Want an example of human insanity my friend? Think of using the equivalent of a powerful blow-torch to heat up air in a big cloth bag, and riding underneath it on a flammable wicker basket. -- Anon Guest
Honestly, the Humans should have stopped with eggshells and smouldering tapers. That sort of thing demonstrated the principal and didn't involve risk to life or limb. Unfortunately, Humans get bored very easily. They also ask questions like, "What are the limits here?"
Which they then explore to the point of destruction.
They have parties about it now. Huge gatherings in which humans inflate giant sacks with nothing more than hot air, and then use that to lift flammable baskets carrying cognsicents up above the ground. Very far above the ground.
Flying with fire. On the mercy of the ambient winds. For entertainment.
Tourist Irt, once convinced to have a go in one, had made certain her livesuit had the emergency retractable glider wings installed. For reasons unknown, the Humans who sold them called them 'elytra'. Further, they demonstrated their efficacy by wearing a set and jumping off a tall object. They claimed the things were idiot-proof, but Irt checked them a multitude of times.
Fall a certain distance, and they would open. They caught the air and began a much slower descent to the ground. Thereafter, all Irt had to do was lean in order to steer.
In theory, every precaution had been undertaken.
In theory, she had nothing to worry about.
In practice...
They were a long way up. In a flammable wicker basket. Held aloft by an also-flammable enormous bag of heated air. Heated, Irt had to note, by an open flame.
"You wanna pull the flame cord?" offered the Human who was nominally the pilot of an unsteerable vessel. The only controls he had were go higher fast or go higher slow. The open flame was the slow way to gain height. Or as the Humans disturbingly called it, air.
"No. Thank you," managed Irt. "I will accept the experience as given."
There was a lot of air between Irt and certain death.
"You'll be fine," said the pilot. "I've been at this for years. Not a single accident in all that time."
Irt whimpered, but did not tempt fate with the obvious riposte.
"Just admire the view," said the pilot. "Look far out, never straight down."
And taking that advice was very wise indeed.
[Photo by Kyle Hinkson on Unsplash]
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