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Post by thundertail on Jan 23, 2008 19:07:05 GMT -5
THIRTY-EIGHT: "Dr. Jeckyl!" (Continued.)
We fashioned a sling so four of the Veloceraptors could carry him and proceeded to bring himm back home. His chase led us deep into the Rainy Basin, and it took most of the afternoon to get him there. As soon as we entered camp, we sent for Ursula and Selma to check him out to see if he was all right, and they could see no reason for him running off like that. Once I explained to them all I had heard, they examined him more thouroughly; but they still couldn't find anything conclusive. Many tests later and Zippeau tried to wake up; but as soon as he did, he tried to escape, nearly biting Selma in the process! From then on it was decided to take him to my quarters in the pyramid of Teeklan, where it would be easy to bind him to my bed.
All in all, it was thought that it was something he drank that made him that way; and certain medicine conmbinations were force fed to him to see if it could be counteracted. As he drifted in and out of conciouseness, his rants and growling became less and less incoherent; but the times he was unconcious grew longer and longer. As the days passed, we sent word of Zippeau's progress to Waterfall City; and before long his girlfriend Yarra found out about it. She presently made every effort to get to Zippeau, and arrived in camp along with Zippeau's physician, Dr. Forschie, a few days later; along with a compliment of saurian guards to protect the pair on the trip. He administered to him with the assistance of our healers and she tended him with loving hands for the rest of his infirmary.
Many, many days later, while Selma was preparing another dose of medicine; she heard moaning coming from his bed, and rushed by his side to see. Zippeau opened his eyes and gasped at her beaked form; and he tried to get away again, but his restraints prevented him from rising. He kicked and struggled with all his strength, screaming and pleading; but his strength was minimal due to lack of proper food and he slumped back on the bed, exhausted. I heard the commotion too, and rushed into the room to see Zippeau's eyes open, looking warilly this way and that and whimpering tiny exclamations.
"Ah! you're awake.", I stated as I moved to his side. "How are you feeling, buddy?"
"Oh... Stinger, it's you...", Zippeau moaned as soon as recognition hit. "Where am I? Some kind of palace?...", his head thumped back down.
"You are in the Pyramid of Teeklan - in my bedroom, as a matter of fact!", I smiled. "You're in the middle of the Rainy Basin. When we found you, you were in a lot worse shape. You have a lot of people worried sick about you, you know!"
"What happened?", he asked. "Why am I tied up?", he struggled an arm.
"Well, for the last question, you were becoming quite violent.", I told him. "On the first question, we were hoping you could tell us!"
"That's strange...", Zippeau said. "I'm usually as mild mannered as they come..."
"Well, I guess you don't need these any more...", I commenced untying him. "Selma, see if there's any food for him.", she squawked and scurried to look.
"Now, let's figure out just what happened.", I said, looking at his sallow face. "Do you remember anything?"
"It's all such a blur... Let me think...", Zippeau wrinkled his thin brow in thought as he tried unsuccessfully to sit up. "Let's see,... I had gotten this note. It was from Yarra...! Sweet Yarra...!", he looked like he wanted to swoon, but recovered just as quickly. "It said she was leaving, but it didn't say why or where she was going.", he gasped. "I thought it was because of me that she left!... Oh! Have you seen her? I have to know!"
"Relax, will you! She's fine.", I said. "What else do you remember?"
"I looked all over waterfall City, but I couldn't find her.", he continued, wide eyed. "I looked in her usual haunts, and asked everyone I met; but no one knew where she was. I had to find her! I had to apologise; or at least know she was all right...!", he gulped. "Then I found out she had left the city, and nobody knew where she went. I searched every town and outpost in the area, but she wasn't in any of them!", his next look seemed to me that he was struggling with an unpleasant memory.
"Go on...", I prodded softly.
"Many days passed, and I found myself at Frank Scott's tavern.", he continued, then drank from the waterskin I offered. "Frank was real sympathetic, and offered me this horrible stuff. Do you know a drink known as 'Tyranosaur Breath'?"
"One of our people makes it.", I informed him. "It's pretty strong stuff. Mister Scott said you had quite a lot of it, if I remember correctly."
"Quite...", Zippeau replied. "And from there things got extremely strange! I grew very angry at nothing at all - and I almost never get angry! In the back of my mind I began thinking of those around me as enemies; and much worse than that, as FOOD! I grew frustrated at everything, and the talk wafting around the pub became increasingly irritating to me. I had to leave, but I knew social protocol; and tried to resist, but I could not fight the feelings I was feeling. It was like another person was leading me out of the pub and into the night, and I could not stop it!"
"Frank said you were acting strangely.", I told him. "He tried to stop you, but you left too fast."
"But it got worse from there!", Zippeau continued. "I grew hungry, but for meat. I figured my claws and teeth were no match for hunting, so I looked around and found a weapon.", he recanted. "I mean, it was that... MONSTER that was using me!"
"The shop owner said you had stolen a crossbow.", I told him. "You still had it when we found you.", I looked at him softly. "And don't worry, it's all over now... What happened next?"
"He took to the forest. I have never been in the deep forest, but I couldn't stop.", Zippeau said. "Then he got the scent of game, and got really hungry.", he gasped. "I HUNTED!!... I ATE MEAT!!!...", he cried, burying his face in his saurian hands. "Oh! Stinger, it was horrible!", he hitched. "He thought it tasted good, and became satisfied; but onward we went, deeper into the forest.", he took more water. "All of a sudden he sensed danger, so he fled. We hid, and we eluded them for a time. Then all of a sudden we were attacked by carnivores, and we fought for our lives!"
"That was us.", I said. "And I must say, you led us on a merry chase!"
"We got away, but they found us again.", he was calming down somewhat. "We fought again, and then I remember nothing until I woke up a few moments ago..."
"That's very good, Zippeau.", I said. "It matches pretty much what happened. Now maybe I can clue you in on a few other things."
"Such as?", Zippeau asked as Selma came in with a bowl of greens. "Well, first of all, Yarra is all right.", I told him. "She was notified about what happened, and is on her way.", I didn't want to tell him she was already here - I wanted that to be a suprise!
"Yarra is coming?", he cheered up instantly, stuffing leaves into his mouth.
"The next thing is we think we know why you acted like that.", I continued. "It was that Tyranosaur Breath, we think. Zippeau, who were your ancesters? What creature were your kind before they evolved?"
"Why, everyone knows that Stenoychosaurs are direct descendants of the Troodonts.", he said, alternately munching. "Part of that tribe became civilized early, and our teeth and claws shortened as a result."
"And Troodonts were carnivores.", I told him. "We think that there was something in the Tyranosaur Breath that made you revert to your Troodont ancesters. We don't know if it would happen to all of your kind, or it might be just you; but we're going to distribute the stuff more wisely, or at least put a warning label on the stuff."
"What could be in it to do that?", he asked.
"Well, there is one ingredient that is not in normal liquor.", I said, then whispered the secret ingredient into his earslit.
"Tyranosaur WHAT?!", he balked. "Well sir, That wouldn't do it!..."
"It might.", I insisted. "See, one of the Tyranosaurs who contributed might have been sick; and that could have altered it somehow. It could explain a lot of things; but we're going to put a warning label on the stuff anyway - don't want this happening again, you know!"
"That's right!", he smiled for the first time in days. "But you know, once the high council hears of this, they will want more drastic changes than that."
"I know, but I guess we'll deal with that later.", I heard a light rapping on the doorway, and saw Yarra standing there. "You feel up to having another visitor?"
"Who is it?...", but then he saw her! "Yarra! Oh my Yarra!...", she rushed over as I stepped out of the way.
"Well, you're alive!", Yarra quipped as she bent to give him a nuzzle.
I backed out to the doorway, and nodded for Selma to follow. They needed to be alone for a while! We retreated to the hallway, but I lingered there just out of sight; secretly eavesdropping on them. Maybe there are things Zippeau didn't tell us that he would tell her! So I leaned against the wall and listened on.
"You gave me quite a fright!", Yarra went on. "Galavanting off across Dinotopia without telling me!"
"I'm sorry. I read your note and feared the worst!", Zippeau weakly said, not realizing she was joking. "I thought something terrible happened to you; and worst of all, I thought you were leaving me!"
"Oh! You jollyhead!", Yarra giggled. "I would never leave you! It was just my cousin in Volcanium. Japies was hurt at the forges, and I had to go and see if he was all right."
"I'm sorry to hear that...", Zippeau said. "He is, is he?"
"He's getting better, but it didn't look good at the beginning.", Yarra told him. "That was why I had to leave in a hurry: They thought he was dying!", she looked him over. "I guess I didn't have time to leave proper notes...", she got close to his muzzle. "Ooh! And all because of that, I got you all worried and you end up doing this!...", she nuzzled him.
"That was rather silly of me, wasn't it?", Zippeau smiled slightly.
"But what counts is you were silly for ME!", Yarra giggled as she held his saurian hands.
That was when I turned away and stopped my eavesdropping. So that was why Yarra disappeared! I resumed my usual business for the rest of the day, and our healers tended to Zippeau with the aid of Dr. Forschie and Yarra , who practically spoon fed him until he was strong enough to walk around one day later. After a week or so Zippeau was strong enough to be taken on a limited tour of the pyramid of Teeklan, gasping in wonder at all the painted etchings on the walls; and as he grew more active, his curiosity about our culture increrased. Pretty soon he was deemed well enough to travel, and the cart Yarra and company apportioned to take them here was readied for travel. We all gathered to see them off, for we grew fond of them all, including the saurian guards. They were still a little nervous being around us all, but this fact was overlooked both by seeing we were so friendly as well as the knowledge of thier eminent departure!
"Well Zip.", I said as I shook his hand. "Any time you want to visit, just let us know!"
"You bet I will, Stinger!", Zippeau said as he hugged Yarra. "Oh! And thank you for everything!"
"Oh! And if you want any meat, let us know!", I joked as thier cart turned around.
"Very funny!", he called as the cart headed for the road and was lost to sight.
Many weeks later, Zippeau is at home. He spent most of the day preparing for a dinner party, and invited Frank Carl and David Scott, along with Yarra, Marion, Rosemary Seville and Waldo Seville. Everything went smashingly, and everyone had a grand time. He whistled a happy tune as he cleared the dishes and ushered his guests into his sunken living area. Coming back out, he was confronted with a question from his mayor.
"So Zippeau, do you really think the people in the Rainy Basin are really civilized?", Waldo said as he sat on a divan.
"Well sir, I was pretty much under the weather at the time.", replied Zippeau. "They certainly meant well..."
"And those maneaters never touched you?", Frank asked.
"Not in the hostile sense.", he replied. "They had to subdue me at first, but that was due to my violent condition. After that they nursed me back to health and showed me the best of thier hospitality."
"I just can't get used to the idea that they want to be friendly!", Frank said. "That Stinger guy is ok, but his friends give me the creeps!"
"I think they look too ferocious to be civilized.", Carl commented, and got elbowed by Marion.
"It's unfair to judge someone on what they look like.", David said. "I mean, all the other dinosaurs look rather unusual, but they are as friendly as can be!"
"He's right. Thier intentions seem earnest, even though they're meat eaters.", Rosemary told them. "We have been waiting a long time for the carnivores to approach us as allies. I think it's just what this island needs!"
"They showed me nothing but courtesy my stay there, too.", Yarra said. "Dr. Forschie and the rest can testify to that!"
"Well then, Zippeau.", Waldo announced. "I'm sure we all have to be to our duties early tomorrow. So I suppose we all must be going.", he rose. "Come, my wife..."
"It is getting late at that...", Frank said. "Let's go, boys!", they all got up too.
"I'll see you tomorrow?", Marion asked Carl.
"Sure.", Carl replied softly.
"Hon, they're planning an inventory in the Fishery warehouse tomorrow...", Yarra rose as well.
"I understand...", Zippeau whispered, giving her a secret peck; then said so all could here. "Well, it's been a pleasure to have you here this evening!", he escorted the group to the door. "Perhaps we could schedule another get together soon!..."
Presently mutual farewells were said all around, and all of them left in ones and in groups to thier destinations for the night. Zippeau smiled at the memory of the meal, the funny stories and the gourmet meal served by his own hands. He began whistling a tune as he went to the kitchen and began cleaning up. He scoured the food preparation area, then worked on the dishes for almost an hour. After he mopped the floor, he lifted the basket of trash and headed for the back door.
This door led to the back street below, and he nudged the door open with his tail. Stepping down, he walked a few paces to where his trash recepticle sat by the building. Still whistling a tune, he dumped the garbage into his can. Setting the basket on his step, he looked both up and down the street; and when he is sure the coast is clear, gets this sinister look about him. The moon hid behind clouds high above, masking the activity that was about to take place. He turned and slunk off his doorstep, toward the trashcan he had just made his contribution to.
He slid the can aside, and up against the wall is a tiny device; spring loaded and lethal to anything the size of a mouse. Something of that general description was caught in that trap, and Zippeau lifted it trap and all to remove the tiny, furry creature. Instead of tossing the creature into his can like any decent Dinotopian would, Zippeau took it out and reset the trap; placing it back behind his can the way it was. he then took the creature and his basket into his home, eating the poor creature as he went...
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Post by thundertail on Jan 24, 2008 20:11:12 GMT -5
THIRTY-NINE: "The Strutters Emerge!"
The full extent of our action of placing the amber Sunstone at the top of the pyramid of Teeklan was not made clear to us until we undertook a full exploration of all ruins in our realm. Not only was the interior of the pyramid fully lighted now, but the chambers beneath; and all corridors and accessways leading to Kinan Van shone just like day! The grandeur of the city of Kinan Van was made clear as we walked the streets and avenues now fully lighted. There were huge Sunstones imbedded in the roof of the yawning cavern that housed the city, and the true archetecture of the place made all who saw feel small by comparason. The temple of Orous had machinery inside that rotated the structure for perfect allignment of all Sunstones below and above; and rarely did any of them suffer for lack of power.
The problem with the sunstones all over the island lasted only a short time as they seemed to automatically compensate for the extra drain our Sunstones put on them. It was true that this drain was considerable, but it seems Sunstones can draw off each other and recharge themselves by the power of the sun. The Sunstones that laced the armors of Othgar we four wore also benefited, for Klamath kept on indicating that he was stronger and quicker these days, as with the wearers of the other suits!
Upon further exploration of Halcyon, we found the same thing as in Kinan Van; the cavernous chamber it was built in had become illuminated just like day. It was especially well lit in the chamber where I first found Klamath; the spaces' gold gilt walls sparkled and shone like a ballroom in full regailia. With the addition of added power to Halcyon, sounds were heard through the ground; and when the sounds' source was located deep below it, we found machinery laboriousely trying to work. Flit informed us that these machines were originally used to pump water from the forty all but dry cisterns previousely located, and plumbed through stone piping all through the complex. He had to shut the machinery down for lack of sufficient water to cool the machines; for it would do us no good if they wore out from friction!
More teams of the clan were at work on other aspects of the ruins, both below ground as well as above. Two teams were sent to the spots the red Sunstone at the top of the temple of Orous indicated to dig; and massive excavation projects were under way in those spots. On the site just over the underground metropolis of Halcyon, a stone portal many times wider and taller than any kind of dinosaur was quickly emerging; and the rock and rubble in that doorway was slowly being dredged away, making a gigantic square shaft into the mountainside. The huge rocky knoll that was the former entrance to Kinan Van was being removed boulder by boulder to reveal a similar shaft leading at an angle deep underground; and the entryway would need to be rebuilt once this shaft was complete. At the portal crossroads deep in the bowels of Kinan Van, many clan members were at work removing rubble from both blocked shafts; and both teams hoped that thier shaft would be the one to lead to the surface. In Halcyon a recent rockslide, caused by the placement of the amber Sunstone, revealed many passageways not previousely discovered; and it was anybodys' guess as to which one would eventually lead to the surface! While all this was going on, further exploration of the World Beneath was under way; several well provisioned teams fanned out in the miles long tunnels, exploring for as far as thier supplies would last.
In the mean time, the exploration team I was on did not stand idle either. Flit, MacDougal, Pincushion, Wen and I were down in the chamber of the Strutters in the now daybright space; and we were checking out the other revelations the activation of the amber Sunstone chose to reveal. The assembled and partially assembled Strutters were as they were left during assembly, but the many with heads now sported glowing eyes; and many of them moved slightly, twitching and such on thier own. The arched reliefs along the walls were not reliefs like we first thought, for many of them had many odd shaped glowing depressions; which revealed that they were doorways to other chambers not yet explored. Several of these were open, revealing thier contents; and some had other forgeries and workshops while one contained ten Artificial Life Constructs in pieces, and the intact ones looked exactly like Flit!
We traveled deeper into the chamber, gaping at the detail on the walls and pillars until we came upon another yawning passageway that went a short distance to end at a yawning sealed archway; and at the center of that portal stood a glowing blue indent in the exact football shape and the same size as the blue Sunstone given to us by Tentpole of the Sky! A gasp and Flit knew exactly what to do: he perambulated out of the area as fast as he could on all six of his appendages, caroming off walls and Strutters on his way to Shetsetskafti's workshop on the other side of the complex. He returned many moments later holding the blue Sunstone in his upper tenticles, twitching in excitement!
"Where did you go?", Pincushion asked.
"Do you know what this means?!", he stammered instead. "Within lies a Strutter, and this Sunstone powers it!... What a miraculous find!", he tried to lift the stone to the indent, but could not because it was set too high up in the door.
"I'll do it!...", Pincushion offered as he took it in his short, two fingered forelimbs. he hefted it and placed it into the slot, and the stone gateway slowly rose on its' own mechanics, kicking up centurys' old dust.
Pincushion sneezed and the stone slipped from his grasp. I was under it in a flash, and caught it before it could shatter on the stone floor. I looked from my crouch into the chamber beyond, which was slowly beginning to brighten as the effects of the Sunstones outside the chamber began to take hold. The mechanical object being revealed was covered with dust and dirt, but clearly completely intact; and it was something better than any of us hoped for! The winged shape was more than four times larger than an organic Skybax, and had a wingspan that must have been more than sixty foot per wing had the wings not been folded in rest. The body was forty feet long, ending in a sixteen foot beak and a six foot head spike; and the Strutter looked more like a Pteranodon than a Quetzilcoatalus. The wings were an irridescent blue/green, and the body was painted a dark brown with a deep blue stripe down the belly; and upon further inspection, that stripe extended along the back of the creature, too.
"What a perfect specimen!", Flit said. "Scanners indicate all systems fully functional. Wiring and tether configurations read intact. Electrical and hydraulic systems nominal.", he paused to look at us. "I think we better go over this personally!"
"It's all dirty!", Pincushion stated. "Look at this dust!...", his claw scooped up a gob of it as he ran it along a wing edge.
"Whot do it run on?", MacDougal asked, running a hand along the underbelly. "Bet me hooch'll make a fine fuel!"
"These runes on the control panel indicates it was made twelve thousand years ago...", Wen said. "This language is common for the ancient city of Posideon!"
"Yes, it is that old.", Flit told us. "But with a little work, it will fly again. Let's activate it!" Flit went to the tail section of the Strutter and pried open a small hatch; then he clambered down and retrieved the blue Sunstone I had left by the door. He scampered back up and fitted the Sunstone into its' recepticle, and a moment later the eyes of the metallic Skybax began to glow blue as well. The creature turned its' head, trying to see through the dust over it's eyes; and seeing me, lowered its' head to see better. I stroked the metal beak that met my armored hand, then slid it up until I first wiped the left eye and then the right. The Skybax cawed in thanks, which sounded more like rusty machinery; and then it tried to nuzzle my hand in thanks.
"I think he likes you, boss!", Wen said.
"I guess so!", I chuckled. "Flit, would you know if this Strutter has an entity inside it?"
"Scanning...", Flit said. "There is definitely something sentient in its' memory banks... It's a very dim intellegence. Quite primal and driven on emotion for the most part.", as he said this, the Skybax Strutter turned its' head toward him. "It also seems to react to outside stimulus...!"
"Aye! The beastie hears us...", the head turned to MacDougal with a questioning look. "An' it recognises us as more than as jes' things!... Awk! Hello, laddy!", he patted the offered metallic beak.
"He seems pretty friendly...", the Skybax turned to look at Pincushion. "Really friendly!", the metal bird nuzzled his snout.
"Hey there, big fella!", Wen cooed as I lifted her so the metallic creature could see her.
"Let us shut him down so we can tell the others, ok?", Flit said, who had scrambled up the metal Skybax's back again. The Artificial Life Construct removed the blue Sunstone and clambered down off the giant flying beast, then set the stone down on the floor beside the door. The green Sunstone that powered the Brach Strutter had also been removed; as it was found that it also posessed a rudimentary intellegence, and would shuffle around and accidentally crush another Strutter or otherwise cause damage. We learned from that one to never leave an activated Strutter unattended, and deactivate the metallic creatures before leaving! We left the Strutter chamber and made our way to the surface.
News spread quickly of our discovery, and pretty soon many others went down to view the new creature. MacDougal, Flit and Wen were assigned to clean the Skybax Strutter; and presently went down with those supplies. I got to thinking of what to do with this creature, and ways to put it to good use. I figured it could be used to carry corespondance from place to place, it could be used to carry a passenger with speed to any destination in Dinotopia since it had a pilot's seat and another seat up front near the base of the neck, presumably used for a gunner; and it could be used for speedy rescue of persons trapped in the mountains or canyons and it could scan the coast quickly to help find persons washed up on shore.
I explained that I might be able to fly this creature as I was an experienced pilot, and familiar with the sophisticated controls and used to the high stresses ascociated with flight. One doesn't spend a decade in the United States Air Force without knowing how to fly, I explained! King Thundertail agreed that I was the only creature we had capable enough to operate such a contrivance, and permission was given to me to fly the mechanical Skybax once it was deemed fit to fly. This excited me to no end, for this would be my first time flying since my jet crashed in the Rainy Basin better than three years ago! I ran to my quarters in the pyramid of Teeklan and rummaged around my things until I found my old Air Force helmet.
In reality, it took many weeks to actually fly the metallic skybax; but that was only because the main entrances leading to the surface was still blocked with debris. We all pitched in and cleared the blockage from the entrance to Kinan Van as that seemed the most direct route from the chamber of the Strutters to the surface. We all labotiousely worked on that while I intermittently learned everything needed to know about flying a Skybax Strutter; and let me tell you, it seemed a lot harder than running a simple F-17 jet!
The first thing to take into consideration is the configuration of the wings. The wing is made up of many joints like the corporial counterpart; and like a human hand, it has just as many moving parts. The control sticks and levers were multi-jointed and sported many levers that moved different parts of the Skybax body and wings. There were even controls to move the head as well as a tiny tail section used for stability, and one wrong move while flying and the Skybax would spiral in a death dive I would not be able to get out of! Flit worked with me in training as he was the only one with schematics on the Strutter in his memory banks; and with that and Klamath's storage of this knowledge - easy for me to access since Klamath and I were linked - by the time the entrance to Kinan Van was opened, I was all but ready for my first flight.
The entity within the Skybax was simple to say the least. It told us through a Dinotopian version of Binary and Klamath's deciphering of it that its' name was Kiawa, and it had been waiting for a long time to fly once more. It thanked us for awakening it, and told us that it recognised Klamath - the greatest warrior armor on Dinotopia. As we told it what had been going on since it was interred here, it nodded and digested all it could; having the need to be told many times that the warfare of so long ago was not acceptible in this time. It would seem that this Strutter was a bit more intellegent than the Bracheosaur Strutter, as it eventually grasped what we were trying to teach it while the Brach still lumbered around like it had no intellegence at all!
When the day came to move the Skybax to the surface, one problem became apparent right off. Though seemingly graceful in the air, the lumbering gait a terrestrial flyer has is cumbersome and slow to say the least! We discussed how to bring this flyer to the surface, and one became apparent right off. We had the flyer step aboard a pair of wheeled sledges hastily put together out of wood and metal hardware found about the chamber. Then we activated the Brach Strutter, Flit operating the great beast; and we attatched chains to it as well as the sledges and began to pull. The going was rough over the uneven stone floors as they rolled, but Kiawa had balance enough to compensate these abnormalities with relative but shaky ease. Four hours later both Brach and Skybax met the sunshine, a thing they hadn't experienced in over ten thousand years!
The trip through the jungle and the path from the entrance to Kinan Van went by pretty smoothly, Flit manipulating the giant Strutter that was pulling the sledges carrying the giant Skybax as I coaxed the bird along with soothing coos and words of encouragement; and soon we had made our way into our clansite. As the Skybax Strutter, named Kiawa, stepped off the sledges; it took the liberty of spreading its' wings and flapping, even though that unnerved us no end! What if it decided to take off? What damage would it do to the rest of the island? But instead, it stopped and looked at everyone now looking at this new sight of a metallic flying creature and a metallic sauropod in thier midst. The Bracheosaur strutter boomed and looked around noncomittally as its' green eyes winked on and off as if blinking, seeming to wonder what was going on!
"So, these are the Strutters!", Thundertail stepped up and inspected them. "They appear even more marvelous here than down in the chamber!", he chuckled.
"I think they are still wondering what is going on.", I said as Kiawa looked at me nervousely. "There, there!... Everything is going to be all right...!", I soothed the metallic beast.
"Though we have removed the weaponry from the Bracheosaurus Strutter,...", Flit said from above, then scampered down through the beast to emerge from a hatch just inside the beast's right front leg and scrabble down the rungs placed there. "We have yet to remove the weapons from the Skybax."
"You know, you're right!", I said. "We were so excited on finding Kiawa that we didn't have the time!", I looked at the bird. "A saying goes: 'Weapons are enemies, even to thier owners.'; so that means we'll have to take your weapons away.", the Skybax croaked in concern. "It will be all right...", I cooed again.
In the mean time, Flit had scrambled upon the Skybax and pulled out the blue Sunstone. "I'll get to work right away...", said he.
"Um,... laddy...!", MacDougal got the robot's attention. "Ye say th' birdie flies on me hooch?"
"The engine can utilize a number of fuels.", Flit informed him as he opened the Skybax's beak; and that revealed a tiny cannon. "But the more combustible, the better...", it continued its' work.
MacDougal nodded, gathered a few clan members and off they went to where his stills were. I took it to myself to lead the Bracheosaur Strutter to a corner of the clearing, where I catwalked across its' back and removed the green Sunstone within the small hatch back there. I placed the stone on the driver's seat and climbed down to the ground. Along with the cannon in the Skybax's mouth, there was a breach loading gatlin gun of a unique design typical to Dinotopian manufacture; and these were removed too. There were two more types of weapons within the Strutter, but they were connected to intergral functions of the Strutter and had to be left alone. One was a laser generator behind the eyes that would shoot blue laserfire from there; and this was connected to the bird's higher functions such as flight, and might even effect his limited intellegence. Another weapon, which was directly linked to the Sunstone power cradle, was a set of pusher beams not unlike the kind of ray that Klamath could produce. We would need to keep a close eye on this Strutter lest he hurt someone with those weapons!
At great length the Strutter, who insisted be called Kiawa, was finished and disarmed as much as we could make him; and with that my real training on flying him would soon commence. MacDougal came around with almost fifty gallons of his hooch, unflavored and in almost raw form; and he commenced a bucket bregade of sorts filling the internal tanks via an inlet located by Flit at the top center of the back. The Skybax Strutters' main means of propulsion was just like any oter corporial Skybax: he would take off using thermals and his own wing power for mobility. The fuel was for a strange type of fan jet propulsion designed exclusively by Dinotopian technology. The device that spun to produce thrust once the fuel was combusted on it was a series of augerlike disks within the engine proper, and each worked as a clutch-and-bering against one another as each former disk spun faster. When I ignited this engine, the bird made a deafening, chirring clatter as each disk synchronized; then became almost silent as the engine reached synchronicity. Flit warned me not to engage the engine unless top Skybax flight speed was achieved as it was cooled by rushing air; so I shut it down as Flit replaced the blue Sunstone.
