…Fran knows those cluckers
The Doclopedia #3,021
366 Days, 366 Paragraphs: #260
Chapter Thirty Four: Gertie In The Sunlight
Thanks to strong winds and Lahn’s piloting skill, Gertie had flown far enough up the Great Plains to have gotten into a daytime resting place under the raised Road that ran from just outside Blue Tree all the way west to Pine Circle. During the night, they had passed over the huge herds that were heading north to summer grazing land. They had marveled at the millions of animals they saw. The megaherd stretched for miles in all directions. It was one of the most impressive things Seyan and Lahn had ever seen.
Their present location was still a good 100 miles north of the leading edge of the herd, so they figured they were safe enough. After a short trip to the ground for nature’s call, they got back up on the catwalk and went to sleep.
After only about four hours of sleep, the comslate buzzed and Seyan was instantly awake. The message was from Dree and said, “Seekers have found our trail. Chased two off with a tiger, but Bevan says there will be more coming. We have just entered the woods. Hope to see you soon.”
Oh no, the Seekers were on their trail in earnest now. They’d need help as soon as possible. He fired off a reply that said, “We are on our way. Will try to find a place to meet you. Be careful.” Once that was done, she roused Lahn and filled him in on the situation. They hurriedly ate, they a few minutes later, flew Gertie out from under the Road.
“We’ll take her up high and head northeast. Keep an eye out for riders, Seyan.”
Seyan got out her telescope and swept the horizon. Nothing there yet but she kept looking. She had to admit that flying in the daytime was even more fun than flying by night. She could see so far in all directions! It was just amazing and she wished that she and Lahn could just fly around forever.
Of course, now that they were out in the daylight, it was only a matter of time before a Seeker saw them and reported them to Porcero. That would put Seekers on their tail, too. Well, let them come. She’d drop rocks on their heads and laugh at them. She’d come down out of the sky and kick their asses. She’d make them fear her!
“Piss on you, Seekers! Give me your best shot!” she yelled angrily down at the ground.
Then she heard Lahn laughing. She blushed because that had just sort of burst out of her.
“Getting a little worked up over there, sweet kicker of asses?” He laughed again.
“Umm, well, yes, curse it. Those damned traitorous Seekers and that scum Porcero are going to do whatever it takes to find that relic and I’m not going to let them.” Seyan was getting angry again. “If they hurt Dree, I’ll make them pay dearly.”
Lahn stopped laughing and looked at her. He pitied the Seeker that got on her bad side. He remembered her test fight back at the Museum.
“I know you will, Seyan, but there’s no use getting worked up way out here, two thousand feet off the ground. Let’s use that anger for some pedaling and cranking, so we can find a fast wind to the forest and Dree.”
Seyan smiled at him. He had always been the calmer and more clearheaded of the two of them. She gave him a nod and started pedaling and cranking.
Miles behind them, several caravans on the lonesome stretch of Road saw the strange flying ship rising higher in the sky. What could it mean, this new thing? More Museum foolishness, most decided. Only crazy Museum people would travel in such a risky manner, rather than by horse and wagon on the Endless Mother Road.
After a few hours, Seyan and Lahn saw the edge of the great forest coming into view. Taking out the comslate, she sent a message to Dree.
“Approaching forest from southwest. Need some sort of signal to find you.”
The reply took a couple of minutes to get back to her. It read, “Near a section of Road beside a river. Will start a smokey fire and watch the sky for you.”
She relayed the message to Lahn, who began looking for a likely road to follow, then she sent off a message to the new Grand High Curator.
“Close to finding Dree. Any way you can tell me which Seekers I can trust? If not, I’ll take him on Gertie with us and sort out Seekers later.”
The reply came in less than a minute.
“Most Seekers anywhere near you are probably Porcero’s. Trying to contact loyalists now. Suggest you take Dree aloft and head fast to relic site. Curator Hadolfus and at least four others heading in the general direction at speed.”
Seyan again told Lahn what was up, then sent her reply.
“Will do as you suggest. Congratulations on becoming Grand High Curator.”
The last message she got back simply said, “And the same to you, Grand High Curator Seyan.”
Seyan grinned at that. She had forgotten that she was also a Grand High Curator. Once again, she wondered what that was all about.
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