CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Cloud glanced out the airship window at the land passing by beneath him. They had left the arid lands around Bodhran for the pathetically scorched wasteland that was Glukksonia. Thanks to the rather odd people who lived in Bodhran, he’d been able to come by one of these quick-traveling airships and got Crak himself to pilot the craft to the Glukkon capital, Mantin City.
Cloud supposed he should feel lucky he’d even made it out of Bodhran alive, with his laser weapon fully charged, but he still couldn’t help feeling anxious as the airship floated gracefully toward the capital. King Glok had not even been warned of Lord Fragg’s treachery before it was too late, and his stay in Bodhran, combined with his awkward stumble across the wastelands, had cost him valuable time.
He tossed his Barrage 32-A back and forth from hand to hand, as if to keep himself feeling better. The anxious feeling stirred around in his cyborganic guts, threatening to make him spew. He hoped he would get to Mantin City; first he would pay his respects to King Glok, then he would head to the public restrooms.
Frizzl walked in from the pilot cabin. “We’re getting’ real close to Mantin.”
Cloud straightened his back and nodded his head. “Understood.”
He headed up toward the pilot’s cabin, holding his gun with both hands. Crak sat in the pilot’s chair before an impressive array of buttons and switches that would’ve made Cloud dizzy if he’d tried to think of what they were all intended for. The Slig pilot pushed forward on a lever, and the airship dipped forward toward the ground.
As they dipped lower, Cloud could suddenly see the belching smoke and sickly pale lights that made up Mantin City, and he felt a burst of relief. He was almost to the palace – he could see the great structure itself, right in the middle of the city! Then the airship curved in toward the city landing bays, a kilometer or more from the palace entrance.
Crak waved one hand at the windshield. “We’re comin’ in, Tower Control. Stand by…Stand by.”
A voice said over the comm. system, “Airship Contra, you are cleared for landing. Enjoy your stay. Over.”
Crak didn’t respond, simply threw a switch that slowed the acceleration and eased back on the ascension lever, leveling the airship out as they settled in over the landing pad. Crak cut the power to the forward engines and settled in the landing gear. The airship settled to the metal pad with a sharp clank that rattled Cloud’s tiny brain.
Crak was already unfastening his seatbelt and moving toward the door. “I’ll see ya over to the palace,” he said. “Then I’m goin’ back to Bodhran.”
Cloud glanced out the window at the airport center outside, then nodded. “Thanks, Crak. You’ve been a great help to me.”
The country Slig shrugged modestly. “Ahh, it was nothin’. You were really devoted to King Glok, an’ even though yer message got through too late, I’m pleased to do you some service in the end.”
He disappeared out the door, and Cloud followed him. The soldier wondered briefly who was going to be king, now that Glok was slain.
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