The Flight of Dragons Page #4

and one dragon with the mind and

heart of twentieth century man.

The laws command that three begin.

Melisande being out of the question,

I enlisted the temporary aid of old Smrgol.

Aw, I know Smrgol is aging

and none too strong,

but I hope Carolinus will

gather other allies.

He'll need them.

Meanwhile, the old dragon

will be able to teach Peter

the way of his species.

A dragon,...

that doesnt know how to be,...

a dragon!

Come on out you mealy-mouthed little runts.

Is this necessary?

You want to fly don't ya?

To fly you need gems stones.

To get gem stones,

you rob dwarf mines.

Come on out I say!

And bring gems!

- Hurry now, before we devour you!

- You wouldn't really?

Ah, dwarfs no.

They all sinewy and hairy.

Well the meat you get is not

worth pickin' out of the teeth.

Now swallow them down.

Not all the way,

let them find your craw.

Odd sensation.

Never had diamonds

in your craw?

I never had a craw.

They help grind up the white

fire rock when you eat it.

Thats limestone.

A puny man word if I ever heard it.

Eat!

You'd wear down your teeth grinding

this stuff so you swallow it in chunks.

Wiggle them around with the

gemstones till their pulverized.

It's like birds use grit to grind seeds.

Yeah, but don't talk with your mouth full.

What's all this to do with flying?

It makes the fire in your

belly that gives you lift.

Hmm? Limestone is

high in calcium.

Calcium when mixed with stomach

acids would form hydrogen.

Hydrogen is lighter than air,

thus giving the lift you talk about.

Something like a blimp.

What?

You got fire inside you when you go up.

That's all you need to know.

No, that's not logical. How

could my ribs contain fire?

If I could only visualize.

Aw, for crying out loud.

Visualize.

I know.

Man this is great.

Now, as you explain,

I'll make a diagram.

Of all the.

Aw, well I'm doing it for Carolinus.

You see we got this

great like,

um, like a honeycomb of bone and

muscle inside us.

- Something like this?

- Hey, hey that's it.

Compartments we can expand and contract.

And when we expand the hydrogen

a-a, "Dragon Fire" as it were.

Expands and makes us lighter

than air, and up we go.

Hey, how do I get down?

Blow it out.

Belch.

Yes, close the valves and

expelled gas to come down.

Well, go ahead.

Turn your head ya' dummy!

Wo-wo-wo-whoa!

But I wonder why it comes out as fire?

Because we're dragons and

dragons breathed fire.

Yes, but what makes the ignition?

The "Thor Thimble" fool.

Lluk' n' th' ruff' oof' yor' moufe'

Feel it, feel it with your tongue.

Yes, it feels like a thimble.

Ow! Ow!

Electricity!

The electricity ignites the

hydrogen hence the fiery breath.

Dragon fire, dragon flight.

It all makes perfect sense.

Oh, what I wouldn't give for my typewriter.

Ah shut up and eat your limestone.

I must say Lancer, this is the

lowest quest I've ever undertaken.

Still, I suppose it necessary that

Sir Peter to learn how to fly.

Nice chap what?

Soon it will be nightfall.

Ommadon hours.

Mmm?

I'd best summon them.

Og, hear that? Aww, he's calling us.

Shall we go back on foot or...

do you think you can

manage a short flight.

I can try.

Expand... feel the lift...

Now propel yourself this way.

Use your wings to steer to navigate,

and to keep your balance.

Woo!

Look, I know you don't like comparisons,

but this is exactly how a 747 does it.

I love it!

I say old chap, bad show.

- I'm ok, I'm ok,

- Argh, you blew all your fire.

You won't have any lift again until dawn.

Well you certainly don't

want chance night flight.

We best make camp.

Right, I'm going to miss my bed of gold.

Care to join me, Sir Peter?

No, I suppose not.

All big dragoned as you are,

must be most annoying.

Aww.

I have a longing to eat a cow.

I can't believe it, an entire cow.

Hoofs, tail, bones, ears...

the whole thing.

Yes well, to each his own.

You know, I shouldn't

really like you so much,

with all that business

with Melisande and all.

If it weren't for this,

this dragon business,

the laws of chivalry would force

me to challenge you to a joust.

I hope we never come to that, Sir Orin.

I do love her with all my heart.

Her purity, grace, innocents,

and title are an inspiration.

- Have you known her long?

- Since she was five.

Oddly enough, you brought us together.

- Me?

- Well, Gorbash did.

You see about a dozen years ago,

I was mucking about

in Ommadon's Red Devil Realm

or whatever it's called.

Some... sort of quest, returning

from a crusade, perhaps.

I suddenly spied a

rather smashing sight.

A nest of dragons eggs.

Well, I was about to

do a charcoal sketch,

when who showed up, but Bryagh.

He began to sup of the next

generation, as it were.

Hold and get ye hither,

or prepare to die!

Aah!

Rather,... rather good

blow, if I do say so.

Must have been half an hour

before I opened my eyes.

And when I did,...

I'd found he had decimated

the entire litter, save one.

Well it seems a shame to die for an egg.

But I'd made the challenge.

Laws of chivalry and all that, you know.

Bit of this. Bit of that.

He had me. I had him.

Couldn't open his mouth you see,

the gases built up inside.

And I, took a bit of a chance

And let him devour my metal gauntlet.

In less than a moment it

touched "Thor's Thimble."

Bit of a internal

explosion I fear.

Almost killed him. Wished it had.

He didn't like it at all.

Took him seven years to recuperate.

Quite a bit for dragon.

Hates me, needless to say.

Anyway, I'd saved the egg.

Cute little fellow, awkward and helpless.

Named him Gorbash in honor of the contest.

For it was rather gory and

I did get a bit bashed about.

Get it? Gory, bashed. Hence Gorbash.

Popped in on my old friend Carolinus.

Found he'd adopted an

enchanting daughter.

Gave her the little dragon.

Old Smrgol said he'd be like an

uncle, teach him the way of dragons.

I made a vow to fall in

love with Melisande,

when she was old

enough, of course.

Kept the vow, huh, dash it

lot of good it did me.

And now she likes me.

I did write rules to

this game you know.

No, I mean, I'm

really quite sorry.

Not at all old chap. Feel lucky

she's attracted to you.

Blast! It's fading.

- Is all my magic spent?

- Father, rest.

- But I thought I heard just as it faded.

- Heard want?

A chattering sound which could

indicate something so terrible.

No, impossible.

Not in the forest. And yet,

I wouldn't put it past Ommadon to...

See! See! Blast you.

Gentle sweet brother...

My magic's not spent just confused.

I want the forest, not...

I am speaking to you through my magic,

which is none too strong.

Let me be quick. Melisande has

powers to see over distance.

- True, but...

- Father, let me try.

Very well my dear.

Close your eyes.

Easy now.

You will see Gormli Forest.

Our friends, defenders

of the Magic Realm...

Yes, yes. Smrgol is asleep.

Peter and Sir Orin are speaking.

Oh father, I do hear that

sound, it's terrifying!

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote