fuel and oil,” Rhirr repeated. “Could you elaborate?”</p> +<p>“We flew into a headwind for much of the voyage, consuming more fuel +and oil. We left with a surplus for four extra days of flying, but I bet +we’d only have enough for two extra days now. Even if we find a Shelf to +restock on, we won’t be able to refuel. If the migration is as wide as +we think, we’ll definitely fall short of reaching the hangar. In either +scenario, we’ll end up adrift.”</p> +<p>“I see.”</p> +<p>“But we could steer through it. Use the engines to steer through the +migration.”</p> +<p>All eyes were on Kee now. A few of the crew rustled their feathers +thinking about the risky maneuver she suggested. One miscalculation and +corrosive Vork would eat away at the ship, gluing itself to the sides +and consuming the canvas. If it ate through the fragile gas cells, the +ship would be lost.</p> +<p>The back of Captain Rhirr’s beak, where his cheeks met, lifted ever +so slightly. He was smiling. “Exactly what I was thinking. The wall +isn’t too dense for us to pass through. We were already planning on +steering through it, my concern was whether we’d have enough control of +the engines through the telegraphs.”</p> +<p>Kee felt determined again. A little sick with fear, sure, but too +enthusiastic to act on that fear. If anyone understood the risks here, +it was the one crew member who couldn’t get away from this if things +flew south. The captain’s courage was energizing, inspiring Kee. She +wanted to make the plan work, just like for countless days and nights +she sought to make machines work. More than anything she wanted to be a +part of some grand solution with her crew.</p> +<p>She continued working on the problem as the Captain spoke. That’s +when she said, “You wouldn’t have enough control with the telegraphs. +But you can see the gondola from just beneath the engine cars. If you +open the gangplank hatch, you could signal someone flying beneath the +ship to relay more exact throttle settings to the port and starboard +cars.” Kee didn’t think twice before adding, “I volunteer to fly +orders.”</p> +<p>Eudo’s beak hung open. All around the bridge the crew cocked their +heads and blinked. Many of them leaned or stepped away from their post +for a better look at the small Wingfolk with the fluttery wings and +iridescent green feathers who just volunteered to put herself in harm’s +way for her crew.</p> +<p>The captain didn’t look surprised for even a second. “You accept the +risk, I presume, just as we all did embarking on this voyage.”</p> +<p>“I do.”</p> +<p>“Then let’s get to work. Sylph, go aft and inform the starboard +engine watch. Then get into position.” He turned to the other crew and +continued, “You three return to your stations. I need everyone on the +bridge to be on watch. Yaia, you’re on the elevator, and Qriil, you’re +signaling my course corrections to Sylph.”</p> +<p>The gondola was a flurry again as the Talons returned to their +stations, and the mechanist Wings hustled up the ladder into the ship. +Kee removed the safety chains from the aft gangplank hatch and started +cranking it open. Sunlight poured into the gondola as the bridge became +exposed to the Yonder. Kee took a deep breath, spread her violet wings, +and leaped into the air. She didn’t notice Rhirr give a small salute as +he watched her go.</p> +<p>Kee beat her wings and buzzed along the ribbed, silvery belly of the +<em>Aerie</em>. She dropped low enough to see the three engine cars +slung along the tapering rings near the stern. She altered course and +hustled up the starboard car. She grabbed hold of the porthole edge.</p> +<p>Halihk was leaning up against the side, arms crossed. He jumped when +Kee pushed her head inside. “I’ll be mobbed, Sylph this is the +last—”</p> +<p>Kee cut him off, “There’s a Vork migration ahead. We’re going to +navigate through it. There was evasive rudder damage so we need to use +the engines. I’ll relay orders from the bridge.”</p> +<p>Caught off guard, Halihk lost his original reprimand. Instead he +said, “No way are we going to be able to steer this ship through a Vork +wall. It cannot be done. I refuse.”</p> +<p>The telegraph rang. <em>Idling, brake off</em>. There wasn’t time for +this.</p> +<p>“The captain gave us our orders, now let’s get a move on!”</p> +<p>“If that grounded old egghead wants to go out in a blaze of glory +then let him, I’ll see myself out and find some Shelf to watch you all +kill yourselves for him from there.”</p> +<p>Kee let every bottled-up emotion from the voyage go all at once. +“Listen here, you wet shit! You’re gonna do what I say here and now, or +this ship is going down. And you might not give two shits about what +happens to it or to the Captain, I can’t change that, but before you +smash a few eggs and fly this nest, remember one thing—you’re gonna wind +up on that remote Shelf. And when you think you’re safe and this pile of +twisted metal is lying in a heap on the surface, I’m gonna come find +that Shelf. We’re gonna be best buds while you tire your wings out as I +chase you around and pluck every last one of your shitty feathers, +reminding you what a useless sack of plumage you are ’til we’re both +dead. Ya got that? Now start that damn engine!”</p> +<p>Halihk’s beak hung wide enough for Kee to see down his gullet. He +gathered his composure and chirped to clear his throat. Without another +word, he switched the arm on the telegraph to <em>idling</em> and loosed +the brake. He quickly set the throttle and yanked the starter, the +cathedral of pistons booming to life again as they sucked in air and +pumped out torque.</p> +<p>Kee pulled her head out of the porthole and dove back from the car to +swoop under the belly of the ship. She positioned herself in front of +and below the central engine car, spotting Qriil’s brilliant +heart-shaped face staring back at her from the gondola. She gave him an +okay signal with her fingers, and he responded with the same.</p> +<p>From the central car, Kee heard the faint ring of the telegraph sound +out. The engine RPMs increased, and the propellers started to drone in +unison as the ship advanced. Kee kept pace with the ship, which must +have been powered to only half speed ahead.</p> +<p>The Vork migration before her was getting closer, and she could make +out the rough size and shape of the lifeless blobs better. They were +asymmetrical and rippled with small waves across their surface as if +they were algae-coated ponds wrapped into spheres. More uniform in their +size and distribution, most were about twenty feet across at the widest, +although some must have been double that. Kee remembered the +<em>Aerie</em> was approximately sixty feet in diameter at its widest +point. The wind carried a slight acrid smell.</p> +<p>Ahead of her, Qriil held out two red flags. With one flag, he +indicated direction, with the other, he circled and stopped at a point +in the circle to give an approximate degree of rudder change.</p> +<p>“Left, ten degrees,” Kee echoed to herself. She rolled and ducked +over to the port engine car, and caught hold of the cables fixing it to +the hull. She called into the porthole, “Idle down to 550 RPM!”</p> +<p>The bulky mechanist nodded and flattened his horned eyebrows as he +brought down the throttle.</p> +<p>Kee flew across the underbelly of the ship to the starboard car. She +caught the porthole rim and yelled, “Full ahead, 1700 RPM!”</p> +<p>“Full ahead,” Halihk echoed, and the great motor surged to cruising +speed.</p> +<p>Kee returned to her position ahead of the central engine car. She +felt the ship rotating away and she corrected her course to keep up. Her +wings were buzzing quickly enough to be invisible to anyone watching. +The Vork blob the bridge must have been dodging passed by a good three +hundred feet away from the starboard of the ship. Kee made a mental note +that she likely turned too sharply and left too wide a berth.</p> +<p>Qriil must have thought the same thing because he signaled a course +correction<em>: Right, 20 degrees rudder</em>.</p> +<p>She rolled back to the starboard engine. “Idle down to 800 RPM.” +Halihk echoed the order, and the droning dropped as Kee kicked off the +engine car and hummed across the gap to the other car to shout, “Rev it +up to 1300!” The exhaust from the tail of the car coughed black smoke +before the engine powered up. Kee shoved her head in the porthole. “Lean +it out a little; she’s rich!”</p> +<p>At this point, the ship was surrounded by the Vork on all sides and +the air was heavy with the acidic smell, making Kee’s eyes water. She +beat her wings to return to the ship’s centerline and stay ahead of the +aft engine car. From her vantage point, she could see more of the swarm +ahead. They weren’t out of this yet.</p> +<p>Qriil held both flags in parallel to signal <em>steady as she +goes</em>, and Kee hummed over to Halihk to pass the message, “Get it up +to 1300!” No sooner had she returned to her spotting position the bridge +ordered another <em>right, twenty degree rudder</em>. The orders kept +coming as Rhirr navigated through the field of deadly masses.</p> +<p>Left fifteen degrees. Right twenty degrees. Steady as she goes. Right +thirty degrees. Left twenty-five degrees.</p> +<p>Clearly the bridge couldn’t steer as well with the engines as the +rudders, so their movements were more sudden, and there was lots of +correction. Kee felt the slight strain of fatigue growing in her wings +now. She could stay aloft for hours or even days if she could find +thermals. But keeping up with the ship’s engines like this was +exhausting. Still, after a few more turns, she got into a rhythm. Her +translation was getting more accurate, and the bridge didn’t call out +course corrections as frequently, focusing only on steering side to side +to avoid incoming Vork.</p> +<p>The ship began to climb slightly. Kee registered they must be +pitching the elevators to gain some altitude. She hoped that meant they +saw an opening and were pursuing it. Qriil continued to signal and Kee +translated, learning how her engines responded to her commands and +adjusting her orders to be more precise.</p> +<p>Right fifteen degrees, port throttle up to 1500 RPM. Steady as she +goes, starboard throttle up to match. Right twenty degrees, port half +power. Left fifty degrees, starboard full speed ahead. Steady as she +goes, both engines half ahead. Left twenty-five degrees, port idle, +starboard full power.</p> +<p>Kee cut back and forth through the wind, desperately trying not to +cough at the pungent, bitter smell—shouting over the prop wash and +exhaust made her throat rough and scratchy. She thought then and there +that she’d give every last one of her secondaries to taste fresh Yonder. +The Vork passed closer to the sides of the ship. She had no idea what it +was like up on top of the hull, but along the rudder fin behind her, +there were some close calls as the gelatinous acid floated within twenty +feet of the disabled tail. It was as if the deadly orbs weren’t just +drifting on the wind but attracted to the ship itself.</p> +<p>The muscles in her wings were starting to burn, and Kee could feel +her speed dropping as she continued climbing to keep with the ship’s +rising attitude. The bridge pushed the nose up through the migration, +forking left and right to dodge the Vork. One passed beneath Kee, and on +its slick surface she could see the reflection of a great silvery fish +punctuated by a small emerald dot flitting to and fro. She pushed +harder.</p> +<p>Left ten degrees, right five degrees.</p> +<p>Kee panted as she flew orders into the engine portholes now, just +pushing out enough words to convey the message. Her heart was pounding +out of her chest, and she almost slipped reaching out for the port car’s +support strut.</p> +<p>Right fifteen degrees, left twenty degrees.</p> +<p>The surrounding Yonder brightened. The Vork began to dissipate.</p> +<p>Right thirty degrees, left twenty degrees. Steady as she goes.</p> +<p>Just as Kee called her last order for the starboard car, she heard +the telegraph inside ring, and the engines in all three cars surged. The +wind was raking through the feathers on Kee’s face. It tasted fresher. +The ship rose rapidly; the bridge must have applied a hard elevator. +Ahead, Kee saw ballast water being discharged from the bow, providing +the ship with emergency lift. She dodged the brunt of the spray as the +wind caught it and threw it back at her.</p> +<p>Her face, arms, and chest got drenched regardless. Kee cleared her +eyes to see a fifty-foot diameter Vork dead ahead and she was flying +straight toward it at breakneck speed. She couldn’t grab hold of the +ship; it was climbing too quickly.</p> +<p>She tucked her wings and dove, plummeting almost vertically across +the surface of the Vork. The tips of her toes stung, and she screwed her +eyes shut to stop the burning. She swore the tips of her primaries +tingled, but the sensation subsided.