|
nd Avenue, had
difficulty telling which of the bizarre forms were transport and
which were details of the environment, like park benches or trees.
tentatively approached something like a two-metre-wide jelly-
fish, and was about to prod it and enquire about fares when she
spotted a Pegasus, dropping off a Bythian, two ranks up. She
hurried over before the winged horse could fly off, raising her
hand. It saw her, ducked its head and kneeled down, allowing 's to
climb on its back. settled down, grasping the bony shoulder-
blades from which depended the three-metre-span wings, pure white,
oversized dove's feathers spreading out as it stretched. had
read somewhere, once, that to be able to fly a Pegasus would need
wings so large that they would drape over it like a tent and would
require a pure sugar diet to supply the required energy; in
Simulation, such rules of proportion were waived, as the effect was
considered worthwhile.
`Take me to the top of the world.' whispered. The Pegasus
ducked its head again, its long, silky mane drifting about its head
like a cloud of smoke; it then slowly spread its wings, bent its
hind legs, crouching for takeoff; with one mighty thrust and a
perfectly-timed leap, they were airborne, the wings beating with
greater speed than
|