"All done!", I told Kiawa. "That wasn't bad, was it?", Kiawa still chirped like rusty machinery!
"What are you going to do with it now, Stinger?", Rex asked, coming over to inspect the creature for himself.
"I'm going to learn how to fly it, of course!", I told him.
"But aren't you a pilot already?", he asked.
"I can fly planes and jets from the outside world,", I said, climbing up into the pilot seat, just to the rear of the gunner seat. "I have no idea how to fly this!"
"If that's the case...", Flit scurried up as well and took the forward seat. "Then let me show you how!"
"Can you fly this thing?", I asked as the faring came up on either side of us and pressuring shut seamlessly in the middle.
"No, but I know all the internal mechanics.", said Flit, head turreting around to look at me with his multicolored eyelights. "Besides, you may need someone who can talk to him!" As the rest of the clan allowed us room in the clearing, Flit gave pointers on how to manually maneuver the Skybax Strutter; which seemed like trying to make a centepede's legs move joint by joint! The intricate controls had two modes controlled by a lever at my side, and one made the legs and wingtips perambulate in unison as I tried to get Kiawa to get up the slight rise in the clearing so we could practice taking off. Many times through Flit's translation, Kiawa requested that he get us there by himself; but I thought it better if I try this on my own. After many a stumble and clumsey step, I finally maneuvered Kiawa to the highest altitude the clearing had to offer; and there I was sure that there might be breeze enough to help us take off.
Kiawa screeched like a train stopping on the tracks as I unfurled the metallic creatures' wings, trying to get them to flap in unison without making them flop on the ground. I tried the legs, making them hop in place to gain height; and lastly I tried to make Kiawa run slightly to gain speed for flight, but all of this was to little avail as I could not seem to make this Skybax Strutter get off the ground! I felt silly! It was like my first time flying as I vainly tried to achieve the air in a contraption I was illequipped to handle. I stopped, bowing my head and thinking; and Kiawa sensed this hesitation and tried to help.
"Kiawa says that he can help you if you let him.", Flit translated. "All you do is give controls to him and he will show you how it's done. Just release that short red lever at your feet."
"Well, ok...", I said dejectedly and complied.
Of his own volition, Kiawa screeched once again and flapped several times. The wings tilted slightly, and I could see through the multijointed control sticks how they bent and twisted in accordance to his movements as he paced out further into the field. I rested my hands on the controls so I could feel the movements and know what they meant as Kiawa hopped as he flapped, twisting his body to find a wind. With his last hop, his metallic feet left the ground and retreated against his belly, wings circling tightly to get altitude. In a moment we were above treetop level and still climbing, Kiawa relaying instructions to me via Flit all the way; and the sensations I was getting through the control sticks told me volumes on how all this was done too.
As we made it to what my guess was a thousand feet, we leveled off and began performing a lazy figure-8 maneuver, my hands now firmly on the controls but letting the great metallic flyer do the flying. As Klamath listened to the squeaky metallic chatter coming from Kiawa, he slowly began forming a translation; and pretty soon I was hearing bits and pieces of his words. I cought shards of tales of his heroic antics during the war hosted by Othgar; and also tales of his ultimate defeat and the humiliation of his interrment. At long last I felt confident enough to take the controls for a while, and sloppily made slight maneuvers within our figure-8 pattern. The three of us was up for what seemed to me like minutes, but was in reality over an hour; and as Kiawa feighned weariness, it was agreed that we make our landing for the day. I insisted that I could handle the procedure, but Flit reminded me of my failed takeoff; and Kiawa had to agree as he cackled softly!
I went up in Kiawa every day for more then a week, becoming more and more used to this strange form of aircraft. After only a few days, Flit deemed that he was no longer needed in training me on how to operate Kiawa; and he gratiousely bowed out of any further flights, and saying he had quite a lot to finish up in the World Beneath. My training flights became longer and longer, eventually encompassing the entire Rainy Basin; and those who lived in that realm soon recognized us as friendly flyers, and eventually stood down thier defensive postures as we flew overhead. I had sent a Postal bird out, telling the council of the activation of both Strutters many days ago; and knew it was only a matter of time before Kiawa would be allowed to fly over the entire island!...
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Post by thundertail on Jan 27, 2008 17:51:54 GMT -5
FORTY: "Steel wings."
The new metallic additions to the clan turned out to be quite useful to us in the things we needed to do. The Bracheosaur Strutter, of which we named Tunneau, was super strong; and helped us do a lot of the heavy lifting as well as hauling. Our idea of having him help transport goods to and from the Rainy Basin and other places could not have worked out better! There was a cavernous space within the torso that once held a whole battery of cannon; but now that it was emptied, the space could hold nearly three full cart loads of cargo. Tunneau proved most helpful when one time we delivered the supplied to Torres LaSage and her friends. They tried to take the Strutter by force, but we had figured they would; and thusly we placed two garrisons of Veloceraptor guards along with thier supplies inside. It was much like the fable of the Trojan Horse when they entered and found themselves surrounded by claws and teeth!
The people in the towns surrounding the Rainy Basin gradually became used to seeing this metallic beast trundling into thier towns; and even though he wasn't alive, many started to begin talking to him like he was a real live Brach. I operated him when it was my turn to deliver supplies to Tentpole of the Sky, and matriarch Buttercup marveled at the massive machine before her; praising on how well one of thier gifts was being put to use. She gave our expedition a complete tour of thier citadel before beginning the long, frigid trip back home.
Kiawa proved most helpful in spotting travelers and helped out on rescues by going for help when a Ranger team met with a situation calling for backup. In leiu of being the lead Rainy Basin Ranger, my task more often then not was to fly the giant metallic Skybax on missions of reconisence throughout the Rainy Basin. Both Kiawa and I were the eyes in the sky, and grew expert in finding problems before they would become problems! We had sent a Postal bird many weeks ago concerning permission to fly to other parts of Dinotopia from the council at Waterfall City, but so far we had gotten no word either way. In the mean time our lives became steeped in routine to such a degree that it was a suprise to us one day when a Postal bird returned to us and divulged her news.
"On behalf of the high council of Waterfall City...", the bird announced loudly after fluttering to a stop and ruffling her feathers. "I bear to you thier decision of your request made two fortnights ago.", she eyed the carnivores among us suspiciousely. "Permission to fly the Skybax Strutter over environs not within Rainy Basin territory is hereby granted. Permission is granted under the condition that said Strutter is not used for purposes of which it was originally designed for.", she looked at me. "There is more..."
"Please, what is it?", I asked.
"Mayor Waldo Seville congratulates all of you on your injenuity of restoring the Strutter, as well as the Bracheosaur Strutter; and looks forward to personally witnessing them in action.", the bird continued. "He also is curious to see the good they can do. He is visiting Canyon City in one week, and invites the Skybax Strutter and pilot to attend him there."
"We would be most delighted to attend!", I said. "Would you like to pause in your flight and rest? Our Post Office has all the amenities..."
"Thank you, human.", she said, shaking her bill. "This stop is a long way from the main routes!"
"We would also like to invite you to see the Strutters for yourself.", I told her as I offered my arm as a perch. "I think one should be showing up soon..."
My first stop was to take her to the Post office, where she hopped into the upper aerie and refreshed herself; then, coming out, she complimented us on the decor'. I then led her to the clearing, and Kiawa had just landed bearing flit; whom volunteered to fly a reconisence mission along the route to Crevice aerie. The Postal bird nearly flapped off my shoulder when she saw it; but Kiawa took a look at the tinier flyer and warbled like an out of round wheel, which made the Postal bird chuckle nervousely despite herself. A little while later the Bracheosaur Strutter came back from a trade mission, and she almost fell onto her back at the size of the construct! As Tunneau boomed greeting, the bird calmed down somewhat. At length the Postal bird bid her leave, and circled both metallic beasts in her lofty exit from our territory.
The very next day I had the Skybax Strutter made ready, for I wanted to take it out and have Kiawa go through his paces. In my training on the bird and my many missions with him, I had not taken the time to see what he could really do! Once they were done, I looked the metallic bird over, running gauntletted hands over the underside of wings, inspecting the feetlike landing gear and examining the exit point of the Dinojet engine (A name I coined for a Dinotopian fan-jet engine.). I had stowed my old Air Force helmet under the gunner's seat, and made sure its' internal radio was set for a frequency that Klamath could pick up; and I put it there in case the mayor would like to have a ride. I then grabbed the blue Sunstone laying in the pilot seat, walked down the back of the bird and placed it into its' recepticle; then I sat into the pilot's seat and waited for Kiawa to wake up.
"Hello, Stinger.", I heard his translated thoughts. "What are we going to do today?"
"I thought we could do a little test.", I thought back. "I want to test you on your abilities. Do you want to do this?"
"Of course!", Kiawa told me. "I have not had my abilities tested in a very long time!"
"Excellent, Kiawa.", I replied. "Let us proceed, then!"
The Strutter crouched and leapt for the sky, flapping until it leveled off well above treetop level. I hung onto the controls, gasping at Kiawa's sudden turns and ascents; and hoping real hard he knew what he was doing! Once I had gotten used to the maneuvering the Strutter was making, I had him fly over clan Thundertail and try to buzz them; but by this time they were so used to Kiawa flying overhead, they barely gave us pause.
As I waved from my spot behind the controls, Kiawa banked around and hit the jets; and we screeched away from the area in a flash. I twisted the lever and took over for a spell, leveling off at a thousand feet. I banked right before detail in the Forbidden mountains and made another sweep up the Basin. I told Kiawa to give it all the power he had, and suddenly the Dinojet engine rose in pitch and volume; and just as we flew over clan Thundertail once again, a sonic boom like thunder blasted down on them! Kiawa apologized for this, but I told him it was only natural when a craft flies faster than sound travels; and he told me that he could fly a little bit faster than that, then poured on even more speed! My estimate on our speed before we had to slow to avoid the Backbone mountains was about mach one-point five!
"You're pretty fast!", I told the mechanical Skybax. "Now, how high can you fly?"
"I can fly so high that natural life forms can not take in oxygen.", Kiawa told me. "But do not fear, Stinger! My pilot compartment is fully self contained and pressurized. There will be plenty of oxygen for you to breathe!"
"That's comforting to know...", I hadn't thought of that! "You may proceed..."
Kiawa dipped tail and rose like a rocket, high above the clouds we soared; and soon the dimming light told me that we were reaching the very edge of Earth's atmosphere! As stars began becoming apparent, a jolting shudder ratcheted through the Skybax; and all of a sudden Klamath told me he had lost contact with Kiawa! I switched to manuel, and the controls would not respond; and just when I realized this, the Dinojet engine flamed out! I utilized all of Klamath's speed and strength to try and get at least a little control from the metallic beast; but we then began to fall like a stone! It was fortunate that Kiawa was built as aerodynamically as possible, for his body dipped nose first; and his frozen wings caught the thin air, affording me the thinnest margin of control. We must have been like that for many minutes, falling and spinning in a yaw-roll as the Earth began looking less like a planet and more like our home - but we were falling toward it now faster than a bullet!
At what I guessed to be one mile altitude, the controls slowly began to respond, and Klamath could now just barely hear Kiawa. As soon as the Skybax Strutter saw what was going on, he banked and spiraled counter to our fall; and for the most part, got himself under control enough to make level flight. As soon as he did this, he had me take the controls while he figured out what just happened.
"I can not explain it...", Kiawa told us. "I was flying my highest, and suddenly it was like when you remove my power Sunstone!"
"I don't know what happened either...", I said. "But you nearly killed us!"
"I think I may have the solution.", Klamath said. "Perhaps it is because Kiawa has a limited range."
"What do you mean?", I asked my suit.
"Do you remember when Pincushion got too close to the Sunstones when we were bringing Shawn Branko back home?", he told us, and I nodded. "He could go no further because the Sunstones were giving him pain. My theory is Kiawa can not go beyond the influence of the Sunstones or he shuts down. Sunstones have a range of influence of only a handfull of miles."
"Well, I don't care what it is!", I said, turning the Skybax Strutter toward home. "I'm having Flit do a full overhaul on him soon as we land! Looks like practice is cancelled for the day, Kiawa!"
"AW!", Kiawa replied.
Many moments later, Kiawa landed in the clearing that was in the middle of clan Thundertail; and I hopped down and ran to find Flit. When I did, I told him what happened; and he immediately went over to examine the great metal bird. I had forgotten to remove the blue Sunstone in my haste, and Kiawa was slowly capering about, looking at the activity all around him. He squawked rustilly as he saw Flit, and the Artificial Life Construct clambered onto him and removed the Sunstone; rendering Kiawa inert. Two hours later and Flit decreed that Kiawa was in perfect condition, that his lapse in the air did nothing to damage any of his systems. The only thing wrong at this time was the fact that nearly all of his alchohol fuel was used up, so MacDougal and his helpers got to work refueling him. Flit said that Klamath's hypotheses on why Kiawa became inert was a sound one; that it would be possible that he had a limited flying range due to the Sunstones, and it would be unwise to fly him beyond thier influence. That meant that, even though I now had a means to go to every corner of Dinotopia in a matter of hours, I could not actually leave Dinotopia. But why would I want to leave Dinotopia, I asked myself as I dreamed that night. I loved it here, for crying out loud! I had a family and a life like no other human I knew in the outside world. I helped the Tyranosaurs and other carnivores here into a peaceful existence with the others on the island; and there was nothing I could name that could compare to that! I woke in the morning, refreshed and fully confident on what I had to do today. I suited up in my armor of Othgar, said good bye to everyone I met along the way and activated Kiawa still 'asleep' in the clearing.
I know that the mayor will visit Waterfall City in a few more days, but I wanted to begin my journey there and see as much of the island as I could in the mean time. The sun was barely glinting in the campsite as Kiawa leapt into the air and circled a still sleeping clan; and the only ones up to witness our departure were the ones on guard duty. Kiawa and I flew roughly southwestward, across Deep Swamp and the western edges of the Rainy Basin; and there was not much activity down below save for campfire smoke from a caravan near the very edge of carnivore territory. While I pulled out a strip of jerky and nibbled it for breakfast, washing it down with water from a skin on the fly; I entertained myself by looking out over the vast Dinotopian landscape. We made our way over Gorgonia, then headed south toward Slugmire; and from there we veered toward the Whitestone Quarries, viewing the marble bluffs that most of the cities on Dinotopia were made from. From there we headed west, and made it to the majestic spires of Sauropolis; where the first flights of the Skybax there were just taking off. As they came around, they saw Kiawa's metallic form glinting in the sky; and made great haste to form around us to investigate. It was clear that word had gotten around of our discovery of the Skybax in the World Beneath, for they escorted us out of thier airspace, but never once attacked us! As these escorts trailed off, another squadron took thier place; and these were of a more ornate squadron. The Waterfall City Skybax squadron led us up the Polongo river and over the city; and they had us roost atop the Aqua Stadium, where thier aerie and landing area was. Many pilots wandered out to greet us and marvel at the metal flyer in thier midst as I ate fruit offered to me; and thier steeds did likewise, only from a more discreet distance. They informed me that mayor Seville had already departed for Canyon City; and it was too late to come pick him up, if that was what I had in mind. I told them I was merely testing the Strutter to find out how far its' range was, and to view the places in Dinotopia from the air. At length they allowed us to be on our way, and Kiawa caught a thermal off the Great Falls and headed further north up the Polongo River.
Jungles and forests went by beneath his wings, and soon the mangroves of Hadro swamp made thier appearance in the distance. The greyish purple mountains of the Obnubian Range became apparent after that, punctuated by the smoking cone of the volcano that denoted the metalworking city of Volcaneum; and as we circled that cauldron, many of thier own Skybax rose to greet us in the sooty air. They alloowed us to land in thier aerie at the base of the volcano, and we both got many moments of scruitny; but Kiawa did not take kindly to the metalworkers there touching him and trying to find out how he was put together! They marveled at the technology present in him, and praised the enginuity of thier forebearers in making a craft as Kiawa. I met Yarra's cousin in passing, and Japies was doing fairly well after all this time; even though he had a permanent limp, and the whole left side of his body was one big scar. I ate dinner with him at his home in the village near the base of the volcano. By the end of the day we had to bid our farewell, and we took off with a three-Skybax escort to the borders of thier realm.
We flew all that night, me taking short naps in flight and Kiawa flying in my stead because he did not require sleep; and the Backbone mountains passed without a sound under his steel wings. By morning we came into view of Treetown, and I cursed myself for sleeping through all the towns in between! Thier Skybax patrols were already up and scouring the thick forest below for hostiles; but then they spotted us in the sky and presently gave chase! I indicated through hand signals that we were friendly and all, but they were having none of it; and immediately gave chase, trying to strafe us with thier steeds' talons. They tried to leave us no avenue of escape; and as thier maneuvers attempted to block us in, Kiawa had to kick in the engine and zoom out of thier grasp! They chased us and strafed us all the way out of thier airspace; and it was then that I remembered that Treetown was one of the handful of towns that were dead set against having carnivores in thier midst!
As Deep Lake came into view, I decided to turn south again and fly over the Forbidden mountains, hoping to catch the Amu canyon through Rocky Pass. It would ba a shame to go that way, for I had never seen Tentpole of the Sky from the air and bet it was an awesome sight! I ate a light breakfast of jerky and water as I watched the landscape present itself below me. I figured that, since the mayor of Waterfall City had left for Canyon City already, he would be well on his way there by now; and it would do us no good if I were late! The pass was narrow and long, almost like a canyon in its' own right; and we saw a long caravan of Brachs pass through going the other way after we flew through the narrowest part of the pass. As the pass opened up to reveal a plain of scrub and rock, Kiawa informed me that the outside temperature had risen three percent, and was continuing to climb.
To our left, the small outpost of Brumala passed us; thier small fields of scruffy looking crop and thier even scruffier looking windmill thier only prominent features. As a raging stream emerged from the other side of the Forbiddens, the town of Probosca was seen below; thier main form of trade being transportation, and many caravans were seen being formed in the streets below. We continued following the stream, which widened out to a full-fledged river, and was assumed to be the headwaters of the Amu river; and made it to the Coramir Wastes, a sea of silt and sand dunes amid the rivulets of the widening river. We found the outlet, and it seemed to be turning south; and the Amu began cascading down a series of short falls, carving a narrow channel as it went. Kiawa told me that it was becoming increasingly hotter the further south we flew, and followed the deepening canyon to the trading post of Farak. All along the way the river carved the canyon, and soon was nearly a mile deep and just as wide; so we followed the western side of the canyon all the way to Pteros.
It was perhaps the biggest mistake in the world to come near Pteros with a Skybax Strutter, as we almost immediately found out! All of a sudden many individual Skybaxes nesting along the canyonside let out shrill cries of alarm, and many took wing to warn the others. All of a sudden the morning sky grew dark with thier number, and quickly began to give chase! The crowing and squawking became deafening, even through the canopy; and Kiawa presently became buffeted with many Skybax strikes! He asked if he should use his remaining weapons on them, and I told him absolutely NO! I instead told him to kick in his engines and speed across the now three mile wide canyon, and maybe we could outrun them. Evidentally, the Skybax were more interested in defending thier territory than giving chase, and they lost the swarm of flyers less than half way across. I later found out that the Skybax females were roosting and tending young at the time, and even the Skybax riders do not disturb them when they were like this!
Kiawa and I flew on the other side of the canyon from there, occasionally dipping to just above the canyon rim to greater altitudes to get our bearings. I took another stick of jerky as I looked to find a way to get across the gorge to our right. At the cruix of three fingers of the Amu canyon, where the canyon was six miles wide, the squarish dorms and boxlike dwellings of canyon City was seen; ruddy reds and oranges that blended in perfectly with the scenic wonders of the canyon. We crossed the miles deep gorge amid stone pillars and arches, arroyos and knolls toward the growing expanse far ahead. Other Skybax were gliding in the air currents below, and some flew to our altitude to investigate the strange phenomona that we were. We wheeled about to match a Skybax trainee performong maneuvers; and that's when I noticed four huge stone statues hanging off the far rim of the canyon we had just flew over, thier sunstone eyes glaring at us accusingly. As the trainee tore off toward thier training camp, evidentally to warn the others; we passed directly over Canyon City proper, and sent humans and small saurians there scurrying! So as not to cause any more panic, I decided to land on the ruddy plain directly behind Canyon City near the rim at the top of the canyon. I had Kiawa shut down as I hopped out of the pilot seat and waited at his side.
It didn't take long for word to get around, for all of a sudden ten Skybaxes flew into view to land all around us. Thier riders dismounted and stood at thier sides. One, presumably the leader of the group, stepped out and walked right up to within twenty yards of the Skybax Strutter. He reached into his bag and unfurled a scroll.
"By the power of the magistrate of Canyon City, I order you to stand down and surrender.", he said loudly.
"My name is Stinger, and I am on a mission of peace and goodwill.", I told him. "I meant no harm by flying over your city, and apologise for any disturbance I have caused."
"Stinger, hey?", he commented. "From the Rainy Basin, right?"
"I have full permission to come here.", I said, nodding. "I am meeting with mayor Seville to show him this Skybax Strutter...", I patted Kiawa's metallic beak.
"Well, I wasn't informed...", he replied. "Maybe we should let sub-commander Scott decide this.", he turned and one of his squad mounted his steed and flew off into the canyon.
I waited there beside the metallic flyer, nervousely looking at the group of tan uniformed humans of various backgrounds and nationalities as well as thier flying steeds of evidentally the same nationality; wondering if we would be attacked, yet knowing these were peaceful creatures by nature. They were only doing thier job of defending Canyon City from any interlopers - and for the moment those interlopers were us! Many moments later, the Skybax and rider returned with another, lighter colored Skybax in tow; and the rider of this one wore a darker brown uniform. As they landed, one among his ranks and the other slightly ahead of the group, both got down from thier steeds and looked at me. David Scott gave a smirk and a half salute before speaking, of which I returned.
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(Continued in next post.)
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Post by thundertail on Jan 27, 2008 17:54:27 GMT -5
FORTY: "Steel Wings." (Continued.)
"Ah Stinger! We meet again!", he looked me over, then the giant metallic skybax by my side. "So, this is a Strutter!... Boy! what a big flyer!"
"You know, we activated two Strutters.", I informed him. "This one and a Brach Strutter.", Kiawa lowered his head to get his beak rubbed again. "The Brach is real strong, and helps out a lot with the heavy lifting and dragging..."
"I bet this one flies fast!", David commented.
"It can do almost mach 1.5!", I told him. "Not as powerful as my old jet, but it does have a jet engine - Dinotopian design, of course!"
"How far does it fly?", he asked.
"Well, about two days ago, I tried to see.", I said. "We headed down near Sauropolis, past waterfall City and Volcaneum; and then followed the Backbones around to the headwaters of the Amu River, and then past Pteros to here."
"All in one flight?", David asked. "Wow!"
"I'm here because the mayor wanted to see the Strutter...", I reminded.
"Oh, yeah!", he looked bewildered for a second. "The mayor will not arrive until noontime tomorrow. Our Skybax scouts have seen his caravan on the road from Backwood Falts.", he shuffled. "In the mean time, we could accomodate you in one of the dorms; but the Strutter..."
"Kiawa could stay right here, if you wish.", I offered. "He doesn't really need shelter, but might appreciate some..."
"Kiawa?", Scott asked.
"That's his name.", I said. "This Strutter has a rudimentary intellegence, and the entity of a living creature resides inside."
"Strange...,", David considered. "Like he's haunted or something!..."
"Come...", I beckoned. "Want to get more acquainted with him?"
It was evident that David Scott could not wait to do so, and stepped right up to the great flyer to touch Kiawa's beak as the Strutter reguarded him with glowing blue eyes. Once his brief trepidations were over, I led him around to view every aspect of Kiawa; from the hundred foot wingspan to the metallic feet, and I invited him up to examine the superstructure up there with a boost and a shove. He looked at the Skybax from this perspective, then I gave him a tour of the pilot's compartment.
"Want to go for a ride?", I asked him as he looked. "I'll go real gentile, I promise!"
"You think I should?", David whispered.
"Why not?", I whispered back, then loud so all could hear. "And I would be honored to have Freefall escort us on a demonstration flight!", Freefall crowed agreement.
With a smile, David Scott clambered into the gunner seat, me giving pointers on how to strap the harnesses around him. I reached down and offered him my old Air Force helmet, but he poffered his Skybax helmet instead. I told him that the radio in the helmet is linked to Klamath's communicator, and it would be wise to use that instead. He tossed his helmet to the nearest Skybax pilot and placed my helmet on his head; and I had to help him adjust the straps. As he set in the seat properly, I tapped his helmet as I sat in the pilot's seat to ready the controls for flight. With a rusty metallic squawk, Kiawa trundled awkwardly over to the cliff edge to spread his wings.
Kiawa bounded up on his feet and dove off the edge, David gasping at the suddenness of it; and Freefall hopped and leapt off as well. The other skybax and thier riders watched as both flyers caught a thermal and rose up past them. Kiawa leveled off and spiraled about, Freefall giving chase and matching the metal birds' every move. Out over the canyon they flew, ever faster and ever more complex aerobatics. Freefall dodged left around an arroyo as Kiawa ducked left; and they both converged; nearly colliding on the other side of it. First Freefall would tag Kiawa , and then Kiawa would chase Freefall all around the knolls, under the stone bridges and past the nests of other flyers; and those all cawed in alarm and scorn at the antics! At last both flyers leveled off, and circled around to skim past the Sentinel Statues, thier eyes glowing brighter as Kiawa and his Sunstone passed them. Finally David Scott had breath enough to speak.
"That was amazing!", and he saw Freefall float past, cawing as he went. "Such speed and power...!"
"I let Kiawa indulge himself.", I told him. "I'm sorry if he alarmed you any..."
"Are you kidding?!", david said. "It was the most thrilling thing I've been through short of flying Freefall!"
"I'm glad you liked it, then.", I noticed Freefall's delighted twinkle in his eye. "I think Freefall enjoyed it too!"
"It's been a long time since he flew with someone as skilled as he...", David said, then had a thought. "Say Stinger. Now that you have this fantastic machine, you now have a way off the island!"
"Not really.", I told him. "Even though Kiawa is fast, strong and can fly far; he has one drawback. See, his internal power comes mainly from his Sunstone; but the power of the Sunstone only lasts if he's close to the others.", I let my voice trail. "Kiawa has a set range, and if I go beyond that range, I could crash and get killed."
"So you can't leave this way...", he digested.
"Well, I don't want to leave anyway!", I said. "I like it here, and I have a home here. Why would I walk away from all this?"
"Well, that makes two of us!", David Scott replied.
I laughed. "Say, want to play a little joke on those guys down there?"
"Doing what?", he asked, and I told him.
David made a shooing gesture to Freefall, telling him he should fall back; and as the great Pterosaur did so, I peeled left to get a clear shot of the canyon. I looped up and around, leaving miles between us and Canyon City proper. I then had Kiawa kick in the Dinojet engine, and David whooped at the speed produced! Just as we came within a quarter mile of canyon city, we hit mach 1; and a loud boom thundered off the canyon walls, shuddering everyone and everything in the city, breaking glass in some instances and nearly rattling everything not nailed down. We laughed as we slowed, and I had Kiawa fly to the cliff edge to land where he landed previousely. Freefall landed at his side, and crowed his admiration of his flying skills; and Kiawa croaked back in his rusty-machinery way!
Many moments later, after we dismounted from Kiawa, a Skybax landed, and his rider dismounted. The look on Romana Dennison's face told us she did not have good news to say to us!
"Sub-commander Scott, mister Stinger. Your presence is required at the magistrate's office right away.", she bowed and returned to her steed.
"I guess we're in trouble...", David told me.
"Oops! I guess our little joke backfired!", I then laughed. "Literally!"
As Freefall flew back to his rookeries for the night, David led me to a sloping path that led deep into the canyon. It connected to other paths and through short tunnels along the canyon; and we eventually made it to a lower set of cliffs, where many of the smaller barracks buildings were perched. Instead of going in that direction, I was led to a rope bridge that led across a wide crack in the rocky topography; and here I saw was many more buildings and homes bored into the cliffside out of solid rock.
