From Atheline Island to ...

Solbert replied, "We have to be flexible, though. We may not be able to land exactly where we want. But I agree that White River is where we wish to aim."

Sartoma then spoke, "Fred, what are your thoughts?"

Fred asked Checkers and Astra, "There is something that I do not understand. According to the vision, the Gliders have some sort of rule that humans are not to be attacked in their own territory. Why is this so? And why depart from it now?"

Checkers responded, "There has always been talk of attacking the humans, but it is just that, talk. The Gliders are made for mountains and forests. We can fly over the mountains and climb up the trees with ease, where the humans cannot. If they attack us, we can kill many of them for the loss of a few of us. If we attack them in the open, then the odds are no longer stacked in our favour. You are right. For a Burgess to consider the idea of going into the Four Boroughs is bold to the point of recklessness, but I do not know what has happened since I left."

Astra added, "The dream seemed quite real. It was very ordinary, but real at the same time."

"What were the sentries wearing?"

"Leather shirts of some sort. They carried spears, kind of like yours, except slightly longer. The one that they called the Captain had a set of glasses around his neck. Ballentine looked like an spry, older man. I did not notice any wings."

"I have never seen Ballentine, but if he were elected as Burgess, he would not. After one of us gets past child-bearing age, we lose our wings. Everything else you describe fits."

Sartoma then noted that they would need to get underway. Everyone but Astra unrolled the balloon. Sartoma and Fred attached the balloon to Astra, while Solbert and Checkers attached the gondola. Astra started to breathe hot air into the balloon. Her four companions hopped into the gondola, and within an hour, Atheline Island had faded out of sight.

After six hours aloft, Astra allowed the balloon to drift down out of the great river of wind.

1. Under her was the vast ocean, with no land in sight.
2. She saw three small islands.
3. She saw a very large landmass. She could not tell whether it was an island or part of the main continent.

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