Beer Run, (continued)
“In Dublin’s fair city, where girls are so pretty,
There once was a fellow named Arthur Guinness.
He was hale and hearty, and he liked to party,
So he made a beer that was filled with goodness.”
... As if this place didn’t have enough drinking songs!
Above the Irish Sea, a new kind of moon is traveling over the cold ocean, a glowing, veined, orb roaring along at a sedate sixty miles per hour.
Navigation lights blink on the boxy structure suspended below it, and security lights on the top deck illuminate the huge globular balloon. The jets roar smoothly as the craft glides along a mile above the waves.
Inside, it is mostly quiet. For a time, returning sightseers had eagerly discussed and displayed their treasures to the ones who had remained aboard. Quiet talks continued among the passengers. Some looked out the windows at the quiet waters, and the distant lights of cities.
Activity was brisk in the kitchens, models of compact efficiency, but popular havens for the excited travelers. Some dining tables hosted friendly card games. This seemed to be a very comfortable way to travel, combining the lost elegance of dirigibles with the stark efficiency of jets.
In the “cockpit”, the pilot grinned as he calmly adjusted the primitive controls, using paper maps and the lights of distant cities to navigate. He maintained altitude by checking an ordinary altimeter, and adjusting the heat flow into the balloon. A little extra thrust of one engine or the other turned the craft gently. The co-pilot kept up a constant chatter, and frequently refreshed the pilot’s beverage. It was a comfortable way to travel.
Perhaps the least comfortable was the Radio Operator, who was hard-pressed to explain who they were, why they were there, and that their purpose was non-threatening. Twice, they were buzzed by military jets, which flew an arc around the ungainly craft. Receiving the response about how much beer they thought they could carry of “Oh, about twenty-thousand cases.”, one jet pilot dipped his wings and flew away. The other was also satisfied that they were not a significant military threat.
The pilot made an announcement.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have the lights of Dublin in sight now. We will make a leisurely approach and should again be on the ground in about two hours. Some of you may again wish to visit the local pubs, but most of the shops for souvenirs will probably be closed at this hour. We would suggest that the majority of you get some rest, and go sightseeing in the morning. We expect to have the beer and other supplies loaded by mid-afternoon tomorrow, and we will depart at Four O’clock local time to return to the castle at Loch Ness. Enjoy your visit, and thanks for flying with us!” He grinned again at the co-pilot, and returned his attention to the controls.
Have fun ! No smokin' in Ireland so I'll stay home.
Nice post---thanks!
That flight over the water made me a little seasick, but James really liked the view, especially when the jets got close.
I am starting to look forward to these!! :))
Do I have a Bard?
If no, I do now!
NicknamedBob - K'nigget. Imperial Weatherman and Subverter of Manitoba. Supreme Architect of the Floating Citadel. Royal Bard of the Order of the Holy Aranea, Spinner of Complex Yarns.
you EARNED it.
Beer beer beer beer beer.
*opens up cabin door*
Everything's been so crazy lately. I always manage to miss the take offs. But I think I've gotten everything packed.
Here's your transporter device back, Bob. Thanks for letting me borrow it again. *hugs*
I hear the food is pretty good.