| "The Adventures of Kat and Clara" Part X: Another Conversation Morning came; the sun rose over the cliffs and into the sleeping village of the nudists. The light flowed slowly through the windows of the hut in which the three vagabonds slept. Kat laid on her back as the rays of light pierced her beautiful purple eyes. Kat turned over in bed, shielding her face from the sun. It was no use, however; soon Clara and Salem had awoken and were stirring about, collecting their belongings. Clara stood over Kat, then knelt beside her. "Get up, Kat," she said, pulling away Kat's blanket to expose her face. "It's time to get dressed." "Dressed?" Kat said, still not completely awake. "Did they get our clothes ready for us?" "Yes, I just saw them on the table over here," Clara said, dressing herself from it. She slipped on her underwear and her lavender dress. "Come out of bed and dress yourself. Your clothes are warm and dry; no longer will you feel the cold of the river." Thank goodness, Kat thought, rising naked from her sheets. She walked slowly to the table, and there she found her freshly washed and mended clothing. The nudists had done a fine job; it appeared as if her leotard had been restored beyond her expectations, as were Clara's dress and Salem's vest and trousers. The sewing was not noticeable from a great distance, and all the bloodstains were completely gone. Kat put on her brassiere and her panties, then slipped her red leotard onto her body, adjusting the breast cups and reaching behind her back to affix the chain-mesh straps. She pulled her gloves on, all the way up to her elbows, even as Clara did the same, also throwing her cape over her shoulders. Once Kat, Clara, and Salem had dressed, they made their way out to the winged flying machine. It was there that they were greeted by Tiaro and Mithea, who waited with many other villagers. "Good morning," Tiaro said, smiling. "Are you ready to go?" "Never more than now," Clara said. She set the bag of supplies -- the history book, the orb attached to the hilt, the first half of the blade of the sword, and other assorted materials -- in the basket, along with the group's weaponry. "Do all of us have to enchant the wings?" "Not so," Mithea said, "just one of you. The flying machine is at the psychic command of whoever, among the three of you, performs the task." "I will do it," Kat said. "I will use my thoughts, and not my body, to protect Clara and Salem, and direct us away from harm." "Well, then, you are all ready to go," Mithea said. At that moment, two young girls -- a vixen and a jaguaress -- brought forth an offering of a basket of food for the travelers; contained within were various fruits, vegetables, and breads, enough for at least three days of travel. Kat put the food into the basket of the flying machine, then walked to the left wing. She folded her hands, closed her eyes, and rested her forehead on the tip. O S'Allumer, she thought, let not what good hath created evil unmake. She then walked to the other wing and repeated the proceedure. As she rested her head on the wing, she felt a pulse of energy rush through her body. She stepped back from the wing, her hand flying to her forehead. "What just happened to me?" she asked. "You've enchanted the machine," Tiaro answered. "It is now at your mercy, and your mercy alone." "Thank you again for all you've done for us," Salem said, smiling. He climbed aboard the flying machine, crouching down, as there was not enough room to completely stand up. He assisted in helping Kat and Clara climb up. Kat knelt down in the middle of the basket. "Up," she said. A second later, the flying machine lifted off the ground and suspended itself about 10 feet above the ground. Its wings even rose up to attain a more aerodynamic state. "It works! Astonishing!" "Farewell!" Clara called out, waving her arms. "Thank you, again!" Mithea waved back. "You are always welcome here!" she shouted back. "We wish you well, and may you always be in our hearts!" Kat again looked back to her companions. "Where should we go?" she asked. "Can this machine take us to the next portion of the sword to be found?" Clara asked. "We are still far from completing the reconstruction of the Sword of Many Parts." Kat concentrated again, thinking of the other half of the blade, but the machine did not move. It instead continued to hover above the edge of the cliff. "I don't think it can fly us there," Kat said. "Maybe if we think of another location, perhaps...." Suddenly the machine began to advance forward, now flying straight ahead into the sky at a slow pace. Kat, Clara, and Salem held the sides of the basket, hoping they would not tumble out of it. "What were you thinking about?" Clara asked. "I thought of the Castle of Trillius," Kat replied. "I just have a suspicion that there will be something there of use to us." "But that's thousands of miles away!" Clara said. "It may take us days to reach the island of Trillan." "It's worth the trip, I say," Kat insisted. "So many different artifacts are said to be kept there; maybe we will find another piece of the sword there." "Well, if you think so," Clara said, sighing a little, "then so be it. I might as well go to sleep for a few days; it will take us long time to get there." "I can always change my mind, Clara," Kat said. "With a thought, I can redirect us." "What do you know of Trillan?" Salem asked. "I know nothing myself." "It is a very extravagant place," Clara said, "full of rolling hills and towering trees, all that surround the glorious kingdom of Trillius." "In the meanwhile," Kat said, "we can be relaxed; it will indeed take a long time to arrive there. Let us lie down while our machine delivers us to Trillan." Next page >> |