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The Airship Men |
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The stranger came. An old man he seemed. Probably quite wise. He wore rags, and in his hand a long wooden walking stick was held. It had been stripped of its bark and was smooth and shiny. The end that touched the ground was pointed, although the tip had been worn away. Here and there dark brown splotches of dried mud lay flaking upon it. On his back there lay a backpack, or at least something that resembled a backpack. It's colour was a mixture of shades of muddy browns and leafy greens, the same colour as his clothes. One strap was missing off of it and the other one was barely attached. The bag was full of holes and tears, some of the rather large. And yet the stranger spoke with such a strong voice. It seemed as if he were once a leader himself. "I wish to see the person who is in charge here", was all he said. There was a slight pause as the guards looked him over, realized he could do no harm, and decided to let him in. There was an audible screech, the squeeking of the bamboo gates as they opened them. A similiar screech was heard as they were shut again once he was inside. There was several seconds of pause. Nobody said anything until, in the same commanding voice, the stranger spoke, "Im waiting". The silence was shaken like a falling tree and immediately three of the village people rushed to get the emporer. "Theres someone here to see you, oh great emporer", the first one to reach his throne said, bowing low. The others followed in the bow. The emporer got up and walked out to the gate. "There is something I need to show you", the stranger said. Seeing that the emporer was loosing interest he added, "It's important". He seemed to remember that he had forgotten to bow for he did so then. "What is this thing of importance you have to show me about?", the emporer asked. His face changed when the stranger replied "It's about the Airship Men". "What! Where are they?" The emporer asked. "I have found some evidence in the forest of their whereabouts", the wise man replied, "Will you come so I may show you?" Just then one of the emporer's advisors gestured that he had something to say. When the emporer turned to him he spoke, "May I suggest that you send someone else to go. It may not be safe". The emporer replied to his comment. "I am sure it will be fine and I will bring my guards along with me. " "Alright then", the wise man said, "lets go. " He started out towards the gate. The emporer, with his guards at either side, started out the gate aftert him. Some of the emporers advisors and guides decided to come along too. In all there were about 15 of them heading out into the jungle. Leaves and twigs crunched underfoot as the group headed through the jungle. They had been traveling for a long time and were by this time quite weary. The last sound of their civilized village they had heard had been the sound of the bamboo gate creeking shut behind them as they left. It turned out that the emporer was not as good at hiking as he had let on about earlier before they had left. He had been the first one to get tired. "How much longer", he asked. "We're not even half way there yet", the wise man replied. The group had not been walking constantly throughout the whole time. There had been many break periods, almost all of them ordered by the emporer. It was at this moment that he had ordered another one. Everyone, tired or not, stopped and some sat on the giant moss covered rocks that were almost as confortable as the emporers throne. One of the emporer's advisors asked the emporer if they should get his throne. This was not the first time that the emporer had been asked this. The other times he had said no but this time, as he was very tired, he said yes. The emporer decided to send someone back to get it. He selected one of his guides that was fastest at running and he headed back quickly over the jungle terrain along the path that led back to the village. It was not long until he was out of sight, hidden behind the trees and plants. Everyone else stayed resting. They waited for a long time. One of the guides found some plants that were edible and offered them around to everyone. Eventually the emporer fell asleep, bored of waiting, on the comfortable mossy rock. In the jungle it was dark and his tiredness made it seem like night. He finally fell asleep. Next Chapter |
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