</p> +<p>Eyes open again, she saw the Vork overhead and spread her wings, +clenching her muscles and holding fast to the onslaught of air she +caught. She pulled hard, and with every fiber of her body, she managed +to level herself. Her plummet turned into upward momentum. She felt the +blood rush out of her skull, and her vision tunneled as she rocketed +back up into clear, blue Yonder. She extended an arm to the glinting +argent whale floating a few hundred yards out of reach before the +darkness swallowed it.</p> +<hr/> +<p>Sharp, clenching pain in her arms thrust Kee to her senses. Her +vision was blurry but bright, and she felt like she was swaying side to +side in some void. As things cleared, she realized she was still in the +air, but her wings hung limply on her back. Something tight tugged on +her upper arms again, and she cocked her head up to see a pair of white, +downy legs ending in thick, sharp talons gripping her tightly. Qriil’s +broad wings undulated as he carried her through a Vork-less sky.</p> +<p>Qriil turned his heart-shaped face down to Kee. “That was some dive, +I didn’t think you could fly like that.”</p> +<p>“Well, obviously I can’t, wet shi—er, I mean… sorry.” It was all the +still-woozy Kee could muster.</p> +<p>Qriil laughed in his shrill, shrieky voice. “Hey, I think it’s +well-deserved. We’re the ones who dropped the ballast after all. In our +defense, if we hadn’t we definitely would have hit that last Vork.” He +made for the wide-open cargo bay doors. When they passed through the +opening, he managed to set Kee down somewhat gently on the aluminum +deck.</p> +<p>As the bay doors shut, the noise of the wind ceased, and the low +background humming of the engines droned on. Kee got her footing, giving +half a flutter to ensure her wings still worked. They were sore but +intact.</p> +<p>Before she could get the rest of her bearings, she was surrounded by +crew; Wings and Talons alike gathered around, cheering her on and +slapping her on the back with their wingtips. The entire cargo bay was +an uproar of shrieking, squawking, and chirping. Eudo parted the crowd +and punched her in the arm.</p> +<p>“You know you didn’t need to make more work for us out there,” he +admonished, although his cheeks were grinning. Kee stared dumbfounded +until he finished, “A piece of Vork didn’t completely miss the upper +fin; now we need to patch it!”</p> +<p>Kee smiled involuntarily and punched him back. “Jerk.” Eudo put up +his hands in mock defensiveness.</p> +<p>The chief steward arrived with hot rations, which he offered Kee as +another crew member covered her back and violet wings with a dry towel. +Captain Rhirr clacked his way across the bay and approached Kee. The +boisterous crew quickly settled down and formed some semblance of +order.</p> +<p>He wasn’t distracted in the slightest by the rowdiness; eyes fixated +on Kee, he said, “Engineer Sylph, I can say without a doubt that from +today onward I am in your debt. You ensured not only the success of our +maiden voyage but also the safe return of your fellow crew members. At +great personal peril, you served this ship at the peak of its need, and +I commend you. You, more than any of us, understood the risks we took +venturing out on this new machine. We thank you for your quick thinking +and courage in service.” The captain bowed low, and the crew mimicked +his praise.</p> +<p>He spoke again, this time to the crew at large: “I think we all agree +Engineer Sylph has earned a break after that magnificent flying, but +we’re not home yet. I must ask you all, once you’ve finished your +congratulations, to cover her watches as we begin repairs. We don’t want +to be without our steerage any longer than we have to, I’m sure. We’ll +celebrate properly when we’re home.”</p> +<p>Halihk, upstaged behind most of the group before now, stepped forward +to interject, “With respect, Captain, Engineer Sylph is needed promptly +on starboard engine watch once her rest shift is over.” He eyed Kee with +his beady, dark eyes and gave a shallow nod.</p> +<p>Captain Rhirr glanced at Halihk and turned back to Kee, cocking one +brow.</p> +<p>The small fledgling mechanist with the iridescent green feathers and +long thin beak, still soaking wet and stained with grease, smiled and +quietly nodded before answering—</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, I am needed on starboard engine watch.”</p> + +<?php $nolicense=true; ?> diff --git a/posts/2025-10-20-second-voyage-of-the-aerie.php b/posts/2025-10-20-second-voyage-of-the-aerie.php new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d173440 --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/2025-10-20-second-voyage-of-the-aerie.php @@ -0,0 +1,1337 @@ +<h1>On Stranded Wings: Second Voyage of the <em>Aerie</em></h1> + +<p class="description"> +This year, for Nat 1's WWOO two-week short-story challenge, I revisted Kee and her menagerie of Wingfolk pioneers. I'm invested in writing fiction for fun again, and I wanted to use this story to do a couple of things. First, I wanted to more closely experiment with close third person writing. I wanted to get more of Kee's thoughts around what was happening and "zoom in" on her actions. Second, I wanted to use much richer imagery and situational environments to reveal things about the world, instead of just dumping them on the reader. I ended up writing a much longer story than originally anticipated for this anthology, but I couldn't stop telling the story! +</p> + +<p>The rhythmic thrumming of the engines emitted a drone that hushed out +all other noise in this part of the ship. Like a lullaby, it smoothed +over footsteps, tools, and valves, present though they were. The dim +light was betrayed by glinting aluminum girders, all of which were +strapped in place by a web of thick steel cables. The canvas walls gave +off the slightest ripple—the only indicator that there may be a harsh or +exciting world beyond them.</p> +<p>A row of slack hammocks filled the voids between large tanks of water +or oil, a couple of dented workbenches with bins of fasteners, and +heavily laden wooden toolboxes. One hammock, taught with its burden, +appeared at first like an open burlap sack full of iridescent green +feathers. It rarely twitched or deviated from rest, a state most +appreciated by its occupant. The bundle of feathers rose and fell and +routinely gave off a snore. Sometimes a clawed black foot or a scaly +hand would make its way out of its nest in search of cooler air.</p> +<p>The volume of the engines deadened abruptly. Like a backup quartet +quickly regrouping into a trio—the drop was soft and proportionate. +There was no harsh banging of equipment. No explosions or ringing to +indicate a state of alarm, but the new quiet was plenty enough to +disturb the slumber in the one weighted hammock. Any dreams that might +have been filled with bright, blue skies and the thrill they brought +were quelled with the intrusion of new silence. That silence would +assuredly beget work. Not the boring or toiling kind, but satisfying and +thought-provoking work. These thoughts tucked away dreams and rushed in +to replace them with alertness and drive. For Kee, they did this rather +slowly.</p> +<p>“Mmmmsome engine down…” Kee grumbled, hoping it was loud enough for +someone to hear the complaint. She cracked open one eye. <em>Nope, just +me.</em> She sighed and unfurled in the hammock, swaying as she sat up. +She stretched her arms over her head and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. +A yawn escaped her long, thin beak. “Can’t even finish rest before +someone mucks up on watch?” she asked aloud to nobody.</p> +<p><em>Oh well</em>, her gripes were always half-hearted anyway. +In-flight repairs meant thrilling engineering, and she wasn’t going to +miss a second of the action. Kee hoisted herself up and slid down from +the hammock, sucking in air when her claws clanked on the cold aluminum +deck. She fluttered her wings to wake them up as she started off.</p> +<p>Kee headed forward down the catwalk through the belly of the ship. +The droning of the engines got louder as she moved. <em>If it’s still +this noisy over the aft engines, it’s gotta be the forward port or +starboard engine that died.</em> She continued musing as her footsteps +clicked along the planks of the catwalk. Could it be fuel delivery? +Oiling? Or maybe some mechanical failure. She was confident that the +crew had done a thorough overhaul and inspection before the voyage, and +everything looked in order. <em>Maybe—</em></p> +<p>“Kee, the devoted early riser, on her way to set things straight, no +doubt!”</p> +<p>Kee jumped out of her thoughts to see lanky white plumage strutting +up the corridor toward her. Eudo’s arm was raised in greeting, and the +gape of his orange bill was curled in a friendly grin. Kee smiled back +and returned his wave before rolling her eyes in mock annoyance. “Eudo +the rigger, managing to somehow eek his way through trim watch no +doubt.”</p> +<p>He nodded with his too-long neck. “Cheeky and grumpy this morning, +great combination. Just finishing up, actually. Moved a hundred gallons +forward. Figured you’d already be up and thought I’d see if you wanna +hit the galley before I go off watch. When’s the last time you slept +through a down engine?”</p> +<p>She blinked and gave an exaggerated yawn in reply. “Well, you know +me. Can’t stand the thought of sleeping in.”</p> +<p>“Yeah, ’swhat I thought. The rest of the crew and I do our best to +keep you on your toes anyway,” he said and bowed in mock service. “Now +it’s your turn. If we go to eat, you should know Halihk is in there.” He +smirked and twisted his long neck so he could look pointedly down his +bill at Kee.</p> +<p>She bristled, and even though the plumage on her nape was sticking +straight up, she waved her hand through the air to dismiss Eudo’s +comment. “He and I aren’t mortal enemies, you know. We just got off on +the wrong foot.” <em>Well, more like both feet, fists, and all</em> now +that she thought about it.</p> +<p>Halihk’s first impressions ranged from mildly antagonistic to +downright malicious. “What matters is he and I both care about getting +stuff done and leaving each other alone; it doesn’t make any difference +what he thinks of me.” She hoped it sounded convincing.</p> +<p>Eudo retorted, “Yeah, seeing you two get stuff done is what makes +breakfast so entertaining for me and the other guys.” Before she could +sass him, he spun around and took long, bobbing strides down the +corridor. Kee switched from thinking up comebacks to figuring out how +she was going to get reassigned to the downed engine. Halihk might give +her a go at it if the rest of the workload was light. She clicked along +the wooden catwalks to keep up with Eudo. Her line of sight stretched +down the catwalk, which arched slightly back up at the end of the hall. +Her gaze drifted up to the massive cells full of lifting gas looming +overhead. The gargantuan bags quietly assumed most of the ship’s bulk +and kept her aloft. Kee admired the off-worlders. <em>Featherless and +wingless things, but they do have some bright ideas</em>.</p> +<p>Before long, they arrived at the galley door. It was one of the only +compartments of the ship that was walled off from the inner workings. +Cooking, eating, and communing were best done out of sight of work. The +privacy was largely for show; the room was still wrapped in canvas and +did nothing to muffle the chatter and noise from inside. But somehow the +guys still used it to divulge all the latest scuttlebutt. Eudo slid open +the canvas door and stepped through. Kee followed right behind and drew +the door shut behind her. Along one wall, a row of electric cooktops and +an oven were lined with aluminum pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Kee +immediately spotted Yarrick dancing back and forth, prepping and dishing +out rations, his black feathers dusty with flour and his apron stained +with whatever he had happened to be reheating that day. Perches and +tables lined the perimeter of the cabin, running down the middle from +one end to the other. Electric lights bathed the whole room in an +artificial but cheery glow. The watch change meant the place was already +teeming.</p> +<p>The menagerie of crew present was busy squawking or chittering away +in conversation. Edd was trying his best to distract Yarrick (or anyone +who would listen, probably) with a tale of someone he met at the dry +dock. Eudo did his best to push his way past Edd in the cramped space +and get something to eat. Kee turned her attention to the tables. +Sriharc, a navigator and one of the Talons who ran the ship from the +control gondola, ate across from Halihk at a far table. Halihk looked +more abrasive than usual. Kee’s throat dried up. He was probably ready +to peck the eyes out of anybody who’d so much as open their beak at him. +<em>This should be good. Well, only one way to get what you +want.</em></p> +<p>She marched her way right up to their table. “Morning, Sriharc. Fine +flying weather out there?”</p> +<p>Sriharc nodded in greeting, his yellow eyes darting from Halihk to +Kee and back. “Fine weather, just a few passing Vork.”