Jonah and the Last Great Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

though the other angels will be over at Westminster. We had better decide on the hand signals we’ll use, when we’re in the air. Go forward, circle round, spread out – that sort of thing.’
    The dragon riders gathered round, while Sam demonstratedthe signals to use when they were airborne.
    He turned to Jonah. ‘Now, is there anything else we should know before we decide which men should ride with you?’
    Jonah scuffed the grass as he thought about it. ‘There is something, yes. Ffyrnig says the Mordiford Wyvern – that’s him, over there. The green one who was fighting – Ffyrnig says his rider must let him know who is boss or the wyvern could get difficult.’
    ‘Right.’
    The members of Air Troop who were going to fly with the dragons, were waiting at the edge of the field. Sam beckoned to them and told them to put on their safety gear and prepare to mount.
    ‘I’ve explained that modern weapons won’t have any effect on the demons or, for that matter, dragons,’ he said to Jonah. He laughed. ‘We shan’t feel completely dressed for action without our firearms. Now, would it help if I chose experienced horsemen?’
    ‘I don’t think that would make much difference. I think you actually feel safer on a dragon.’
    Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘Unless another one gets nasty and knocks you off, I suppose.’
    Jonah laughed. ‘I just meant that you tuck in to the space at the base of their wings quite comfortably. It’s like having a safety guard each side of you. Nice and warm, too. You’ll see.’
    Sam rubbed his hands enthusiastically. ‘I can’t wait. I think, as I’m the CO, I had better ride the bad-tempered one. The wyvern, right?’ He raised his arms and called out. ‘Troopers who’ll be riding a dragon over here, please.’ He grinned. ‘Jonah will tell you what to do,’ he added.
    Jonah had not been expecting that and looked up in surprise. All the soldiers had been chatting as they pulledon flame-resistant coveralls, but they stopped talking and gathered round him expectantly. He was glad that he had already been thinking of the best flight formation for the team. He wanted the Great Dragon to keep an eye on Mordiford, so he felt that the wyvern should fly beside Ffyrnig. And that meant Sam would be close enough to tell Jonah what to do next, when they were attacking the Night Creatures.
    He liked the Deerhurst Wyrm and felt that he could trust it. Although it had reacted ferociously when the green dragon attacked, it had saved Jonah and seemed kindly. He cleared his throat and looked round at the soldiers rather self-consciously.
    ‘Thank you all very much for helping us. When we are in the air, the Great Dragon will lead the way and Captain Hereford will fly at his left wing on the green dragon – the Mordiford Wyvern. The Deerhurst Wyrm – the one that caught me, when the wyvern knocked me off – seems reliable. I think we can trust it, so I should like that one to bring up the rear and, then, if any of the others start playing up, it will help Ffyrnig and me take control again.’ He grinned at the SAS troopers. ‘OK then. Who’d like to ride the Deerhurst Wyrm?’
    The soldiers all turned to the slim, brown-haired man who had come to the farm with Sam, before the battle for Hereford. ‘Go on, Ollie!’
    Ollie smiled at Jonah. ‘I’m a keen horseman,’ he said, ‘though I’ve never ridden anything quite like these.’
    Jonah asked him to fly with the Wyrm. ‘Everyone else, choose your own dragon.’
    Sam cleared his throat and Jonah looked up. ‘Maybe it would work better the other way round,’ Sam suggested quietly. ‘Perhaps the dragons would be happier if
they
got to choose.’
    ‘Oh. Erm – cool. Yes, perhaps that would work better,’ Jonah replied. He stepped forward. ‘I’ll get Ffyrnig – he’s the huge one, the Great Dragon of Wales – to tell me a bit about the others, so we can get the best matches,’ he told the soldiers. He turned to the captain.