Chapter Seven
“But how did you
know where to go? Clouds can be anywhere?” Mary asked.
“Yes, that was the
first problem. But my father had left me instructions, as it were, on how to
get to the city.” Will said quietly. Liza started to say something but the
General put his hand up to stop her. Liza frowned but sat back.
Will went on. “We
only had access to a small balloon and basket. We filled it up with as many
supplies as we could and set out early in the morning. It took several days to
get to where we were going, but once there I knew right away it was the right
place. High up we could see glorious cumuliform clouds that stretched for as
far as they eye could see. Of course from below we could see no trace of the
city. One never can, it is part of their secret. But I knew, my father had so
clearly described these same clouds to me. He had even left sketches. I could
show you… them… but no. Not now.” Mary visible deflated.
“So… we proceeded
to climb up into the clouds, higher and higher. All of us had experience in
high altitudes, but these clouds seemed to go up very far. At first I was
afraid we had stumbled upon a cumulonimbiform in error.”
“A what young
man?” The colonel said, as if he’d been napping.
“A tall cloud”
Liza said quickly.
“A very tall and
unstable one Uncle, often a thunderhead.”
“Yes, you are both
right.” Will said with a smile. “But our cloud was not. After a few thousand
feet it leveled out and… there. spread before us was a gaming city of white. Of
what I cannot say because I never did get close enough to touch or explore the
material.” Here Will hung his head, seemingly lost in thought.
“Why not?” Liza
asked gently.
Will looked up.
“Why? Why. Well, the Cumuli, as my father named them, as a strange race.”
“There are people
up there?” Mary said, her voice incredulous.
Will nodded.
“Well, yes, Cumuli. They looked like people at least. But that is not
important. What is key is that the Cumuli are very protective of their hidden
nature. It was alright at first. We guided the balloon to the apparently empty
city. There was a small place we could dock and tie a line to a post. We
debated long and hard as to whether we should get out of the basket. It was not
clear at all that the cloud could support us.”
“Well of course
not!” The colonel said.
“Yes, well, the
strange thing is, they did. Carefully and slowly we each took turns getting out
of the basket and stepping onto the cloud. It sounds very funny now, but at the
time I was convinced that we would simply fall through. But, we did not.
Instead the cloud felt spongy, like walking on peat moss.
We tried our best
to stick to the flat area; I guess you could call it a road, next to the tall
buildings. It seemed to me, and I was proved right later, that the areas
further from the buildings were thinner and possibly less able to support us.
We made our way up what appears to be a main boulevard. It was wide street
lined with tall white buildings that stretched into the sky. We still saw no
one, but I felt that we were being watched.
We had gone about
100 yards when, out of the misty layer that hung near the buildings, a group of
figures emerged. The Cumuli. They were shouting, in voices I could not
understand. At first we just stood there, unsure of what to do. Then one of the
Cumuli threw a sort of spear at us. To be honest it looked more like lightning
that any solid material. It struck Peter in the shoulder and he screamed
horribly, collapsed and then did not move. We tried to grab him to take him
back with us, but the Cumuli were on us so quickly. Wesley and I broke into a
run, trying to make it back to the basket, but halfway there we were met by
another group of the cloud dwellers.
We scrambled and
tried to evade their weapons. I ran one way and Wesley, Wesley the other. But
it was no good. Wesley’s path was too far from the buildings I guess. I glanced
back to see if he was ok only to watch him slip away, screaming as he fell
through the clouds back down to earth.
I only just made
it back to the basket and jumped in. Cutting the rope I felt the basket give a lurch
and then descend rapidly. It was all I could do to regain control father
balloon as it started to hurtle down. After several seconds, as the cloud city
rushed from view, I was able to reignite the burner and slow my descent. When I
finally landed I went out to search for Wesley. I found him, dashed upon rocks.
Of course, he fell from such great distance that it hardly mattered where I
found him. I wrapped him in a spare tarp and came back to England as best I
could.
Upon my return I
had a full story, of how we had been caught in a storm and Peter had been lost
altogether, but I had managed to find Wesley. The Air force reprimanded me for
taking such a risk, and I resigned my commission.”
“Where does
Emerson fit in all of this?” The general asked.
“Yes, Emerson was
sent by Peter’s family. They were understandably concerned about their son and
where his body might be. Emerson spent several weeks with me, gently prying the
true story out of me. In the end he agreed with me that the truth of the matter
could never really be told to Peter’s family, or anyone for that matter. You
five are the first people I have ever told, other than Emerson.”
“And no trace of
Peter, or your father were every found? Mary asked.
“Mary!” the
Colonel said, but Will smiled.
“None whatsoever.
Truth be told I am not sure what really happened to my father even. For all I
know Peter’s body is still up in that city, but I never saw any trace of my
father. Perhaps he slipped and fell as well.”
The room was
silent for a moment.
“I am sorry Mr.
Cogwright.” The General said at last. “I can now see that you have been very
affected by what happened. I am afraid we have made a grave error in coming to
see you.”
“No, no, it is I
who made the error sir. I received your letter a week ago, but have been torn
ever since in how to reply. I will not pretend that I have never thought about
returning to the skies, or even to the city in the clouds. In my dreams I float
gently up, but in the end I always face horrible monsters. I am not sure I am
ready for such an adventure yet. I may never be.”
“But” Liza said
softly, “there is a chance then? We could convince you?” She smiled and patted
Will on the arm. He looked up but did not return the smile.
“I am sorry Ms
Littlefield, but…”
“Please, my name
is Liza. I tell you what Will, if I may, please come back with us to the city,
just for a few days. Mary here is visiting as well, and please know we’d enjoy
your company.”
“Yes!” Mary chimed
in, trying to sound pleasant. “You should see the things Liza has inner lab,
marvelous instruments.”
“Lab?” Will said,
his eyes twinkling for the first time since he started his story. “Lab? You
have a laboratory?”
“Oh Mary
exaggerates. It is no more than a small table in a corner.”
“That’s not true!”
Mary said. “You should see it Will, come see it. If for no other reason than to
avenge my honor as Liza has just called me a liar, when she knows I am not.”
Liza laughed and
Will smiled. Mary soon joined in as well. Will sighed and shook his head.
“I might go but
tomorrow is end of term. I shall need to see the students off first.”
“Not a problem at
all. ”Liza said cheerfully. “We passed a small inn in the town square. We will
simply stay there until you are ready to go tomorrow.”
Will looked as if
he was about to object again when he stopped and smiled. “ Well, yes, alright
then. But only to go to London, nothing else. Understood?”
“Oh yes,
perfectly.” Liza said, this time it was she who had the twinkle in her eye.
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