</p> +<p>Vork were a mystery to Kee; essentially, they were bonded globs of +elements that floated around in the air from place to place. They +populated and sometimes moved through Wingfolk skies like vast +migrations. Most of them were harmless, such as the jelly-like masses of +water, but others were dangerous—floating blobs of caustic acid-like +substance, burning pockmarks into the sides of the Shelves. Steering +clear of them was a job for the Talons.</p> +<p>“We’re making good headway, too, a few thousand miles in over the +Underwood already. Another couple of days and we’ll break the record for +crossing over it wings-on-your-back. Then comes the rest of the +surveying flight, charting, etc.” He smirked and lifted his pitcher with +an arm trimmed in brick red plumage. “Course, we’d do it a lot quicker +with four engines.” He retrained his eyes on Halihk.</p> +<p>Kee braced for impact but managed to offer, “Sure, well, I’ll get +right on that.”</p> +<p>Halihk answered on cue, “Nuts, Sylph, there’ll be no asking for an +invite to the party on starboard engine, ‘cause the answer’s +<em>no</em>. You stay on trim watch this shift or go pick flowers in the +Underwood for all I care.”</p> +<p><em>Oh yeah, it’s on.</em> The crude words flowed from Kee’s mind to +the tip of her beak without filtration. “Thanks Halihk, but actually was +feelin’ a little worked up—came to check whether you gents were lekking +in here. Gotta say so far I’m pretty disappointed, s’like a cold shower +with you around.”</p> +<p>Eudo smacked the table from across the room, head reared back in +laughter. Yarrick beat his wings and chuckled while he shifted pans +around. Halihk sneered, but his beady black eyes glowered up at Kee.</p> +<p>She reloaded and took her next shot before he could get one +out.“Besides, if I wanted that job, I’d ask the chief or one of the +Talons,” she jabbed a scaly black thumb at Sriharc.</p> +<p>Sriharc raised his gray head and rolled his eyes at the ceiling. “Oh, +no, you two and Llyr work that out; he’s in charge of you mechanists. +’Sides, in this galley, the only one in charge is Yarrick over there. +Right, Yarrick?”</p> +<p>Yarrick looked up from what he was doing long enough to caw out a +dry, “You better believe it!”</p> +<p>Sriharc stood from his perch and made his way past the rest of the +menagerie and out of the galley. Before he shut the door, he flung one +last piece of ammo toward the impending battle: “Oh, and Halihk failed +to mention that he already asked the chief if he could look at that +engine. Poor guy got shut down.” He gave Kee a wink. The jerk looked +pretty satisfied with his handiwork.</p> +<p>The pot was adequately stirred. Halihk stood, his tawny wings +stretching out and puffing up his stature. “That’s right, Sylph. Chief’s +orders. You stay on trim, and I go on rest, and Krarr learns how to pull +a cylinder all by himself. Sky above knows he’s gotta figure it out +in-flight one way or another.” His white cheeks shifted. He looked +amused more than anything. “Besides, if you really want to pull a fella +in here, all you gotta do is show him your nest.”</p> +<p>Kee felt her wings quiver and the down on her chest swell. She stuck +her neck out and threw her arms up, gesturing to the tight room. “Maybe +I would if there were any guys with rank in here, but there aren’t, are +there?”</p> +<p>She felt the blow hit home. The dirty cone-face’s amusement faded +faster than it came. That got him. All he could get out was, “Perch on a +cactus, Sylph,” and he stomped back up to his table.</p> +<p>“Yeah, lay an egg, Halihk.” Kee turned on her toes and scraped her +way across the deck back to Eudo, who was already perched at a table +with Edd. Yarrick coughed and growled out, “That’ll be enough o’ that +while I’m prepping food for your foul gizzards!”</p> +<p>Kee sidled up to Eudo. She avoided eye contact, instead fixing her +gaze on the black and white photograph above the table. It had been +taken back at the dry dock before the maiden voyage when Halihk had his +chance at being Chief Mechanist. The caption read: <em>The</em> Aerie +<em>and her crew</em>. Eudo started, “You know you really ought not to +bring up the guy’s rank. He was really proud to be ‘chief for a day’. +Besides, you’re both Soaring Mechanists now, you don’t have anything +left to prove to anybody.”</p> +<p>“It’s just how we get along. Llyr will smooth things over.” Kee +stared at the photo, or rather, past it into some middle distance. She +let her vision blur while her time as a Fledgling Mechanist trickled +back. All the hard work, the sweat, the late nights. Why did she do it? +’Cause she liked it, duh. Should she have something to prove? That she +wasn’t too small or just some broody girl in denial? If she did have +something to prove, she wasn’t sure to whom. Herself? Her family? Llyr +or the crew? She wanted to work on the <em>Aerie</em> the moment she +knew the ship’d been offered to the Wingfolk by the off-worlders. She +flew a long way to apprentice with the best. She wanted to get her hands +dirty, make things tick, solve problems. <em>Building things had a +purpose. Wasn’t that reason enough?</em> Should she have some aspiration +to fly higher, fly farther, like everyone else? Or maybe one day design +and build ships. Give flight to the flightless. That wasn’t such a bad +reason; most everyone had that goal. It was troubling, not because it +was a bad goal, but because it didn’t feel like it was <em>her</em> +goal.</p> +<p>The table had been quiet for too long, and her chest felt tight. She +thought she’d die stewing on it if she didn’t talk about something else. +“So uh, what’s up with the Underwood?”</p> +<p>Luckily, Eudo took the hint. “Well, we’re pretty deep into the +territory. You know we’re gonna be the first ones to cross it? It’s so +big nobody’s ever been able to wing it across the whole thing.”</p> +<p>Big deal, lots of trees to look at. “We stopping anywhere?”</p> +<p>“No, don’t think so. In our briefing, Qreel just said we’re mapping +the whole Shelf. Taking measurements, pointing out spots where we might +be able to settle or something. Besides, the canopy is too thick to land +anywhere.”</p> +<p>Edd added his usual flavor to someone else’s conversation, “Ain’t no +sense trying neither. Talons said the last expedition that touched down +at the edge just reported it’s dark, dank, and full of nasty +varmints.”</p> +<p>Eudo and Edd continued gossiping about the mission and the crew while +Kee ate. Her thoughts drifted to the desolate foreign shelves, like +those of the Underwood. <em>Why would we explore a place not worth +living?</em> She supposed it was better than the Crags. The lowest +surface of the Wingfolk world wasn’t a nice place to be. Jagged rock and +nothing grew there. Up high on rock columns called Shelves is where +everyone lived, ate, and had fun. Lakes, beaches, her hometown. Thoughts +wandered back to it for a brief moment before the memories got too +boring. No, the best was being in the air. All the time if you could +help it. At least here she could fly, tinker, and see what else was out +there.</p> +<p>The conversation drifted to the captain. Edd waffled on, “Well, this +is how the hangar guys said it went down. Captain’s flyin’ through this +wicked squall, yeah, and he gets to flyin’ too close to the deck, and +then <em>bam</em>!” He slammed his fist on the table. “He smacks +back-first into the Shelf-face. Radius nerve is smithereens, and he’s +grounded for life.” Kee caught Halihk turn around at his table and +survey them with one eye. Edd was too stupid to notice or listen when +Eudo shushed him. “So I’m jist askin’, how come the guy steerin’ the +ship is the one who’s caught in a gale flyin’ upside down.”</p> +<p>Halihk rose from his table and walked closer until he stood beside +Edd. He set his fingers on the table, his wings looming such that they +blocked out the electric light overhead. He spoke with a controlled tone +that Kee couldn’t remember ever hearing from him in all her hours on +board. “There’ll be no more talk of the captain in this galley. And if I +catch you doing it on watch, chief or no chief, I’ll set you to work. +Did that make it into your hollow skull?” Before they could respond, he +turned, opened the canvas door, and left.</p> +<p>Edd recoiled and tried to stammer an apology, but it was too late. +“Sheesh, you guys know I don’t mean nothin’ about the captain, he’s a +great Talon. ’Sides, he got us out of that jam on our maiden voyage.” He +turned and raised his pitcher to Kee. “With some fancy flying from our +fearless, shimmering bolt of green!” Kee giggled and rolled her eyes. +Looking back, her “daring” flight between the engine cars wasn’t her +proudest moment.</p> +<p>The drone of the ship’s remaining engines was cut by the whistling +hiss of an air starter and the <em>pop</em> of ignition. It quickly +erupted in knocking and intense vibration, which reverberated through +the lightweight girders of the ship and rattled its way into the hollow +bones of everyone in the galley. The <em>Aerie</em> was shivering like a +beast in distress, and the clanging, knocking sound made Kee wince. Then +it was over, gone seemingly as quickly as it had started. Kee jumped +from her perch and made for the door. It slid open, and Halihk’s tawny +face and white cheeks blocked her way.</p> +<p>“Get to it, Sylph, on the double.” He gestured out the door with his +wing.</p> +<p>Kee bolted out into the corridor. Her jaunt almost turned to flight +as she jumped and flapped her way down the catwalk to the cargo bay. The +cargo bay was essentially a series of storage lockers situated between +two rings of the hull. A few loading rails and lifting chains hung from +the ceiling, and crates and sacks of supplies were stuffed anywhere they +would fit—between cables, girders, and the supporting nets of the +massive gas cells above. It did, though, have large bay doors beneath +for raising and lowering palettes of cargo into the ship. These were +usually left open for the crew to catch some wind. <em>Perfect, they’re +still open!</em> Kee took one look over the edge into the clouds and +rolling green canopies below and dove off the ledge.</p> +<p>Every plume, every fiber of her body savored and cherished the wind: +the cool rush of the <em>Aerie</em>’s wash and the warm, uplifting +currents from the Shelf below. It was heavenly. She kicked her legs out +behind her as her pointed, violet wings fanned out to grab the air. She +buzzed them to keep up with the ship, but the updrafts flowed over and +through her primaries and held her aloft. The enormous silvery fish +above her propelled itself through the air effortlessly, if noisily. No +beating of wings kept the <em>Aerie</em> aloft.</p> +<p>Mile after mile stretched the green canopies, all the way to the +horizon in all directions, without so much as a bump in elevation. +Scattered clouds cast shadows down onto the lush foliage. A few Vork did +meander in between clouds. They didn’t look caustic or dangerous, mostly +clear. More likely than not, they were just balls of water. Ahead, Kee +could see the control gondola slung beneath the bow. Through the +porthole windows, she could see Talons—officers of the +<em>Aerie—</em>busily charting out their course and maintaining the +ship’s heading. Kee pulled back to slow up. She drifted back along the +sloping, ribbed hull, dipping her right wing and rolling over to +starboard to meet up with the engine car.</p> +<p>The small pod was affixed to the hull of the ship with a few girders +and a ladder. The propeller windmilled freely. <em>Alright, girl, what +do you need?</em> Kee dove toward the ladder and tucked her wings. She +deftly grabbed hold of the rungs with her claws, firmly joining the +<em>Aerie</em> once more.</p> +<p>Wind rippled through the down on her arms and back as she slid into +the car below. She landed on the deck with a clank. Krarr was panting +and hunched over the engine, frantically disassembling the rockers with +an open-ended wrench. Soot covered his light gray and tawny down. His +bushy ear tufts, normally flattened back against his head, were standing +straight up and scraping the canvas ceiling of the engine car. He jumped +and spun his head around, fixing his enormous, yellow, globed eyes on +Kee.</p> +<p>“Kee! I don’t know what happened,” he pleaded. “It was running rough +and then just quit. I made some timing adjustments, but it wouldn’t +start, so I removed a couple of cylinders. But when I got ’em off, I +didn’t see anything wrong, so I put it back together and started it up +again, that’s when things shook. It felt like the whole car was going to +come apart! And now I don’t—I just don’t know—” he tripped over the +remaining words and eventually trailed off without forming a complete +thought.</p> +<p>Krarr was even more out of his element than usual. On a good day, he +was a half-decent mechanist, just a little too by-the-book to +troubleshoot things himself. Kee looked around the place. Tools and rags +littered the already cramped compartment. Spare parts were unboxed and +scattered about, and the toolbox appeared to have been turned upside +down at some point. Worst of all, the engine order telegraph—the method +the Talons used to communicate desired speed and direction— was still +set to <em>Cruising speed</em>. The big guy was clearly flustered.