Inside this cavelike space, many offices of departments were alive with activity; and David Scott led me into one of those. Behind a desk sat a semi bald older man, busy with paperwork and not bothering to look up as he spoke.
"Sub-Commander Scott! Why did you let this stranger cause so much trouble?", he looked up. "Mister Stinger, do you know your stunt nearly made us think we were having an earthquake?!"
"I'm truely sorry for any trouble, magistrate.", I said. "Sub-commander Scott wanted to know how fast the Skybax Strutter could fly. Unfortunately, Kiawa can fly faster than the speed of sound..."
"I'm sorry I allowed him.", David told him. "It will never happen again!"
"At any rate, evertything is being put back in order...", the magistrate said. "Can this Strutter fly without causing such destruction?"
"Yes, sir.", I said.
"Then from now on, the Strutter may only fly like THAT over Canyon City airspace.", he told me. "That is for the record!", he turned to his papaerwork. "But off the record, that was the most extrordinary feat of aerial prowess I have ever seen!"
"Thank you sir...", I said. "Would you like a ride, too?"
"I'm afraid that my days in the air are over...", he told me as he dismissed us with his quill pen.
David Scott then led me out of the office complex, back across the rope bridge and into another set of portals in the cliff face. He asked if I wanted any food, apologising that they had no meat; and summoned a human to serve us dinner. After that and a small round of chat, he led me to the row of dorms perched on the cliffside. At one doorway several buildings down the row, he stopped and ushered me inside. At length he left me, telling me the usual itinerary before he left; and once things quieted down somewhat outside, I unfurled myself from Klamath, settled into the cot and fell asleep less than an hour later.
In the morning I was awake when I heard the scuffling of many feet rushing by my portal. The Skybax riders and cadets were very busy getting ready for thier morning flights and training excercises. I got up and watched them go by as I stood at the portal, then I went to get into my armor of Othgar as the bulk of the rush passed by. By the time I was through, Romana Dennison stood at the portal and told me I was to come with her. I did so, and she led me to another part of the cliffside complex; to a place where a great ledge jutted out over the canyon. Here many cadets and riders waited in line to climb a stone scaffold to a tiny platform above it. There riders would stand and wait, raising an arm to summon thier steeds; who would land on the platform and wait to be saddled. Then the pair would fly off into the ruddy morning light, on thier way to thier preassigned destinations. I looked at this sight in silent wonder for many moments. I thought there was nothing else on Dinotopia that could amaze me, but I was wrong!
"What a sight, eh?", David Scott commented, suddenly at my side. I turned to him with a start and nodded. "Our morning patrols say that the mayor will be arriving in the plain above the city by midmorning meal. I think it would be prudent to ready the Strutter..."
"Yes, I guess you're right.", I tore my eyes away.
David Scott led me through the city, coming out to other ways I hadn't traveled yet in the city; and up the rocky path to the desert plain where I left Kiawa. David still marveled at the metalic beast, wings still folded in repose, as I walked up to it and climbed to insert the blue Sunstone back into its' recepticle. As Kiawa woke up, the first person he saw was David; and he lowered his beak so the Skybax rider could touch it. In the mean time I got down and visually inspected the creature, and a few moments later returned to David's side.
"Good as the day it was made!", I announced. "Just wait until the mayor sees this!"
"He will be amazed, as I was.", sub-commander David Scott told me. "Now I must go and prepare my squadrons for his arrival.", he smiled up at the Strutter, whose blue eyes twinkled smilingly. "The mayor should be arriving by the western pass, down by the southwestern finger canyon over there...", he pointed to a small ridge at the near horizon that denoted the pass. "I guess I'll see you later...", he turned and returned to the city.
He never told us what to do in the mean time, so after brief discussion between me, Klamath and Kiawa; we agreed to wait near the edge of the cliff, only over near the finger canyon to the south of us. The less than a mile hop by Kiawa lasted only a moment, but as a result, we had a commanding view of that end of Canyon City, the yawning canyon beyond and the path at the base of the finger canyon. We waited there for what seemed like hours, me nibbling on the last of the jerky I brought with me as we all scanned the terrain all around us; and then a small cloud of dust was seen coming from the far end of the finger canyon. The pall grew until figures bagan taking shape out of it, saurian shapes of the large sauropod variety; and the rest of the caravan became apparent immediately thereafter.
The caravan soon passed by our position below us, and it was not apparent if they saw us; but we both bowed and waved at them anyway. It was not indicated whether or not we should meet the mayor's party right away, so we hung back where we was and let the administrators of Canyon City receive the mayor first; of which we had a commanding view of the whole proceedings. As the magistrate shook mayor Waldo Seville's hand, he looked up to our position, for he had noticed us in passing; and nodded for us to fly down and make our own entrance!
I boarded Kiawa, and he leapt off the cliff; screching metallically and wheeling to catch a thermal. We flew over thier heads and out into the Amu canyon amid cheers from the other citizens down below, performing a victory roll before making a wide turn to return to them. We lifted up and dropped on the lower ledge with a thud that shuddered everyone in the area. I hopped down as the mayor and magistrate slowly came near with thier entourage in tow, then bowed regally as they came face to face with me; then Kiawa bowed in his own way, squawking greetings mechanically. I looked up as mayor Seville cleared his throat, Rosemary looking the metal beast up and down with a frightened yet fascunated look.
"Well, well!", mayor Waldo Seville exclaimed. "So this is the technology of our ancestors!... Such an amazing thing!"
"My mayor, matriarch Rosemary.", I began as I rose. "I would like you to meet Kiawa, the only remaining functional Skybax Strutter."
"Pleased to meet you...", mumbled waldo as Kiawa chortled grindingly. "Uh,... Is he tame?"
"Of course!", I told him, chuckling. "Kiawa may have been constructed for war; but we are teaching him the ways of peace."
I then went on to describe the missions he had gone on, along with my testing of his abilities. "He can fly really fast - faster than sound travels; and I haven't fully tested his range, but I briefly toured many cities arounf Dinotopia.", In the mean time I gave them a brief tour around the Skybax, pointing out certain features on the Strutter. "It has a range of the outer limits of the Sunstones influence, so it can not be used to get off the island. Not that I want to leave, mind you!", I then told him how his weapons have been stripped from him, omitting for the moment that two weapon systems remained.
"But Stinger! What if someone else tries to leave the island using it?", the matriarch asked worriedly. "They could get killed!"
"Since the beginning of Dinotopia, or so I've heard; the carnivores have been entrusted to guard the secrets of the World Beneath.", I told them both. "We will continue to guard these things, and make sure nobody uses this Strutter for those purposes."
"Well, see that you do!", Waldo told me, then changed his tack. "So, what could be the use for a Strutter like this?"
I made a short speech out of the things I thought Kiawa could do for Dinotopia. I did not leave out his flying ability, and the services Skybaxes and thier riders have been doing for hundreds of years; and I told them that Kiawa could do very much the same thing. I told them that the Strutter could fly much faster than his corporial counterparts, and thusly do those tasks in a much quicker way. I didn't leave out that he could spot trouble a long way off, and could warn others of that danger in a much more efficient way. Since the passenger compartment could seat two easily, a person could be transported from one side of the island to the other in a matter of hours. I told them there were many other services this metallic Skybax could do, ad only time would tell of his usefullness. Both mayor and matriarch nodded as I told them, and at last they turned to each other before Waldo spoke.
"Well, Stinger...", he said at last. "It sounds like you have this all planned out. I do hope you're able to pull it off!"
"I can train some of the others to fly the Strutter, if you like.", I offered. "Bacjk home I used to train Air Force cadets..."
"I will leave that option to you.", Waldo said. "Er,... I hear you have more Strutters activated now."
"Only one.", I said. "It's a Bracheosaurus. Super strong. We use it to help rebuild the ruins.", I told them briefly. "It is also useful in transporting cargo - or even passengers."
"Again, peaceful uses...", Rosemary said. "Waldo, I think Stinger has this Strutter business well in hand!"
"Yes, he certainly has the good of Dinotopia at heart!...", Waldo shook my hand.
At length we parted from canyon City, and the presence of the mayor of waterfall City and the matriarch; and I took the Skybax Strutter and headed back for home. I wanted to leave with plenty of daylight left for the rather short trip home. It was a hard thing to do for me, for the farewells were extremely heartfelt to me.
We circled Canyon City once and headed roughly west, toward the forbidden mountains. Our Skybax escort led us out of thier territory and had to turn back at the ruins of the Trilobite Towers. By sunset we ended up flying over Tentpole of the Sky at last; and what a shining jewel that citadel was! I thought of flying low over the place, but thought better of it as there was no one outside in the mountain tundra to witness it. As the foothills on the other side of the Forbiddens came into videw, I set a course northward until I crossed into the familiar territory of the Rainy Basin...
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Post by thundertail on Jan 31, 2008 19:45:01 GMT -5
FORTY-ONE: "New recruits."
Many more weeks pass, and we find it prudent for more of our clan to learn how to operate the Strutters. Flit could handle Kiawa fairly easily, and was often the pilot when need arose or I was too preoccupied with other things; so I began to train Diego on the basics of it, him gaining extra tutelage by Flit. The Brach Strutter named Tunneau was a little easier to handle, and before long many of the humans and smaller saurians in the clan were taking turns using him on construction projects or on trade missions to other towns.
One of the reasons why I could not fly Kiawa all the time was because I had been put in charge of finding new recruits for the 'Rainy Basin Rangers', and that took up a lot of my time. I first had many of the clan help out by printing up flyers and posters, which would be distributed throughout the towns we traveled to on our trade missions. That's right, I used the outside world ploy of advertising! I had tried this for many weeks now, along with asking any able bodied person in the clan who wanted to join up; but only a small few from the clan wished to. Those streaked through the first wave of training with flying colors, but there was still a lot of ground to cover in the Rainy Basin, and more help was needed.
Our drive to obtain new Rainy Basin Rangers finally began to pay off as many applicants began to arrive to try out for the position several weeks later. It was strange having strangers in camp, ones who were leary at every step the carnivores made, and jumped at every helpful gesture; but to calm them down somewhat, we generally let them stay a while before the indoctrination process began. To house all these new recrutis, it was decided to utilize the row of adobe huts, the ones we were working on when Mayday went into labor, as dorms for the Rainy Basin Ranger recruits. I decided to have the whole area denoted for Ranger training; all except for the Hamilton Somala Decker house, which I would use as my office.
I was in that office after the last batch of cadets hed graduated, going over the applications for the next batch and smiled. Though I had never met most of these applicants before in my life, two of them I definitely had! I went over the forms for the others first. Mae Ling came from Baz, and from her name I deduced she was of Oriental origin; and by her background, it said she worked in the hatchery there as a girl and later on at the farms. Geoffrey Cramer apprenticed at the forges at Volcaneum, but his background said he really wasn't cut out for the drudgery involved in the craft. Jennie Vanse worked in the hotel trade in Waterfall City with her mother, but desired a more exciting mode of work. Then there was Franco Halpurn from Gorgonia, who was an apprentice in herbal medicines; and actually hated the field, wanting a more rustic life as well.
Greg Krieger wanted to become a Ranger ever since I came up with the idea, but there were two things stopping him from doing so. One was his parents, Miles Krieger and Melissa Krieger wanted hin to tend the fields around our camp like they did most of the time. The other reason was he was several years too young at the time. But a month ago was his eighteenth birthday, and was the year he came of age; and he could finally decide for himself what he wanted to do with his life. He was skilled in many forms of combat already, and knew all the carnivores well. With that much going for him, how could I refuse his application?
On the other hand, when I saw Carl Scott's application before me, I knew that his family and friends must have worked hard to get him to do it! I had suggested the prospect repeatedly with his brother, father and girlfriend in passing; and at last the boy finally did it! I figured that it would probably take a lot of work to get him to become a noble Rider and all; but if he had it in him, he might just make one of the best Rainy Basin Rangers there ever was!
So, after approving all these cadets, I went to greet them as they arrived one or two at a time as they showed up. I already knew Greg, so I just showed him to his dorm and left to greet the others. Mae and Geoffrey came in on the same caravan as both thier home towns were close to each other. They got seperate quarters about three adobe huts apart after I got to know them a bit. Jennie came in on foot, and was there before them all; and she proved to be an apt woodsman in her own right. Franco was one you'd never know to have courage as his scrawny and bookish looks; but his demeanor was deceiving. They all got quarters in the area and I let them all have one or two weeks to acclamate themselves to our lifestyle.
Carl Scott, on the other hand, came in with his own miniature entourage! He was riding an Overlander, but he had hired a small cart to transport his things. His partner, 26, was with him; and Marion Seville came along as well. It turned out he wanted larger quarters than provided, but I had to order him to take what was given; and gave Marion and 26 other quarters!
Those two had a hard time adjusting to being here, them not being used to being among carnivores. Marion gradually accepted being here, knowing from her matriarchal training to accept anything; but 26's instinctual aversion to carnivores made her cower at the smallest of us! It started when Ursula wanted to give her a checkup, a thing she felt compelled to do to everyone from time to time - and you better not say no! 26 cowered behind Marion's legs, not letting the Kirky get near; afraid more of her glassy-eyed gaze than her demeanor. Ursula acted as nice as can be, coaxing and pleading with the baby dinosaur until she finally came out to Ursula's gentle touches, Marion's verbal coaxings and 26's childlike curiosity doing the rest. While all this was going on, Carl was having difficulty of his own adjusting to our way of life.
In his adobe cabin, he studied the scrolls given to him; which were meant to teach cadets all about the Rainy Basin Rangers. There was literature on hand to hand fighting, weapon usage, speaking and understanding Tyranosaur language as well as other carnivore languages, the care of Tyranosaurs and the saddling and uniforms worn. Since he was behind on speaking saurian and writing the Footprint language, other scrolls on those subjects were given to him too. I found him deep in study as he walked around camp one day, and he nearly ran into me as he studied.
"Hello there!...", I said as I stepped aside. "How's things going?"
"Oh! It's this language!", Carl said, showing me the scroll of Tyranosaur language he was pouring over. "I can say the words, but they don't sound right."
"Tyranosaur is said best if it is growled.", I told him. "It's hard on the throat, but that's the only way the Tyranosaurs know what you're saying!... 'fiphet pha, haspi skafti.' means what?", I growled the phrase.
"I don't know.", Carl said, trying to find the words in the scroll.
"It means: 'Breathe deep, seek peace.'...", I told him. "All you have to do is breathe deep and seek peace, and anything you are striving for will come to you sooner or later!"
"I don't understand.", he said.
"It means that, in anything you do in life, you should put yourself in the right perspective.", I led him further into the clearing. "Only then can you concentrate on the things that really matter."
"Like this matters, right?", Carl spread his arms. "To have all these sawteeth be like this. It ain't natural!"
"It matters VERY much - to them!", I told him. "Since time began, all the other dinosaurs hated and feared the carnivores. Now they are trying to change thier ways, and befriend those who once feared them. I commend these creatures for trying, and support them fully in thier cause.", I looked him in the eye. "But I could never do that until I put myself in the right perspective!"
"What was that?", Carl asked.
"The day I realised that I could not get off the island, I decided to make the best of things.", I told him. "The armor of Othgar taught me many things about Dinotopia, and showed me how to survive here. The day I found Rex alone in the jungle, I decided to make a difference in his life; so I took care of him. It was by pure luck that he turned out to be the son of the leader of the Tyranosaurs. I found that I could make a difference in the lives of his clan, too; and through hard work and good council, I helped them to become what they always dreamed of being.", I continued confidentially. "You know, YOU can make a difference here, too."
"How?", he asked.
"By taking the responsability to make a difference.", I said. "Here you will be trained in the disciplines necesary to be able to take responsability on your own. You know, you can't go through life shirking responsability; quitting when things get too tough, or trying to get out of things because they require committment..."
"I do not!...", he defended.
"Then why aren't you adjusting to this place?", I asked. "Why aren't you fitting in like you should?"
He had no answer. Instead he feighned looking at the scroll again. When he finally decided to speak, it was barely a whisper. "I guess it's because I still have hope of getting off the island..."
"Don't worry about it!", I clapped his back. "We'll talk about this later.", I began to walk away. "Just continue studying. You'll get the hang of it!"
I talked to each cadet in turn, just like I did with the last batch; and now those new Rangers are doing a great job! Soon the physical part of the training began; and even though Greg Krieger was a better fighter than the rest of them by experience, all of them seemed to have the skill buried within them. Just like the last batch, I got 'Weapons are enemies, even to thier owners'; but I explained that around here weapons were tools to carnivores, and to use weapons in case all else fails. Even Carl Scott had some of the tendancy in him, so I let Greg and he spar with staffs for practice one day; and Greg beat him three falls out of four, even though Carl was about four years his senior!
By the end of the first month, the whole class of cadets had become so used to the carnivores in camp that they barely noticed them; except if the larger ones came too close, which was often due to the dinosaurs' native curiosity. Even 26 was used to the smaller members of the clan by now, and became quite attatched to the children; and looked forward to the times when the Kirky Circus decided to perform! She was soon indoctrinated into our school system, and learned many of the things she would learn in any other school on the island; but one thing they did not teach in those schools that she became good at was stalking. Many was the time she snuck up on Carl and startled him!
The cadets were doing so well that I decided to start the next phase of thier training a week or so early. While I was doing all this with the cadets, Rex was training thier Tyranosaur steeds; a group gleaned out of both our clan and saurians borrowed from other clans. These would be the cadets' training steeds only; and only time would tell if it would become permanent. The day I decided to do it, I had them all march out into the clearing, where wooden planks were set on the ground twenty yards apart. I told them to stand on those planks at attention; and not to move no matter what.
"Cadets, you have come a long way so far...", I announced after going down the line, giving them a thourough military scrutiny. "You have studied hand to hand combat, learned the Tyranosaur language and are well on your way in other skills necesary to become Rainy Basin Rangers.", I looked at each of them with a scowl before continuing. "There is only one thing missing for you to become true Rangers..."
At this time Rex came out of the woods to join me, sneaking up from behind and standing there silently. The cadets saw this, but dared not speak for my previous order to them. Just then Rex roared loudly inches from my head! When the echo died down, I turned to face him and smiled!
"Oh! Hi buddy!", I said as I patted his snout like that happens every day, then I whispered in Tyranosaur. "Everything all set?", he confirmed with a wink.
"Today is the day you will begin to learn to ride a Tyranosaur!", I said, and this was echoed by shouts of cheer or revulsion - I could not tell! "ATTENTION!... I did not give you permission to speak!... Back in line!... Do not move or even breathe!...", this was said as I rushed to them and got them back on thier wooden planks. "I want you to stand at attention, do not move no matter what happens!... Is that clear?", thier still forms told me that it was, so I returned to Rex's side.
I nodded to Rex and he let out a huge bellow; but during the time I was dressing down the cadets, thier training steeds had snuck out into the clearing. They now stood several feet behind each cadet, looking them over like a new meal; waiting silently for thier leaders' roar. They echoed that roar - all of them at once - and the cadets spun around, or was knocked down in fright! The only one uneffected was Greg; and by some miracle Carl just stood there too, but the look on his face told me he was paralyzed in a state of shock! I rushed out to help the fallen ones to thier feet. Rex chuckled to himself where he stood; and a few of the Tyranosaurs moaned concern for thier chosen riders.
"You should learn to be prepared for the unexpected!", I yelled at them when done. "Now, these Tyranosaurs have gratiousely volunteered to help train you in this next phase of your training. Here you will be put to the test in your Tyranosaur grooming, saddlrey and language skills.", I looked the group over. "You will also learn how to ride them, but that will be a little later.", I smiled at Rex. "But for right now, you have the rest of the day to get acquainted with your new steeds... You may proceed!"
I watched as the comedic scene unfolded, tenative motions and downright refusal; and tension among the Tyranosaurs as to whether or not thier assigned cadet would like them, or would they be better as food. Greg Krieger had gotten Waterkill, and were already fast friends; so I ignored him for the moment and concentrated on the others. I stepped up to Mae Ling and introduced her to her steed, whose name was Atutaki, from Snaptail's clan, and saw the first tenative touches she made to her snout; and knew there might not be any trouble from them, either. Jennie Vanse got the yearling from the backwood Flats tribe named Stonehammer; and even though he was brash and violent when I was introduced to him before his training, he took the meeting of this timid female with calm patience - not much trouble there, either. Geoffrey Cramer got Veloxia, an older male of clan Snaptail; and still thought the idea of the Rainy Basin Rangers as stupid. He looked like he would tolerate it, though; but It looked like I'd still have to keep an eye on that pair. Franko Halpurn smiled nervousely at Mudfoot, from the backeood Flats tribe; but still wouldn't come near the much larger beast, and it looked to me like that pair might not work out.
Carl Scott was still trying to make up his mind whether or not to touch Thistlesnarl, even though she was in as much of a submission posture as possible. She had heard of him, and knew it would take a lot of convincing to get him to not be afraid; but try as she might, Carl would not get within arms' length of her! This impasse I stopped as soon as I got to them, smiling and drawing Carl closer; then I placed his hand on her muzzle, much to his squirming!
"Carl, I gave you Thistlesnarl because she is the sweetest Tyranosaur in the clan!", I told him. "You'd never meet one with a better temperment! She agrees to be gentile and patient; and she wants to be your friend."
"She won't eat me?", Carl asked, quickly withdrawing his hand as soon as I let go. "I mean,... no offense. But the last time I mat a T-Rex, he tried to eat me!"
"You wouldn't eat Carl, now would you?", I asked Thistlesnarl jokingly, who hooted no. "See? She's friendly as can be!... So why don't you two go and get acquainted?", Thistlesnarl came to within inches of Carl and purringly rumbled in friendship, right in Carl's frightened face!
I turned away just then. "You two have fun!", I said and made my way to Rex.
"What do you think of this batch?", Rex whispered in Tyranosaur.
"I believe that luncheon is served!", I whispered back in kind, and laughed!
By the end of the day, the cadets began to get used to thier new training steeds; with various measures of success. Never the less, both riders and steeds knew that they must at least get along well enough to work together! The pair that worked the best together were Greg and Waterkill, and they ended up being one of the first to advance far enough to actually ride. Mae and Atutaki were almost equally adept, Mae being expert riding Ceratopsians on her parents' farm. Even though Geoffrey and Veloxia weren't on the best of terms, they made truce enough to work together; and the human gradually achieved riding status many weeks later, with the proviso that Veloxia was boss of the pair!
Franko tried and tried to get on the good side of Mudfoot for many weeks, but it looked like they might never get along at all; however, things worked out well enough in the end for the human to ride him. Likewise with Mae and atutaki, Jennie and Stonehammer ended up becoming quite symbiotic together; for Jennie learned to like him right off, and he gradually grew to like her as well!
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(Continued in the next post.)
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Post by thundertail on Jan 31, 2008 19:47:22 GMT -5
FORTY-ONE: "New Recruits." (Continued.)
Carl, on the other hand, continued to be very leary of Thistlesnarl; no matter how hard she tried to be friendly. Every move he made around her was full of fear and uncertainty that it almost drove her crazy! Many was the time that Thistlesnarl would ask one of the clan to talk to him, and make him understand that him and her had a job to do; that they were there to train him in the ways of the Rainy Basin Rangers, and being afraid of someone that was trying to help you out was just plain stupid! Many clan members did, both human and non-carniverous saurian, and said it in many diverse ways; but only gradually did Carl lose his fear of the hulking monster that was trying to be a help to him. Thistlesnarl knew the day he lost his fear of her when, while slathering her off after a tenative riding lesson; he began to talk to himself about his situation, and of course Thistlesnarl knew English well enough to know what he was saying. She only hoped he knew Tyranosaur well enough to listen to her thoughts of his situation!
"Man!... this is bogus!", he mumbled as he toweled down one of her legs. "Here I am, stuck in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sawteeth;... and now I got to play nursemaid to an overgrown alligator!...", he finished up, burnishing her heelspike like it said in the manuel.
"Watch the toes, human!", Thistlesnarl told him. "I'm chaffing there!"
"Sorry, your majesty...!", Carl rose. He knew Tyranosaur at last! Good, she thought.
"Thank you...", she said. "You know, I have been more than patient with you; but you do not seem to have your heart in this."
"Well, to tell you the truth; I was taunted into joining.", Carl told her. "My girlfriend loves a person in uniform, and always preferrs my brother than me. He's in the Skybax patrol, you know.", he looked over the nails on her forelimbs. "And don't get me started with my father! He thinks that a military school would whip me into shape; but David's superior told us he never wants to see me a Skybax rider for what I did!"
"What did you do?", Thistlesnarl asked.
"I stole a saddle, commandiered a Skybax and flew it.", he told her. "The bird dumped me in the Rainy Basin, and I got injured. They sent out a search party, and one of them got eaten.", he grabbed a bucket. "They have been blaming me for his death ever since!"
"A shame...", Thistlesnarl said. "And you had no choice but to join the Rangers..."
"It was either that, or become a loser in everyone else's eyes.", he told her. "But now that I'm here, I'm not too sure... There are a lot of things to get used to around here!"
"Like me?", she asked.
"You, your whole clan and this whole bogus situation!", he threw up his hands.
"I think that if you apply yourself to the situation, things will not seem so... bo-Gusss, as you say.", she replied. "If you let me, I could help you apply yourself."
"Promise you won't eat me?", Carl asked.
"I promise!", Thistlesnarl rumbled chortlingly.
"Well Thiss, looks like it's a deal!", Carl went to place his five fingered hand over her two fingered one.
Carl tried over the next hundred days or so; and with the help of everyone in the clan and Thistlesnarl's guidance, he became very good at riding, self defense and began to work with everyone around camp. We even staged mock rescues, caravans to guard and robberies as part of the training, and all of the cadets in the group did very well. As a part of the graduation rites made up for the first batch of cadets, we had both rider and steed choose who they wanted to be paired with, and usually the ones that trained together picked thier training mate; and with this group, it was no exception. During training, a bond is generally created between the pair; and such friendship is usually vital for the rider/steed pair.
As I went to review these new Rainy Basin Rangers, dressed in full uniforms and ornamental riding saddles; I saw a look of determination and drive in thier faces, a thing that was all but absent thier first day in this line. As I saw that all was acceptible about each pair, I passed them quickly for the next ones in line; and finally made my way to stand out in front of them. As Rex formed up at my side, I had him roar to gain thier attention - which they snapped to it immediately - and it was then that I began my speech.
"Ladies, gentilemen and saurians of honor this day...", I began. "This day marks the first day you are truely Rainy Basin Rangers. Our goal is to enforce peace throughout the Rainy Basin, and protect others from harm. With the skills now instilled into you, you will be able to do this with pride and the knowledge of being true heroes. It will not be an easy job, nor a permanent one; but it is one that I can safely say you will do to the best of your abilities.", he looked over to a table set at the corner of the clearing. "Whitetail. If you would..."
Whitetail, helped by Ripper and Snapper, and each dressed in thier finest sash or guard uniform, carried over an ornate box. Inside were more ornate sashes than the ones the graduates already wore, decorated with the Rainy Basin insignia and bordered in gold. They placed the box at my feet, and bowed as they backed away regally.
"You all have passed Rainy Basin Ranger cadet training, and have made me proud in the bargain!... So for this, it is my privelage to award you with full Rainy Basin Ranger rank!", I bent into the box. "When I call your names, please step forward..."
They all shifted nervously as I took my time in choosing the accolades. "Cadet Greg Krieger, mistress Waterkill, please step forward.", both did so in thier own way. "I hereby move you both to the rank of corporal, and place you in temporary charge of this group.", I placed the sash around Waterkills neck, and pinned the medal on Greg, adding rank insignia to his sash as well. "Lead well and you both might make squad commander!", this I said confidentially as I shook both thier hands.
