66 The Spy-der (1/2)
”Now I know what a pinata feels like,” Nelda said.
She gripped her knees tightly around Jens pony-body, not sure what would happen if she tipped too far to the side. [Would we capsize like a boat? Where exactly is the center-of-gravity of a centaur?]
They drifted very slowly, and backward, across the wide ravine that Asbolus's home occupied.
Jen twisted to look back over her shoulder. ”I think we are going to hit the trees on the other side?” she said hopefully. Her voice-squeaking terror was quickly melting away as It became clear that the stripeflower was doing its job.
”Well, grab anything you can if it comes into reach.And don't look down.”
”It hardly matters if I look down,” Jen said.”It's not like I'm going to fall. That doesn't even seem to be an option.”
[Probably best not to mention the flying away into the never-never alternative.Not while she's just starting to cheer up a bit. But there are a few more imminent threats….]
”I mean,” Nelda clarified.”Don't look down because BugleHead is down there somewhere with a live basilisk.”
”Ah.”Jen became thoughtful.”That might be one way to get down.If it's not far enough to get chipped and he hasn't lost the alicorn again.” She started to paddle her horse legs slowly.
”Wait. What?” Nelda noticed the view starting to swing around.
”What?”
”Keep doing that.I think we are actually moving in the direction you are walking, or whatever horse walking is called.”
”It's generally called walking,” Jen said smugly.The more technical names are for the various faster gaits.
”Well, let's stick with walking for now.Towards the trees.”
”I just need to….”
There was no mistaking it now.They slowed and stopped drifting backward.Then Jen walk-swum them in a slow loop.The crossed over Asbolus's compound like she was swimming in the air.
BugleHead was right,” Nelda mused.”He said that this was a thinky kind of flying not a flappy kind.So, the walking motion must get across—somehow--the intent about which way you want to go.Laterally anyway.I am not sure how we would do to pitch downwards.”
Jen had perked up considerably and was humming the Lone Ranger theme as she aimed at what looked like some sort of extravagant conifer.”Ba-da dum, ba-da dum, ba-da dum dum dum. Oh, could you stop squeezing quite so hard with your knees? It's easy to tell you don't know how to ride.”
”Well, Ma-mah neglected to get me lessons, and it's a long way down.So, would you mind if I held onto the back of this denim vest thing you have on?”
”Not at all.”
They were starting to accelerate. Nelda grabbed onto the vest just behind the armholes.”Do we have a plan for…”
SMACK!
They ran right into the branches which looked almost fluffy from a distance but proved to be very scratchy and pokey.Nelda decided to just hold on tight to Jen, duck down, and hope for the best.
”Oopsie daisy.” Jen scrambled and kicked.