Brother Steven
CCCXI "Scientific Progress Goes Thud"
It was an amusing sight for the backers of the project, Sir Godfrey and his loyal men, as they beheld the brilliant scientist, Edward the Alchemist, prepare his highly unusual craft. He bustled to and fro, adjusting wings, cords, and bolts.
The king made a grand entrance, fashionably late, and inquired "When is the launch about to start? Oh joy! I can hardly wait!" He was eager to see the fruit of his investments. They had every confidence in Edward, who had made colorful promises and predictions in his appeal four months prior.
Finally, Edward the Alchemist leapt into the cockpit of his fascinating device, and with a wave of his hand he called out "Farewell, my friends! I shall see thee on the other side of the kingdom!"
The eager eyes of the investors watched as the wings on the light craft began to flap like a bird and the whole contraption slid off the ramp into the blue sky...
but to the great dismay and horror of the group of onlookers, the craft clumsily plummeted to the earth below with a bone-jarring "THUD". A local cowherd and his beasts only just got themselves out of the way in time.
The king stared glumly down from the wall as the alchemist scrambled out of what was left of their expensive venture, now a pile of wreckage, and the king was suddenly aware of a void in his coin-purse where once his gold had been.
CCCXI "Scientific Progress Goes Thud"
It was an amusing sight for the backers of the project, Sir Godfrey and his loyal men, as they beheld the brilliant scientist, Edward the Alchemist, prepare his highly unusual craft. He bustled to and fro, adjusting wings, cords, and bolts.
The king made a grand entrance, fashionably late, and inquired "When is the launch about to start? Oh joy! I can hardly wait!" He was eager to see the fruit of his investments. They had every confidence in Edward, who had made colorful promises and predictions in his appeal four months prior.
Finally, Edward the Alchemist leapt into the cockpit of his fascinating device, and with a wave of his hand he called out "Farewell, my friends! I shall see thee on the other side of the kingdom!"
The eager eyes of the investors watched as the wings on the light craft began to flap like a bird and the whole contraption slid off the ramp into the blue sky...
but to the great dismay and horror of the group of onlookers, the craft clumsily plummeted to the earth below with a bone-jarring "THUD". A local cowherd and his beasts only just got themselves out of the way in time.
The king stared glumly down from the wall as the alchemist scrambled out of what was left of their expensive venture, now a pile of wreckage, and the king was suddenly aware of a void in his coin-purse where once his gold had been.