"Cadet Jennie vanse, sir Stonehammer, please step forward.", I said next once they went back to thier places. "For meticulous completion of Rainy Basin Ranger cadet training, I hereby make you Ranger First class.", again I shook thier hands as I awarded thier epelets.
I awarded each cadet and steed thier medals of honor in turn, and at last only had one more pair left. "Cadet Carl Scott, mistress Thistlesnarl, please step forward.", they did so. "For unsurpassed completion of your Rainy Basin Ranger cadet training, I give you the title of Rider first class.", I grasped both thier hands after awarding them thier sashes and pins. "I am proud of you both.", I said this softly. "You not only proved that you could both get along, but you actually work well together! Good luck to you both!"
"Funny, I thought I was going to be corporal...", Carl murmured.
"Don't press your luck!", I mumbled back, smiling. They both stood back in line, and then I shouted: "Attention!... Salute for the Dinotopian anthem, and the Rainy Basin anthem..."
All cadets and riders did so, along with the full fledged Rangers and every witness present in the area. The kirky band first played the haunting melody that was the Dinotopian national anthem, ending the orchestrial piece many moments later. Then, after somber applause, began the less regal piece conjured up by them many months ago; and was agreed that that should be our song. This ended with slightly more robust applaud, and right after that; all eyes looked upon me once again.
"Cadets,... I mean, Rangers!", I corrected. "Much as I am not one for making long speeches at a time like this; I would like to congratulate you all on a job well done.", I shuffled and cleared my throat. "I don't know what else to say, so... Dismissed!"
With that they all yelled out cheers, roars and other forms of celebration. Carl and Thistlesnarl were met halfway by Marion with 26 in her arms, David and his father; who came all the way from his tavern for the occasion. Both the Kriegers and the Serenos came to congratulate Greg on his rank of corporal, along with all thier Partners and saurian friends. The friends made by the other cadets came to show thier wishes, as well as the few family members that could make the trip. Pretty soon the clearing was becoming a sea of celebration as nearly every member of the clan, both new and old, joined in. I joined in as well, and personally talked to each member in turn; but only had few words to say to each except Carl.
"Well kid!", I slapped his shoulder. "You made it!"
"Never thought I'd be chilling with carnivores...", he replied. "His uniform is snappier than David's!", Marion said, giving him a squeeze.
"Thanks a lot!", David said, taking 26 from her, and she honked.
"Now both my boys're in the military!", Frank Scott said. "One in the Air Force, and the other in the Army!"
"He will make a fine Ranger!", Thistlesnarl purred in Carl's ear.
"I'll do my best...", Carl patted her snout, then drew Maron's hand to it. Thistlesnarl completed the maneuver and nuzzled the hand.
"Well, don't worry about him, mister Scott.", I said. "We'll take good care of him."
"I know...", he replied. "Just never thought I'd be this close to a T-Rex!"
"Carl's father is nice, too!", Thistlesnarl purred.
"Well, guess I better mingle!", I begged my leave.
Just then I noticed Rex sidle up to Thistlesnarl - they were becoming quite an item around camp lately! They cooed and nuzzled as the Scotts went on talking, nearly oblivious of that. I turned back and placed my hands on my hips.
"No flirting, you two!", I scolded as they bowed at being caught. Rex presently caught up to me as I made my way to king Thundertail. He had walked out into the middle of the clearing, and looked like he was just about to make an announcement. As he roared, we paused next to and behind him; not knowing what he was going to say.
"Members of my clan, friends and visitors!", he said. "The time has come for yet another change to my clan's policies! It has been brought to my attention that the human population is expanding at an increasing rate. From observations of other communities where humans are the dominent population; a leader is named among them, one who facilitates everything pertaining to humans.", he looked around at the crowd that had just gathered. "The most common title for this position is mayor, and one is usually elected from your number."
"But sir!", I whispered. "Am I not the leader of the humans? But if you wish to choose another..."
"Relax, Stinger!", he grumbled to me, then turned once again. "Now, since the founding of this combined clan, Stinger has been the one to help found it. He has done more for this clan than many of the humans combined; and his wisdom exceeds everything, even up to this day.", thundertail paused. "Thusly, I appoint Stinger as mayor of the Rainy Basin, authority only superceeded by my own. Is the whole clan in agreement?"
The opinion could not have been more unanimous, for every hand or forelimb rose nearly as one; and rousing cheer emerged from nearly everyones' lips! I stepped forward and bowed, took the adulation and presently backed to just behind Thundertail. Smiling, Thundertail shoved me forward, and placed both two fingered hands on my shoulders.
"Now, Stinger's duties to the clan will not change very much.", he told everyone. "This promotion is only one of title, and everything that goes on will ultimately go through me, just like it was done before. But in my absence, Stinger will speak for me; and he will facilitate things with the council of Grond and my son.", he let me go just then, pushing me out even further. "Now, humans of clan Thundertail!... Come greet your new mayor!"
An hour or so later, my arm was sore for the number of times it was shaken; and my back ached from the number of times it was slapped!...
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Post by thundertail on Feb 3, 2008 11:17:31 GMT -5
FORTY-TWO: "On Holiday!"
It turned out that king Thundertail was right when he said that my duties around the clan would not change much. The only bits of difference I found was that I had a choice of what deed I wanted to do from day to day. Another difference was I had to listen to more of the clans' smaller problems; and have them set to writing if the problem set a new precidence in our growing laws. Another difference was I was required to attain a more social way of life, and many of my needed private moments were slowly denied me. Other than these mild inconveniences, life for me went on just like normal!
Since my duties were becoming more complex, I was allowed to delegate certain departments among the other higher ranking clan members. Diego was summarilly given charge of the Rainy Basin Rangers, and his second in command was to be Greg Krieger. All the other, smaller duties I was required to do were given over to departments already within the budding beaurocracy within the infrastructure of clan Thundertail; and even though I was ultimately in charge of those, I did not need to do a lot of the actual work!
Despite my newfound status in the clan, I managed to go on a few expeditions of trade, and flew Kiawa on many a reconnasence mission. In fact, the clan was being run so well that king Thundertail made a special request of the high council; and because of our integrity in the deeds we have done and were doing, permission was eventually given. Thundertail, who had spent nearly all his life in the Rainy Basin, wished to venture out and see the rest of Dinotopia. It seemed that his trip to Waterfall City so long ago sparked great curiosity in him about the rest of the island! As soon as he heard that permission was given, he arranged a great expedition to be held; and of course, all of the higher ranking clan members were invited to go along too!
By this time we had collected many dozens of carts - plenty to run the clan in all its' endeavors; and he requisitioned four of them to haul all our supplies. The members that would join him on this expedition was Rex, Grond, Pincushion, Talon, Mayday, Hamilton, Diego, Sauron, Chillet, Flatbottom, Skipper, Selma, Ursula, Harold, Mildred, MacDougal, Miles Krieger, Mark Sereno, two whole squads of Veloceraptor guards and of course, myself. We delegated those who would run clan Thundertail in our stead, and found many that would prove quite capable of doing it; for these days the clan practically ran itself!
After a weeks' preparation, our gigantic caravan set out and left clan Thundertail. We planned to start out taking the northern road that would invariably lead us to Treetown. We already knew what our greeting would be at Treetown, so we decided to head eastward and cross out of the Rainy basin via Rocky Pass instead! After passing the territory of clan Snaptail, we skirted around Crevice aerie and found Strafewing wanting to join us; but we requested they help out while we were away by patrolling the Rainy Basin in our stead from the air, a task they said they would gladly help out with. So, within a day our caravan headed out of the Rainy Basin, through the foothills seperating the Backbone Mountains and the Forbidden mountains; toward the well used road that would lead us to Rocky Pass.
The road through Rocky Pass was relatively unpopulated, spires and peaks rising up on either side; and the only creatures we saw that scurried out of the way at our feet were the indiginous creatures that made the place thier home. Less than a day later we made it through, and witnessed the fields belonging to Brumalia that was in the middle of being harvested. The workers in the distance waved and bellowed to us, not knowing we were really carnivores and not just another caravan. Once past there we let a small caravan of Ceratopsian driven carts go past us, on thier way in the other direction; and these gave us wary room as they passed us by. Even though we greeted them with all due respect, it seemed that every person we passed did not trust us!
Our day ended when we made it to Gorgonia, where we intended to spend the night. Word was given to citizens of the town before we departed, and stables in certain barns and rooms in private dwellings and hotels were provided for us. Due to our trade caravans coming and going through this town, nearly all of the citizens welcomed us; and let us wander about freely as our schedule allowed. We only spent the better part of a night and half the day there before we needed to move on once again; but the Gorgonians told us we would be welcome there any time we happened to come this way again. Once we topped off our supplies, we left Gorgonia and headed eastward once more. The Corimar Wastes looked passable to me from the air, but the caravan had the most dreadful time slogging through the waterlogged bogs and collapsing sand rills; and through a brief grumbling debate, we decided to double back and find a safer way east.
We made our way out of the Corimer Wastes and headed north again, and many miles later came to the village of Pogonip; an almost primative society with primative means to gather thier crops. Thier saurian counterparts, normally more worldly than thier human counterparts, did not posess the caliper wisdom that was present in thier counterparts elsewhere; and the whole tribe sent us off. they chased us roughly west from there, out of thier territory and into a rough forest of gnarled and mutated trees, little water and less food. This bleak landscape gave way to lusher lands the further east we traveled, and soon came upon a gigantic natural stone bridge. mark Sereno told us that this was the Haemal Arch, and travelers feared the Pteranodon hordes that roosted at its' bases. As we paused, Talon flew ahead and negotiated for our passage; and it was agreed that we cross, but only at night when they do not fly. So we made our passage across, and came out to a landscape of blasted rock and trecherous gullies that lined the road for many miles ahead.
Gradually the gullies widened, and the road we were taking delved deep into one of them. This gully soon closed over the road, and Diego told us that this area is called the Troglodon Caves. He told us of many times when he and the pirates used to ambush caravans in here. This was when he was younger, he said; and it was when Quattrone used to lead the pirates, and LaSage was just another pirate. He told us that one had to be very careful in here or else they would get robbed; and that there still might be other bands of pirates using the caves for thier hideout. It turned out we had nothing to fear in here, for it was us that were the most formidable creatures here now! By nightfall we left the caves, the ravines and rills to be met by fair forests and rolling fields; and here was where we spent the night.
The town of Alidade met us by midmorning, and these people welcomed us with open arms. They made thier living mostly on trade coming from the sea, and many loads of fish bound for the Rainy Basin caravans as tribute passed thier doors. They had also heard of our recent reformation, and applauded it most heartily; and offered us thier best accomodations, though we gently protested due to our schedule. It turned out that they insisted we stock up on our supplies, and spoiled us rotten with a feast of all the fish we could eat! We reluctantly bid our leave, mounted up and continued on our way; but due to news of rockslides, we took the southern road instead.
Through a deep green valley the going was easy because most of the way was downhill; but more jagged wooded hills soon made things a little more trecherous. By noontime the next day we came into the highly farmed area that was on the outskirts of Snickerton. Besides the rich crops they grew, a good proportion of thier income came from trade; and it was found out that most of the cargos that passed through Alidade went through Snickerton first. Even though they had heard we changed our ways, many of them were still quite leary of us, and only a small handful of the inhabitants would have anything to do with us! Most of the carnivores' keen noses told them that the ocean was not too far away, and we followed them for many miles until we reached the coastal city of Grindstone.
Here in Grindstone they were used to all sorts of dinosaurs, and many of the fishers here were formally of the carnivore persuasion. At the shore they had the help of many dolphins and Cryptoclydus that herded the fish, and many boats and barges to haul the catch, ultimately, to market. The smell of fish was everywhere, and many of our clan wondered if it were possible to fish for ourselves; so we bought nets and harpoon and other fishing paraphanalia at thier market, and asked many seasoned fishers there tips on the trade. We ended up staying for two days there, getting acclimated to the sea and palavering with every human and saurian that cared to talk with us. Being by the seaside reminded me of my youth, swimming and playing in the surf; and later on taking up more ambitious nautical sports. I asked around where might be a good place to go swimming around these parts; but the rough, rocky shore here told me that this would not be the place. I had heard that there wasn't any places at all like that all along the eastern coast of Dinotopia, but there were small beaches in coves all along the northern coast, they said. So at length we left Grindstone and followed the coastline all the way up the tip of Crackshell Point.
Almost two days later we came to the small, portable village of Beakhead. It was a fishing village, nomadic in nature as everyone lived on a collection of boats, barges and rafts all lashed together to form the community; and made thier living fishing just inside the razor Reef, beachcombing for washed up items both natural and manmade and rescuing the occasional sailor washed up on shore - lifeguards, for lack of any other description! They met us with extreme trepidation at first, and almost decided to cast thier little community off from where they were moored for safer shores; but we convinced them we were only visiting and passing through, and would leave soon if they so chose. The elder three there were want to send us off right away, but some of the younger fishers and apprentice children applauded the changes we were making; and thier opinions turned the decisions of the elders. We only stayed for half the day, gaining word on where there might be beaches to make camp for a while; and they told us there were many coves with beaches on the other side of the isthemus, through a small path over the rill, and those places should be secluded enough for our use. We thanked them, giving them sunstone trinkets and other baubles for thier trouble and went overland toward the areas indicated.
Not long after that we crested the rise to see the shimmering ocean at our feet. The pristine bay we witnessed crashed with gentle waves, and a pair of coral islands were seen in the distance off shore. The beach below us was wide and appearing to be two miles long, seaweed and driftwood jostling about on the surf. We found a passage down to the rippled sand and moved the caravan many hundreds of yards to an alcove by the cliff face, where we decided to unpack and set up camp. We saw that the weather was fair and warm; but the perpetual storm that surrounds Dinotopia was seen far out to sea, and this indicated that the Razor Reef was much closer here than any other point on the island.
"Ok everyone!", I said, smiling as all the human families settling in. "Time for a little fun!"
"We will go and form a perimeter.", Snapper saluted, then gathered the rest of the guards to reconmoiter the beach.
"Hamilton! Stop squirming!", Mayday said as she tried to get him into his little swimsuit.
"Stinger, I can't swim...", Rex said as he found me.
"I'll teach you!", I promised him.
"We'll need food soon...", Thundertail told me.
"We got nets, and we were told how to fish.", I said. "Now stop worrying and have some fun!", I rubbed his muzzle.
In not too much time at all, we all ended up having fun. Running up and down the beach was a common sight, along with members wading in the surf by the dozens. Some chased one another, playing keep-away with pieces of driftwood, and many frolicked among a small pod of dolphin that were in the neighborhood. We asked them through Klamath if they would help us hunt fish, and they gladly volunteered to help. Using thier sonar, they would herd schools of them into our nets; producing so many that our nets could bearly hold it all!
I led Rex out into the surf, coaxing him to wade out to his neck, allowing him to float and eventually learn how to swim using feet and tail; and then I performed the same procedure with Thundertail and many of the other Tyranosaurs that cared to learn, even though I was less then an expert swimmer. Children of all our species played among the rocks or in tidepools, catching the small crustacians living in those environs. The dolphins actually let us swim among them, giving some of us rides on thier dorsal fins, bringing us down deep to really experience thier world. Klamath told them about our exploits on land, and thier leader indicated that it was becoming a better world for it. He promised that the dolphins would forever be friends to us, thier brothers from the land; and wondered why they had never heard of me before. I told them that I came from the air, describing how my jet crashed; and he just cackled as dolphins usually do and indicated that no one was perfect!
The day soon began turning out just like the days at tha various beaches I had visited over the years. Bonfires wer lit and general comeraderie reigned the day; and it was too bad that our aquatic comrades could not come out of the water and enjoy this; but they all took turns leaping out of the water and observing the goings on. As tha day wore on and the sun slowly began setting, an ominous booming came from offshore.
The perpetual storm in the distance doubled and redoubled in intensity, giving off waves of multicolored lightning and earsplitting thunder. We all instinctively began packing up or hunkering for cover as this phenomona grew and slowly overtook our beach. Then, as if the wraith that this uprising storm was precursor for; a looming, massive shape floated into view, bobbing and twisting in the fury of the storm, metallically grinding to a halt a mere two hundred yards out to sea...
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Post by thundertail on Feb 8, 2008 7:29:40 GMT -5
FORTY-THREE: "Shipwreck!..."
Our whole group stopped what they were doing and watched the horrible spectacle taking place. The screeching, rending sounds of metal hull scraping on the bottom was deafening; and almost drowned out the wail of the ever increasing perpetual storm that seemed to follow the stricken vessel. The vessel itself was huge! More than five hundred feet long and weighing countless tons; and yet the storm was pushing it to shore like a child pushing a toy in a bathtub! The huge ship rocked and foundered in water many feet too shallow for it; and as washed about as it did, many of the passengers were rocked off thier feet, many of them falling over railings into the frothing ocean. "LOOK!", I yelled. "Everyone!... Let's get out there and help them!", I ran toward the surf.
"Those of you that can swim, follow me!...", One of us said, and I think it was Miles Krieger. "The rest of you find a dolphin and help him!"
We looked and saw the crew and passengers deep in the middle of emergency procedures; lowering lifeboats and trying to maintain order, everyone shouting amid the extreme chaos.
"Get that man!",..."You there, grab that line!",... "Take my child!",... and many other exclaimations were heard through the raging wind as we got near.
By this time many of us rushed out to the crashing waves, barely making it past the breakwater before floundering back. The dolphins also saw the calamity, and rushed both to our aid as well as the ones aboard ship.
"Come here, boy!...", I slapped the water, and the big grey leader of the pod rushed to my aid.
They took many of us out to the ship on thier dorsal fins, providing both boyancy as well as propulsion; and as we drew near they bounded around gathering the passengers that didn't make it to the lifeboats.
"Ahoy out there!", I said as we neared the lifeboats. "Throw me your lines! We're here to rescue you!..."
"Who are you?!", a handler shouted. "Do you need rescuing?"
"No!... Just throw your rope over and we will tow you ashore!...", I yelled back, and that was when the people on the lifeboat saw me, as well as the fin of the dolphin holding me afloat.
"A SHARK!", a lady cried.
"This dolphin will pull you to shore!", I called as water rushed over me. "He will not hurt you!... Tie a loop in the end and toss it to me!"
"Who are you?!...", the handler asked again. "What strange game IS this?!"
"Look!... Do you want to be rescued or not!...", I sputtered again. "Just do it, and I will explain everything once everyone is safe!"
"Guess I got no choice!", he yelled, then hailed all the lifeboats in the general vacinity. "Ahoy!... Let these folks help us!...Give them every Co-operation!..."
The rest that went out called out to the handlers to throw us the bow lines; and from there we had the dolphins tow the boats ashore. We had the hardest time with many of them because most people think dolphins are dumb animals, and unpredictable. The people being rescued were like that, much to the mistrust of the handlers as well as the passengers inside. What was more unnerving was the Veloceraptors and other swimming saurians rescuing them; which was a thing they simply could not come to grips with, but they were too dazed by thier ordeal to comprehend this just yet!
The rescue lasted for hours, and the late afternoon quickly turned onto night. I, along with everyone rescuing the passengers and crew, became extremely waterlogged at the countless trips into and out of the water. It was quite a suprise for these newcomers when they saw all the dinosaurs helping them out on shore, and many questions were asked; however, most of those rescued demanded they be told before any further help was accepted, and many showed fear as they cringed! Near the end of the rescue, we took a lifeboat to the ship, which was named the 'Millennium Queen', with one of the ships' crew that had just barely accepted the situation, and went into thier stores to bring extra blankets and other emergdency comforts like food and such; then we began doling this stuff out to them, making them more comfortable for the chilly night ahead.
Nightfall soon gave way to morning, and finally all of the passengers and crew was accounted for; huddled together and scared on the beach, surrounded by many strange creatures. We thanked the dolphins and requested they help us catch more fish for our unexpected guests; and thier performance in that task was a bit slower for thier strenuous work in the rescue. I figured that, since this was not our territory and there were so many refugies on the beach; we just had to go get help. I began writing a letter to whomever would help us with this situation. To bring as many carts as would hold more than a thousand people. I wrote that speed was of the essence because our supplies would not last long if we were to feed all these people. I drew a crude map of Crackshell point and an 'X' where I thought we were; then I rolled it up and went over to the center of the group.
It was at this time that the captain and many of the officers and crew huddled together and planned what they were going to ask us. I saw this and got up in front of this group of some fifteen hundred people.
"Ladies and gentilemen! may I have your attention?", I began. "I know that you had just been through a harrowing experience, and have about a thousand questions to ask..."
"You bet we do!", the captain shouted. "I am captain Applebee, of the Brittish Singapore line. I demand to know where we are; and...", I cut him off.
"Captain, all questions will be answered in due time...", I said, holding up a hand. "First off, you are on an island called Dinotopia. It is an island that isn't on any charts, and is cut off from the rest of the world...", I smiled. "And yes, folks! There ARE dinosaurs here!"
I looked up as Thundertail and Rex moved in on either side of me, and the crowd of survivors gasped. "Now, most of the dinosaurs are friendly and helpful; and that includes everyone here.", I patted Rex's snout. "We will send for help soon so each of you will be taken care of, but you're welcome to our hospitality until then."
"Where will you take us?", one lady shouted.
"Is there a phone anywhere around?", a younger man asked.
"I need to be in Brisbane in TWO days!", another man shouted.
Pretty soon the questions and comments flew from thier lips. The least not being what would become of the twenty eight casualties, now lined up on the beach a ways off. Finally the shouting became too intense for me to quell them; so Thundertail stood and bellowed, and this quieted them in a matter of seconds!
"Thank you, my king!", I told him, then addressed the crowd. "Now, all of your questions will be answered in due time.", I continued. "Now, the first question asked was where you will be taken. For you to be able to live here, you must be processed into our society. The place it is done is Waterfall City, a place of learning and culture. There you will learn our ways and traditions, and begin your lives as true Dinotopians..."
"You mean we are to LIVE here?!", a man asked, incredulous. "I can't stay! I have a meeting in TWO days!"
"I'm sorry to break it to you all,", I began. "But all of you are stuck here. There is no way off the island, and I suggest you face the fact that you will be here for the rest of your lives."
With this bit of news, not one survivor shouted out loud, nor just a few! Everyone began speaking all at once, conferring with each other as to what they just heard. I knew it was a tough thing to grasp right away, so I stopped Thundertail from roaring for a few moments until everyone quieted themselves of thier own accord. Finally, an older woman stood shrouded in a blanket and spoke.
"Excuse me, sir; but just who are you?", she asked haughtilly.
"My name is Stinger, mayor of the Rainy Basin, located at the center of this island.", I told her, then noticed this would not suffice her. "Almost five years ago, I was on a refueling mission for the United States Air Force in the Medeterranean sea. My jet crashed here, and I have been here ever since.", I cleared my throat. "My real name is colonel Charles Decker."
"Is there any way to call the Coast Guard or something?", another person asked just then.
"This island is a little cut off from the rest of the world, like I said.", I told them all. "We are not too big on modern technology, and there will be no coast guard to rescue you. There are no cars, no factories, no airplanes, no telephones or any other modern convenience.", I looked at Talon. "But we get along with the things at hand.", I walked toward the Pterosaur. I took the scroll I had written, which also had a map of our location; and placed it in a satchel and slung it around her neck. "Talon, will you fly to the nearest town and go get help?", she cawed affirmative, then took off into the sky.
Many in the crowd gasped in awe as Talon took off, skimming just above thier heads and rising up to disappear over the bluffs. Many of our group looked up too; and that was when the castaways saw the full contingent of dinosaurs in thier midst. This unnerved some of them, but some of the children in the group curiousely approached some of the smaller saurians of our group; and gradually began getting to know them. Most of thier parents tried to usher them away while some of the other adults looked like they had a mind to do what the children were doing. We had rescued many of thier pets they had brought along, and four dogs and a cat were among the survivors. These pets sat by thier masters and thier families, awaiting thier fates like all the rest. Before one portly lady let her daughter get near Leeter, she looked up and spoke.
"Say, are these dinosaurs tame?", she asked.
"By no means are they tame in the sense you mean.", I told them. "These are intellegent creatures; and just as smart as you or I. They have established here a civilization all on thier own, and only a few thousand years ago did mankind come here. They can read, write and speak; and some of them even know English. Let's just say they're... agreeable!"
"You mean they are smart like us?", a man asked.
"Some of them are even wiser than we are!", I said. "They have done away with wars, predjudice and racial strife. You think our hatred of humans of different ethnic backgrounds is bad! They had to get over the differences in thier species!", I turned to Thundertail. "They even had to get over the differences in diets! These are meat eaters; and they had to learn to get along with the herbivores.", I turned to Sauron. "If these creatures can live together being so different, how silly it sounds for different humans to hate each other!"
"So they are morally better off then we.", stated a man with a white collar, obviousely the ships' chaplain.
"They are honest and straightforward and noble to a fault!", I said. "However, there seems to be no religeon here per say. They figure that, since everyone is good to each other anyway; what's the purpose of believing anything else?", then to not offend. "But I'm sure they embrace all belief systems! I know a place in the mountains that follow the Hindu beliefs."
Just then Rex scooted up next to me and rumbled a sentance. "What's wrong?", I asked, and he repeated himself. "Ok, boy! Sure!... Run along!", I looked back at the crowd and explained: "Little dinosaur's room!", I chuckled, and so did many of the others!
"Ahem! Now, where were we?", I shuffled. "Ok, so Talon's off getting help. You will be transported to the nearest town when she brings it, and from there you will probably go to Waterfall City. In the mean time, is there anything you might need? I'm sure all of your posessions are still on the ship, and we can go get some of it if you wish. Captain Applebee, I will need a manifesto of your ship's cargo, and a crew and passenger list to compare with. Perhaps your purser and other crew members can help to get some more supplies from the ship."
I turned to the rest. "There are twenty eight casualties down the beach, and they must be buried. Perhaps your chaplain can say words for them?...", I searched for more things that can be done. "Other than that, we will take care of you until more help arrives. We will feed you lunch now; and you all may browse and get used to our group if you wish.", I smiled. "I bid you all good wishes; and I welcome you all to Dinotopia!", I walked away.
Most of the day was spent at the beach, taking care of the new castaways and answering thier many questions. Many of the clan who could speak English went around helping out the groups that these new humans had formed themselves into; doling out food, providing necesities like blankets and escort service to the commode area we set up behind a patch of scrub and answering whatever questions they asked as best they could. Soon the next batch of fish came spiling out onto the sand, and many of the dinosaurs spitted them and placed them at the many campfires the survivors had used during the night. After lunch these people began stirring, pacing about at random, looking around to get thier bearings and starting up conversations with the human members of our group as the dogs began sniffing around, raising hackles whenever they encountered one of the saurians - thier acclimation to Dinotopia would be just as trying as it would be for thier masters, it would seem! . Rex had returned quite a while ago, and took to standing with his father and other Tyranosaurs.
Ursula and Selma went around, making sure none of them were injured, and treating these reluctant patients if they were. With Ursula's calming tones and Selma's kind eyes, many were treated of this or that minor cut or abrasion. Nearly all of them had swallowed water during the rescue, and coughing and spitting became a common symptom. When the pair of dinosaurs first encountered the ship's surgeon among the crowd, administering his own brand of medicine to the patients near him; both dinosaurs went off on a tangent with him! The surgeon could not make out some of the jabber, but he gathered from the tone that they were doctors like him; and began to discuss the differences and similarities of each others' medical practices as all three checked over the survivors. I smiled when I saw them getting along so well!
I looked over this crowd that spanned the beach and wondered what thier fate would be. I knew that I had a hard time adjusting at first, and I supposed that, for them, it would be no different. What worried me the most was how the Dinotopian people would deal with not one but fifteen hundred newcomers. How would they adjust and train so many people? Where would they stay? Would they even adjust at all? What new ideas and ways would they introduce? If need be, I was sure that king Thundertail would take some of them into the clan; but this place was not in our territory, and we had no real say in where they would go. I guess it would be up to the high council in Waterfall City to decide thier fate.
