w was perfect silence … and then, a most ominous hiss of air.
" You crazy fool!" The pirate yelped. " You pulled the lever!"
" I never pulled the lever!" Hammerhorn yelled back.
We all looked up through the glass. There was at first no difference to be seen, but then the great balloon above us buckled inward as though punched by some invisible fist. Underneath us, the decking dropped by several feet as the balloon ' s ability to carry us was diminished. In fact, it was not merely a downward lurch, but an actual plunge.
The First Mate ' s voice came over the intercom. " Good afternoon. We regret to inform you that we have lost control of the ship." It said this as it had once before, as if it were a standard announcement. " We would like to remind all passengers that there is no such thing as a water landing. It is called crashing into the ocean. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Our estimated time of arrival today is thirty-seven seconds. We thank you for flying with us."
Our previous crash was an easy crash. It took three minutes and was slowed by both the First Mate ' s abilities and the tall grasses. This crash was happening far too fast! I clung to the wall as I stared out the window at the expanse of sky and sea surrounding us. One could almost not tell the difference; how strange to think I would likely be killed by something so serene. " We can yet survive this," I said to Percy. " If," he said, " we survive the crash itself, the deflated balloon is likely to fall across us and smother us all within minutes... We could suffocate. There are also sharks."
Perhaps comforting a person in distress was not one of his strong suits.
PIRATES!
Calling Cards R