</p> +<p>“Krarr, take a deep breath with me. In through the nares, out through +the gape.” She sucked in air, held it, and exhaled, motioning for him to +do the same. His bushy chest inflated as he breathed in, and then +compressed as he let the air out. “We’re gonna figure this out together, +okay?” He nodded. Kee pointed to the telegraph. “Always, <em>always</em> +set the telegraph first so the Talons know what’s up, alright?” He +nodded again while she rolled the dial back and forth, ringing the bell +with a <em>Ti-ti-ti-ting</em> and setting the indicator to <em>stop +engine, brake on.</em></p> +<p>Kee motioned for him to scoot over. The great iron behemoth dominated +her attention, and she greedily fixated on it, running over it with eyes +and scaly fingers, trying to assess what had been done or not done. The +gorgeous brass and iron fixtures looked to be mechanically intact. Six +cylinders stood in a row, one clearly half-bolted. The spider-like valve +train atop the cylinder was in pieces, no doubt Krarr’s next avenue of +attack. The rest of the assembly seemed untouched: a network of pipes +and hoses carrying oil, coolant, air, and fuel all strung out like veins +from the cold, dormant heart. In her head, Kee could see everything: +valves actuating, pistons traveling up and down, connecting rods +translating linear motion into circular motion, and finally turning the +crankshaft and propeller. All she needed to do was see who in the family +was misbehaving.</p> +<p><em>Spark plugs first.</em> Kee grabbed a socket and wrench from the +wooden toolbox and started pulling all twelve spark plugs one at a time. +She held them out under the light from the porthole, studying the +electrodes for damage. Finally, she got to the last cylinder. They were +both fouled, sooty with oil and unburned fuel.</p> +<p>“Krarr, during your watch, was she blowing fire or blue smoke out the +exhaust at all? Or using much oil?”</p> +<p>Krarr shifted on his feet in the compartment and nodded. “Yeah that +started happening on my watch. I tried adjusting things, but nothing I +did helped, and then it quit.”</p> +<p>Burning oil and bad oscillation. Kee wasted no time. She reached back +down to the toolbox and rifled through it, setting out everything she’d +need to disassemble the last cylinder. Notably, it wasn’t the one Krarr +was halfway through taking off.</p> +<p>While she was working, another pair of clawed feet started traversing +the ladder from the hull down into their car. Llyr’s jet black feathers +poured into the compartment as he squeezed along the other side of the +engine next to Krarr. She looked up long enough to give a, “Hey chief,” +and continued working. The place was cramped with three mechanists in +it.</p> +<p>“Kee, Krarr, sorry I’m late. How are you two getting on?” Llyr was +always pleasant, and Kee felt a warm sensation of confidence every time +she worked with him. Her apprenticeship at dry dock was mostly overseen +by Llyr, and he was the best there was, no doubt. He knew things about +engines no other Wingfolk had picked up yet; it was borderline +supernatural. But he never talked down to anyone—everything was a +learning opportunity if you were willing to put in the work.</p> +<p>Krarr jumped at the chance to provide some iota of progress, “Well, +Kee pulled the spark plugs, and the number six cylinder is fouling +pretty badly. She—I mean, <em>we’re</em> taking that off for +inspection.”</p> +<p>“I see, well observed. And what are we thinking could be the culprit +so far?”</p> +<p>“Krarr told me blue smoke and flames right before she stalled, so I’m +thinking rings or connecting rod. With the vibration we all felt, gotta +be the rod.”</p> +<p>“Well diagnosed, you two! I can see I’m not needed here. But Krarr, +why don’t you lend Kee a hand with those valves?” Llyr was good. He +wasn’t a watch-and-learn kinda guy. He taught through hands-on +experience and built confidence.</p> +<p>Kee and Krarr squished together on the outboard side of the engine, +working in tandem. Llyr watched their work over the top of the motor, +making small talk. Kee heard less and less of it the more focused she +got. She was savoring, calculating, keeping track of parts. After +another hour, they had everything neatly organized into small buckets of +parts on the floor, and together, they lifted the cylinder apart. It was +pretty bad. The top half of the cylinder was pretty scored up. The +piston itself clearly failed in some way, as there were black scorch +marks all around the rings and down the sides of the piston. Everything +was still connected, but there was clearly overheating and loss of oil. +Kee studied the piston, dangling freely in the air as if it were holding +onto the crank for dear life. She worked it back and forth and noticed +the wrist pin was dead seized.</p> +<p>“Well, I think you’ve found the culprit, alright.” Llyr beamed over +the valvetrain at his two mechanists.</p> +<p>“Yep, definitely bad wrist pin,” Kee confirmed and offered the piston +to Krarr to study. “We’re going to need some parts from the engineering +station and more tools. It should only take an hour to get a new pin in +and put everything back together.”</p> +<p>Llyr blinked and frowned. “I’m not so sure we can. Look at the slight +curve in the connecting rod; it’s bent out of shape, and I think it took +too much meat off the cylinder with it. I think we’ll have to remove the +piston and run on five the rest of the voyage.” Kee’s tail feathers +drooped. A wrist pin or even re-ringing was an easy job. The conn rod +meant dropping the pan, turning the block over, and getting the end caps +off. It was a major overhaul. But Llyr was right, there was no way this +piston was moving up and down without hitting the sides of the cylinder. +It just wouldn’t fit right, unless—</p> +<p>Kee’s heart skipped, and she perked up. “Well, let’s file the piston +then!” she chirped. “We can ream out the bushing a little so it’s oval, +and then file the edges of the piston to give us some clearance with the +cylinder. New rings should take care of the rest, right?” She pointed +her beak at Llyr, zealously waiting for his reply.</p> +<p>The chief turned things over in his head, looking not at Kee but at +the piston. After musing for another minute, he made eye contact with +Kee, smiled, and cawed, “We’ll need to run less fuel through there, but +I don’t see why not. Let’s get to work.”</p> +<p>Kee danced in place; she couldn’t help herself. She was radiating. +Resurrecting an engine was like magic. The tools were like wands or +mystical adjuncts, connecting Kee with some tapestry of innate motorized +life force.</p> +<p>The crew set to work. Kee and Llyr flew back out of the car and up +through the now-orange sky back to the cargo bay. They clanked their way +to the engineering station, gathering parts and tools as they went, and +chatted about the wind conditions, ballast levels, clouds, and their +stuck piston. They swapped stories of great discoveries made on watch +and late nights banging their heads against problems that tired eyes +would never solve. They gathered their collection into a few light packs +and flew them back to the engine car.</p> +<p>The Underwood continued endlessly below them. It looked like a +bubbling, rolling green sea of tree crowns. As the daylight waned, the +shadow of the ship passing overhead grew longer.</p> +<p>When they got back to the starboard engine car, they resumed their +positions. Kee and Krarr stood on the outboard side, taking turns filing +away at the disassembled piston. A little metal there, a little shave +here. They checked and rechecked the fit as they worked, making sure +they removed just what was necessary. Finally, they had a fitment they +were happy with. By now Kee’s white chest was sooty and matted with +grease in spots. Her iridescent green arms gleamed a rainbow-black hue +from the oil. Llyr worked on the fitting of the new wrist pin, ensuring +it had a full range of motion and adequate lubrication for startup. By +the time they had the cylinder back on and everything ready to go, the +light through the porthole had gone completely, and an indigo night was +rapidly giving way to pitch blackness. A small electric lamp was all +they had to work by now.</p> +<p>Llyr wiped his claws on a rag and ran his hand back along his nape. +“Well, who’d like to do the honors?”</p> +<p>Kee almost spoke but caught the words at the last moment. She instead +gave Krarr a gentle thump on the wings. “How about it, Krarr?”</p> +<p>Krarr’s yellow globes trained on Kee. He smiled, nodded, and moved +into position. The chief rang the telegraph with a +<em>ti-ti-ti-ti-ting</em> and signalled <em>idling, brake off</em>. Kee +and Krarr echoed the command. She released the brake while Krarr set the +choke and mixture for startup. At last, he yanked the air starter.</p> +<p><em>Vvvfff-boom</em>, the engine coughed and then erupted with +motion. The carburetors sucked in air, and magic and life returned to +the dead cauldron of fluids in the engine car. It sounded distinctly +different from Kee’s memory, probably because it still wasn’t running in +top shape, but it was smooth and powerful. It tickled Kee’s +senses—sight, sound, smell. It was an orchestra of fumes, valves +ticking, and coolant and fuel flowing through a maze of energy.</p> +<p>Llyr rang and signaled <em>cruising speed</em> with the telegraph, +and assumed the throttle controls while Kee handled the clutch that +connected the engine to the propeller. Llyr put the power on, pumping +more fuel and air into its starving cylinders to increase the RPMs, but +not quite to the level they usually ran at. Kee yanked the clutch to +engage the prop. The shock was instant, and the oscillating in the car +was intense. Kee immediately reversed her actuation.</p> +<p>Nothing happened.</p> +<p>She pulled harder, but it wouldn’t disconnect. <em>What’s wrong with +this thing?</em> The entire car was shaking and creaking with the +vibration. Llyr yelled something to Krarr, but Kee couldn’t hear it. The +car swayed.</p> +<p>Krarr killed the engine. The vibration stopped, but the car continued +swaying. Llyr shouted, “Strut’s loose—both of you out!” and he motioned +up the hatchway ladder.</p> +<p>“Krarr, move your tail feathers! Get out of here!” Kee started +shoving Krarr around the engine toward the ladder. “Chief, you’re in the +way, move.” The car was tighter now that the three Wingfolk were +spreading their wings in a panic, as if any moment they’d need to fly to +safety. Kee and Krarr couldn’t maneuver around Llyr up the ladder.</p> +<p>“I’m going last, no arguing!” Llyr demanded. The car sagged and +swayed again as a creaking, twisting sound tore through their ears.</p> +<p>“You don’t get to choose, now hustle!” Kee shoved Krarr’s bulk up +against Llyr, pinning him up against the ladder. Finally, he struggled +to free himself and start climbing. He disappeared through the hatch as +Krarr followed as quickly as his size would allow. Kee grabbed the rungs +of the ladder. Past Krarr’s tail, she could see the torn canvas of the +ship and girders protruding like splintered bones piercing skin. As the +car sagged, the fuel and oil lines severed, showering the car and ladder +rungs with a smelly, slippery lubricant. Llyr and Krarr took a bath in +motor oil, shielding their eyes as Kee grabbed hold of the rungs with +both hands and started to hop up the ladder. <em>The telegraph</em>. Her +eyes darted toward the dial face, in the dim light still indicating +<em>cruising speed</em>.</p> +<p>“Sylph, let’s move!” Llyr shouted down the ladder.</p> +<p>She reached for the lever instead, rang the bell, and felt her +stomach lurch. The creaking, crunching noise of twisting aluminum and +the snapping crackle of wire braces gave way to the noise of wind.</p> +<p>The light in the car went out, and Kee felt her whole body shunted +against the far wall. <em>Dropped.</em> Everything spun and turned over +as she spread her wings, trying to get airborne. Her wings flapped and +slapped into pipes, flinging tools, and the canvas sides of the car.</p> +<p><em>Caged.</em></p> +<p>Kee slammed back-first into the side of the car, the momentum she +built up impacting all at once and knocking the air out of her as the +car smashed into solid matter again. She reached out for a +handhold—anything she could use to climb out of the car and get into the +open.</p> +<p>The car’s speed picked up again as it rolled over on its side. She +jumped just as the car reentered free-fall, once more pinning her to the +side. The disorienting blackness and falling sensation kept her +scrambling for a way out of the cage. <em>Falling.</em> Any egress she +could use for flight was invisible, out of her grasp. Parts and tools +continued to spiral around, assaulting her face, chest, and arms. She +covered her eyes with her hands as she flapped and rolled.