However, as I looked around at all of them, I saw that some of them were in the beginnings of coming to grips with this involuntary situation they found themselves in. Captain Applebee was directing his men to perpare some of the lifeboats for the trip back to the Millennium Queen for supplies; doing it like it was just a routine voyage. Some of the castaway children were playing tag with some of the Veloceraptor guards; and harold and Mildred were showing some of the tykes how to juggle. A group of men were standing by Thundertail, Rex and Grond; and one of them was so close to Grond that it looked like it was making him nervous!
"Hello...", the man said nervousely. "Do you know English?"
"Yessss...", Grond rumbled, and the man cringed slightly.
"May I touch you?", he asked, gingerly raising a hand.
"Yesss...", Grond lowered his muzzle, completing the touch.
At the touch, the man instantly lost his fear and smiled. "This is just wonderful!... I never dreamed I'd be this close to one of your kind!..."
"Thaaank...youuuu... humannn...", Grond rumbled. The phrase came out nearly as one sylable, his best effort yet!
"You're welcome!", the human turned to his friends. "Come on! He won't bite, I think..."
"Get away from him!", one balked. "You understood him?", the other said.
"Well, well!", I said as I walked by. "I see you're making friends!"
"Say mister, he won't bite, right?", the one furthest away asked.
"He wants to know if you'll bite them.", I said in Tyranosaur.
"Nnnooo...", Grond rumbled in human.
"Yeah, carnivores are very affectionate.", I said for conversation, then patted Grond's cheek. "Right, boy?"
"Yessss....", and with that licked the man at his muzzle to his knees!
"I guess so!", that man chuckled as he got up, wiping sand from his trousers.
With that I left them to thier own business, confident that those three would get used to this place sooner or later. It was at this time that we all heard a screeching coming from the sky, and all of our heads turned to see three lone flyers swooping out over the bluff. All the survivors gasped at the majesty of thier flight, and our group let out gasps of our own. The much smaller one was Talon, and she landed with a thud beside our carts. The two Skybax circled the area and landed in a clear spot between us and the castaways. Thier riders dismounted and approached us with a purpose, and the taller male with flowing jet black hair saluted before addressing me.
"Rider Marcos from Chipcharool reporting.", he said crisply. "Your Pteranodon gave us the news, and nobody believed it! I see that all passengers are safe and accounted for..."
"Yes, we rescued them.", I told them. "We were on holiday of sorts in these parts,... and I guess it was cut a little short!"
"We have assembled twenty Brach-driven carts to converge here.", Marcos said. "They should be arriving shortly."
"It was not believed there was so many survivors.", the other, shorter Rider with cinamon hair said. "If more transportation is needed, Azonthas has dispatched ten Triceratops carts, and they will be here by noonmeal tomorrow."
"That will be fine, I guess.", I said. "But please go easy on them! It's thier first day here!"
"We know.", Marcos told us. "Did you tell them about Dinotopia?"
"Just a few of the basic things. You know: the name of the island, dinosaurs and humans living as one, things like that."
"That is well.", Marcos said. "They should prepare to leave."
"Yes! Right away, sir.", I said. "But first we have to rescue thier personal effects. They are still on the ship."
"Very well.", Marcos said. "I will accompany you..."
Marcos, several Veloceraptors, the captain and many of his crew including his purser went to three of the lifeboats, and I joined them after locating and asking the dolphins if they would tow us back to the boat. Marcos's teammate took off and directed us from the air as we cast off. Many of the lifeboat draglines were still over the side of the Millennium Queen, and we climbed them to end up on the lower promenade deck on the starboard side; and the other Skybax swooped over and deposited Marcos's friend on the upper deck above us. We regrouped at his position and surveyed our options.
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(Continued in the next entry.)
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Post by thundertail on Feb 8, 2008 7:32:49 GMT -5
FORTY-THREE: "Shipwreck!..." (Continued.)
The ship had stopped its' rocking over night as the hull settled in the sediment, and now she sat at a ten degree angle, port side leaning out to sea. We discussed the more important things to retrieve besides the passengers' belongings, and decided the passenger and crew rosters were the most important. The next thing to get would be the cargo manifests and ship supply rosters, for food and supplies would help the survivors survive. These documents were located in the ship's safe and the purser's office respectively, and we split up as they were in different locations of the ship. A group was also sent to begin gathering the supplies and the passengers' effects. I went with the captain and two of his men to get the cargo manifesto from the ship's safe, Marcos went with the purser and two Veloceraptors to his office for the passenger and crew lists and the rest of our group went to gather the rest of the things.
"The bridge is up here...", captain Applebee was saying as he led our group up through ladderways and metal passages leading to an upper fantail. "Ever been on the bridge before?"
"Only on an aircraft carrier.", I said absently as he unlocked the side door and slid his security card through the mechanism beside it.
"Well, here it is!", he said as we entered the wide but not too deep space. Controls lined all the walls, and the forward windows gave a commanding view of the foredeck; and the ship's wheel on this vessel was a series of joysticks. "Remember, don't touch anything...", he went aft to a set of bulkhead doors, which opened into a set of offices.
"Say captain, you performd the usual emergency procedures before you ran aground...", I said absently as many of us followed him inside.
"You bet we did!", he said, unlocking another room. "Maydays were sent, and the coast guard should be forming a rescue mission. The G.P.S. will automatically lead them to the right spot; and we should be rescued in no time!"
"G.P.S.?", I was suprised that a vessel this old had one of those! "You don't say...", this was bad! If anyone from the outside world were to find out about Dinotopia, this whole civilization could be riuned! I had to find that device and disable it at all costs! "Say, after we get that manifest, care to show me around the bridge? It's been almost five years since I seen one, and I'd like to see if any changes have occurred..."
"Seeing as how you rescued us,", captain Applebee said. "I don't see why not!"
I snuck a peek into his office, which was just like any other office in the civilized world; and I went over to it and studied the things on his desk. Besides the usual acoutriments of a desk, like the blotter and pen holder with many various pictures of family and loved ones; but the one thing that drew my attention was the desk calendar. It said the year was 2001, and it was March! It was October sixteenth, 2004 the morning of the refueling mission; and since I had been here almost five years already, it just had to be 2008 by now!
If it was truely 2001 and not 2008, then my theory about the nature of Dinotopia was radically changed! I had talked with many of the shipwrecked persons over the years, as well as thier descendants; and was building a theory that Dinotopia travels from place to place, as stories they told said they met the storm that brought them here in different areas of the globe. I had heard that some was from Bermuda, the Indian Ocean, off Japan, the center of the Atlantic - and my storm happened in the middle of the Medeterranean sea! But now this new evidence suggested that the island traveled in TIME as well!
"So, it's 2001 now...", I said for conversation.
"March eleventh, to be exact...", captain Applebee came out with a whole armload of paperwork. "You were marooned here too, right?"
"Yeah, almost five years ago.", I said as I found an expanding valise by his desk.
"Ninty-six was a wild year!", he replied, thinking that's when I got here. "Hand that over.", I did.
He filled the valise as I considered the implication of my discovery, and planned ways to disable that G.P.S.. As he finished his task, he slung the strap around his shoulder and considered his next words. "I also had the full schematics of the ship. Maybe that could be useful one day. Also, I had the title of record and nautical regestration. Maybe it could be used for legal issues."
"I suppose anything like that would be helpful.", I pulled out the four inch thick volume, and took a look. "The Millennium Queen was built in 1968, huh?"
"Yeah, she's an old ship.", captain Applebee said. "She's only got a few cruises left in her."
"From what I see, this was her last one!", I laughed, hiding my perplexedness. I knew something of the history of ships, and read somewhere that the Millennium Queen was mothballed and broken up for parts in late 2002! "I don't think she'll sail again without a drydock and a year of repairs. That Razor Reef out there must have ripped open the keel like a tin can!"
"Yeah, I guess you're right...", he sighed. "Say, you said you wanted to see the bridge? My pride and joy!... At least until it lasts!"
"Sure! Let's go.", I said and followed him out of his office.
Captain Applebee turned and went back into his office, folded up all the pictures on his desk and placed them into the valise; and once done, started his tour. "This is helm control,... over there is navigation,... this station is communication, and right next to it is emergency operations."
As he turned I looked at the console in question. There was an array of controls and indicators with warning lights for fire and other emergencies in red, presently off. There was a yellowish panel beside these indicators with a yellow flashing light. On this panel was a company logo and the words Global Positioner under it. That was the G.P.S. controls! I placed Klamath's gauntletted hand onto the panel and had him emit a powerful electromagnetic burst into the machine. The G.P.S. emitted a whispering fizzle, and a whisp of smoke curled up before the yellow flashing indicator dimmed and went out. I shielded the captain from the smoke as he continued his tour.
"...And this is where I steer!", he concluded. "Get all that?"
"Every word!", I lied. "Say, you think we should be getting back to the others? They got to be done by now!"
"You're right!", he said as he left the bridge first. "I got to go to my quarters and get my things, too!"
The trip to captain Applebee's quarters was a short jaunt down a passageway one level below the bridge. He took and packed a small suitcase of clothes and his shaving kit, and we met some of the rest of the group on the promenade deck where we boarded the ship. Many were there unloading hand dollys and bellhop's carts containing luggage, boxes of canned and nonperishable foods as well as other things; dropping them over the side to be caught by Ripper in one lifeboat and Snapper in the other. The third boat was on its' way back to shore with its' load of supplies and luggage, the purser at the helm with one of the dolphins towing. We all pitched in to finish filling the other two before they cast off as well; then we waited for thier return as several of our group left to get more things.
Two more trips for all three lifeboats and it was decided we had gotten enough for all 1500 people, and took the last lifeboat to shore ourselves. The people on shore were busy sorting out the luggage that was thiers as some of our clan and many of the crew were doling out the food and being shown the technology of canned food. As all this activity began to subside somewhat, a score of saurian necks were seen coming around the knoll of shore rock to the west. They all bellowed as one, gaining our attention; and causing alarm among the castaways, whom never saw creatures so big! Each Brach was pulling a cart big enough to carry at least a hundred humans and thier gear; and as these bohemoth carts pulled to a stop near the cliffs beside all of us, thier drivers and handlers climbed down and surveyed the situation before approaching us.
"Breathe deep, friends!", I greeted as I stepped up to the lead Brach and her crew. "We thank you for this assistence you bring!"
"Such a large group!", the driver said, an oriental female with a ponytail down the left side of her head. "I don't think this caravan can hold them all."
"Fear not, transporter Haydra!", Marcos stepped up and said. "The city of Azonthas is sending a Triceratops caravan shortly."
"That is well.", she considered. "It would be prudent to begin loading these people before nightfall approaches."
"Indeed.", I said. "Before we do all that,", the purser stepped up and said. "We have saved all the passengers and crew we could; but we need to see if everyone is present and accounted for."
"We have buried the dead up the beach a way.", the chaplain said, pointing as he entered the group. "Here are all thier I.D.'s.", he handed them to the purser. "Perhaps you could reference them to the roster."
"I'll do that, padre'.", the purser said, then turned to the survivors. "Ok, listen up, people!", he shouted. "When I call your names off, let me know you're here!..." The purser began calling off names, checking them off against his roster. Within an hour and a half, he was done; and hoarse with the effort, noticed that all on his list except the dead and a couple that wasn't accounted for were there. Of the one thousand, one hundred and eighteen passengers and four hundred and ten crew members, eleven hundred passengers and four hundred crew members survived. These missing persons were either lost at sea, didn't show up for the cruise, got dropped off at thier last port of call or were still aboard the ship somewhere - or so he surmised. As all this was going on, all the effects of the passengers and crew were loaded onto the first two Brach carts; and the people began climbing into the backs of the other carts. By dusk all the carts were loaded as full as comfortably possible, but there were still many dozens of people left; so the bulk of the crew were told to stay behind and wait for the second caravan.
The clan began to clean up the beach of any debris that was left by all the people, and some of the ship's crew pitched in as well. We removed stray garbagage, put out and buried all the campfires except a few to cook from, pulled the lifeboats far from the high tide line so they would not drift away and many other chores. Our little vacation was shot anyway, so what else was there to do?! While helping Mayday and the humans in the clan pack up our own carts, I had an idea that Thundertail might want me to do; so I located him dragging a lifeboat and asked him.
"My king, do you think it would be wise for one of us to go with these refugees and tell the council what happened?", I told him. "Maybe they would like to know what went on."
"A sound idea...", Thundertail considered. "But who do you propose would go?"
"I would consider it an honor to go myself.", I said, then smiled. "Besides, you said it yourself once: that I have a way of getting what is due us!"
"Too true!...", Thundertail chuckled. "You may go, but should you go representing us alone? I couldsend a squad of guards with you..."
"The Veloceraptors would need food, and we can not eat any meat besides fish outside the Rainy Basin.”, I told him. “With me, I can eat plants and such, and this would not offend anyone. It’s best if I go alone.”
“Very well, Stinger.”, Thundertail said, grasping me. “Have a safe journey, and return home with all due speed...”, I hugged back.
I said my good byes to my clan as they worked, telling them where I was going; and Rex was the most despondant at the news. He followed me around, helping me in any small task I did on the beach until thick bellowing came from down the beach many hours later. The carts the Triceratopses pulled were much smaller than the ones the Brachs pulled, but they were no less impressive to the remaining crew. I greeted thier leader, an old male by the name of Gort and his handler, Vince; who was so massive he looked like a Sumo wrestler! We quickly told them the situation, and then began loading the remainder of the supplies onto several of the ten carts.
The crew of the Millennium Queen took one long look at thier vessel that foundered hundreds of yards out to sea and sighed. For many of them, this would be the last time they would see it; and all of them had the look of regret of a life once so meaningful to them, now lost to them forever. They reluctantly boarded the remaining carts, and I hopped up into the lead cart with Vince; captain Applebee and many of his officers in back with him, and word was given to the pullers to start off. My clan roared and waved at us as they watched the carts trundle down the beach, around the knoll of rock at the end and out of sight...
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Post by thundertail on Feb 10, 2008 6:44:45 GMT -5
FORTY-FOUR: "The Survivors..."
As I traveled with the remaining survivors of the Millennium Queen along the road that would eventually lead us to Waterfall City, I studied the manuels and specifications of the vessel; I had to do something during this long, bumpy trip! Captain Applebee and his purser, chief engineer and ship surgeon would give certain facts as I read and had a question, and the chaplain had decided to join us too. The purser's name was Weems, a bookish fellow with the tendancy to anger; and chief engineer Waters looked like he could wrestle the ships' engines in all by himself, yet he was nearly as mild as a lamb. The chaplain was named father Marvin Fish, and he described some of the heartache the passengers and crew had told him; not a mealy mouth was he, that chaplain! I actually wanted to talk with Vince, the cart handler; but he wasted no words save for those pertaining to his mission, and would not make with any smalltalk - and neither was his puller, Gort!
That was all well and good anyway - I really wanted to see about the ship, and find any new technology put there since I myself was marooned. That G.P.S. system was surely a suprise; for as far as I knew, only the Armed Forces had that in thier equipment, and they have been there since the mid-eighties. I never knew commercial liners would so equip thier fleets, but you never knew! The ship was six hundred and twelve feet long, one hundred and eight feet wide and one hundred and thirty one feet from keel to bridge. It had a gross tonnage of 1,039,020, and had a top speed of 11.96 knots. It's maximum cargo capacity without passengers was 60% of it's gross weight; and had a maximum passenger capacity of one thousand one hundred and seventy nine. Its' full crew roster was four hundred and thirty four; but somehow they could make due with less, I guessed. The purser showed me his passenger list, and the population of the ship; and he had regestered one thousand one hundred and eighteen paying guests. The crew checked in as being only four hundred and ten hands, including captain and command staff; but then I took a look at the list of survivors and gasped! Of the 1118 passengers, only 1100 survived - eighteen dead; and of the crew of 410, there were only 400 - ten dead.
"So, Stinger, is it?", captain Applebee said, bringing me out of my studies. "What do you suppose will happen to the Millennium Queen? It's going to get wrecked being stuck out there."
"Well, I really don't know for sure.", I told him. "I suppose the things inside would be taken out and distributed throughout the island. I don't know about the machinery inside. Perhaps that stuff would be used as well."
"It's too bad...", he looked at a cart that just paced ours. "Seems strange that this place exists at all, let alone being marooned here."
"What about us?", father Fish asked. "We are a group of lost souls in an undiscovered country."
"I suppose you would be asked to try and fit in as best as possible here.", I told him. "It's only natural to feel out of place here, but everyone on Dinotopia is kind and wise; and they will teach you everything you need to know to live here. There's no need to feel afraid or out of place here, for you are among friends!"
"Can I use that in a speech sometime?", he asked.
"Any time, father!", I chuckled.
"Are you sure you're not Catholic?", he joked. "I can arrange it, if you want to be!"
"Aw, stop pesterin' him, padre'!", engineer Waters said. "It's enough he saved our skins!"
"Actually, it wasn't intentional.", I said. "See, we were on vacation of sorts; and we stopped there to swim in the ocean for the day. All of a sudden there was your ship, sitting in our laps! We saw what was happening, and just had to do something..."
"And you all should be commended!" father Fish told me, then turned to scowl at the engineer.
"Lonely at the top...", captain Applebee sighed, tired of thier banter.
"So how are you holding out?", I asked him. "This is all so new! I feel so tired at all this to-do that I want to sleep...", he thought. "But if I sleep, I'd miss something!"
"Well, you might need the rest.", I told him. "You been up since your ship ran aground. You look awful!", I looked behind him a second. "Why don't you grab some shuteye in the hay back there..."
He nodded and went back there, and all too soon I was left with my thoughts for the rest of the trip. We reached the seaport of Osteo, and found out we had missed the main convoy by twelve hours. We resupplied and continued on our way; and since a Triceratops's gait is a little swifter than a Brach's slower pace, we only missed them by eight hours by the time we reached Abalonia. Further and further down the Crachshell coast we traveled, finding we missed the convoy by six hours as we entered Alidade. We traversed the eastern part of the Northern Plains, on our way to Skirlton to catch the road that led directly to Volcaneum; and the tail end of the Brach convoy was seen in the distance well before we reached Skirlton.
The ten Tricertaops drawn carts slowly got in line behind the twenty Brachs; and they bellowed thier greetings to thier larger kin; and the Brachs bellowed back as they turned thier great necks. At a rest stop we exchanged greetings proper and doled out supplies to feed all the people and thier much larger livery; and then we set up our third camp of the trip. The next morning we stripped down the camp and all the castaways were led back to the wagons. We set out westward once more, and the carts began thier trek across the vast, swampy grassland that was perfect for growing rice; heading out in an almost flanking formation, the carts taking a stance five wide in places.
The scene was so majestic looking that many of the passengers watched from thier varied carts with glee; and the excitement was so great for them that many got down to bound beside these huge prehistoric creatures. Soon I saw two of the dogs rescued with the castaways, on the ground bounding in and among the dinosaurs' legs, flanking these huge creatures and basically barking up a storm in thier excitement! There was a black Labrador Retriever bounding around a Brach cart, puller pausing his pace so she wouldn't tread on this tiny, annoying creature; and the other one, a black and white Border Collie, yapped incessently as he tried in vain to herd two of the Triceratops carts. The Trikes were more irratable than most dinosaurs; so I whistled and called for the collie many times, getting off my cart to beckon him over better. Soon the dog saw me and zigzagged over to caper lowly at my hands.
"There, boy!", I called melodically. "What you doing?... You being silly?..."
As the Collie skittered at my feet, I rose and led him to my receeding cart. "Want to go for a RIDE?", I almost sang, and he bounded behind the cart and leapt the full five feet to the bed. I hopped on and he followed me up to the drivers' seat.
"Come on... up here!... There you go, boy!... Now you're riding in STYLE!...", I patted him as he sat on the seat, and he began lapping at my face.
"What's your name, boy?", I asked as I fished under the red plaid bandanna around his neck, drawing out his dogtag. "Bounder, hey?... Is your name Bounder?", Bounder barked once and redoubled his licking! "You such a good boy!...", I hugged back.
"What animal is that?", Vince asked. "It annoys Gort."
"He's just a dog!", I said. "His name is Bounder. He must belong to one of the castaways...", Bounder squirmed. "He does act a bit skittish. Maybe it's all this excitement..."
"There is nothing exciting about this trip.", Vince told me. "I must deliver these people to Waterfall City, and that is it!"
"Ok,... to each thier own...", I said and turned my attention to the dog. "You see all that?", I asked as I saw him looking out into the plain ahead, panting gleefully like he had his head out the window of a car!
Before too long, the passengers tired of the game of tagging beside the carts; and they all climbed aboard thier rides for the rest of the trip. The black lab was corralled by his owner, and was now safely riding one of the Brach carts, Bounder had fallen asleep due to my absent petting and cooing, and twitched in dog dreams. A while later I hard a female voice calling for something, and soon I heard her calling Bounder's name!
"BOUNDER!... Where are you?...", she called from the Brach cart in front of us. "Here, boy!...", Bounder cocked an ear, but remained asleep.
"Uh,... Miss!", I called out. "Your dog's with me..."
"I thought I lost him!", she called back. "Can you get him over here?..."
"I'll see...", I called, then asked Gort in saurian: "Noble one, will you please move along side the cart before you? I must return this creature..."
"I can not break up the formation, human.", Gort rumbled. "The creature is not bothering me now!..."
"Very well, noble one...", I told him, then called. "I will get him back to you at our next rest stop!... If that is OK by you..."
"Ok, I guess...", she called back. "See you then!..."
As the convoy progressed through the rice growing region of Dinotopia, the foliage thickened so the carts could no longer go abreast of each other; and from there on they had to go single file. We wove our way through the paths that skirted mangrove swamps and other, smaller rice farms; and eventuaslly made it to the town of Skirlton. There we disembarked, stretched our legs and mingled some more, both with ourselves as well as the citizens of this town; which dealt mainly with the collection and transport of the rice grown all through the region. I finally located Bounder's master, and he lived up to his name reaching her as I just shuffled over to this extremely beautiful woman as if in a daze!
"There you are, you Bounder!", she bent to accept his affection. "Getting into trouble, I see!"
"Oh, he was no trouble at all!", I blurted. "A pure joy!"
"Say! You're that fella on the beach, right?", she said.
"Oh, yeah! Right!", I said. "That was me!... My name is Stinger.", I produced my gauntletted hand.
"Pleased to know you.", she took it. "I am Marinda Grant."
"Same here!", I said, ending the shake. "You have a wonderful dog here. It's been a long time since I saw one - and now there's four of them, I'm told!"
"Yeah, Bounder's tops! I had him since he was a pup!", Marinda said.
"I had a Border Collie when I was a kid.", I blurted again. "Lucy looked just like him, only she had one brown eye and one blue one!", both of Bounder's eyes were blue.
"Strange. Bounder's mom was like that...", Marinda told me, brushing back her rather long light brown hair. "Uh, anyway, why did you come with us?"
"I wanted to tell the council at waterfall City just what happened.", I told her. "I also wanted to tell them we had a hand in your rescue."
"Yeah? I was on that cruise because I won it.", Marinda said. "I'm in the secretarial pool at my job in an accounting firm, and I was voted secretary of the year."
"Congratulations!", I said. "But it looks like you won more than a mere cruise, huh?"
"I know!", she was suddenly serious. "Any idea what's in store for me?"
"Nothing bad, really...", I told her. "You'll probably have to learn how to live here; but everyone on Dinotopia will help you out adjusting here. It's really simple, actually.", I said. "You eat the food, you help grow it. That simple. If you like doing other things, that has a value too. There is no money, no taxes and nothing is really bought. You can take what you need, but you must also give what you can. Homes are provided free of charge, paid back by work; and if one can't work, it's not held against the person. Life here is really easy, as you'll soon find out!"
"What a strange place this is!", Marinda said after considering. "And what of greed? Crimes?"
"I remember in the outside world, 99% of people are greedy, and want nothing more than money.", I said. "Here the percentage is reversed. You will find it hard to find one greedy person here!", I looked around. "And of crime, that's also all but zero. Nobody cheats anyone, nobody steals as stealing and taking is all one thing that's returned by giving, politics are run fairly and with the good of the people in mind, nobody gambles, drinks or smokes - well there are a few of those!... Anyway, this society is the most noble and honorable one in existence!"
"You don't say!", she replied. Neither of us noticed, but when I looked down, I saw her hand over mine.
Just then word was given for everyone to climb back aboard thier carts; and it was then that she noticed her hand. She guiltilly pulled it away and went to get on her Bracheosaur driven cart. I shrugged and got aboard my cart, and within a few moments the whole convoy began trundling out of Skirlton. Three stops later we made it to the shores of Deep Lake; and during those stops I had located and made acquaintences with the owners of the other animals rescued from the ship. the owner of the black Lab was a guy named Fred Windom, from Tulsa, Oklahoma; and his dogs' name was Chip. He was on a cruise around the pacific with his girlfriend, Mary Hatcheson; but unfortunately, she was one of the casualties of the shipwreck. Now he found himself in the most unusual situation in his young life! He remembered me because he was the one who asked on the beach if we had a phone.
The owner of the little Chihuahua named Pacco was this little girl from Tampa, Florida and her mom and dad. The father named Harold McCue was a CEO of a computer firm, and his wife Adelade was a homemaker and active in many community projects back home in Burbank, California; and little Melissa of nine couldn't understand what was happening to them! All the while she quietly cried into pacco's fur. Frank bishop owned the female Husky named Sasha, and thought this was a far cry from his home in Bamph, Canada! There was one cat that got rescued, and her longish blackish grey fur hackled at the approach of any Dinosaur or human! The older lady named Francene Fontaine from Poughkeepsie, New York just held the poor animal named Jo-jo close to her so she wouldn't run away. It was the strangest experience she had ever had, she said when describing her shipwreck ordeal to me! later on I found out that these people would try to keep in touch in the years to come; and I told them it was a good idea because animals like cats and dogs were all but nonexistent on Dinotopia.
The miles west went by in thier own slow continuity, and several towns passed under our wheels. Deep Lake passed us on our left, and the town of Fireside took its' place many days later. After that the convoy bagan its' slow arc to the south as the edge of the Backbone Mountains receeded enough for them to do so. We made our way through Redwick, and then through Mollusk Town a day later. Many wanted to know why the town was named that way when there was no ocean anywhere near it; and frankly, I had no answer! At last we made it to Bonabba, and the vast farmland that grew most of the islands' wheat and other grain crops. There to meet us was matriarch Rosemary and the whole community to greet and assist us; and all of them were flabberghasted at the sight of all those people!
"Welcome to the earthfarm of Bonabba!", matriarch Rosemary announced as the crowd of newcomers gathered. "We welcome you, and greet you with the highest reguard!"
She looked around at all the pullers and handlers, and shouted for them all to gather. "I trust your journey went well, and your charges proved no trouble."
"No trouble indeed, my matriarch!", Vince said, bowing slightly. "However, we should refresh ourselves soon and be on our way. these refugees must get to Waterfall City soon."
"You're right...", Rosemary said. "I will arrange everything right away...", then she saw me! "My dear Stinger! I have heard you were involved... Please tell me what, exactly, happened."
"My matriarch...", I bowed, then began telling her all about the incodent. I started out by describing the trip my clan took to get to Crackshell Point, wishing to visit the sea on vacation. I described the shipwreck, and our near immediate efforts to rescue the survivors; and not leaving out the assistance we received from the pods of dolphins in the area. I told her of the efforts the clan made in providing food and aid to them, and the help the ships' crew served in helping thier charges; traveling to the wreck for the extra supplies needed for thier survival. I told herof the trip to here, and the aid and guidance I gave to many of the newcomers along the way, and concluded on praising the help the caravan of creatures performed getting us here.
"You all did well...", Rosemary smiled. "I am proud of clan Thundertail for thier humanitarian efforts in this endeavor!", she looked around again. "But I never dreamed there would be so many!"
"Me neither!", I chuckled.
"Stinger, I've heard of your new promotion to mayor of the Rainy Basin.", she said. "I give you my full congratulations!"
"It was a title change only, I assure you!", I said. "My duties to the clan haven't changed very much..."
"And you consider this act not a change!...", she smirked and went to greet the newcomers personally.
At length the caravan was reprovisioned and all the passengers boarded thier carts; and we were on our way by mid afternoon. Marinda Grant decided to ride in the cart I took this time around, and pretty soon Bounder was asleep in my lap once again. There was one thing I did not know that I found out a few miles down the road. Rosemary Seville decided to come along with us, and I saw her trotting by on the back of an Overlander! She trotted ahead and took up her position in front of the whole caravan.
We traveled down the path along side the Polongo river, and the many towns we passed along the way seemed just like any other, even to our guests. Marinda soon asked about the types of relationships one could be found here; and deducing where she was going with this, I began by telling her about Partnerships, and comparing it with the relationship she had with bounder. She was intrigued that humans and dinosaurs could live so closely and intimately together, and wondered if she would find a Partnership of her own - I assured her that one would be found for her. I then began telling her about the relationships I had been with my time here. I told her about the Partnership I had with Rex, and how I had raised him from a hatchling; and I told her of my Nestmate agreement I had with Whitetail the Veloceraptor, where I helped her take care of her eggs until Ripper and Snapper came of age - all of which are still my good friends.
She became curious if I had any relationships with any humans, and this is where I told her about Mayday. I told her that we were mates, an institution founded by the Tyranosaurs and like a marriage to them; just as binding and known not to be put asunder. Even though she was confused at the concept, I assured her that traditional marriages took place here as well; then I went on to describe my son, Hamilton Somala Decker to her, and she was charmed! I said that all forms of wedlock was acceptible here, and it all depended on which community held what traditions. By the time I told her this, Marinda turned to me where I sat and kissed me bold on the lips; and I was sure that if Mayday ever saw that, she'd rip my ear off for sure!
I fidjeted for a second and became silent, resolving to look out at the road ahead; and Marinda saw that she offended and went in back of the cart to locate Bounder, barely speaking to me the rest of the trip. I saw that the town of Chimeerney passed by our wheels, along with the outpost of Gundagi; and heard that there would be no other town or outpost from there to Waterfall City save for the ferry berths at Sweetwater Lake just downstream from our destination.
The one thing that no one in our convoy ever expected was the enormity of the reception we would receive! At the ferry many thousands of people and saurians lined the road for miles, cheering and roaring thier greetings at us all. Singers sang thier welcome and jugglers juggled thier good wishes, human and saurian arms waved and leaves and flowers were showered in our wake; and as the castaways waved back at our direction, the crowds cheered all the more! At the ferry, the ferry barges could only handle two Brach driven carts or four Triceratops driven ones at a time; so the six barges there had to make several trips across Sweetwater Lake.
As if the chaos of greeters weren't enough at the ferry, the castaways found themselves in the midst of even more celebration when they reached the end of thier short, watery trip! Every citizen of Waterfall City was out to greet them, and people of towns all around had gotten there to join in with this grand celebration! It was so because at no time in Dinotopian history were so many shipwrecked people brought ashore all at once!...
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Post by thundertail on Feb 16, 2008 5:44:12 GMT -5
FORTY-FIVE: "The Grand Welcome...!"
The throngs of dinosaurs and humans lined the streets of Waterfall City, ten deep in places, as the thirty carts of Dolphinbacks went by; and no one could hear themselves think for all the shouting and cheering going on. The passengers aboard waved and called out, not really knowing what was expected of them; yet clearly enjoying all the attention they were getting! Rosemary Seville rode at the front of this long, paradelike precession, waving and bowing regally atop her Overlander steed. I was in the lead Trike cart, waving and nodding, smiling at the crowd that responded all the more at my gestures; and most of the command crew of the Millennium Queen sat or stood behind me, waving and calling out in kind. On a parapet of the council chambers many miles away, mayor Waldo Seville stood with spyglass to his eye; his servant Minch standing by his side, and both were surveying the scene unfolding all over the city.
"Would you look at that!", Waldo said. "There is a sea of them!", he removed the glass to look at Minch. "How are we going to handle all this?"
"We will manage, sir.", Minch told him. "We have taken care of outsiders in the past."
"But not this many!", Waldo told him with alarm. "Where will we put them up? Who will we get to train them?"
"Preparations were undeway since the moment we were notifyed, sir.", Minch said. "All is well."
"But now I must go and greet them all...", Waldo groused. "I'm not sure I'm up to it."
"Chin up, sir.", Minch grasped his shoulder. "We're all behind you!"
Mayor seville handed the spyglass to Minch and exited to finally greet all the survivors of the Millennium Queen as minch sighed and put the device away. Waldo, down in his chambers, donned his robe, cap and mayoral jewelry and prepared himself for perhaps one of the largest and strangest meetings he ever had to attend!
The parade of new arrivals had gone on throughout the city, and now it moved along the Grand promenade toward the council chambers. the throngs of people along the way never seemed to diminish, and it looked to me that many of the castaways were growing weary of all this praise. I waved unenthusiastically at the crowd now, and the captain and his crew became more and more subdued.
Rosemary on her Overlander never seemed to waver as she led us down the boulavard, and had the whole convoy stop in the large courtyard in front of the Council of Reason. It was a good thing that the saurian guards had prepared enough room to accomodate all of us and the carts; because there seemed to be as many citizens here as all along our route! We all disembarked from the carts as they were all drawn away; and the survivors gathered in a group at mine and Rosemary's direction. The command crew of the Millennium Queen gathered in a smaller group behind us. It wasn't until then did mayor Waldo Seville, flanked with saurian honor guards, came out of the council building and shuffled up before us with purpose.
"Welcome one and all!", Waldo announced so all could hear. "My, but there IS a lot of you!", he looked thoughtful a moment. "Um,... Never the less, we are all here to help you adjust to your new lives here on Dinotopia!... You will be processed shortly, and I've heard accomodations have been made for you all. In the mean time, I would like to have a word with your captain and your rescuers a moment..."
As soon as we were all close enough and the rest ofthe passengers could not overhear, Waldo scowled at me and said: "Stinger! What have you done THIS time?!"
"Nothing! Honest!", I spread my hands in submission and smiled. "We were on vacation, swimming in the sea; and all of a sudden..."
"I'm sure he was just joking!...", Rosemary smiled at me. "Waldo, clan Thundertail has done a great service to these people for rescuing them; and I'm sure these people are weary from thier trip, not to mention thier ordeal. Do you think it would be prudent to get them started?..."
"Yes, my dear... Of course.", Waldo looked at me. "A fine job, my boy!", then looked at the crew. "Now, I assume you are captain...?"
"Applebee, sir.", the captain came up and offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I would like to introduce my command crew...", then he recited the names of the officers.
"The pleasure's all mine, I'm sure...", Waldo said after shaking each hand. "I welcome each and every one of you to Dinotopia. Now, I'm sure you have a thousand questions to ask, and I assure you they will be answered in time."
"Sir, mister Stinger here has given us some information.", captain Applebee told him. "We are still confused on how to get back to civilization..."
"But you already ARE, sir!", Waldo said. "Waterfall City is the epitome of civilization known to man and dinosaur! We have all the amenities, and culture never to be matched in the outside world!"
"I'm sure you do, sir; but we would really like to be getting back home...", the captain said.
"I see,... But I'm sure you must know that there is no way off the island...", Waldo looked at me. "You told them that part, didn't you?"
"Oh, of course I did!", I said. "It took me a long time to realise this myself, you know...!"
"But nothing is impossible!", father Fish said.
"A sound philosophy...", Rosemary said. "Just like the task ahead of getting you all settled into your new lives!"
"Yes! And I think it's time for that process to commence!", Waldo told us all. "Now, if you would follow me, we can get the procedures started...", he led the way inside.
The council chambers, usually full of all of Dinotopia's diplomats, stood rmpty save for a small handful of human delegates and the larger saurian ones in the galleries above. The rest of the lower floor space was vacant save for the seating that the castaways would use while there, and still the large space seemed too small for the fifteen hundred humans that would soon occupy the space. The mayor led me and Rosemary Seville, followed by captain Applebee and his command crew, followed by the rest of the crew members; up the center aisle, where many of them were seated up front as Rosemary took her place on the floor by the ship's bow podium on the second level and I took a seat beside her this time.
As the bulk of the castaways filed in, being ushered to seats on the chamber floor; so did the delegates both human and saurian in the booths on the second level, chatter coming in through murmured whispers. In twenty minutes' time, everyone that was supposed to be there were seated or reposed as was proper for thier species; and mayor Waldo Seville tapped the gavel on the podium to signal the start of this most unusual meeting.
"Distinguished ladies and gentilebeings of the high council of Dinotopia.", he announced. "Indeed a great day has arisen from our fair shores, for not often does people from the outside world grace us with thier presence! And certainly never has people from the outside world has honored us with such great numbers!", this got mild chuckling from the upper galleries. "These fifteen hundred souls washed up a mere fortnight ago, and made a perilous journey across our land to be here today. All of them must be confused and perplexed, and it is our duty to decide just what to do about them!"
Mayor waldo Seville Turned to me and continued his speech. "Of course, this miracle would not have happened if the carnivores of the Rainy Basin were not on holiday in the area, facilitating thier rescue with the help of the local dolphin population. I am sure that thier representitive, mayor Stinger, can give a more accurate account of the incident; so why don't you rise and tell us all about it?"
I rose and bowed. "Lord mayor, gratious members of this court, friends one and all,", I began. "It all started when I was appointed mayor of the rainy Basin. My king, Thundertail, thought it thusly prudent to make a pilgrimage across this glorious island...", I continued the story, describing the towns and cities we had traveled through; and telling them of the people and such we met up with along the way. I described the area of beach, and all the recreation we had enjoyed; and then I told them of how thier ship suddenly loomed out of the storm, and our quick efforts to help rescue all aboard. I told them of the castaway's confusion and trepidation at the situation they found themselves in, and the efforts we made to help them survive until help could come; on how we sent for help and my own assistence along the way to help these people adjust. When done, I thanked the court for thier time, bowed and sat back down amid applause from the delegates above.
"A wonderful tale!", mayor Waldo announced as he finished clapping too. "And I'm sure every one of these wayward souls can confirm this...", he continued, speaking to the castaways. "Now my friends, this is the time for you to officially become true citizens of Dinotopia."
Mayor Waldo Seville stood and removed himself from the podium, making his way down to the main floor. Minch had set up a large book, quill stylus and inkwell below, and Waldo came out and stood beside it. He opened the nearly foot thick tome to where the silk bookmark lay and turned to the confused crowd.
"This is a ledger of all the lost souls that have found thier way to our shores.", Waldo said as he turned to them. "Survivors of shipwrecks throughout history; and our dear descendants!... I would like for you all to come up, sign your name and become one of us - brothers and sisters, one and all, on this lonely island paradise!", he indicated the crew seated near the front. "Captain Applebee, would you and your crew be the first to start?..."
"I'm not sure we want to.", the captain said. "We all have questions, things to consider before we commit to anything..."
"Oh, this is just a formality, my dear sir!", Waldo told him. "All things will be explained in due time. Please... Come up and sign, you will not come to harm!"
Captain Applebee stood, but did not approach the book just yet. He looked silently at his crew as they considered what they were going to do, asking with his eyes thier decision. Some of them had begun to stand, making thier way out into the center aisle, minds made up to sign the book and join the citizens of Dinotopia. The ones who decided against this action remained seated until, as they saw many of thier peers stand, stood as well. Pretty soon all but a handful of the crew were standing, waiting to sign; and then captain Applebee returned his gaze at the mayor of Waterfall City.
"It looks like the majority rules here.", he said and headed the line up to the book of regestry, signed his full name and stood aside for the others in line. "The rest of you, sign this book!", he looked at the half dozen holdouts. "That's my final order!", reluctantly they got up and got in line.
"Then all is well... captain Ronald Applebee.", Waldo read, shaking his hand. The delegates in the galleries applauded.
Mayor Waldo Seville read off the names as the crew signed the tome, and each received thier own set of cheers. Most of the crew were next: cooks, maids, waiters, handlers, ship commesary workers, trainers, lifeguards and many more hands; and finally there came the bridge crew and engine room crew, and were cheered like all the rest; and then it was the command crew's turn to sign on. All of this took nearly two hours to complete, and Mayor Waldo Seville was beginning to sound a little hoarse reciting all the names!
"And a most hearty welcome to... Doctor Miles Christopho!", he announced, and the court clapped. Another signature. "And likewise to Chief Engineer Frank waters!", the same round of applause, and another signature. "We're glad you're here, Father Marvin Fish!... Where are your children?"
"It's a religeous title, mister mayor!", I whispered loudly to him.
"I see,... Well, you are most welcome here!", he continued the handshake as another signed. "Welcome to Dinotopia,... mister Jack Weems!", he looked at the satchel in the man's hands. "What is that?"
"It contains a roster of everyone aboard the Millennium Queen, your honor.", Weems said. "All fifteen hundred of us!"
"Is that so?", Waldo said.
"Oh sir!", Rosemary said as she rose. "May I borrow that for a while? I wish to match up the passengers and crew to persons who would accomodate them in the city.", she smiled. "It would be a big help, and make that task go a lot smoother!"
"Of course you can!", Weems told her. "Anything to help, I guess!... Could I have it back when you're done? I'm responsable for it..."
"Certainly, sir!", Rosemary sat with the satchel.
"Now then...”, Waldo took over. “The illustrious crew of the Millennium Queen has been greeted, and preparations for them to join our society will soon commence.”, he looked out at the rest. “There will be a short recess, and then we will continue greeting the rest of you.”, he looked to the side where Minch stood, nodding that everything was set. “If you would follow the saurian guards behind you, there is a grand feast prepared for you all in the courtyard of this building!”
As mayor Waldo Seville retreated to his chambers, his wife took the satchel to another exit; and set about obtaining accomodations for the sea of people. I slowly rose and made my way beside the command staff of the Millennium Queen. Soon the rest of the crew joined the rest of the passengers as they filed outside, and presently we all followed them into the bright noontime sunshine.
Outside was prepared like I had never seen, for twin lines of buffet tables lined both sides of the boulavard nearly as far as the eye could see, and seating around dozens of round tables were set on the sidewalk! On these tables were mounds of food of all types: fruits from all over the island, pastas in hundreds of different dishes, breads of every shape and consistency, bowls of greens and salads of every herb on Dinotopia and pitchers and bowls of every type of juice and tea known. The only things missing were dishes made of meat and anything alchoholic; but the preparers of this feast did an awesome job never the less!
The newcomers sampled the fare with trepidation at first, but their hunger soon got the better of them; and as thier bellies became full, thier spirits rose in kind. I sampled some of the fare myself, mingling and talking with this or that passenger and swapping comments of the food with some of the crew. Human and saurian waiters came by, filling this empty dish or returning with this or that empty beverage jug; and seeing if the food was to everyones’ satisfaction.
About an hour later Rosemary Seville came into the area to talk with a few of the crew, and they were introduced with thier human or saurian host; of which they would be living with for the duration of thier stay here. Each she talked to had the option of going with thier host now or rejoining the meeting once it commenced, but only a few of them ended going off with thier host. I smiled inwardly at the crew mambers who would be hosted by a saurian, for thiers would be an experience not equaled among them; but I knew that whichever host these people ended up getting, the experience would be no doubt memorable!
The castaways soon started becoming anxious as thier conversationd drifted from this fine meal and the kindness of thier guests to questions among themselves as to thier fate; and thier cheery chatter turned to that of concern. As Rosemary finished up with this part of her chore - part one of many more such chores for the guests; mayor Waldo Seville emerged once again from the council chambers, and beconed everyone to listen to what he was about to say. The guards with him flanked the way up the steps and inside, motioning them as well to form a line.
"Ladies, gentilemen and friends!", waldo announced. "The second part of this get together is about to commence! If you would, please return to the council chambers and we will continue the proceedings.", he turned, and presently the whole throng began following.
Within the span of about thirty minutes the courtroom began filling with people, all under the watchful eyes of the human and saurian delegates in the upper galleries. Mayor waldo Seville took his time going from the lower floor up to the figurehead-like podium at the front of the upper gallery, and from there he watched the newcomers retake thier seats; chuckling at the bewilderment still on thier faces. I took my place, but Rosemary was nowhere to be found. I saw Zippeau Stenoychosaurus amble in with paperwork and other things in a satchel around his torso, complete with purposeful gait and bookish spectacles. He sat by me and nodded in recognition. As the last of the castaways took thier seat, Waldo rose and scanned the sea of faces before speaking.
"Friends!... With this second phase of this meeting of greeting, we will continue to regester your names and welcome you personally to Dinotopia.", he told us all. "My wife, matriarch Rosemary Seville, has gone out into the city to provide accomodations for you, and mister Zippeau Stenoychosaurus will now inform you what education you will receive.", he looked at the dinosaur. "Zippeau, if you would?..."
"Yes, your honor.", Zippeau stood, and nearly all of the newcomers were both shocked and relieved that he could speak English - even though it was in a clipped Brittish way! "Ladies and gentilemen, I am Zippeau Stenoychosaurus, chief curator of the library of Waterfall City.", he looked over his spectacles. "Being new here, I'm sure you must realise that you know very little of Dinotopia. We have planned a cirriculum of learning to help you along in your acclimation to Dinotopia. The subjects you will find in need to know is the basic Footprint language - our form of writing, speaking basic saurian - our common language, the general philosophy of Dinotopia and the credos that we live by. You will learn, in due time, what it is like being a Dinotopian; and I'm sure you will teach us what it's like to be you!", only I chuckled.
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(Continued in the next entry.)
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Post by thundertail on Feb 16, 2008 5:50:27 GMT -5
FORTY-FIVE: "The Grand Welcome...!" (Continued.)
"Thank you, Zippeau.", the mayor said, then turned to the castaways. "Now, to continue the regestration process...", he retreated back and made his way to the courtroom floor, ending up next to the guestbook, picking up the stylus. "If you would, please stand and come forward..."
The crew, who had already signed in, remained seated; but one by one, the other passengers rose and formed a line down the center aisle. Fairly quickly there was a line four wide all the way to the chamber doors at the rear, and still more humans waited in thier rows to join that line. The first passenger stepped up, signed, and mayor Waldo Seville recited her name amid her applausing welcome. the same thing happened to the next guest, as well as the next; and as the hundreth castaway penned his name, marinda grant stepped up to put her name and the name of her dog there - the mayor paused as he saw the animal.
"It has been a long time since we had a dog on this island.", he told her. "In fact, there is only one other dog on the entire island at present!"
"Some of us have brought our animals with us.", Marinda told him. "My dogs' name is Bounder!"
"Oh, really?... This is grand news!", Waldo said, scanning the others. "Those of you who have a dog here today, could you please come forward?"
As if caught doing something bad, the group of people were allowed to come forward; and they shuffled nervousely as the mayor viewed thier pets from where he stood. He was amazed at the diversity of canine breeds, but was perplexed at the sight of Francine Fontaine's cat! All the animals behaved fine, and sat or were held by thier owners; whom stood there in a group and reguarded the mayor as well as the close-up strangeness of Zippeau seated near by.
"Such magnificent creatures!", Waldo said at last. "Surely they will be most famous here - as well as thier human friends!...", he rubbed his hands together. "Please sign in, if you would..."
Frank Bishop stepped up to the book, signed it and signed sasha's name beside his. Harold McCue signed his name as well as Pacco's; then let his wife, Adelade sign; then he waited for his daughter, Melissa to do the same before corralling them all back to thier seats. Fred Windom scratched Chip's neck as he signed first the dog's name and then his; then he walked back to his seat as Chip bounded at his side. Francine Fontaine slowly shuffled to the book, patting JoJo as she signed for both of them; then nodded at Zippeau as she turned down the aisle.
Waldo smiled as he watched them go, then beconed for the rest to continue. For the next four hours or so, every last castaway signed the tome; and the book now had many pages of names! He saw the looks of weariness on thier faces, and knew he wore the same kind of face. To tell the truth, I nearly fell asleep twice during the whole thing! I stretched as the mayor called recess for dinner, but lingered behind as Rosemary came in and whispered something to her husband. They both came over and looked me in the eye for a moment, and I knew something was going on!
"Stinger, I wish to see you in a private meeting in my office after the eveningmeal.", Waldo said.
"What is it about?", I asked.
"It's about that ship...", Rosemary added. "You'll find out later; but I have also invited the command crew of the Millennium Queen.", Waldo told me. "Something about that ship just doesn't add up!"
Well, that sparked my curiosity! I ate fitfully, thinking of what in the world could be bothering them about the ship. Sure, it was a modern cruise liner, and it had all sorts of modern contrivances; and that was when I guessed! They were obviousely concerned whether or not the crew sent an S.O.S.; and if a rescue party was out looking for them - that was thier problem! When I was on the bridge, I saw the radio was used, but shut off; and I disabled the G.P.S. system so the ship couldn't be found, so there was no real problem! My meal ended with the guests, and the mayor and matriarch escorted the command crew and I back into the courthouse as many Waterfall City citizens came to collect thier newcomer charges for the night.
"From the looks on your faces, you can not possibly guess why we summoned you here this evening.", mayor Waldo Seville said as we all sat or stood around a wide, round table in a Secluded chamber in the council building. A few human and saurian delegates were there as well, dressed in thier robes of office. "To offer the truth, finding a ship from the modern day world is quite a find, and finding one with so many Dolphinbacks is very unusual indeed. What we are most concerned here is, since this is a modern day ship; what kind of communication devices has it, and is it capable of disclosing our location?"
"Has it a wireless?", asked a Sorolophus delegate. "Was an S.O.S. sent?"
"Sir Scofield is right, but a little outdated.", Rosemary said. "I am sure the ship has devices more sophisticated than a wireless. However, we must know if a distress signal was sent, and by what means."
"Captain Applebee, would you please tell us what kind of emergency procedures you and your crew employed before you were run aground?", Waldo asked in a brotherly way. "It would be most helpful if you tell it with as much detail as you remember."
"Well, for one thing, we don't know why these things would concern you so much!", Applebee replied. "Ships can get stranded on any island on Earth. Why would the fact that we would be rescued make you so afraid?"
"Sir, Dinotopia is an island cut off from the rest of the world.", Waldo explained. "It has been so for countless millennia. Here dinosaurs have evolved into intellegent beings, and allowed mankind over the years to share in thier culture. The Razor Reef and the Perpetual storm that surrounds it are meant to isolate us from the rest of the world. We have no hate here, and no war. Everything that is bad in the world has been shielded from us. If the outside world knew about this island, they would first bring explorers and scientists to study us; then they would bring the dregs of your society after that to exploit us and corrupt our way of life!"
"There is another reason we are so concerned.", Rosemary said as she stood. "Those that would come to rescue you are in great peril! The storm and the reef would no doubt do to thier ships what they did to your ship, and many lives could be needlessly lost. We are of a society that values life above all else. It would be a crime to us if we allowed any other life to suffer on your account. Therefore, we must know if you sent an S.O.S., and in what manner. We must prevent those that would rescue you from coming and being hurt."
"Did you ever think to ask the rest of the passengers or crew whether or not they want to stay?", captain Applebee accused. "I may speak for myself when I say there might be no other way off this island, and it might be better if we stay until some safer way is found; but I have a responsability toward my passengers and crew, and that means to get them to thier destination in due time. What I think you should do is ask them if they want to stay or not, then you'll have your answer!"
"Captain, please!", father Fish implored. "These people have worked for centuries to make for themselves a society like this! It would not be right for us to expose them to the outside world just for the sake of our rescue!", he looked at the dinosaur delegates. "Besides, what do you think would happen if the world discovered that dinosaurs survived all this time? Do you think they would sit still and let them live in peace? You know as well as I do that they would waste no time to come here, to study them and dissect them for scientific gain; and worse off, destroy all they have built since they died out in the rest of the world! Do you think we have the RIGHT to jeopardise these people just for our selfish wish to be rescued?"
"I have nothing to go back to if I were rescued.", engineer Frank Waters told the group. "That cruise was my last one, and then I was going to be forced to retire. I have nothing to go back to: no home, no family and nothing to look forward to but living the rest of my life in a retirement home.", he looked at mayor Waldo. "If there is anything you want to know, I would be glad to tell you, sirs..."
"I don't know what's in store for us, but it would do no good to risk our passengers further.", purser Weems told the rest. "I think that, until some safer way to leave the island is found; we should give these people every co-operation, and try to live here like they do."
"I have seen miracles performed with the herbs and plants here.", doctor Christopho said. "The boon to medicine they show would be well worth any wait in rescue!"
"What is your decision, captain?", I asked. "Will you help us keep Dinotopia safe and tell us about your emergency procedures, or not?"
"I am sure that many of your passengers and crew will show similar sentiments, having the situation revealed to them.", Rosemary told him, then asked meekly. "Please, will you?"
Captain Ron Applebee sat blank-faced for several moments. Even though he was still the captain, now that he was on land and his command now awash on Dinotopia; his duties as such had been diminished greatly. He no longer governed these people, he was sure; but he still had his duty to keep them safe. But if there wasn't any safe way off the island, and those who would rescue them ran the risk of being killed; then his responsability also grew to encompass them too. He could not risk thier lives in order to save his passengers and crew, for it would not be fair to them if they were killed. Moreover, if this society was as unique as advertised, then it would be a shame to contaminate it with the people that would come after them. Seeing that there was no other choice, captain Applebee sighed and rose.
"Mister mayor, saurians of the court, matriarch, Stinger and my crew.", he began. "Due to the evidence brought to me today, I find no other choice but to give my complete co-operation in this matter.", he slumped. "We will tell you whatever you want to know."
"Very good, sir. I, for one, know how hard it was for you to reach that conclusion.", Waldo consoled.
"You have taken your first step into becoming a true Dinotopian.", Rosemary added.
"That was very brave of you.", I put in.
"What steps did you use in your emergency procedures?", senator Scofield Sorolophus prompted.
"OH, yes!...", the captain said, bolstering himself. "Anyway, we were cruising on, going at the right heading, I'd say forty miles to the north of this island; when we spotted a weather pattern on the radar that came from nowhere..."
"Radar?", Waldo asked.
"Radar is an electronic radio system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, speed, direction or speed of objects like boats and planes; or can track moving objects like weather patterns.", Frank Waters told them. "The acronym R.A.D.A.R. is short for RAdio Detection And Ranging."
"I see.", Waldo said, not really sure if he did. "Continue."
"Anyway, we veered further north, but the storm grew by ten degrees of magnitude within minutes.", the captain said. "It engulfed us, lightning sizzling all around us in gale force wind and rain. Before the storm struck us, we sent out a mayday over the radio; but just then the antenna for it failed, and we hoped it got through. During this we began taking on water, and I had all the watertight doors sealed. She managed to stay afloat, but the wind and swells kept on swamping the decks.", he cleared his throat. "That's when the radar detected land, and we tried to steer for it; but the winds began blowing us away. I had the engines put to full power and set the helm directly for land; and that's when we hit the reef."
"The reef sheared off both the propellers, and bent the rudder beyond helms' control.", Waters put in. "It damaged the hull beyond repair. There is a four foot gash from the bow to three quarters down the length on Z-deck, and all those compartments were filled about halfway with water. I had to abandon the engine room because that was becoming flooded too."
"We kept on sending out the mayday, not knowing it wouldn't be heard; but the G.P.S. would send out reguardless.", Applebee said.
"G.P.S.?", Waldo asked.
"G.P.S. is short for Global Positioning System.", Waters told us. "It is a system that uses medium orbit satelites that transmit and relay data in precise microvave beams from transmitters on the ground. It is used to accurately locate so equipped vehicles, and the data is beamed to receivers all over the world from said satelites. It can transmit the location of the Millennium Queen to within an accuracy of a few feet!"
"That is bad!", Waldo stood. "If they can find the ship, then they could surely find..."
