Uplifting
by Todd Newton
^^^
by Todd Newton
^^^
He could see the flock of moving masses even before he reached the crest of the cliff. Barad climbed with reckless abandon, needing to get the full view that the top would provide him. The tips of the hills and the mountains beyond were all too far away to get to before they were gone. With his chest heaving Barad rushed up the steep slope until, at long last, he reached the top.
Airships.
Their wings and propellers operated in perfect tandem. The hum of their cylindrical engines was the most beautiful sound Barad had ever heard. The hat almost flew off his head as one not fifty feet away rose from the gorge. A smile glowed on his reddened face as he watched their graceful ascent. Soon they would be high above the troubles of the surface of the world and become nothing more than specks in the distance. But for the moment they were near; tangible.
The young boy saw soldiers and officers milling about across the decks hitching lines and gauging the wind. A lookout from the closest ship noticed him and waved. Barad returned the gesture, elated. The soldier wasn't a face he recognized but the boy didn't care. He wouldn't have missed their departure for anything in the world.
Barad continued to stare and wave as the ships turned away from him and headed toward the horizon. Their future was the sky and the boy felt a reassuring tug at his heart as he contemplated that. Barad's father was on one of those magnificent machines and, if he was lucky, someday he would be too.
Airships.
Their wings and propellers operated in perfect tandem. The hum of their cylindrical engines was the most beautiful sound Barad had ever heard. The hat almost flew off his head as one not fifty feet away rose from the gorge. A smile glowed on his reddened face as he watched their graceful ascent. Soon they would be high above the troubles of the surface of the world and become nothing more than specks in the distance. But for the moment they were near; tangible.
The young boy saw soldiers and officers milling about across the decks hitching lines and gauging the wind. A lookout from the closest ship noticed him and waved. Barad returned the gesture, elated. The soldier wasn't a face he recognized but the boy didn't care. He wouldn't have missed their departure for anything in the world.
Barad continued to stare and wave as the ships turned away from him and headed toward the horizon. Their future was the sky and the boy felt a reassuring tug at his heart as he contemplated that. Barad's father was on one of those magnificent machines and, if he was lucky, someday he would be too.
^^^
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The Daily Dime is a daily writing challenge created by Gabe and Cuyler. View other entries here:
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Stephanie - http://stephonix.wordpress.com
You are viewing a Daily Dime story on http://initialdraft.blogspot.com
The Daily Dime is a daily writing challenge created by Gabe and Cuyler. View other entries here:
Gabe - http://typinghurts.blogspot.com
Cuyler - http://yarnfactory.blogspot.com
Stephanie - http://stephonix.wordpress.com
that one was definitely more optimistic. and apart from "reckless abandon" i liked it quite a bit.
ReplyDeletei have a really cool pic as my desktop of whales that have been modified into airships.