</p> +<p>The motion halted violently again with a shuddering smash as Kee +rocketed sideways into the engine block, one of her wings buckling with +a sickening crunch as her head impacted the manifold.</p> +<p>Everything was still, but her vision was still swirling. Her wing +hurt. Her legs hurt. Her head hurt. Sticky, warm fluid ran down into her +eye, and fog seeped in, stealing her consciousness away.</p> +<hr/> +<p>The air was stagnant and thick with moisture. Unbreathable. +Everything was a fuzzy approximation of reality, swirling around in +invisible mist. Kee’s head pounded, the feathers on the left side of her +face still hot and sticky. A cloud of gnats invaded her thoughts and +faculties and drew her vision to the gray light and the car around her. +<em>Shit.</em></p> +<p>She and the car sat in at least three inches of muddy, oily water, +and gnats and mosquitoes assaulted her ears. As the fuzziness left her +skull, the car became clearer. The pain got worse. <em>Double +shit</em>.</p> +<p>Everything was sore, but parts of her were in agony. Her left wing— +“Ouch!” she winced and hissed as she grabbed it. “Oww!” It hurt worse +the more she touched it, the more she flexed it. Her heart pounded, and +nausea slowly crept up her throat from her stomach. She sucked in +breath. <em>Keep it together. Just a little sprain. One inch at a +time.</em></p> +<p>She relaxed and then tensed her shoulder muscles, slowly extending +her wing joint by joint. “<em>Shhhhhit</em>! Ow!” Her feathery wing +wrist burned and throbbed. Worse, it was immobile. Despite the pain, she +felt no control over it. She stiffened it again, hoping to find a +restful position where her muscles didn’t sear.</p> +<p>Now wide awake, the masked pain came in full force. “Oh no, oh no no +no!” <em>It’s fine, just sore, you can do this Kee, just gentler—</em> +She hissed again as she extended her right wing, and the pain coursed +back into the wrist. It felt like her muscles had been pried loose from +her bones with a chisel.</p> +<p><em>Grounded?</em> It sank in too fast. Her eyes welled with tears so +quickly she choked on them. She couldn’t cry, she just couldn’t. She had +to find a way. But the sobbing came in spurts anyway. Holding back made +her throat raspy. “My wing, not my wing!” she croaked through tears.</p> +<p>This was it. She was grounded. Like the captain, she’d never fly +again. But unlike the captain, she was stuck in some stupid forest +nobody even wanted to live in. Just a dumb little wannabe mechanist. Her +last flight was carrying some tools around. She wished she had the +forethought to take just one last soar from the observation deck with +Eudo. But here she had no Eudo to lean on. No Llyr to teach her. The +gnats and the humidity were all she had. No crew, no friends. No +<em>Aerie</em>. They would rescue her, right? How could they? Llyr +probably didn’t even see the engine car fall. How would they even know +where she was in the dark? She’d give anything for that last flight now. +Maybe it would be better if she hadn’t woken up at all. She cried for +only the sky knows how long, emptying any energy she had left into her +tears.</p> +<p>A flapping sound and something landing with a thud and a splash +outside jerked Kee to her senses. She called out, “Hello? Guys, I’m in +here!”</p> +<p>More rustling and a kickoff. Something was flying away fast. Kee +pushed herself up off the wet floor, holding her breath through the +pain. The car lay roughly upright, tilted a few degrees to one side. She +climbed what was left of the slick ladder, carefully tucking her lame +wing so it didn’t impact the hatch. With her head out of the car, she +laid eyes on the Underwood for the first time.</p> +<p>The forest was dense with the largest swamp gum trees Kee had ever +seen. The tupelos had massive trunks, and their canopies stretched at +least one hundred feet toward the sky. There was no sign of any +Wingfolk. Kee’s eyes scrutinized the canopies. <em>Am I +hallucinating?</em> Everything was dimly lit as minuscule amounts of +light cut in through the foliage; only a small hole let daylight down +directly above where Kee landed. <em>Landed? Hell of a landing.</em></p> +<p>Kee scoured the ground around the car. The base and roots of the +trees were completely submerged. The whole area she could see was +flooded. Leaves and debris floated on the water, which was surprisingly +clear everywhere except where the broken engine bled oil. She blinked. +At the base of the car, on what looked like a small raft made of tree +roots, were flowers. A whole pile of green-white flowers the size of her +fist. Beside them sat a few dark blue fruits, all floating calmly on the +raft.</p> +<p>Kee was still dizzy and overcome with pain. Her stomach added a new, +gnawing sensation to the party. Suddenly, she was starving. She +clambered out of the hatch, careful not to rock the car too hard. +Climbing down the car's side was not easy, but Kee managed to grip the +ribbed, torn-up surface. She splashed down into the mud as deep as her +calves.</p> +<p>The raft wobbled as Kee swashed up to it, sinking slightly into muddy +deadfall beneath the surface. The flowers smelled amazing, their sweet +nectar alluring. Kee picked one up and drank from it. <em>Wow, that’s +great.</em> It was sweet, and with every sip, her body begged for +more.</p> +<p>She drank through half of the flowers before she caught herself +thinking about Halihk. She chuckled. <em>If that jerk could see me now. +Picking flowers in the Underwood.</em> She dismissed the memory and +turned to the fruit. She bit into it. It was good, but not as good as +the flowers, more like a sour plum than anything.</p> +<p>While Kee ate, her spirits recovered marginally, and the sense of +hopelessness melted away into questions. She always felt better when she +had questions to think about. But here, there was nobody to ask them but +herself. <em>Who left this for me? Was the crew here or someone else? +Would the crew even be able to find me?</em> She winced again. How long +would it take for her wing to heal—if it did heal fully, she wondered. +She set that question aside and finished the food.</p> +<p>The little raft was made of just a couple of logs bound together with +reeds and vines. Kee saw some utility there, and as best she could, she +tied a small splint to hold her broken wing in place. No sense in making +things worse. The wood looked like it came from the tupelos around her, +but it was dry, even seasoned. She carefully piled the remaining dry +logs.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m alive for the moment. And I can’t leave. If someone does +come looking for me, it’s going to be right here. Might as well make +myself useful.”</p> +<p>She waded around in the water, studying the dirty bottom. The twinkle +of tools shone up into her eyes. Every instrument, tool, and scrap of +metal she could find, she gathered into a neat pile. This pile she +carefully rinsed off and oiled with what was floating on the surface +around the car, and returned to the scuffed wooden toolbox in the car. +She took stock of what was left. The car was tattered, and the frame had +buckled. The tools were in decent enough shape, though. There were a few +welding masks and miscellaneous parts from their repairs. The engine had +sunk into the ground up to the manifolds and flattened out the girders +beneath. It was toast, as were two of the propeller blades.</p> +<p>Kee couldn’t help herself. She was tired, and already the little +light she had to work by was fading. She began disassembling the engine, +including the clutch and propeller brake. She wasn’t sure if she was +passing the time ’til she could be rescued or just passing the time +until the inevitable happened. It didn’t matter; she couldn’t help +herself. She needed to tinker, and if she couldn’t fix what happened, +she needed to <em>understand</em> it.</p> +<p>Her postmortem revealed another broken wrist pin, just like the one +they repaired in flight. Other signs indicated under-oiling, which +likely contributed to the failure in both pins. As the pistons started +to seize, the vibration shook the engine car hard enough to break +struts, cables, and supports. The clutch was another mystery entirely. +Why it wouldn’t disengage when Kee tried to stop the quaking didn’t make +any sense. Not, that is, until she opened it and realized the forks that +the lever tied to and which disengaged the clutch had been shorn off. No +doubt from the oscillations in the engine car. She made a mental note to +report the need for rubber dampeners and a variety of structural +reinforcements. <em>Not that it’ll do me much good here.</em></p> +<p>She knew she was just satisfying her own curiosity. She supposed she +felt better thinking about her work. It distracted her from the pain, +too. Her wing still throbbed, albeit not excruciatingly. She had no +doubt now that her wrist had broken, and there was no flying for at +least a few weeks. She pretended to be confident there’d be no lasting +injury. Focusing on the engine helped her to not think about that.</p> +<p>The dim light faded into night, and the cool air ushered in an +all-encompassing fog throughout the Underwood. The lush, green gum trees +all turned into shades of formless gray. Kee could hardly see beyond the +clearing surrounding the engine car. Only the tiniest sliver of pale +moonlight penetrated the narrow opening Kee crashed through in the +canopy above.</p> +<p>She sat on top of the car for a couple of hours listening to the +stillness, hoping she’d hear the distant hum of the <em>Aerie</em>’s +propellers or a pair of flapping wings. Nothing came. Nobody came. +Everything was quiet. <em>Come on, guys, where are you?</em></p> +<p>From deep into the hazy distance, Kee could barely make out the +faintest splashing sound. It wasn’t very regular, not like water lapping +up against a tree trunk. It would echo off the trees from Kee’s left and +then go silent. <em>Fish?</em> The splashing echoed off the trees to +Kee’s right for a few seconds and then retreated again. Kee had been +fishing before. Fish jumping made little splashing noises, but this was +different. It was almost a dragging, heaving <em>kerplunk</em> onto the +bottom, displacing all the water in a small area. Kee flinched. There +was one that couldn’t have been more than fifty feet away.</p> +<p>She wasn’t sure why, but she had the most uncomfortable sensation. +The plumage on her chest puffed out, and her nape stuck up. The flopping +swashes moved this way and that, closing the distance between whatever +they were and the engine car. Kee slid off her tail into the car and +rummaged through the toolbox as quietly as she could. Her heart was +pounding. Even her breath sounded loud. Another splash. She grabbed a +flashlight, hoping it was dry, and scurried back up the ladder. She +turned every which way, holding her breath while she listened. She heard +no splashing. No flopping, lurching, or smacking sounds. Kee exhaled +softly. She quietly moved the chrome flashlight from her chest, and her +fingers fumbled for the switch. Her hand trembled as she pointed it at +the foggy surface beneath the car.</p> +<p>The light clicked on, and the water surged. Four massive, flat beasts +with black scales and purplish feathers all rampaged toward the car on +six legs. They slammed into the frame and started tearing at the canvas +with monstrous, snapping jaws, hissing and lunging at the girders.</p> +<p>Kee leapt, and the light slipped from her fingers, clanking through +the hatch into the car. She slid down after it, the frame shaking and +shuddering from the creatures’ onslaught. Snarling, hissing jaws ripped +through the silvery flesh of the car and gnawed on its aluminum bones. +<em>What the—</em> One head pierced through the canvas behind Kee just +shy of her tail feathers. Her good wing flapped automatically as if +begging to carry Kee away. If only its twin worked. She backed up to the +end of the car and bumped her head into the telegraph; the +<em>ti-ting</em> of the bell rang out into the space.</p> +<p>Abruptly, the swarming stopped. A tentative hiss emitted from the +jaws outside. Kee reached around and cranked on the lever, banging it +back and forth between <em>engine off</em> and <em>fire</em>. Kee was +sure she’d go deaf from the ringing, but the hissing, biting onslaught +rapidly gave way to scattered turbulence. Kee rang the bell until her +arm was sore. When she finally relented, her chest was heaving with +exertion, her mind dazed with fear. She halted, held her breath, and +listened. There was stillness. No splashing. Nothing at all.</p> +<p>Kee slumped down to her knees and crouched in the oily puddle, her +back to the manifold. She wrapped her arms and good wing around her +knees and started to cry. Not because she couldn’t help it, but because +she wanted to. Wisps of mist floated in between the folds of tattered +canvas.</p> +<hr/> +<p>Kee awoke with a start. The stillness of the dim gray morning +unsettled her after the night’s attack. She couldn’t bear being grounded +in such an awful place. Every little sound she heard startled her. She +felt flighty, twitchy, restless. She slept, but only fitfully. Her awake +mind focused on one singular thought: <em>I’ve got to get out of +here.</em></p> +<p>She stood and sloshed toward the ladder. She scaled it and sat on top +of the car, staring down at the marshy surface. Her eyes roamed and +eventually settled on the tupelos, then back to the car, and finally on +herself. Kee was never prim or neat. In fact, her mother used to say she +looked downright unpreened on occasion. But Kee never paid much mind to +her appearance to date. She hated to admit it, but she’d give anything +for a preening comb right then. Her feathers were matted and greasy. Her +iridescent green plumage was grungy with dirt, oil, and swamp water. The +cuts and scrapes she got during the fall made her look patchy and +squalid. She did her best to ignore it, but she couldn’t help feel like +she already looked half-dead.</p> +<p><em>Well, if I’m gonna die, I’m gonna do it from where I belong. From +high up.</em> Kee had decided in the middle of the night that she’d +figure out how to climb one of the gum trees. She wasn’t sure how yet, +but she wasn’t going to spend another night on the ground. And who +knows, maybe she could gather some sign of the <em>Aerie</em>, or send +up some kind of signal. It’d be a better camp. Safer, and at the very +least, she might see some sliver of the sky again. She craved some +semblance of sky.</p> +<p>It was time to work. She deftly began dismantling the canvas +surrounding the engine car. It was mostly in tatters, but there was a +rigger’s kit inside she could use to make some small patches. She also +unbolted any dangling, frayed cables that once secured the struts to the +<em>Aerie’s</em> hull. When she was done, she had a large silvery blob +of canvas and a pile of line and rough-looking cable.</p> +<p>The engine car looked like a twisted-up mess, a massless cage +entrapping an iron beast that surely would never growl again. She +quickly got to unbolting the rear-most girders of the car: the small and +light ones would make a decent basket to lift off the ground. If she +could find a way to secure a few cables or vines, maybe she could winch +herself up to the broken canopy she crashed through.</p> +<p>She was deep in thought when out of the corner of her eye she caught +it: another raft! Like the first one, it was piled high with flowers and +fruit. She reared around looking for its carrier. Had she missed the +flapping last night? Early this morning? She made some noise taking off +the girders. Her eyes went where they never had to: up. She inspected +the gum branches.</p> +<p>A half-scream fled from her beak when she saw her patron perched on a +branch, staring down at her with bright blue eyes. The Wingfolk in the +tree returned a surprised squawk, nearly losing her grip on the tupelo +limb she roosted on.</p> +<p>Kee caught her breath; her heart was pounding out of her chest again. +The perching Wingfolk wafted and settled her wings and resumed her +relaxed posture, watching Kee. On second look, she had yellow eyes with +blue eyebrows and nape. Her head had a tall, black crest that flowed +down to her conical beak. Her belly was a fluffy, off-white color which +sloped back to vibrant purple wings. She said nothing, but rested her +chin on one hand, an elbow on her knee, absorbed apparently with the +busywork below.</p> +<p>“He-hello up there?” Kee attempted to sound more welcoming than +frightened. Her guest uttered no response, but blinked once. “Can you +talk?” Again, nothing. <em>Alright, we’re not making much headway +here.</em></p> +<p>Kee changed tactics. She elongated her right wing and hand and tipped +them in a wave. Wingfolk sometimes did this in flight to be friendly as +they passed in the air. It seemed to help: the stranger extended a wing +and a hand, waving back down to Kee. <em>Alright, now we’re getting +somewhere.</em> She gestured toward the flowers. “Thank you for the +food. You’re very kind.”</p> +<p>At Kee’s gesture toward the raft, the stranger seemed to perk up. She +spread her violet wings and soared down from her perch, alighting on the +engine car above Kee. Kee felt a pang; it looked so effortless. The +Underwood dweller seemed to understand and fixated on Kee’s splint.</p> +<p>“My wing is broken. I’m kinda stuck here until my friends get me. +<em>If</em> they come get me…” She wished Eudo could be here. At the +very least, a familiar face would feel comforting.</p> +<p>The dweller hopped down from the car and splashed in the water beside +Kee. She pointed to the fruit and then back at herself, uttering +something unrecognizable. Kee turned and picked up one of the dark blue +fruits, then handed it to the dweller, who took it and seemingly +expressed gratitude with more unfamiliar words. Kee saw an opportunity +and took it. Kee pointed to her own chest. “Kee.” Then she pointed +toward the stranger and waited.</p> +<p>“Reeka,” the dweller responded, munching on the fruit and +nodding.</p> +<p>“Reeka. Kee,” she said, pointing first to the newcomer then to +herself. “Nice to meet ya, Reeka.” Kee took a break from her work to +perch with Reeka and share the food. She was accustomed to forgetting to +eat while solving a problem on watch, but she never went hungry. Reeka, +whoever she was, seemed to know what to eat and where to go to get it in +this place. She sat mostly in silence while Kee talked, more to herself, +recounting her journey on the <em>Aerie</em>, the crew, and her fall +from the hull. Some words drew Reeka’s attention more than others. She +would interject and substitute a piece of her own language for something +Kee said. They tried as much as possible to use gestures, but Kee was +sure most of it didn’t make it through. Not until she described the bog +beasts by splashing around and making chomping motions with her hands. +Reeka locked onto that.</p> +<p>“Tarkzu,” she repeated a few times, making the same chomping jaws +with her fingers, occasionally scanning the visible edges of the +Underwood as if the creatures could be around any tree.</p> +<p>Their exchange continued for over an hour. Reeka seemed to be a good +friend, or at least neutral to the whole situation. She must not have +had much else to do around here because she continued to watch Kee’s +every move with intense interest. As nice as it was to have someone to +talk with, it was time to get back to the task at hand. That being +figuring out what to do when the Tarkzu came back. She fished a few +tools between the girders and unbolted the telegraph from the side of +the car. A hand-held deterrent would be ideal, especially if the car +were naked on the ground.</p> +<p>Reeka seemed to enjoy the ringing bell thoroughly and egged Kee on to +repeat it several times. After the novelty wore off, Kee revisited the +tupelos. She wasn’t much of a climber. She couldn’t remember clawing her +way up a tree since her fledgling days, and the trees back home were +perfect for climbing. They had lots of low-hanging branches and hollows +to reach for. These gum trees were trickier: tall and wide, and all the +branches were up in the canopy. It’d be great if Reeka could fly a cable +up there and secure it to help Kee get her basket up high, but that was +obviously beyond their level of communication.</p> +<p>Several hours passed with Kee trying to find various ways to wrap a +cable around a tree and shuffle her way up it. It wasn’t as +straightforward as it ought to be. The only conclusion she drew was that +climbing sucked and nobody should have to do it, ever. Her thoughts +wandered back to the captain who hadn’t flown for years. How did he do +it? The <em>Aerie</em> seemed a lot more appealing, considering he’d +never be able to take to the wing again.</p> +<p>A small, <em>click, click</em> sound emitted from Reeka’s hands. She +had been examining every object in Kee’s toolbox with great curiosity, +her crest bobbing this way and that as she studied their apparent +functions. Now she was playing with a flint striker stuffed between the +welding masks, apparently trying to get it to catch on one of the little +dried logs Kee saved from the first food raft. Surprisingly, it actually +caught quickly.</p> +<p>Reeka set it gently afloat on the surface of the bayou. As it rolled +and burned, Reeka watched it earnestly. The smoke played tricks on Kee’s +eyes, apparently shimmering and pooling above the roots.</p> +<p><em>Wait a second—what?</em> Kee dropped the cable she was futzing +with and waded over to Reeka’s log. Reeka looked up and grinned at the +edges of her gape, her eyes bright with glee. Her eyes weren’t playing +tricks; the smoke really <em>was</em> collecting<em>.</em> As the smoke +rose from the root, it pooled and reformed into a tinted bubble. It had +a gray, wispy, smoky quality to it, but unlike smoke, which dissolved, +it stuck together and stayed buoyant. More bubbles started to lift from +the stick and join the steadily growing mass hovering a foot above the +water.</p> +<p>Kee’s beak hung open, mesmerized by the effect. <em>It was Vork! +Here, of all places, Reeka created Vork!</em></p> +<p>Vork were a relatively poorly understood phenomenon in the world of +the Wingfolk. Kee wasn’t a Vork expert. She didn’t know where they came +from or how they formed—she had only the most basic experience with +their composition, but spent more time dodging them on the wing than +anything else. But here, she was watching Smoke Vork form before her +very eyes, and all it took was burning the wood from a gum tree.</p> +<p>Reeka took the now sizable Vork and spun it around in the air like a +ball, pushing it over to Kee like she was initiating a game. The misty +globe floated through the air toward Kee and stopped short when it +encountered too much wind resistance. Kee took it in her hands and +tested it. The surface tension held it together, giving it a sense of +consistency. It was not hot to the touch, although the smoke within +continued to swirl like it was from a fresh campfire. Little bubbles of +Vork continued to pool above the log; every small contribution caused +the bigger mass above it to gain altitude. Reeka grabbed it and sent it +sailing over to Kee. <em>Sailing just like the Aerie</em>. She felt a +bolt go through her mind. “Vork! Lifting Vork! Reeka, you’re a genius!” +She bounced the ball back to Reeka, who blew air out of her beak, +sending it soaring over her head.</p> +<p>“Reeka, can you get more of these? We need more, <em>tons more</em>!” +Kee held up the splint on her wing and pointed to the smoldering pyre. +Reeka seemed to understand, nodding and clicking the striker a couple +more times. Kee waved her hands around in the air. “Awesome, yes! We’re +gonna have a big fire, Reeka!”</p> +<p>Reeka chortled and shook her head, apparently amused by Kee’s +excitement. But she dutifully extended her wings, beat them a few times, +and leapt into the air. She soared out of sight, dodging gum trees with +an impressive amount of skill. Kee reached through the engine car and +removed the rigger’s kit, unraveling it to find thick thread and sharp +needles. She unrolled her pile of silvery canvas and busied herself +patching and reshaping it. She didn’t know how long it would take Reeka +to come back with enough wood, but she wanted to have something ready +for when she did. She needed to. Mist was already rolling in.</p> +<hr/> +<p>The murky light of the Underwood was waning. Kee engineered what she +felt was a craft capable of carrying her up through the canopy and +roughly where she guessed the <em>Aerie</em> was headed. Confidence was +lacking, but it was better than nothing. The basket of thin aluminum +girders was light enough, Kee assumed, that she would take up most of +the weight. Cables and vines tethered it to her makeshift canvas +envelope, which was essentially a large umbrella designed to collect the +lifting Vork. Reeka brought surprisingly bountiful hauls of deadfall +from only sky knows where. Her trips away from Kee became shorter and +shorter as the night and mist crept in. They had built a good bonfire +below Kee’s envelope. The Vork percolated from the smoky gumwood and +gathered into the envelope, which began to tense on its restraints. The +basket was fastened to the ground by a string of pistons, connecting +rods, and other heavy components. It must already support more than its +own weight. <em>Just a little more and it’ll carry me too. I +hope.</em></p> +<p>To pay for Reeka’s time and firewood, Kee offered her the whole of +the toolbox, which she greedily accepted and continued admiring. She was +busy with the socket set while Kee fanned the flames of the bonfire with +her good wing. Soon she’d fly again. Very soon.</p> +<p><em>Splash.