The Witches of Ne'arth (The Star Wizards Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

seemed the world had become anew.
    “The Wizard,” he said, “once mentioned that there was another kind of flying machine.”
    “Could you ask him about it?” 
    Archimedes recalled the heated argument one night in the basement workshop of his home in Rome.  “No, that's one thing he won't talk about.  It's been difficult enough getting him to agree to improve this ship's design.  Anyhow, he's on one of his 'itinerant doctor' trips and won't be back for a few days.”
    Standing on toes, Bok touched the airship envelope.  “It's so shiny.  It reminds me of the stories of the men who fish the Western Sea, of great serpents who live in the sky and attack ships that sail too far west.  The serpents attack with lightning, the stories say.  Have you heard those stories, sir?”
    “The sailors in the South tell the same.  Are you asking whether the 'sky serpents' might be airships?  I have wondered, but it's likely the stories are only tavern tales told by sailors to impress bar maids.  You know how that goes.”
    Bok blinked.
    Archimedes decided to change the subject.  “Ah, well, what happens beyond the Western Sea is said to be a mystery even to the Wizard.”
    Bok returned his attention – and hands – to the skin of the airship.  “My father and I, we made our sails from flax.  This feels lighter and stronger.”
    “It's Sarkassian silk, from Sarkassian silk worms.”
    “Worms, sir?”
    “We have a 'ranch' in back now.  If you'd like to see.”
    Bok followed him out the north end of the hangar, where an area of plowed field about a hundred meters on a side had been roped off.  Archimedes pawed through the soil, producing a writhing, snakelike, eyeless creature. 
    The scientist explained:  “A ribbon of 'silk' – it's more like a metal foil, isn't it? – comes out the rear.  The teeth in front are about the only thing that can cut through it easily.  These patches on top of the head exude a secretion which can glue the ribbons together to form sheets as large as we wish.”
    Bok examined intensely.  After a while, he blurted:  “This creature makes no sense!”
    “You mean, it seems a little too useful for something that randomly evolved.”
    “Yes sir.  My father would have given anything for sail material like this.”
    Would have , Archimedes noted, as he returned the worm to the soil.     
    Bok pointed at the sky.  “A bird, sir.”
    “An eponyously-coincidental raven.  What about it?”
    “Your other kind of flying machine, sir.  Maybe it flies like a bird.”
    Archimedes had shoved away the epiphany he'd felt in the hangar, but now it was back.  Another kind of flying machine , he thought.  To atone for the sins of creating the first one.  
    “Bok,” he said slowly.  “Could you do me a favor?”
    Bok nodded vigorously. 
    “I would like you to talk to a person.  You don't mind that, do you?”
    “No sir.”
    “You have to be discreet.  If I were to ask her personally, she might catch on, but coming from you, she might be willing to share.”
    “I don't follow, sir.”
    “I want you to ask her about what Earth is like.  Then ask about its sky.  Ask her about things there that fly in the sky.  See if you can find out about a flying machine that flies like a bird.”
    “I see, sir.  But . . . this person.  She's been to Earth?”
    “She's been given visions of Earth.  Anyway, her name is Carrot, and she – “
    “ The Lady Carrot!”  Bok's eyes all but exploded.  “The one who won the Battle of the Dark Forest against the Romans?”
    “Not really a battle, more like a skirmish.  And not all by herself.  She had an army.  But yes, that Carrot.” 
    “But why would the Lady Carrot talk to me?”
    “Because she will be answering the questions that you will be asking her.”
    “I hear she is a great warrior, very strong and wise in battle.”
    “Whether you wish to challenge her to combat is your own business, but I merely want you to ask