A short story for you this week.  Written from the prompt ‘falling.’

        ‘We’re falling.’ She watched the larger airships below them puff and creak as their engines purred. ‘And we’ve climbed above the other airships, which means…’

        ‘Tighten your corset, fasten the safety lines and release the wings. Clever manoeuvring is needed.’ Uncle Sebastian grinned.

        ‘Release them now?’ Lydia reached for the release pegs.

        Uncle Sebastian nodded, and his beard jiggled. ‘Yes, now. Unless you want us to bounce from one balloon to another.’ He looked down. ‘Although that could be fun.’

        ‘Uncle.’ Lydia frowned and pulled the metal pegs from their smooth holes. She grasped a lever and twisted it quick. The wings spread wide without a creak and their fall slowed. Lydia smiled. Her elbow grease combined with Uncle’s secret oil was a job well done.

        ‘No, that’s no good.’ Uncle Sebastian grumbled. ‘Too controlled. Hold on.’ He flung himself into the pilot’s seat and kicked the pedals sending them into a downward spin.

        ‘Uncle!’ Lydia clipped her belt onto a cleat just in time. A whoosh of steam filled the small vessel as they passed a large airship. Lydia slipped on the wet flooring. The buckle on her leather boots caught on the edge of a metal box, saving her from tumbling over the side. She grasped the railing and coughed.

        ‘Turn left Uncle, left.’ She shouted, while squinting through her damp goggles and pulling the ear flaps of her flying helmet down. ‘Uncle.’ She twisted her foot and released the buckle, finally managing to stare at her Uncle.

        He winked at her, flicking levers, pulling ropes and reducing the steam output. They continued to fall and spin between all the other racers, but Lydia saw glee rather than horror on her uncle’s face. What was he doing?

        Shouts, jeers and laughter followed their continued decent through the larger craft filling the skies.

        ‘Hey Crane, sad you can’t fly like the bird you’re named after.’

        ‘Small is puny you old fool. Airships are meant to be huge and glorious.’

        ‘Damage my ship and you’ll be staring at four damp walls for years.’

        ‘Knew you were a fool but risking your niece’s life is going too far.’

        ‘We’ll throw you a line love, no need to go down with your crazy uncle.’

        Uncle Sebastian laughed at their shaking fists and continued to allow his airship to tumble from the skies.

       Lydia shook her head at offers of rescue, and long black curls of hair flew from her helmet, caught in the wind and whipped around her face, some tangling in the lines attaching the small oval balloon to their craft. She ducked out of the wind, shoved her hair back into the cap, wrapping a scarf over the top and securing it with a large buckle shaped pin.

        Lydia watched as airship after airship pulsed past, up into the damp air above, heading for the mountain passes.

        ‘Uncle, this is a race. Which means the first one to get to Astoria wins. I don’t think it’s going to be us.’ She clutched the side of the air ship as it lurched sideways.

        Sebastian twizzled his moustache. ‘As I said before sometimes you have to lose to win.’

        Lydia narrowed her eyes. ‘If we’re falling on purpose now might be a good time to stop.’ She glanced over the side and screamed. The raging river below was whiter and larger by the second. 

        ‘Convincing?’ Lydia scowled. ‘We’re still falling.’

        ‘Your scream was perfect. They’ll definitely think we’ve crash landed somewhere and are out of the race.’ He flicked a gauge, straightened the wings, and released some steam. The airship levelled off and drifted gently on the current of air above the river.

        She unclipped her belt and sank onto the wooden deck.

        ‘I told you it could be a hairy ride. You still wanted to come. Badly enough to commit to a summer of afternoon teas with your mother’s friends.’

        She groaned and stood up. ‘Thanks for reminding me.’

        He chuckled and shook his head. ‘It wasn’t necessary. I was going to bribe her into letting you come. Saved me some coins, you did.’

        Lydia slapped her hands on her hips and glared.

        ‘Now you look just like her.’ He patted the seat beside him. ‘You want to steer while I tell you why I wanted you as my co-pilot?’



        Curiosity overwhelmed Lydia’s anger, and the chance to steer the beautiful craft she’d spent all her free hours helping to build was worth dressing nice and listening to simpering woman. She grinned and sat down, placing her feet on metal pedals and grasping two levers in her gloved hands.

        ‘Gentle touch.’ Sebastian reminded her as she pulled too far to the right. ‘Follow the river up into the mountains.’

        ‘Why did you want to lose?’

      He stared into the distance. Lydia waited, concentrating on keeping the airship steady on the buffering winds.

      ‘I’ve been there.’

        ‘Been where?’

        ‘Astoria.’

        Lydia jerked in surprise and the airship lurched towards the river.

        Uncle Sebastian reached across. ‘Hold steady, there’s a canyon ahead and the water is turbulent.’ He guided her hands and together they levelled the ship. ‘It may be safe to gain a little height.’ He twisted a handle allowing more steam to the propeller engine.

        The airship tilted, and they rose above the tree line. Uncle Sebastian walked to the front of the ship and spent several minutes peering through the telescope mounted on the prow. ‘All clear.’ He smiled. ‘We lost them.’

        Lydia stared at her Uncle. ‘You have so many secrets I don’t know why you don’t burst at the seams. Are we just skirting the mountain and returning home to claim the prize?’

        Uncle Sebastian strode back towards her, swaying naturally with the airship’s movement, and sat back down.

