day sixty-one and the airship leaves the lake

A minute later, the egrets returned.

“Did you find the dinghy?” asked Capt. Cookie.

“Have you got the anchovies?” asked an egret.

“Yes, “ said the captain, showing them the four fillets on the tray.

“Great!” said the egrets.

 “The dinghy’s over that way, about one kilometre away,” said an egret. 

“Are my crew all right?” asked Cookie.

“Yes,” said an egret. “We told ‘em to wait there.”

“Thank you!” said the captain.

“You’re welcome!” said the egrets, scoffing the anchovies. “Right, follow us!”

Capt. Cookie gently swung the airship around and followed the egrets across the lake, just a metre or so above the waterlillies. Soon the dinghy came into view.

“Get them aboard, Winterbottom!” shouted the captain to the steward.

“Give them some pineapple and a blanket.”

The co-pilot and the stewardess got aboard the airship. They were a bit wobbly after spending the last few days floating in the dinghy.

The egrets flew off looking for more grub, and Capt. Cookie set a course for the thistle forest, still keeping the airship just above the surface of the lake.

Before long, the airship crossed the perimeter of the lake. As it continued, still at the same level, the co-pilot took his seat in the cockpit, next to the captain. 

“Our altitude is very low, captain,” said the co-pilot.

“Yes, I know. We’ve only got a little oil - just what I drained out of five tins of anchovy fillets,” said the captain.

“But we’ll have to climb to get over that thistle forest just ahead,” said the co-pilot.

“No, we’re going through it!” said the captain.

“Phwwuuuh!” said the co-pilot. “But one prick from one of those thistles and we’re going to burst!”

“I realise that, Temples,” said Cookie. “I’m not stupid!”

© David Severn 2012