Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LXXVIII

"Would you like to go for a flight?" asked Luteeay, impishly. The feeling that the work was complete transforming him, instantly, back to his normal character. The feverish obsessive of recent weeks banished completely.

Elgiva looked on clueless, still somewhat in awe.

"It's perfectly safe, ..hopefully," he added. He then brushed his hand across the feathery down of the life-like bird, pulling it back like a curtain: a huge inner concavity opened up. He then motioned her to get inside, before waxing lyrical about his strange creation.

"See how graceful the real birds of the air are," he enlightened, "How beautiful they are in comparison to these clumsy chickens of mine, that bobble about on the ground. The secret of flight is in this beauty. Their hollow bones; their light-as-a-feather feathers; the sacs of gentle air within their bodies. They're like blown bubbles with angel wings. People will say they're dumb - "bird-brained" they'll say, can you believe that? - But their brains aren't small, it's just that their bodies are so relatively big - so they can be buoyant. Like inflated balloons. To soar like a bird you need buoyancy, you see, just as fish must find buoyancy to rise and fall in the water."

"You're telling me this will fly?!" queried Elgiva, in stark disbelief, ignoring the lecture. As she looked on at the large construction, it's beauty alone far from enough to convince her.

"We Kytalyks have our secrets too," smiled Luteeay, with satisfaction, "..Though, I must admit, this is the first time I myself have put these secrets into practice." He then urged Elgiva towards the entrance again, this time his hand gently on her back in further persuasion. She aggressively resisted, unwilling to even countenance the outlandish prospect.

"It's no time for fear," stated Luteeay, calmly, and unable to hide his amusement, "There's a purpose to all this, and I need some help in trying it out. One day I may need to carry passengers, perhaps Liofia. Your weight might stand in for her ..plus one or two others."

This cheeky comment, along with the mention of Liofia, softened Elgiva's dread a touch, but she remained entirely dubious.

"If you can fly," she submitted, "And I don't believe for a second you can. Then why hide it 'til now? Why not share this wonderful knowledge with everyone?"

"If men could fly, they would fly away."

"And you want to fly away now - and to take me up there with you."

"I'd rather not, to be honest, that's the difference," replied Luteeay.

"Y'see," he then pressed on, enjoying again the chance to elaborate, "Man should really perfect the spirit before taking on the wings. As I've told you before - as I worked in my frenzy - 'The Shell Has Broken.' The egg has hatched prematurely, before Man has matured enough to be ready for it. Giving a child a beautiful toy like this wouldn't help things at all."

"I have no idea what you're going on about now."

"I know," sighed Luteeay, defeated, "I can't really explain it to you. Not in a way that would make things make any sense. Like I said, we Kytalyks have our secrets. Perhaps one day you'll get it, but for now you'll have to just trust me. You don't have to believe me, but it would help it you gave a little faith."

The sentiment made sense to Elgiva on an emotional level, even if everything else didn't. Plus, it was all so bizarre that there must be some rhyme and reason to it, she figured. So, thus, after being ushered in the direction of the aperture for a third time, she stepped across the threshold. It was spacious inside, and surprisingly cosy. Almost nest-like. Luteeay stepped in behind. He then made a few quick adjustments and eased the controls. The pretty bird lifted effortlessly into the air, leaving the little hovel. Elgiva felt a rush in her stomach as it took off. It sailed gently into the sky, its outstretched wings perfect in execution. The bird ascended, then swooped. Gliding above the country fields. The patches of green and brown, and the little roads and rivulets visible down below. Elgiva gaped at the handsome scene. From this bird's eye view she observed the endless Eastern Kingdom countryside. She could even see Taxilian and Mayleen's little farmhouse. The beautiful home, and its surrounding barns and fields, perfectly situated in the muddy earth.

Suddenly the bird soared up higher still. The green landscape rolled infinitely into the far-off horizon, blending into the swampy blue sky. The white clouds like foam on an airy sea.

Elgiva felt a sense of peace with the world.

"You'd never the guess the whole world was at war from such a peaceful viewpoint," commented Luteeay, as if reading her thoughts.

She nodded in agreement.

Their angelic escort, with equal gentleness, then began its journey back down. Circling, swift-like; scything the air with its wings. The whole scene below magnifying once again. The tiny fields and houses slowing getting bigger and more distinct with the drop. With a sense of both relief and exhilaration it finally brought Elgiva back into the yard of the unassuming hovel. The bird's plump, plumed body once again nestling amidst the maladroit chickens, that fluttered around its feet, captive on the ground. The yapping of confused, but excited dogs snapping Elgiva back to normality with their noisy pitch.