        He twisted his moustache. ‘Let me see. I didn’t tell you because I needed you to be genuinely scared. We are not skirting the mountain. We are going to Astoria, and you’re returning home. That’s why I needed you with me.’

        Lydia frowned. ‘I don’t understand. With the prize money you could make all the inventions you’ve drawn. Mother needn’t wash and iron sheets, and I could…I could…wait…I’m returning home?’

        ‘What would you do?’

         Lydia looked into her Uncle’s eyes. ‘What?’

        ‘If you could choose, what would you do?’

        ‘I’d go adventuring and exploring in my own airship, but…’

        He nodded and pulled a tube from under the seat. ‘In here are the ownership papers for this airship. And various maps of places I have travelled.’

      Lydia swallowed.

        Uncle Sebastian nodded. ‘But not Astoria.’ He tapped his head. ‘That map is in here.’ He tapped her head. ‘And soon will be in here.’

        Lydia blinked away tears. ‘I don’t understand.’

        ‘Yes, you do.’ He smiled and placed the tube on her lap. ‘Now concentrate and stay on the left side. Don’t stare at me. Watch the canyon wall.’

        Lydia lifted her misted goggles and steered her airship along the canyon. All the thoughts swirling in her head were forgotten as she made small adjustments to avoid jutting rocks. The canyon walls pressed in on them and the airship wobbled.

        ‘Breathe Lydia.’ Her uncle reminded her. ‘One more bend.’

        Lydia breathed, pulling on one wing to make the sharp turn. ‘Oh my.’ She gasped at the huge waterfall forming the end of the canyon.

        ‘Hold steady.’ Uncle Sebastian cranked in the wings, slotting the metal pins in place. ‘See the flat rock near the top?’

        She nodded.

        ‘The entrance is below it.’

        ‘Through the waterfall?’ Her voice squeaked.

        ‘There’s plenty of room for this beauty.’ Uncle Sebastian patted the side of the airship. ‘Designed to perfection.’

        ‘That’s why she’s so small. But how am I to get back home, there’s so little space for coal. And why are you staying?’

        He opened the metal box her boot caught on and pulled out a small sack. ‘This is why the entrance to Astoria must remain a secret.’ He untied the top and poured white powder onto his palm.

        ‘What is it?’

        ‘Power, and if our esteemed Lord knew of this substance Astoria would be destroyed by the greedy men of our land.’ He sighed. ‘There is enough in the hold for you to travel home… and to visit most of the places on the maps I have given you. A little lower, my dear. See the darkness through the water? Slow down and glide through.’

        Lydia gulped and forced her trembling feet to calm. She squealed as mountain chilled water dripped off the balloon and down her neck.

        ‘Land her gently. Vent the steam. Good girl.’ The airship hovered a foot from the smooth rock floor. ‘I knew you could do it. A natural. Just like your father.’ Uncle Sebastian wiped water from his face. ‘He’d be so proud.’

        Lydia lifted her feet and hands from the controls and hugged her uncle.

        ‘But won’t they find Astoria, over the mountains?’ She asked.

        Uncle Sebastian tugged his beard. ‘The mountains are too high, the air too thin, no-one will win the race to Astoria today.’

        ‘Except you.’ Lydia sniffed.

         ‘Secrets can be worth more than a pot of promised gold.’ He nodded. ‘Every year on this date I shall be here, awaiting your tales of adventure and exploration.’ He fumbled in his pocket. ‘This is for your mother.’ He handed Lydia a metal tube. ‘The deeds to my house and workshop. Everything in the house is hers. Everything in the workshop is yours.’ 

        ‘But…why now?’

        ‘I can’t swim. It’s well known.’

        Lydia frowned. ‘You want me to tell everyone you drowned?’

        ‘Yes. Make me sound heroic, would you?’ He winked.

        ‘I have to lie to Mother?’

       ‘Please.’ He grimaced. ‘It’s the only way she can inherit.’

        Lydia gulped. ‘But why stay in Astoria?’

        Uncle Sebastian blushed. ‘I’ve met someone…’

        ‘Uncle?’ Lydia grinned. ‘Oh. I’m so pleased for you. She must be special if you fell from the sky for her.’

        Uncle Sebastian nodded. ‘She is, and you are too. It was hard to choose.’ He hopped down to the rocky floor. ‘Show me how well I’ve taught you.’

        ‘Now?’ Lydia wiped her eyes with the back of her glove.

        ‘Yes, Lydia.’ He smiled. ‘Turn her gently.’

        She wriggled in the pilot’s seat, her throat tight and her heart pounding, before pulling a lever, pushing a pin, placing her feet carefully on the rudder paddles and releasing steam.

        The airship turned until Lydia was facing the freezing curtain of water.

        Uncle Sebastian clapped.

        ‘You pass every test. Farewell, my dear. Have fun.’ He waved and stepped through a narrow fissure.

        Lydia cleared her throat. ‘And you, Uncle. Farewell. Thank you.’ Her words echoed around the small cave.

        A drop of water splashed onto her neck and she shivered.

        ‘What are you waiting for? Go and explore the world.’ Uncle Sebastian’s voice was faint, but she could hear the chuckle that followed.

      ‘Okay.’ She shouted back. ‘I’m going, but I’ll be back.’ She pushed the throttle forward and guided her airship out into the valley.

        ‘Home first,’ she said. ‘And then the world.’