"...Us!", Rosemary finished, standing as well. "Captain Applebee, please tell us this device is not active!"
"It will continue running until the electric power in the ship runs out.", he replied, ashamed look on his face. "That won't be until the backup generators run out of diesel."
"This will not do!", bellowed Scofield. "Our culture will be ruined!"
"I vote we make an emergency expedition to the Millennium Queen!", Waldo announced. "We MUST go there and disable this decvice!"
"Please! Calm down!", I shouted, using Klamath's volume. "There is no danger of that!"
"What are you getting at, Stinger?", Waldo turned to me.
"Captain Applebee. remember when we went to the bridge to get your manifest?", I asked and he nodded. "I asked if I could see the controls, and you showed me?", again a nod. "Well, when you weren't looking, I fried the G.P.S. controls!... See, the armor I wear has the ability to emit a strong electromagnetic pulse.", I smiled. "That's why I wanted to see the bridge..."
"So, we're not in danger!", Waldo sighed relief.
"You're a sneak!", Applebee said.
"Wait a minute, everyone!", Waters yelled. "That would not disable the G.P.S., I'm afraid...", everyone halted and looked his way, including me. "Nearly every system on that ship has thier own built-in redundancy system. The G.P.S. system is no different. The main unit is down in the electrical room two decks above the main engine room, directly connected to the main power; and the emitter antenna is hardwired to the communications array.", he looked at me. "The G.P.S. system can run even if the whole bridge was destroyed! All you did was wreck the bridge controls!"
"Oh, no!" I moaned. Suddenly getting a headache!
"Don't worry, Stinger.", Rosemary consoled. "You did your best!"
"But why didn't you tell us this?!", Waldo barked.
"I didn't want to upset you with it.", I said. "It would have been just one more worry..."
"But still we worry about it!", Scofield whined. "What are we to do?!"
Soon the other delegates got into it, arguing on procedures to get to the ship and disarm the device; and all the while the command crew of the Millennium Queen watched on, thinking they were helpless to make any suggestion. Chief engineer Waters knew he could disable the G.P.S., provided he copuld get there; and the rest were thinking that thier presence had caused a lot of unnecesary trouble for these people. Finally, as I stopped feeling guilty for botching the job of sabotage; rose and told them my solution to the problem.
"Wait! I have an idea on how to get there quickly!", I said. "The Skybax Strutter is the fastest thing on the island, right?"
"Stinger, isn't that device deep in the Rainy Basin?", Waldo asked. "It will take days to get it here!"
"It's the only chance we got!", I said. "I will need the service of a Postal Bird to send a message there, and someone there can fly it here.", I looked at the engineer. "Mister Waters knows the ship like the back of his hand. If he would go with me, we can disarm the G.P.S. the right way; say, in less than a day."
"What's a Skybax Strutter?", the captain asked.
"You've seen the flying Pterosaurs around the sky, haven't you?", I asked. "Well, this one is made of metal; and it is not unlike a jet plane."
"Sounds interesting...", Waters said. "I'll go with you, I guess."
"Then it's settled!", Waldo said. "I will call a Postal Bird, and you can send your message in the morning."
"Speed is of the essence.", Scofield said. "Do you think we should wait that long?"
"Kind saurian, you know as well as I do that Postal Birds do not fly at night!", Rosemary told him. "Besides, it's late; and I'm sure everyone has had a busy day!"
"You're right.", he replied.
"Then I call this meeting adjourned.", Waldo rapped the gavel on the round table, and the delegates rose. "Captain Applebee and company, I will call for your escorts for the evening; but I suggest mister Waters and Stinger stay with us in the mayoral quarters for the night. We have a busy day tommorrow, it would seem!"
With that everyone rose and went to thier designated places for the night, all knowing the implications of what was revealed at this meeting...
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Post by thundertail on Feb 24, 2008 13:48:54 GMT -5
FORTY-SIX: "Sanctioned Sabotage."
When I woke up, I woke up to luxury; and not to the luxury I was used to in the Rainy Basin, either. The double brass bed I was in seemed more fit in a palace, and the comfort almost made me forget where I was and what was going to happen; but as my memory caught up with my wits, I at last knew that I was in the mayor's quarters in Waterfall City. I also remembered that I was soon to go on perhaps the most important mission I ever had to go on in Dinotopia. The recently shipwrecked ship named the Millennium Queen still had her tracking devices activated, and they must be disabled!
I sprang out of bed and backed into Klamath, the armor of Othgar, and hurried out of my assigned chambers; rushing down the corridor to the stairs at the end. Chief Engineer Frank Waters was just emerging from his assigned chambers, yawning and trying to drag his boots on as he attempted to hurry after me. We ended up meeting mayor Waldo Seville at the bottom of the landing, old fashioned pyjamas and sleeping cap still on; but with a long, slender whistle at his lips, just about ready to blow. As he did, a shrill screech sounded all over the area, seeming to increase in volume as the sound traveled out a near by window and out into the streets; where a dog whistle mixed with the stopping of a car would be its' accurate description! That was when the almost comic figure turned to see us holding our ears.
"Ah! Good morning!", Waldo said, placing the whistle in a pocket of his pyjammas. "Sleep well?"
"Fine...", I said, wringing out an ear. "Nice wakeup call!"
"I just summoned your Postal Bird.", Waldo said, leading us from the window and down into other chambers, where the smell of breakfast fare wafted from. "He or she will be along shortly... Care for some breakfast while you wait?"
"I never ate with royalty before...", Waters said as he followed us.
"We're not royalty!", Waldo smiled. "Think of us as part of the family!"
"Yeah, we're nobody very special.", I told him. "Just folks trying to do a job..."
"Very well put!...", Waldo sat down, beconing us to do likewise. "Have some rice farina to start off?"
"I'll have some!...", said the lumpy bohemoth at the other side of the room in saurian. "Love that stuff!"
"You eat too much as it is, Almasaur!", Waldo commented. "Eat your greens!"
"My goodness!", Waters exclaimed. "What,... I mean, who is that?"
"My goodness! My manners!", Waldo said. "Mister Frank Waters, meet Almasaur Ankylosaur, my Partner! Almasaur, please meet mister Frank Waters, a good friend!"
"A pleasure to meet one of the new Dolphinbacks!", Almasaur said, and I translated out of habit. Hearing this, he switched to rumbly English. "I talk!... Gree... tings, hu-man...!"
"I never would've believed it!", stammered Waters. "Having breakfast with one of your kind!..."
"Un-usual eat with cast-away, too!", Almasaur chuckled. Armored eye twinkling at me in recognition.
"Excellent!", Waldo said, clapping once. "Everyone is now acquainted!... Now, let's have our breakfast!..."
Soon saurian and human waiters regally served many dishes of breakfast fare, featuring the aforementioned rice farina; but to me, the only thing lacking was anything of the meat variety. We all ate gladly and with purpose, pausing briefly between bites to comment on the taste or the occasional chuckle. About halfway in between courses, a disheveled Postal Bird flapped into a window and fluttered around the room; making everyone duck before finally perching on Almasaur's clubbed tail. The Ankylosaur looked at the bird with scorn before rocking his tail, making the bird flap off and land on the table in front of the mayor between a tea caddy and his juice glass. She bowed and flapped to attention.
"Postal bird Four-Seventy-Seven reporting, and at your service!", she said. "Please state your destination and message in that order..."
"Greetings.", Waldo said. "Mister Stinger here has an urgent message to be sent to the Rainy Basin, clan Thundertail, Rainy Basin Central."
"The Rainy Basin?!", the bird squawked. "Are you sure you do not want to send it to Sauropolis or some place safe?"
"What are those?", Waters asked, wiping his mouth. "A carrier pigeon?"
"Sir! I am a Postal bird, not a common courier!", she scolded.
"You must forgive him, Four-Seventy-Seven.", waldo told her. "He's new here."
"A Dolphinback!", the bird considered. "Haven't seen any of those!", she cocked an eye at him.
"Uh,... The message?", Waldo prompted.
"Yes!", she turned to me. "Please state your message..."
"To king Thundertail, clan Thundertail, Rainy Basin.", I said. "Urgently request the Skybax Strutter Kiawa to be sent to Waterfall City with all possible speed. To be used on a mission of the utmost urgency. Please comply as soon as possible. Signed, Stinger.", I looked at the bird. "Got all that?"
"Yes.", she said before repeating it. "Should I wait for a reply?"
"I don't think that is necesary...", I said.
"Then I'm off!...", Four-Seventy-Seven squawked and fluttered around the room before darting out the window.
"How far can they fly?", Waters asked before resuming his meal.
"She should get to the next outpost in an hour, and be there by just after noontime. They're very reliable!", Waldo informed. "It takes nearly a whole day for them to get to Canyon City, and clan Thundertail is about halfway there."
"Oh!", he replied.
"Stinger, aren't you going to finish your breakfat?", Waldo asked me, but I was too preoccupied with thought.
At length, breakfast was finished; and then mayor Seville began a small tour of the mayoral quarters for Frank Waters, and I tagged along too. He told him of the finer points of being a Dinotopian, and what wonders awaited him outside of Waterfall City. As we strolled the streets surrounded by all the waterfalls, we were greeted by nearly every other human and saurian citizen that walked by. Waters was clearly impressed at the larger than life archetecture and the ingeniously designed canals and bridges that could withstand the weight of several of the largest dinosaurs at a time. He marveled at how like humans the dinosaurs lived, and the level of intellegence many unknowingly expressed. He saw poets and jugglers, mimes and orators, business owners and patrons; and judged this city to be the most peaceful and civilized one he had ever been in!
Midday meal was spent at the Booraza Cafe near the Grand Canal, a favorite spot for tea, Waldo told us; and it was there that we met a few of the passengers of the Millennium Queen with thier escorts. One had a young Stenoychosaur with her, and told us he was her host's son, who was showing her around the city. The other was with a strong looking human female, and he looked like a toothpick by comparason! They were going to the library after they had thier own luncheon!
After a long while, shortly before sundown, a squad of city Skybax riders and thier steeds were seen taking off and circling the city from the air, and Minch soon ran up to us, gasping for air many moments before speaking; and Waters had the good sense to help hold him up so he could catch his breath!
"Sir!... A mechanical creature... has landed... at the courthouse!", Minch panted. "The whole area... is in an uproar...!"
"Ah! My ride is here!", I said cheerily. "Come on, mister Waters! Want to go for a ride?"
"Sure!", the chief engineer said as I led the other three.
We walked swiftly down the Grand Promenade, avoiding the saurian and human traffic along the way; and made it around the court building just in time to see four saurian guards, spears pointing at the giant flying machine. The pilot, bedecked in a bluish suit of armor with a helmet not unlike the head of a Parasolophus, leapt down from the wing with a clatter and surveyed the area; and as he saw the guards, backed up a step as he raised his hands in submission. Two of the guards kept thier spears trained on him and his flying craft while the other two went to keep the growing crowd at bay. The crowd parted when they recognized the mayor, and the guards allowed us all to approach the craft.
"Ah, Flit!", I said as I stepped up to the robotic creature. "How was your flight?"
"All was well sir.", Flit responded. "Your Postal Bird message said to use all possible speed, so I used the Dinojet engine most of the way. I just left clan Thundertail two hours ago..."
"Excellent!", I said. "We may just complete this mission before nightfall at this rate!"
"If it's not too much trouble, sir...", Flit asked. "What does this mission entail?"
"The shipwreck has some detection equipment aboard that is still active.", I told him. "We are going there to disable those devices so the rescuers would not get hurt looking for it."
"It would also prevent detection of this island!", Flit said what I omitted. "A mission of this importance may need my assistence! I can disable those devices..."
"No, Flit.", I said. "This is mister Frank Waters, chief engineer aboard the Millennium Queen. He knows those systems like the back of his hand, and can disable them blindfolded. If you were to do it, you would only be guessing."
"But it would be so interesting!...", he groused.
"I want you to stay here until I can get some transportation home for you. OK?", I said.
"King Thundertail has sent a cart for you already.", Flit informed. "It should be here by tomorrow..."
"Good! Then you can take the cart when it gets here!", I said, turning to mister Waters. "Now, let's get under way, shall we?"
I left Flit standing by Waldo and Minch and led the way toward the metallic flyer. Kiawa noticed my approach and crowed like a rusty gate in greeting, nodding as he did so. I went to give Waters a leg up onto the wing and scrabbled up after him; then I led him to the front seat and helped him inside. He didn't seem to need help figuring out the five-point restraint system, nor did he need help finding or placing my old Air Force helmet on his head, either! I closed the canopy and checked out the controls, noticing that the gague showing MacDougal's moonshine fuel was over two thirds full.
"You seem to know your way around an airplane.", I radioed my comment to him.
"Yeah, I used to fly those Sabre jets back in the Korean war.", Frank Waters told me. "Been in one jet, been in 'em all!"
"You don't say!", I said. "Then I guess you're familiar with high G's and stuff like that..."
"Another flyer!", Kiawa commented. "Welcome aboard, human!"
"Yikes! What's that?!", Waters said.
"Mister Frank Waters, meet Kiawa.", I said. "He is the entity inside this Skybax Strutter."
"An entity?", he asked.
"When the ancient scientists and builders made thier technology, they placed the intellegences of other creatures inside them.", I explained. "Kiawa was a Pteranodon when he was alive, I surmise. The suit of armor I wear has one inside too.", then Klamath spoke. "Mine was a herd of Ankylosaurs, and I was thier leader.", I took over again. "The same goes for the armor Flit wears, only that entity expired. I hear Proboke was a fine tactician. As for Flit, he is an Artificial Life Construct - a robot. His entity is that of a Compsagnathus, and he was the Partner of the greatest scientist on Dinotopia; and that is why he knows so much."
"Outstanding!", chief engineer Waters breathed. "I'd like to know all about Dinotopian technology some day!"
"One of these days you just might!", I sort of promised.
"Kiawa ready for flight.", the flyer said.
"Here we go!", I said as I placed my hands and feet onto the controls.
In the mean time, Flit watched the activity on the ground, the mayor of Waterfall City and his assistant at his side. He watched the activity going on, imagining to himself the checkout procedures Stinger was performing and timing the results to calculate when Kiawa would finally take to the sky. The crowd around them were intermittently looking both at the flyer and at Flit; and the mayor and his assistant drew thier attention to the giant flyer before them to the smaller suit of armor beside them. Flit detected this and looked at these two men.
"Well Flit, now that you'll be here for a while; you might need someone to show you around the city!", Waldo told him.
"I have already had a tour of Waterfall City, your honor.", Flit replied. "My memory banks contain a full street map. I need no escort to find my way."
"Minch, would you see to that...?", Waldo said anyway.
"Your honor, you need not bid him do this!", came a female voice in the crowd. "I volunteer to accompany this emisary of the Rainy Basin!"
"No, Ruby Mattock! You are always seeking trouble!", Waldo said. "You will not corrupt this creature with your rabble rousing ways!"
"I have met Ruby Mattock, briefly, many months ago.", Flit said, eyeing her companion fondly. "As well as her lovely Compsagnathus Companion, Elinore.", he turned to the mayor. "If I must be escorted around the city, I would consider it an honor to do so with them!"
"Oh...! Very well!", Waldo gave in, then turned to Ruby. "But if any trouble befalls either of you, let it be on your head!"
"I will take good care of him, your honor.", Ruby bowed as Flit paced over to her side.
Suddenly Kiawa spread his great metallic wings, and everyone gasped. "Please, everyone step back!", Flit warned loudly. "The Dinojet engine is very dangerous!", Kiawa turned and crouched, firing the engine briefly as the crowd hurriedly complied.
Kiawa leapt into the air and cleared the buildings; then veered off in the direction of Crackshell Point. I cut the engine as we leveled off hundreds of feet above the city, wishing to save as much of the fuel as I could for the long flight ahead. Flit said that the flight from clan Thundertail to Waterfall city was two hours long at full engine burn; so our flight to the Millennium Queen would take at least three. Frank Waters sat in front of me, clearly enjoying the scenery as it rolled out in front of us; the giant Pteranodon head of Kiawa jutting out, looking this way and that, clearly enjoying it himself too. I must admit that flying this wonderful machine was most enjoyable to me as well; for up here I was truely free!
I scanned the flightpath ahead using the map of the island now incorporated into the memory systems of Kiawa and programmed by flit, no doubt; and plotted the fastest route, and decided to perform a bullet-trajectoried flightplan. I kicked up the engine and Kiawa climbed well above the lower cloud deck. Waters' helmet became pasted to the seatback in front of me, but he did not seem to complain; and as we reached apogee, he turned his head to reguard the Tyranosaur mask that was covering my own face.
"This is a marvelous machine!", he stated. "With this thing, you could fly right off this island!"
"That is quite impossible.", I said. "This Strutter is powered by crystals known as Sunstones. Sunstones only work when they are in close proximity to other Sunstones. If I try to fly off the island, Kiawa will soon lose power and crash into the ocean long before I reach civilization; and I'd drown long before I'm rescued. So that means, even though I can fly anywhere on this island I want to, I still can't leave!"
"That's a shame...", waters said. "Why, with the technology within this machine, it would put the Air Force ahead in technology at least thirty years!"
"There's other reasons why I can't go home again.", I told him. "I guess the biggest reason is I have roots here now. I have a family: a wiife and a son, I have a clan full of clawbrothers and clawsisters; and a whole island full of friends.", I gave him my other reason. "Besides, I was on duty when I was brought here. You know, technically I'm A.W.O.L.!... If I go back and try to explain what happened, or try telling them where I've been, they'll put me in a rubber room and throw away the key!"
"I see your point!", Frank Waters told me. "This whole situation seems crazy to me too! But I'm convinced that it's all real.", he sighed. "Nobody will believe that this island exists, let alone live dinosaurs live here. But all in all, it seems a whole lot better than what I got to look forward to back home. I told you about me retiring, didn't I?"
"Yeah, a tough break when your old...", I commented.
"You don't know the half of it!", Waters continued. "The Brittish Singapore company, the ones that own the ship, won't give me all my retirement benefits! When I retire, I'll have to live off my government retirement checks, and that's it. What a poor state we're in when nobody will give you what you deserve when you retire!"
"But all that is changed now!", I told him. "Here you can live out the rest of your life without worry of paying any bills, or how much money you will need to survive. Everything will be provided for you, free of charge; and there will be plenty of folks that would be glad to help you out!... 'Survival of all or none', as they say!", I paused to correct our heading. "Let's face it, mister Waters. You couldn't have been shipwrecked in a better place!", he chuckled.
The miles whizzed by under Kiawa's wings, and within half the time I estimated it would take; Deep Lake shone like a jewel far below. This was my cue to prepare to make our descent, and I took one last look in our intended direction before doing so.
From this altitude I could see far out to sea, and what I saw gave me pause. The storm was huge, and seemed to go from horizon to horizon; and it was laced with crazy lightning and whirlwinds of driving rain. The only time I saw the Perpetual storm like this was when it had me in its' grasp oh so very long ago! I felt certain that there were rescue ships and spotter planes on the other side of that malestrom, searching in vain for the shipwrecked Millennium Queen.
I kept my feelings to myself as Kiawa dipped his wings and fell slowly through the clouds to the clearer air a mile below. He seesawed his wings in midair several times to lose as much speed as was prudent, and then I led him onto a more level flight. Pretty soon the end of land could be seen, and a beach stretched out long and rocky beneath our wings.
We followed the coast east until the unmistakable shape of a modern day ocean liner could be seen foundering in water two hundred yards from shore that was much too shallow for it. The Millennium Queen lay inert, waves crashing against the tightly beached hull, having no effect on it; even though it listed slightly on the seaward side of the vessel. From above the external damage was not largely evident, save for a tiny communication antenna dish that was broken from its' moorings directly above and behind the bridge deck; but the rest of the antenna array seemed intact.
I had Kiawa make several flyovers of the general area, scanning for looters and checking to see if everything was left as we put it. The lifeboats were there, dragged far above the high tide line, as was the communal grave for the ones lost in the shipwreck; and I also saw several small saurians looking like they were beachcombing, but as I got a closer look, I saw that they bore shiny amultes around thier necks. I later found out that king Thundertail had some of the Veloceraptor guards stay behind, ordered to guard the shipwreck. At last I swung Kiawa around and had him land on the wide foredeck of the Millennium Queen, the mechanical flyer having trouble finding purchase on the tilting surface.
I scrolled back the canopy and we both unhitched ourselves; and both of us expertly hopped down off Kiawa. Waters led me to a hatchway that led to a ladder to the main bridge, stopping at a maintenence locker to retrieve a small toolbox there. From there we went to the bridge through another short passageway, and he immediately went to the communication console; of which he frowned at the charred covering of the G.P.S. controls.
"You got it good, didn't you?", he accused as he removed a covering on the side of it with a screwdriver.
"Sorry...", I said as I watched him work.
"Well, there's nothing I can do here...", he said after a few minutes fishing out wires and fried circuitry. "Say, someone left the radio receiver on!", he looked at that panel.
"Yeah, but the indicator is off.", I saw the switch and flipped it. Suddenly the bridge was filled with static, followed by a menagerie of voices!
"Boat six, did you see boat four? Over,,,", static. "Boat two reports nothing on his sweep...", more static. "Boat three, this is the Pendleton. Do you read? Over...", static again. "Boat three to boat two, report!...", on and on it went.
"Can they hear us?", I whispered.
"I don't think so.", Waters replied. "The transmitter antenna must have been the one broken."
"Good!", I said, louder this time. "I think we should finish up quick and get out of here. They're out there, and the storm's pummeling them!"
"Yeah, if we finish disabling the G.P.S., they'll think the ship finally sank, and they'll give up the search.", Waters said.
"You're becoming more Dinotopian by the minute!", I complimented. "Let's do this!..."
Nodding, engineer Waters collected his tools and tossed them noisily into the toolbox; rising to turn to the port side exit of the bridge. I followed him to a caged in ladder up the superstructure; and, finding he had no keys for the lock and nothing in the toolbox to cut it off, shrugged in defeat. I smiled and grasped the padlock, then I used Klamath's strength to wrench it around until the hasp snapped in my hands; and of this Waters stared at me in amazement! I pulled the cage door open and we both scrabbled up the rungs, him handing me the toolbox as I reached the level above.
_____
(Continued in next post.)
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Post by thundertail on Feb 24, 2008 13:54:13 GMT -5
FORTY-SIX: "Sanctioned Sabotage." (Continued.)
Once we were both on this level, I noticed the many compact air conditioning units, many now inert; and saw waters doing the same, appearing to curse as he figured those would need repair soon, then sigh as he realized that was no longer his job. He then picked up the toolbox and led me to another part of the superstructure, a forest of antennae and dishes high above us. the ladder we used at the rear of this large boxlike construct had no cage surrounding it, and was more like stairs than a ladder; so we both climbed it and was soon among this metallic forest.
Small satelite dishes for television broadcast and internet use sprouted at our feet, and two eight foot models stood among them, one staring at the sky and the other laying prone on the deck. On a thirty foot mast near the back of this space were dozens of skinny antennas, bristling the mast like porcupine quills, and arranged in a line in front of it stood four radarlike dishes, only one of them revolving. Around the back of the thirty foot mast stood a long boxlike device, yellow in color and posessing cooling fins all around the cover. The logo I remembered was on the corner of the box, and an amber light flashed beside it, indicating it was still active. Chief engineer Frank Waters crouched at it and immediately got to work removing the coverings with screwdrivers and wrenches.
As soon as the covering was loosened, he had me lift the top half; and this piece was suprisingly heavy as it contained better than half the workings for the antenna device. The wiring that came with it Waters unplugged, and these were tiny wires coupled with tiny plug-ins. I could now flip the half over and set it on the deck, and I saw the multi-layered circuitry arranged within: capacitors, circuit boards, fuse panels, microswitches, transformers and relays. All these Waters bagan to disconnect from the main circuit frame as Klamath scanned each piece as it was dismantled, saying to me silently that he wished to present this information to Flit; and as my half was sufficiently in pieces, the chief engineer began to fling them overboard in great arcing throws! Then he began to work on the lower half off the G.P.S. antenna transmitter. Similar pieces were taken apart, and were summarilly tossed; leaving nothing but the lower shell still bolted to the deck. The wiring conduit connected to it which fed power to the device and sent information to and from it to the main unit below decks was unplugged and powered down, him snipping all the plug connections with wire cutters in the bargain. Only then did chief engineer Frank Waters begin to gather his tools and kick the remaining parts off the deck.
"That was the easy part!", Waters wiped his brow. "The hard part's downstairs. That's where the REAL voltage is!"
"The transmitter must have been damaged.", I said, guessing. "My suit detected no real current."
"Could be, but we best be sure.", he replied. "Let's get going..."
We made our way down the way we came, ending back at the bridge; and when we got there the radio was still broadcasting the calls from the rescue ships far out to sea beyond the Perpetual storm. The primary rescue vessel was the Pendleton, a coast guard frigate with manpower and boats enough to perform any rescue, the captain told the crew to boost moralle. The second one mentioned that was ternty miles further west was the Antifigasto, a destroyer class vessel loaned from Chile; and capable of harboring large amount of shipwreck victems. Of course, this information was not available to us the few minutes spent listening; and pretty soon we continued our mission.
We traveled down two decks to end up on the central promenade, which led to one of two swimming pools, its' water splashed out so it was only half full. Deck chairs lay strewn about on deck or drowned in the pool; and many of the passengers' swimming acoutriments were scattered about. Every bottle in the poolside bar lay on the floor, either broken or rolled into very inaccessable places. At a double door at the other end of this space we pushed through and passed by many small shops featuring many expensive goods: electronics and software to play in them, swanky fashions and stylish footwear, items and goods for both genders and snackbars and fine restaraunts lined this space. At the end we headed for the twin elevators that would lead to the lower regions of the ship; but on many tries pushing the summons button and seeing that the lights above the doors were out, we surmized that we would have to take the stairs around the corner!
Four flights down, which marked the lowest passenger deck, we traveled half the length of the ship before we came to a service corridor which was locked to the public; and since waters had no keys, I was forced to kick the door in using Klamath's strength. Waters reguarded me with cautiousrespect as he propped the door againstthe wall and we continued. This area held storage rooms, and they were filled with domestic goods for the staterooms: towels, sheets, blankets, pillows, mini-fridges, cleaning supplies, extra furnature, mattresses and paper goods for bathrooms. More storage rooms contained maintenence supplies like lamps, electrician parts and tools for plumbing, maid carts and many other items for servicing the staterooms. Beyond this was storage for non-perishable foods and drinks, along with four walk-in refrigerators containing meats and other perishable and frozen goods. Waters said these areas supplied the restaraunts in the upper decks, and I wondered how this food would be dispersed around the island.
At the end of this area was another doorway, unlocked; and this section of passageways was dimly lit with emergency lighting. Waters told me we were getting really close now, for he said the engine rooms were directly below us. Pipes and I-beams were plumbed out everywhere, and in every direction; and I had a hard time not smacking myself in the head with them. At a catwalk ladder we looked down. Forty feet below us seawater roiled among the machinery below, and Waters cursed that his engine room was flooded; but we only descended one level and took a left, onto many metal rooms sealed with watertight doors.
At one door we cycled it open and found a room filled with electrical panels and industrial sized circuit boxes, alive with the hum of many watts of power. At a desk console near the entry a bank of computers stood, and the wall beside it was filled with TV monitors and computer screens. One of those screens depicted power levels throughout the ship, the electrically dead areas in black were the decks directly below us. "The whole ship is suffering power outages in small scattered areas while the main exitways shows steady power.", Waters told me. "The electrical room seems nominal, and the backup generators hadn't gone on yet; but the main generators are in danger of failure due to seawater seepage." Waters looked up from the monitors. "I think that, even if we don't complete this job; the ship will be a dead hulk within a week!"
"That's not the point.", I told him. "Those seamen out there in the storm are there NOW! We got to disable that G.P.S. so they think it is already sunk.", I smiled. "Then they'll go home and be safe!"
