Part 4 (1/2)
”Well, in forthwith Are you ready?”
4: _In Which David and the Phoenix Go To Visit the Gryffins, and a Great Danger Is Narrowly Averted_
[Illustration]
A chill raced up and down David's spine as he got to his feet
”Do--do you think a week's practice is enough?”
”Absolutely, my dear fellow I am now in the very pink of condition
Not that I was ever out of condition, mind you It was merely that I--ah--well, to be brief, my boy, I am now ready”
”Yes, but--well, you remember the last time”
”Yes Look here--if it willthe ledge”
”Well--all right”
David got up as before on the Phoenix's back The Phoenix spread its wings and hopped into the air They glided easily down the length of the ledge, clearing the thicket in the ood two feet
”There you are, my boy,” said the bird proudly, as they landed at the other end ”Shall we go?”
”Let's go,” said David, as bravely as he could
They were in the air again Once ainst his face and heard the pounding of wings But this tiain and opened his eyes
The world was falling away, and everything on it was growing smaller by the second The valley could be cradled in two hands; the ray cloth Now he could see plains in the distance, and little silver threads of rivers As he looked, the whole world began to revolve slowly The Phoenix was soaring in a wide circle
”Well, my boy,” it called over its shoulder, ”whom shall we visit first?”
”It's really up to you, Phoenix,” David shouted back, ”but how about the--the--Biffens or Whiffens, or whatever you called them?”
”You mean the Gryffins, Gryffons, and Gryffens, my boy? Very well We shall visit the Gryffins only, however It is best to leave the others alone”
The Phoenix swung around and began to fly toward thesun with such tre blown off The wind screamed past his ears, tore at his shi+rt and hair, and made his eyes brim over with tears It was cold, but he was too excited to care Below them, plains, rivers, forests, and cities rushed across the face of the earth
”This is wonderful, Phoenix!” David shouted
The Phoenix's reply was not clear ” normal speedair stream
priht, but he could tell from the tone that the Phoenix was pleased
The view beloas not to last long Within half an hour they had run into a heavy overcast, and for a long tilanced down, hoping to see the fog thin out Suddenly he caught sight of a black object rocketing up toward the hurtled by, so close that its backwash very nearly knocked him from the bird's back
The Phoenix reduced speed; and the black object, after banking in a wide curve, caside David was amazed to see that it was a pale but beautiful lady, dressed all in black, sitting on a broo voice ”I haven't seen you in _ever_ so long”