From NoelW: A wing and a prayer : Lady Sarah’s Balloon (10 points)

I see Lady Sarah has become frustrated with the vagaries of balloon travel, at the mercy of the winds, so is experimenting with what she calls “variable directional control”. Basically, it seems to be a flock of geese harnessed to the balloon and directed by waving various goose-friendly tidbits beakward.

We clamber aboard. The geese lift off. The balloon follows and, with a gentle wave of goosey-treats to the west, the balloon also cants gently in that direction, and we’re heading nicely in a Sandersly direction. Which is unnecessary, of course. If the balloon can be directed, then it can be directed towards our final destination. We really need to be heading east.

I grab a bag of Goosey-goosey Wonders, and fling a handful eastwards, towards where our ships still should lie.

It turns out, geese aren’t rational. Half of them spot the scattering sweeties, and flap east, but half continue to flap west, while half seem to become confused (maths has never been my strong point) and plunge their beaks into the balloon itself. 

Simultaneously the balloon heads west, east and down. Especially, down. 

With increasing gravity-assisted insistance.

I pray for sand. Please, lovely sand, leap towards us and save us from this terrible pending plight.

How can such a hateful silicon-based toe-infiltrating mineral suddenly seem such a glorious lifesaver? Where on earth is a wretched pile of sand when you need it?

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Just a small vignette today, whose military relevance might not be immediately obvious, perhaps. I'm sure, with sufficient reflection, you'll see it.

I bought the two models separately, but found they fit together quite nicely, giving a rather dynamic pose which I rather dynamically like.

Score: 1 girl, 1 goose: 10 points



What a great vignette Noel. Sarah's Balloon is rather cramped today - hope you don't mind.

TamsinP