</em></p> +<p>It was definitely a splash. Isolated but unmistakable. Kee stopped +wafting the flames and listened. Reeka’s yellow eyes were fixed on the +wet path zig-zagging through the trees away from the car. More lapping, +watery sounds followed. And another splash. <em>Shit</em>. Reeka dropped +the tools and thumped her wings, the beats taking her airborne in a +split second. Kee looked up and already saw her tail feathers in a high +tree branch, not twenty feet to the side of the engine car. <em>Great, +thanks!</em> Kee couldn’t stay mad; she knew she’d be up there too if +the roles were reversed. Time to get a move on.</p> +<p><em>Splash.</em></p> +<p>Kee’s nape stuck up. She trudged through the tepid water to grab her +telegraph deterrent from the engine car and yanked the lever twice. The +shrill ringing sounded out and echoed off a few of the trees. She +listened with bated breath. Nothing disturbed the water. Kee counted off +the seconds, the crackling of the fire the only disturbance in the cool, +misty hush.</p> +<p><em>Splash.</em></p> +<p>And then another, off to the distance on the right. The floppy +paddling and lunging continued. More water was displaced by the wet +smacking, further to the left. And another. Kee rang the bell +incessantly, not bothering with listening. She needed time. Vork +continued to glob together from the fire’s smoke, filling her envelope +further. She continued chiming the bell, its tone resounding off the +trees. High up, she saw Reeka looking wide-eyed at Kee. And then, a +shriek from where she roosted; Reeka was shouting down and pointing to +Kee’s flank. The water erupted as gargantuan jaws snarled and opened +wide to seize Kee. She beat the purplish feathers on its head with the +telegraph, every strike sounding off another <em>ti-ting</em>. “Get away +from me!” she howled. She kicked at its black scales with her claws, its +six stubby legs struggling to push its flat, flabby body closer to its +prey. Kee bumped into the car, tools sliding off the roof and plunking +into the water. She reached down and grabbed a pipe wrench, cleaving +into the beast’s head with jaws of her own. It went limp. Was it dead? +Maybe just stunned.</p> +<p><em>Splash. Splash.</em></p> +<p>“Alright, time to get the hell out of here.” Kee untied the tethers +at the base of the basket. Each one cast off with a thump, the basket +rising and straining ever more as its earthen grasp gave way. Up above, +Reeka shrieked again. Another Tarkzu attempted to leap over the flames +but fell short, searing its chin on the bonfire and shooting steam out +of its nostrils before recoiling in pain.</p> +<p><em>Splash. Splash.</em></p> +<p>They were everywhere. Her beak hung open, hyperventilating. She swore +her heart was beating out of her chest. Adrenaline coursed through her +veins as her shaking hands fumbled with the tethers. “Come on, come +on!”</p> +<p><em>Splash. Splash.</em></p> +<p>The fire. She grabbed one of the few good burning logs and wielded it +like a brand, touching it to the remaining ties. The basket jolted as +the ties thumped and smoldered away. Kee jumped on, hissing as she +bumped her injured wrist into the envelope above.</p> +<p><em>Splash. Splash. Splash.</em></p> +<p>The last of the tethers burned off. All that was left was the steel +cable, bundled up and bolted to the engine car. Kee attacked the bolts +on the basket with her pipe wrench. It slipped, rounding off one of the +bolts.</p> +<p>She was sloppy, panicking. <em>LET. GO. WHY WON’T YOU LET +GO?</em></p> +<p>Another pair of black jaws exploded from the water inches from her +face, latching onto the side of the basket. Kee screamed as the +leviathan gnawed on the aluminum girders, twisting them like sinewy +bones. The cable wrapped around its glistening white, razor-sharp teeth +and started to fray. Kee assaulted its head with the pipe wrench, but it +wouldn’t budge. Finally, the cable snapped, twanging away and ripping +open a red gash in the monster’s mouth. Still, it held firm.</p> +<p>Kee’s arm was tired from swinging the wrench. She didn’t have much +left to give. Her eyes were wide with fear, her muscles aching, her beak +lulling open and panting with exertion. Her chest was pounding with +respiration. This wasn’t a problem solved with tools. When you have +nothing left to give, some problems just chew you up and spit you +out.</p> +<p>The Tarkzu’s beady black eyes rolled around and blinked as it +shredded away at Kee’s basket. She drew everything she had left into +both arms: one last swing. The wrench met its mark right between the +beast’s eyes, which crossed as its skull caved in. Its jaws jerked open +and withered as the creature slumped into the muddied water.</p> +<p>As soon as she was free, Kee’s craft began to rise. Inch by inch, she +felt herself leave the sky-forsaken surface of the Underwood. She +watched the seething bog quickly engulf and snuff out the bonfire. A few +blobs of smoky Vork drifted off as the steam mixed with the mist.</p> +<p>Kee’s vessel accelerated as it climbed uninterrupted toward the +canopy. She held fast to the lines to stabilize herself, grasping the +basket with her feet as it swung in the air. Moonlight poured in through +the shredded hole above. Kee wafted her good wing through the air, +propelling herself and lining up her balloon with the egress. She swore +she could taste fresh air and even a cool breeze dripping down through +the hole.</p> +<p>The canvas ruffled slightly as it bumped against a branch, deforming +and squishing back into shape. At long last, the branches thinned out, +and a whistling breeze rocked the highest foliage and Kee’s envelope. +The cool air washed through her dingy plumage, setting her heart +a-flutter. <em>Feels so right.</em> The whole sky was a deep indigo, and +long, flat clouds slid softly across the expanse as the moon shone in a +bright, full white glow.</p> +<p>Kee got her bearings and rearranged herself on the basket. She stuck +her good wing out and gave it a buzz. After a few seconds, she had some +forward momentum. It wasn’t as fast as winging it, but it was still +flying, and that was good enough. She breathed a sigh, not just of +relief, but of satisfaction.</p> +<p>She was the second Wingfolk she knew who flew without wings.</p> +<p>Alongside Kee’s airship, a blue and off-white figure beat her wings. +The breeze ruffled Reeka’s crest. She was struggling slightly to gain +more altitude, but easily kept up with the slow headway Kee was making. +She turned her head and smiled, waving. “We did it, Reeka, we made +it!”</p> +<p>Reeka paid little attention to Kee’s gesture, but wore a wide grin on +her face the whole time. Her head was twitching this way and that, +taking in everything the sky above her home had to offer. “You know, a +part of me never thought I’d make it out of there. I didn’t realize that +you may never have left either.” A small gust shook the basket, and +Reeka struggled to maintain a clean flight line. “Try this,” Kee said, +lifting her arms up and stabilizing them like she would her wings if she +were soaring. Reeka studied Kee and seemed to get the message. She +straightened out, and her flapping became less frantic.</p> +<p>Kee settled in and tried to get comfortable holding the lines and +slowly wafting her wings. It was going to be a long night.</p> +<hr/> +<p>The sunrise emitted a beam of orange and pinkish hues that carved out +a semicircle in the endless indigo over the Underwood. Kee’s eyelids +drooped. It was a struggle to keep them open, especially as the warm sun +began to shimmer into her pupils, almost lulling her into nodding off +and enjoying the rays and the breeze.</p> +<p>Twice during the night, she had almost fallen asleep—Reeka would +perch on the back of their little airship, beating her wings to help +propel them so Kee could have a break. Eventually, they’d lose enough +altitude that they were forced to hop off and let Kee rise again. The +whole while the endless rolling canopies of the Underwood swept by +beneath them. It felt good to be above the foliage again. Kee wondered +at the vast expanse and how many miles of treacherous swamp lay beneath +the tupelos. <em>How much longer can I keep this up? What if I have to +live in these woods forever, after all?</em> Her chest tightened.</p> +<p>She twisted her neck to check up on her companion. Reeka’s wingbeats +were starting to get languid. She’d been flying through the night, and +clearly much longer than she was used to being airborne. Maybe there +would be a village that Reeka could show her. She could heal up there. +<em>And then what? Spend the rest of my days dodging shitty Tarkzu?</em> +She wasn’t ready to give up yet. Like her compulsion to join the crew of +the <em>Aerie</em>, her need to return to it coursed through every +hollow bone in her body. It was like breathing or flying. Automatic, she +just had to do it.</p> +<p>An occasional glint in the green sea of canopies jolted Kee out of +her ruminations for a brief spell. The sunlight bounced off some +geometric surfaces like a faceted mirror. Kee course corrected, pointing +herself right at it. Her gut stirred as she stared transfixed at the +glimmer of hope. As the sun rose higher, the glinting became +increasingly frequent. She swelled. It was like a strobe light, +signaling and beckoning Kee. Her wing buzzed harder, her eagerness +driving her forward. <em>It has to be there</em>. Falling out of the +sky, fighting for her life, and building a way to fly again, it was just +another mountain to soar over. She <em>needed</em> it to be there. Her +affinity for tinkering, for the <em>Aerie</em>, and for her crew’s way +of life were a part of her. They were innate, her whole reason for +living. She knew then and there that there was no chance she’d fight it +out in these woods.</p> +<p>Like the captain, she’d be glued to the <em>Aerie</em> come what may. +She was sure, like him, she could find a way to bear not flying again if +she had to. But to be completely grounded, to watch the ship sail away +forever… she was sure she couldn’t survive that. The thought of being +away from home, spending another night out of her hammock, surrounded by +tools, parts, and machinery, was unbearable.</p> +<p>The sun continued to rise all the while the duo’s journey went on +toward the glimmer, hoping for an end to their plight. Closing the +distance between themselves and the twinkling afforded them more detail +of the subject. Kee’s eyes were glued to the glinting. They strained, +squinting to make out lines, shapes, anything worthwhile in the +brightness. The shine gave way to a spot of silver. A rounded shape, a +quartet of raked tail fins. Straightaway, her vision focused, and +everything became clear. An argent, beached whale slumped atop rolling +green dunes. Kee’s heart leapt, and she blinked tears from her eyes. The +corners of her gape lifted into a grin. She picked up her pace. With +every wing stroke bringing her closer, she took in the beautiful sight. +<em>Home.</em></p> +<p>“This is it, Reeka, this is it! We made it!” Kee let out a whoop.</p> +<p>Reeka beamed at Kee and shouted something Kee couldn’t make out, but +was certain was celebratory. She looked to be transfixed by the +<em>Aerie</em>. Kee wondered whether that’s what she looked like when +she first perched on the sill in the hangar and drank in the massive +craft; the wonder and adventure it foretold beckoning her to come +aboard. Everything was in focus now. Despite the damage, the ship still +took Kee’s breath away. The nose pointed a little skyward of +equilibrium, as if looking toward the blue yonder for help to extricate +her from terrestrial ties. Where there once was an engine car, there +were now exposed, twisted aluminum girders. Several cables hung down +outside the hull, free from their restraints. A gas cell was exposed to +the harsh sun and moisture of the sky above the Underwood. Hastily +applied patches bandaged over cuts to its delicate surface, where the +cables once secured it. A handful of wings flapped their way around the +cover. <em>They’re stranded too!</em> Gas must have leaked from the cell +when the cables snapped. The ship had no capacity to lift itself, no way +to fly. <em>No way to find me</em>, she gulped.</p> +<p>A rush of wind shook Kee’s basket. <em>Not home yet</em>. Her biceps +strained as she gripped the ropes and ruddered her wing to maintain her +current course. She gingerly spread her bad wing a little to let the air +rush through her primaries. It wasn’t quite flying, but it felt so good. +She dismissed the possibility she could still be trapped here. It didn’t +matter where the <em>Aerie</em> was or what shape she was in; she just +felt right.</p> +<p>Kee started calling out. She emptied her lungs of air, trilling and +calling until her throat was sore. Reeka joined in, waving her hands and +scrying.</p> +<p>They watched the wings and talons flitting around the <em>Aerie</em>, +dropping what they were doing and taking to the air. They started +swarming, beating their wings to gain altitude and heading directly for +Kee. The menagerie of bright plumage swept through the air in +formation.