"Ok then!", Waters looked under the console, where there was a storage drawer, and pulled out a manuel. "I think I can have this gizmo tell us where it is...", he studied the manuel, which was for running the ships' computer netework; and he tapped the keyboard experimentally. "Sorry. Computers scare me!"
Within ten minutes he had conjured up a wiring map of the whole ship, zeroing down until he had the schematics for the G.P.S. tracking system. On the screen he located where the wiring from the antenna and bridge controls for the device connected into the power room they were in. In a few more moments he had traced where the main controller for the device might be - according to the diagram, at any rate. As he fine tuned the image he was trying to get, I took it on myself to locate the device alone. Judging on the color of the panel on the bridge and the color of the antenna housing, I figured that the control box would have to be yellow as well; and I searched every panel I could find for one of that color. The only thing hampering me was the fact that the electrical room was enormous, and the panels were set up almost like a maze!
At long last I found the panel I was looking for. Even though the frame for the G.P.S. main control was indeed yellow, it had many metallic green and metallic blue cover plates incorporated into the seven foot tall panel. and the only other feature that stood out on it was the now familiar logo at the upper right hand corner of the frame. The rest of the panels was a Christmas tree of lights, indicators and controls; and I had no idea where to begin demolition, so I called out.
Frank! I think I found it!", I shouted through the hum of electrical equipment.
"Where are you?", Waters shouted back.
"Forward of your position, at the extreme port side of the room.", I called over the thrum. "Where you are, take a right, then an immediate left. A right at the third bank of panels, then a left at the bulkhead. I'm in the corner down the end.", then as an afterthought. "And bring that toolbox!"
Frank Waters left the computer as it was and followed my directions, toolbox clattering against the odd panel or I-beam support; then paused as soon as he saw me and what I had found. He set the toolbox down and began rummaging inside for the right tools.
"That's it all right!", he said as he moved in closer.
"Looks to me that if you shut off this circuit breaker,", I indicated a double lever near a power conduit that snaked out from the side of the panel. "You'd be able to work on it safely."
"Naw!... How would I know if I got it with the power off?", he said as he got to work unscrewing the panel with the indicator lights. "Whose the chief engineer? You or me?"
"Just making sure you survive for your retirement!", I chuckled as I watched him work.
Waters removed the last screw to that panel and drew it away from the console. It was attatched to the inside of the device by its' hundreds of wires; and he began to slowly unplug each wire from its' fixture, and when done he placed it on the floor at my feet. Next he began digging deeper into the device, probing the various electronic objects with a voltage tester he picked up next. Frowning, he began to remove the panel with the majority of switches.
Klamath took the liberty to scan each piece waters drew out of the device, and was stymied at many of the strange object. I looked on, bewildered yet knowing myself that my old jet had similar electronics; and though I never knew the mechanics that made them work, they all went together to make the jet fly. Waters groaned and began to remove more wires and other things deeper into the panel; of which he haphazardly handed over to me for disposal, and the pile on the floor of the space began to grow with the amount of the stuff!
"Ok, I reached the fuse panel.", Waters said as he paused to mop his brow. "I think that, if we destroy the fuses AND disconnect the main power; this will never work again."
"Seems a lot easier than taking it all apart like you're doing!", I chuckled as he handed me another heavy chunk of the machine. "We'll be here all night if we don't!"
"Take that board in your hand and crush it.", Waters instructed. "Just like you did to that lock...", I complied and bent it into quarters like it was a piece of cardboard. "That was the main transmission circuitry. Without it, the G.P.S. won't work - even if someone puts it all back together!"
Next waters began removing fuse modules from a long, socketed array, each the size of small two-by-four blocks; and then he placed them on the floor. Without warning he began to stomp on one, and the glass it was mostly made of crushed and shattered the delicate wiring inside them; then he had me put the board I was still holding down and do the same! Forty fuse modules later he stopped.
"There are no other fuses like those on the ship.", he said. "The G.P.S. is truely disabled now!"
"Well, there is only one way to find out now!", I said as I flipped on the main power switch I had turned off while he wasn't looking many dozens of minutes ago! "Let's see if it'll hold power!"
Sparks frazzled throughout the whole contraption, and smoke began fizzle out the opened panels. I quickly shut off the power to it as Waters ran for a fire extinguisher; and I tried to put out the smoldering circuitry with Klamath's pusher beam to little effect. Waters screeched to a stop and hosed the panel with the CO2 or halon inside the fire extinguisher he wielded. The flame and smoke subsided long before the retardant ran out; and he tossed the tank aside before glaring at me!
"Well, it's completely destroyed now!", his sarcasm was almost visible! "Trouble is your little stunt nearly got us killed!...", then he looked around, expecting something. "The smoke detecters should've gone off by now... Something wrong there..."
"Look, I'm sorry, ok?", I said, scrabbling for some of his tools. "Just that I didn't want you to get fried..."
"Aw,... I guess it's ok.", he smirked. "It was very exciting!", he joined in at gathering the tools, and after they were all inside the toolbox, he rose and lifted it. "Let's go!..."
Frank waters led me out of the electrical room and up toward the upper decks; but instead of going back the way we came, he led me to other rooms in the lower decks. One room had the lived-in look of many voyages, and he told me this was his quarters. Presently he began to fill a small bag of clothing as I sat on his bunk. In a few moments he was done, and went to an adjoining closet and pulled out a bottle.
"After a job like that, I need a bracer!", he produced a large bottle and two glass tumblers. "Vodka?... Genuine Russian!", he poured his and waited for my response. "I got a Russian buddy back in the States. Gets it imported from his family in Mother Russia."
I took a sip after viewing the strange blue label painted on the bottle. "Not too bad...", I struggled with the burn. "I got a buddy in the Rainy Basin that makes this:", I produced a flask of MacDougal's hooch. "Genuine Dinotopian!"
He took the flask and drank, eyes widening at the taste. "Now I know what fuel that flying gizmo uses!", he sputtered.
"Naw! The stuff Kiawa uses doesn't have any flavoring!", I responded and he chuckled.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starved!", Waters said after we finished our drinks. "Let's go raid one of the restaraunts!", I followed him out of the room.
Down other side passageways and we were once again out into the passenger areas once again, taking one of thier stairways to an area of lounges and restaraunts a deck below the above decks areas. At one restaraunt promising high end family style fare, we turned and entered; then made a beeline for its' kitchen, which was set up much like the galley aboard that aircraft carrier I was on, only smaller. He headed for the walk-in refrigerator near the back, noticing that it was still functioning properly; and he opened it and presently went looking for something to eat, and I went in to check it out myself. We ended up settling for what leftovers we could find, warming them up in one of several microwaves set up in the stainless steel space. Taking our meals out to the dining area, we chose one of the many tables and began to dig in; and both of us were hungrier than we first realized!
"Been a long time since I had food like this...", I said once my plate was all but empty. "Even though it's only leftovers!"
"had this stuff the night before we got stuck in the storm...", Waters wiped his mouth. "I never saw a place where the folks don't eat meat..."
"Well, only the carnivores here eat meat. The rest value life too much to waste it for food.", I said as I pushed my plate away. "The only thing I saw with that tradition is, with no meat in thier diets mixed with the plants and herbs they use for medicines and such; they all seem to live longer."
"Humans too?", he asked.
"Some humans I know are well over a hundred - decades over, in fact!", I told him. "Don't be fooled by thier looks. If someone looks fifty, for example, they're actually close to ninty. It is rumored that if you regularly drink Jinka tea, you could live up to two hundred and fifty years!"
"That so?", he said. "Do you drink it?", I nodded.
"I've only been here for about five years so far, and I was forty five the last time I noticed.", I told him. "I'm starting to feel as fit as I was when I was a cadet!"
"How old you think I'll live?", Waters wanted to know. "I'm a bit over sixty."
"Well, you'll live to at least a hundred, I'd say.", I told him. "That is if you don't get yourself killed first!"
"How old are the dinosaurs?", Waters asked next.
"All ages, actually!", I said, smiling. "But as how old they can get, I'd say really old. For Tyranosaurs and most other carnivores, they become really old after fifty or more. Brachs, Triceratops and other large ones can get over one fifty or more, and the same goes for the smaller species. It is rumored that Stegosauruses have never been known to die of old age, but who listens to rumors!"
We talked like that for many minutes more, chatting about this and that; with subjects ranging from my experiences in Dinotopia to those of the both of us in the outside world. At last our stomachs settled enough, and we decided to wrap things up and get back to where we were supposed to be. Instead of going directly to Kiawa and the flight home, waters decided to monitor the radio and see if our handiwork had any effect on our would be rescuers. The bridge was filled with radio chatter as we entered the space, for we had left it on this whole time; and thanked the fates that the broken dish abopve was that of the transmitter!
"Pendleton to Antifigasto, status of G.P.S. signal.", the captain there said.
"Contact loss 17:04 hours.", the radioman there said. "No sign of re-establishment."
"The Millennium Queen must have finally sank.", the captain of the Pendleton said. "The poor lads!"
"Storm front increasing...", said another voice. "Rescue boats say waters increasingly dangerous. Two boats need rescue."
"Chopper fourteen, winds at ninty knots.", a pilot said. "Returning to Pendleton."
"This storm is growing too fast for effective rescue.", the captain of the Pendleton said. "General alert. All boats and choppers are recalled to thier ships. All ships prepare to go to port", he got a little more casual. "We'll continue this in more favorable weather."
"The Brittish Singapore company won't like this.", his radioman commented.
"That's thier problem.", the captain replied. "Prepare to abandon search..."
Waters switched off the radio and we both let out a communal whoop! He indicated to me that I could destroy the radio, and I did so with pleasure. leaving the toolbox behind, he led me back to where kiawa stood perched on the foredeck. The Skybax Strutter's eyes took on a bright blue glow as he recognized us, and extended a foot so we could climb onto the wing a little safer. We both sat back in our seats, strapped in and prepared to take off.
"Kiawa, can we make it back to Waterfall City?", I asked as soon as everything was powered up.
"Alchohol fuel at critical level.", Kiawa said. "Insufficient fuel to arrive at said destination."
"Can we make it to clan Thundertail if we take it easy?", I asked instead.
"Affirmative.", it said. "Sufficient fuel for powered takeoff, then aeroglide procedure the rest of the way."
"Can we make it before sundown?", asked Frank Waters, looking at the setting sun as wekll as the still raging Perpetual storm. "I don't think it's too safe to fly in the dark!"
"I am fully capable of nocturnal flight.", Kiawa said.
"Excellent, boy!", I said. "Then let's get going!"
"Affirmative.", Kiawa said. "But Kiawa female entity!", with that she simultaneousely flapped and engaged her Dinojet engiones.
"Sorry!", I chuckled as she circled around and headed inland, toward the Forbidden mountains...
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Post by thundertail on Feb 29, 2008 18:27:50 GMT -5
FORTY-SEVEN: "Submission and redemption."
Flit watched as Kiawa flapped, was airborne and rocketed out of sight; hearing the hundreds of people and dinosaurs gasp, holding thier ears at the sound it made. Once the sound faded enough, the mayor of Waterfall City recovered first and smiled at his people. He raised his hands and spoke loudly to gain thier attention.
"Well friends!", he chuckled. "It looks like the excitement is all over for the time being. You may all resume what you were doing...", he made shooing gestures.
"Mister Flit,... if you please...", Ruby Mattock said, reaching for his armored elbow.
"Isn't it exciting, Ruby?", Elinore Compsagnathus was saying as Flit drew beside them. "Almost as grand as when we were in the Rainy Basin!..."
"Ma'am, it is an honor to be escorted by one of your caliber.", Flit said as Ruby led them away from the front of the courthouse. "I have heard of your exploits in clan Thundertail, and mourn your losses."
"My husband and his Partner may have died there, but it wasn't at the hands of your cohorts.", Ruby told him. "Besides, that is in the past; and my husband would have wanted me to carry on."
"A sound sentiment.", Flit said. "What are you going to do now that he is gone, if I may ask?"
"At first, my agenda was to prosecute the culprits that did this to them.", Ruby said. "They died at the hands of Torres LaSage. I see now that vengance does not pay; and have been spending my time promoting the exploits of the creatures of the Rainy Basin."
"I did not know this.", Flit said. "I doubt any in the Rainy Basin knows this!"
"Yeah! We do it really sneaky!", Elinore chittered as she climbed over to Flit's armored shoulder. "Say! This armor is exactly like Stinger's!"
"It is an armor of Othgar, like Stinger's.", Flit confirmed. "Proboke no longer functions as an entity, but he was once a master tactician. I am but a lowly artificial life construct myself..."
"How interesting...", Elinore said as they walked down the avenue.
Flit stayed with them for the whole day, strolling around the city and seeing the sights; of which a few of them Flit had never seen his last time there. All three saw puppet shows and tumblers among the crowds of multi species pedestrians who were decked out in thier usual colorful finery. Flit commented on the similarities and differences in the archetecture of this city and those that were built in Kinan Van and Halcyon. He listened to the exploits of Ruby Mattock and would have laughed at Elinore's colorful anecdodes if he could!
All during the day Flit had to admit he had a good time in thier company, and they had soon become fast friends. Many of the citizens stopped to chat with them, and some of the newcomer castaways met them in thier own travels of exploring the city. Nearing sundown they made thier way to Ruby's apartment on Seedpod street near Sabertooth Cascades on the other side of town from mister Woolright's apartment, which was on Steep street. They walked up the steps of this rather small building to her apartment on the third floor and stepped inside. "What a lovely place you have here!", complemented Flit.
"It's nothing, really...", Ruby Mattock commented as she went to put the groceries she had shopped for today in the kitchen.
"Please sir.", Elinore said as she got down off him and scurried to her favoite resting couch in the living room. "Why don't you come sit and make yourself more comfortable?"
"I do not require comfort as you know it.", Flit stated. "But if you don't mind, I would like to remove this armor..."
"By all means, please do so, sir!", Elinore said.
"I must warn you, though.", Flit said as he moved to a corner out of the way. "My true form is not like anything you have seen!"
At her nod, the suit split down the middle and unfurled itself, revealing Flit's true octopus-like form. Elinore gasped as flit perambulated out and stood there in all his spindly glory. As Ruby stepped from the kitchen, she held a hand to her mouth at the sight, nearly screaming! Flit reguarded them both as they did likewise back; and finally Flit was the first to speak.
"This is my true form. I am an artificial life construct.", he paced around the room, reguarding everything in the room with his multicolored optics. "I am sorry if my appearance startles you..."
"Why..., no!", Elinore squeaked first. "You look,... very unique...!"
"I was not expecting this,", Ruby agreed. "But you are our friend never the less, no matter what you look like!... Isn't that right, Elinore?"
"Why... of course!", she said. "Did I say you look very unique?"
"Affirmative.", he said. "I mean, yes, Elinore."
"Ah,... I was just coming out to ask what you'd like to eat...", Ruby faltered.
"I do not injest organic matter...", Flit told her. "But I have been feeling stiff of late. Would you possibly have any type of oil in this household?"
"Don't we have some cooking oil up in the cupboard?", asked Elinore.
"Why yes. I think you're right!", Ruby went to get it.
"So, sit and tell me about yourself.", Elinore said after a brief pause. She watched as Flit went to the only couch and folded his appendages in a close approximation of a human sitting.
"I was once the Partner of Shetsetskafti, the chief engineer to Othgar the great.", Flit began. "Very interesting!", Elinore said as Ruby presently came out with a small capped earthenware picher. "You were around then?"
"Yes. My original form was a Compsagnathus like yourself.", Flit told her. "It is quite possible that you could be one of my predecessers."
"You don't say!", Elinore giggled, then watched flit take the picher and apply oil to himself. A tiny opening irised open near the front of the appendage nexxus just below his head. He only applied a few ounces, but that was all he required for lubrication. Then he set the picher down and looked at them guiltilly.
"Shetsetskafti was a masterful inventor.", Flit said. "He was responsable for designing all the Strutters as well as the armor of Othgar. He was also involved with the design of my present form."
Flit went on telling them all about his life way back then, and told them entertaining stories of long ago. After Elinore and Ruby have thier dinner, the female Copmpsagnathus tried to entertain Flit with symphonies played on thier phonograph; making Flit smile inside even though he could not physically show it.
As a matter of fact, Flit became so taken with Elinore that evening that he secretly felt something within him he hadn't felt for anyone in over ten thousand years. This emotion made him so perplexed that during some of his smalltalk with her that he began stammering and hitching quite agauinst his will! Ruby noticed this first, but made no indication of this. She just let them both carry on and observed what she perceived as a budding romance unfold before her. "Elinore,... I, I have something to say...", he haltingly said after a few hours.
"What is it, Flit?", she said. She had been beside him on the couch for neraly an hour now. "It has come to my realization... I mean, I finally understand...", he faltered, frustrated at his lack of words at this time. "That you are the most charming creature I have met since I had been freed from the World Beneath. I do not know what else to say..."
"I am flattered, coming from you...", she looked at him, confused. "But what are you trying to get at?"
"I am saying...", he seemed to gasp as he looked her in the eye. "I never thought it possible, me being the way I am. You are a most beautiful creature,... and the truth is,... I think I am falling in love with you...", he seemed to deactivate after that.
"Oh, Flit...!", she stroked his metallic face. "You are a gallant one, and I have grown quite fond of you..."
"But the trouble is I can not be this way for what I am!...", he said softly. "I can not complete this love I feel, for I am a robot and you are a living creature...!"
"You poor thing!", Elinore said, taking one of his tenticles. "But you must know that you are more than a robot, for an entity noble and wise lives in you. How can I not help but love one such as that?"
"You say this, yet still there will be others to complete what I can not.", he said, crying inside. "What is worse is I will live nearly forever, and you will grow old and die. That day I will be heartbroken!"
"Flit, sweet thing!", she soothed. "Do not worry what the future may bring! Now is the only time that matters.", she nuzzled his metallic chin. "We have now and until you must leave for home; then if our duties permit, we shall visit each other one day - many more times after that, I'd wager! Do not worry about anything else.", this she said in his auditory sensor before kissing it.
Not long after that it was time for Ruby to go to bed, and Elinore soon followed her after saying good night to her new and dearest friend, Flit. Flit chose to shut down inside Proboke for the night; and as the suit closed over him, all he could think of was Elinore. Artificial life constructs aren't supposed to dream, but Flit dreamed of him and her; and both were scurrying through fields of meadow grass. She was her usual beautiful self, and he was in his original Compsagnathus body; and both were playing and carrying on, good friends for life with a rich life ahead of them. He wasn't aware that he powered down during the night until he suddenly felt a light, scratchy tapping on Proboke's left calf. Once he became fully online, he opened Proboke's helmet and stared at two smiling faces.
"Good morning, Flit!", squeaked Elinore. "Sleep well?"
"I experienced a nominal down cycle...", he said. "I mean, yes! It was most enjoyable."
"Us too!", Elinore said.
"We were just about to have Morningmeal.", Ruby said. "Join us?"
"We know!", Elinore droned and winked. "Just to sit and watch!"
"I would be delighted!", Flit said and moved Proboke to the dining area.
Thier meal was simple and delicious: Seaweed pancakes and varius breads and fruits; and to Flit's olfactory sensors, he surmised it was delicious. After the meal and a light cleanup, both Ruby and Elinore prepared themselves for the day in thier private rooms; and soon rejoined Flit in the living area. Before they could reach the door to thier apartment, a Postal Bird fluttered by the window before returning and landing on it; and Elinore leapt up to greet him proper.
"Hello, busy flyer!", she chirped. "Care to rest before your next stop?"
"Actually, my next stop is here.", the bird scolded. "I have a message for a mister Flit, and I was told he was residing at the residence of a miss Ruby Mattock and miss Elinor Compsagnathus..."
"I am Flit.", Flit spoke up.
"Very good, sir.", said the winged creature. "Message as follows: A delivery cart was stopped at the main gate to Waterfall City. Occupants claim to be from the Rainy Basin, arriving to receive you or a mister Stinger.", he paused. "The guards say they will escort them to the council chamber building. End of message."
"Then I think we should be going!", Ruby said.
"Don't want to keep them waiting any longer than necesary!", Elinore chirped.
"Do you wish to send a reply?", the bird inquired.
"I don't think that is necesary...", Flit said. "But I think miss Ruby is right: we must be on our way!"
"Yes, yes!", Elinore said. "And we can meet more people along the way! Yipee!"
"Very well...", the postal bird hopped to the windows' edge. "Compys!...", he flapped off to his next assignment.
With very little talk, the trio exited Ruby and Elinore's apartment and made it out to the street below. Already the morning pedestrian traffic was rather thick as they hurried on thier way, and Elinore made sure to properly greet everyone that passed by! They made it down the Grand Promenade, past many shops and restaraunts; and at last to the plaza where the council chamber builing was its' main attraction. On the street beside this structure one of the many carts posessed by clan thundertail stood, Triceratops puller waiting patiently and aged driver nervousely looking at the growing crowd while shooing away the flies his puller was attracting.
"Ah, lad!", MacDougal drawled. "There ye' be!", he dismounted and came over.
"And your name might be?...", Elinore asked.
"MacDougal's me name, tinkering is me game!", he offered his hand to Ruby first. "An' whoo is this fine lass?"
"Mister MacDougal, please meet Elinore Compsagnathus and miss Ruby Mattock.", Flit introduced. "They let me stay at thier home for the night."
"And your name, noble saurian?...", Elinore asked.
"My name is Flatbottom.", he said. "Forgive mister MacDougal, for he loses his manners when in the presence of beauty!"
"Oh, stop!...", Elinore scolded lightly.
"Ye daft lizard...!", MacDougal mouthed to Flatbottom, then changed his tune. "Ah, laddy! We must hurry if we want to make it home by sundown. Shake a leg!..."
"He is right!", Flit said. "We must be on our way..."
"Oh, Flit...!", Elinore jumped upon him and began to nuzzle. "I will surely miss you, my good friend!...", she pulled away slightly from his response. "See you soon?", she asked meekly.
"Most assuredly so, lovely one!", Flit answered as she kissed his metallic face. "I will see you as well, Ruby Mattock.", he turned to her. "Count on it, friend!", Ruby said, then turned to MacDougal. "Uh, sir. Do I know you? You look familiar."
"I donna think I knoo ya...", the former pirate said. "I member a redhead a few years agoo... O'course thot was when I was wid LaSage..."
"YOU were a pirate?!", Ruby accused. "You?!"
"Aye... A bad time o' me life, to be sure...", MacDougal admitted.
"Uh, miss Ruby!", Flit interjected. "Mister MacDougal has since reformed his ways. He now lives an extremely upstanding life in the Rainy Basin, and is quite an asset to clan Thundertail."
"Ifn I done anything wrong ta you, I be soo sorry...", MacDougal told her. "That was a MacDougal o' anoother time..."
"Go ahead, forgive him!", Elinore cut in. "He said he was sorry."
"Yes, I think I should.", Ruby said. "I forgive you, mister MacDougal", she looked stern. "But I STILL do not forgive LaSage!"
"I'm wid ye there!", MacDougal chuckled. "She ha rooned many a mans' life! I donna forgive her, either!"
She chuckled as well and shook the man's offered hand. With one last farewell from them all, Flit climbed the cart, followed by MacDougal; and Flatbottom slowly began to turn the cart around. The cart rolled down the cobbled streets the way it had come, and soon they were well outside Waterfall City limits. Flit was just finishing up telling Flatbottom and MacDougal about his time there in Waterfall City, and MacDougal was just about to tell him about the journey he and Flatbottom had in getting there when he paused and reguarded the metallic blue armored contrivance beside him.
"So, tin can.", he began. "Whot's wid the little Compy?", he looked at him sideways. "Anything interesting?... Ye caan tell yer old bud!"
"Honestly! It is not your business!...", Flit said. "Elinore and I are... friends."
"I observed an extreme level of infatuation.", Flatbottom commented. "I would say that Flit may very well be in love - if such a thing is possible in a creature such as he..."
"Aye!...", MacDougal made dreamy eyes. "Th' weddin' bells are ringin' already!...", he chuckled.
"Oh!... Close your vocal orifices!", Flit yelled at them exasperatedly. "The both of you!..."
Both Ceratopsian and human laughed out loud for a while, and then Macdougal told Flit all about thier trip. Flit, on the other hand, remained silent for the rest of the trip home; silently thinking of his time by himself in Waterfall City - and the two fantastic friends he had met there.
We had arrived in clan Thundertail at dusk the previous evening, Kiawa landing in a nearly deserted clearing among clan members that had already had thier eveningmeal and were just about ready to turn in for the night. Thier lassitude quickly turned into joy when they spotted the giant flying machine in the sky, and many of the evening feasters welcomed us home with roaring bellows and much capering. I barely had time to climb down from Kiawa when Rex bounded into the clearing and nearly bowled me over in his excitement!
I dodged his great mass as he whizzed past, and clung to his muzzle as he turned; exchanging bearhugs and rumbluing coos. It seemed that he had missed me as much as I did him, for he would not relent his rough affection for the longest time! Waters had climbed down in the mean time, and stayed within Kiawa's shadow well out of harm's way until this display wound its' way down somewhat. Just about then Thundertail came by to see what was going on, smiling at our antics as he viewed the newcomer in our midst. Chief engineer Frank Waters shrank back near Kiawa at the sight!
"Greetings, new human...", rumbled Thundertail in rough English. He was getting much better in the language! "Welcome to my domain!... Please forgive my son's antics... It is the curse of youth!"
"Oh my gosh!", Waters breathed.
"Um,... my king!", I said as I noticed him. "I have returned from my mission appointed by the high council. The Millennium Queen no longer sends its' mesage to the outside world..."
"And it seems you have brought a friend along as well...!", he returned.
"This is chief engineer Frank Waters.", I introduced, simultaneousely bringing him out in the open. "He played a major role in disabling the ship. Without him there, we would have never been able to do it."
"Well met, hero of Dinotopia...!", Thundertail rumbled. "Have you eaten?...", he edged his muzzle closer. "Our Eveningmeal is all but over,... but there may be a bone or two to pick with luck!"
"We have already eaten...", Frank said, backing up a pace.
"It has been a long time since I had food from the outside world...", I agreeingly commented. "It was quite a change from what I'm used to around here!"
"I would like to try some one day...", Thundertail rumbled as Thistlesnarl entered the area and began nuzzling Rex.
"No flirting, you two!", I warned playfully, then explained. "Young love..."
"Stinger, looks like you got the life around here!", Waters commented as he finally stood near Thundertail. "All the comforts of home, and all the friends you could want!"
"Yeah, carnivores are a pretty effectionate lot...", I commented as Carl Scott entered the area.
"All the patrols are in, my king.", Carl said. "Camp perimeter secured."
"Very well...", Thundertail rumbled.
"Uh,... mister Waters, I'd like for you to meet Carl Scott.", I introduced. "Him and his family came ashore a few years before I did." "Nice to meet you...", Frank offered a hand.
"I heard you came in on a ship. A big one!", Carl took the hand. "Can it still float?"
"No, I'm afraid not.", Waters told him as the handshake ended. "The steel plates are ripped open almost from keel to bow. It'll take a drydock to fix it."
"Bummer...", Carl said and reneged. "I mean, at least Dinotopians could salvage it for parts and stuff!"
"That could be one of the subjects of our next meeting with Waterfall City.", I said. "My king, there are many things of interest there, and lots of cargo and supplies. I say that, since we were the first there - not to mention rescuing the survivors, we should get the majority of it."
"A sound claim...", Thundertail told me. "But the Dinotopian thing to do is to split it up evenly. I will accept whatever the high council decrees on this matter.", he smiled toothilly. "No need to be too greedy!"
"You're right as usual, my king.", I said, then turned to Waters. "As for you, you must be exhausted from your 'heroics' today! Perhaps it would be best if I escort you to where you'll sleep..."
"Sure.", he said. "I can't wait to see this place! It looks all so interesting!"
"Wait until you see it in the daylight!", I smiled as I led him to the pyramid of Teeklan.
_____
(Continued in the next post.)
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