</p> +<p>Kee allowed her wing a rest and just drifted. Soon she made out +beaks, eyes, downy cheeks, and entire faces. She started pointing them +out to Reeka. “That’s Eudo!” Her chest was swelling with glee. “And +Qreel is next to him there. And that’s Sriharc, they’re both Talons. And +there’s Halihk, he’ll bite your head off like a Tarkzu if you’re not +careful.” Reeka tilted her head at that.</p> +<p>The gap between her friends and crew tightened, and she could finally +hear the litany of cawing and shrieks of delight. Eudo went on and on in +between wafting wing flaps, “Kee, you’re alive! We thought we lost +you—didn’t know where you were—but you’re really alive!”</p> +<p>“Nuts, Sylph, only you could bring a whole engine gondola to the +ground with yourself in it!” Halihk sounded exasperated and not a little +bit sarcastic to Kee’s ear. He gave a wry smile at Kee all the same.</p> +<p>Qreel and Sriharc grabbed hold of the tethers to her gondola, +jostling it slightly but holding fast to Kee’s arms. Sriharc interjected +between Eudo’s unabashed zeal and Halihk’s taunting. “Good to have you +back Sylph. It looks like you’ve had quite the journey.”</p> +<p>In his trademark raspy voice, Qreel begged this be the last time he +had to carry Kee back to the ship. Kee wanted to sass him but was too +drained of energy to care. She didn’t want to dig up her big flight on +the first voyage. Instead, she did introductions while the crew beat the +air around her craft, “This here’s Reeka. She honestly saved my life. +She’s a good friend. Reeka, these are friends.”</p> +<p>Reeka announced something Kee didn’t understand. She was going to try +mimicry or signing before Halihk spoke up. “Chu’rec debok?”</p> +<p>Surprise swept over Reeka’s face. She quickly replied, “Debok, +trejartu!” She went on and on in her own language while Halihk nodded +and shook his head.</p> +<p><em>How in the sky?</em> Kee was floored. “You can speak her +language? What are you guys talking about?!”</p> +<p>“No, I can’t speak it. At least not fluently. She speaks a similar +dialect to one I have studied; some of the tribes outside the Underwood +use it. What, Sylph, you think I spend literally every day up to my +armpits in grease like you?” He gestured at the state of her +plumage.</p> +<p>Kee chuckled. “You’re wet shit Halihk, you know that?”</p> +<p>He just smiled and said, “Yeah, you too, Sylph. Not like we could +leave without you, though, on account of the <em>Aerie</em> bein’ heavy +and all.”</p> +<p>“I know you couldn’t leave without me fixing all your problems, +Halihk. Check out the Vork in this thing—you get a big bonfire going and +you’ll get plenty to get the <em>Aerie</em> up again.”</p> +<p>Sriharc and Qreel helped Kee out of her basket and held onto her so +tightly she thought her arms were losing circulation. They carried her +down the rest of the distance to the control gondola while Halihk towed +away her craft. The bulkhead was open, and the boarding ramp was down, +resting on the foliage. A handful of thick lines held the <em>Aerie</em> +to the canopy.</p> +<p>Inside the gondola, a stack of charts was piled up at the navigation +desks. The fresh maps of the Underwood were splattered with arrows, +circles, and big cordoned-off sections of the <em>Aerie</em>’s flight +path with the names of crew alongside them. <em>They did send out search +parties. Dozens of them.</em> The captain was there to greet Kee +immediately and welcome her back aboard. His mud-colored feathers grayed +at the tips, and his right wing sat lower and limper than the other. His +eyes were piercing yellow, but exuded a calmness that put Kee at ease. +“Kee Sylph, Soaring Mechanist reporting for duty, Captain.” She +straightened up and tipped her good wing awkwardly in salute.</p> +<p>He gently raised his hand and then lowered it, giving the sensation +that there was no need for studiousness or ceremony. He spoke in a +gravely voice, “Good to have you back in one piece, Mechanist Sylph. +Long have we searched for your whereabouts and turned up nothing.” He +donned a grave look, “We were starting to fear the worst with no sign of +you after the first night. I wish only that I personally could have seen +to your rescue.” He blinked and glanced out the window at her craft +being towed in as he continued, “But, I see that there’s no situation +that doesn’t present itself as an opportunity for you to exercise your +skills. Once again, that was some fine flying miss.” He saluted her and +bowed his head.</p> +<p>Kee ballooned with pride. “Thank you, Captain. I couldn’t have done +it without Reeka here. She’s native to these parts and got me out of a +tight spot.”</p> +<p>The captain bowed to Reeka, maintaining eye contact as he did so. +Reeka, who Kee almost missed entering the gondola, looked decidedly out +of place. Her crest waved to and fro as she glanced from Kee to the +gondola’s instruments, and the other crew around her. She finally +noticed the captain and awkwardly returned his bow.</p> +<p>“Captain, the Underwood is going to get the Aerie out of here. I +recognize we’re low on lifting gas, but there’s a source for Vork here. +You burn the gum trees and—” Kee stammered halfway through her +explanation and suddenly felt dizzy.</p> +<p>“Easy, Kee,” the captain softened. “I believe you’re in need of +medical attention. Officer Qreel will escort you to sick bay. Let’s have +you looked at before we do anything else.”</p> +<p>“Aye, captain, that’d be… nice.”</p> +<p>Qreel helped Kee up the ladder and through the catwalk of the ship. +The monstrous cells and aluminum girders were familiar, comfortable, and +somehow inviting. Kee felt the urge to build, fix, and solve problems +give way to the need for rest and recharging. She eased into a hammock +in sick bay. Wooden shelves were stocked with bandages, ointments, and +basic dressing materials. While her wing was being tended, not seconds +after Qreel left, the door burst open again, and Eudo and Krarr stumbled +over each other into the room. Krarr’s ear tufts were back, and the +great yellow globes of his eyes ran with tears.</p> +<p>“Kee! I’m so sorry, Kee, it was all my fault—I broke things and then +you fell, and I tried finding you…”</p> +<p>“Krarr, easy Krarr,” Kee tried to interject, but it was no use.</p> +<p>Krarr blubbered on, “…but the ship was going to crash, so I had to go +help, and then we couldn’t find where you—and we tried going under the +canopy and there were these, <em>things</em>… Oh Kee, it must have been +horrible—” he continued to shudder and sob.</p> +<p>Eudo put a hand over Krarr’s beak and shushed him while patting his +shoulder. “Krarr, hey, Kee’s okay. She’s here now. I think she just +needs some rest. Right, Kee?”</p> +<p>“Er, yeah Krarr I’m okay. You know, you didn’t do anything wrong. You +did a lot of good. Means a lot to me that you came looking.</p> +<p>Eudo took his chance to get a word in and spouted a rapid collection +of excited topics that didn’t really join together right; his lanky neck +twisted this way and that with every phrase. “You really did a number on +that engine car, Kee. Looks like it fought back all the way down. You +gotta tell me all about it, and that airship you made, I mean, how’d you +come up with that? It was so cool seeing you flyin’ in like that! We've +been patching the gas cells but have nothing to fill them with, so—”</p> +<p>Kee raised both her hands to pipe down the overexcited boys. “Look, +fellas, I think I just need some shuteye here for a while. When I’m back +on my feet, I’ll tell ya all about it, but ’til then you’ll have to go +find Reeka and get the scoop from her.”</p> +<p>Krarr’s blubbering diminished, “Reeka, who’s Reeka? You mean you met +someone down there?”</p> +<p>The two squeezed together on their way out of the room, Krarr still +sporadically sobbing and Eudo trying to push past him to find the +Underwood dweller. They slammed the door shut and clanked down the +hallway.</p> +<p>Kee rolled over and lay on her stomach, taking in the smell of the +old cloth. An initial assessment revealed her wing wrist was indeed +broken. It would take weeks for it to heal. She got something to help +bring the inflammation and pain down, but the one real order was bed +rest. She took a deep, deep breath of relief when the doc answered her +careful probing questions and said, “Of course you’ll fly again.”</p> +<hr/> +<p>Kee glided over clear, teal water while warm currents held her aloft. +Occasionally, a gust of wind carried cool spray from the lake’s surface +up to her primaries. She let her legs hang down and drag in the water, +enjoying its cool contrast with the basking sun on her back. Her +iridescent green feathers shimmered and sparkled off the surface of the +water. The hiss of a starter and the roar of an engine seemed to belch +out of the lake at her.</p> +<p>She catapulted back from her dream into the sick bay. “The engines, +they’re running! We’re airborne again!” She rolled over and sat up, +yearning for a look. She flinched when she first noticed the black +figure perched near the doorway. Chief Llyr blinked and yawned. “Forgive +me, came to talk to you and saw you were asleep, so I just rested my +eyes for a bit.”</p> +<p>Kee’s energy surged, but only briefly. “We’re on the move again, +already? Don’t you need my—”</p> +<p>He cut her off before she could clamber out of the hammock, “Easy, +Kee, you’ve already done more than I could have asked of you. Halihk +managed to work out your discovery with Reeka. Cell number seven is full +of your <em>Smokey Vork</em> now. Actually, I think it works better than +the off-worlder gas. Besides, we don’t need as many crew to tend the +engine cars, seeing as we’re down an engine permanently.”</p> +<p>“Well, I can’t fly for a while, but I can still help.”</p> +<p>Llyr snickered, “You really have no quit, do you, Kee?”</p> +<p>She didn’t—she knew that, and he knew that. She was a relentless +learner, a doer, a fixer. There would be no sitting around on her tail +feathers while others had all the fun.</p> +<p>Llyr continued, “You’re going to need to rest up at least a few more +days for me before you go back on duty. This time, as a highly skilled +mechanist of terrific intellect once told me, <em>you don’t get to +choose</em>.” He grinned.</p> +<p>“Yeah, not my brightest moment with the telegraph either. I’m sorry I +ignored you; I just felt like I owed it to the crew to do everything I +could to help them first. To get you two out of the car, tell the Talons +what’s going on. I thought I could do it all.” Her shoulders wilted a +little.</p> +<p>“None of us can do it all, Kee, that’s why we do it together. You and +Eudo, for example. Or Krarr. Or even Reeka. You and Halihk could +accomplish a lot, too.”</p> +<p>She turned her beak up and squinted at Llyr. “Eh, you were on a roll +there, and then you lost me.”</p> +<p>He put his hands up in mock defense. “Hey, don’t look at me, it was +Halihk who first started organizing the search parties. He made the +first moves to get you back here safely.”</p> +<p><em>Well, shit.</em> She’d owe him for that. “Guess I can learn to +work with him on some level then.”</p> +<p>Llyr nodded and gave a thumbs-up. He stood up from the perch and +stretched his wings. “You know, Sylph, you’ll make a great chief +someday. You put the crew first, and you’re good at solving problems. +You figure out how to get Halihk to play nice and you’ll be a better +chief than me, that’s for sure.” He turned toward the door.</p> +<p>“Hey, chief, I got something to ask you.”</p> +<p>He slid open the canvas door and turned back. “Yeah? Shoot.”</p> +<p>“Why do you do it? The <em>Aerie</em>, the engineering. What’s the +goal of it all? Why do we bother with this stuff when we can already +fly?”</p> +<p>Llyr looked stumped. He concentrated for a couple of seconds, +brushing his hand under his beak. Finally, he spoke: “You know, Kee, I +don’t really know. It just feels like I got to. Now get some rest, we’ll +talk more tomorrow.” He slid the door shut, and his footsteps clanked +away down the catwalk and melded with the droning thrum of the +engines.</p> +<p>She shook her head at Llyr’s answer. Maybe she didn’t need to have a +reason either. Maybe she’d find it as she went along, or make one up if +she thought she needed one. She slid down in the hammock and rolled back +onto her stomach, resting her head on her hands.</p> +<p>Then again, maybe being driven is reason enough to do something. +Maybe you don’t climb into an engine car to be an engineer; perhaps you +do it because you’re built to do it. Perhaps it really is like flying; +when you don’t know anything else, everything just falls into place. +It’s more than a passion; it’s realizing when it’s missing that you +never could have lived without it.</p> +<p>She closed her eyes. To any onlookers, the hammock appeared at first +glance like a burlap sack full of iridescent green feathers, tarnished +slightly by traces of mud and grease. The hum of the engines was still +short one member of the quartet, but it didn’t stir or rouse the bundle. +Kee drifted back into dreams where she could soar and float to her +heart’s content, confident and sure that if her wings couldn’t carry +her, the <em>Aerie</em> would.</p> + +<?php $nolicense=true; ?> |