I hope that you all now understand the gravity of my journey, said the Thread, and understand that I must be on my way. It is not on my remit to stay still for any length, as I am endless and have stories to weave.
The Sphinx, Sheba, The Blue Knight, the Blue Woman Knight and The Growing Young Man Knight, woke stretching from their audience experience and the YBK said,
I should like to travel a questing with the Sir Thread, if I am have grant permission. I feel the urge to right wrongs and bring a sense of justice and truth to the proceedings.
The Blue Knight looked at the Blue Woman Knight and said, He’s too young.
She replied, Off you go, but be careful. Keep your armor on at all times and don’t drop your guard or student rail card. Call us on freegram if you are without water in the desert or are up the river without a canoe.
Turning to the Sphinx and Sheba she said, I would ask you a favour, would you be so kind as to accompany this Young Blue Knight upon his first adventure.
Of courses, said Sheba, It would be an honour, we shall utilise our tapis volant.
So, said the Thread to the young Blue Knight or YBK, This is you first quest, your first steps upon the path. This quest then must be of your choice and choosing, what may we expect.
Id like to have a go at battling an evil monster who has intends harm to a lovely woman or innocent that I can save. Do you have anything like that?
Let me have a look, said Thread, I’ve got one here where a many headed walrus is threatening to break up an icefloe on which a prince is barely balancing.
Or this one, a Harpy, of unknown origin, is making the lives of a small town miserable and the head judges’ daughter is fighting it off with a stick.
That sounds like a good one to start with, Sheba interjected, baby steps and all that.
I hear you, said the YBK, I’ll take your advice, this seems like a straight forwards case.
More to them than meets the eye, said the Thread, each story has its loose ends.
Settled, they embarked on their tapis volant which had been charging overnight.
Approaching the town on foot to avoid radar, the team pitched their pavilion in a verdant clearing where a silent spring broke the silence and provide for their watery needs.
What shall be your first move? asked Sheba
I shall call parley with the Harpy and set out the options as I see them.
Excellent procedure, said Sheba, I’ll send her an email, where shall the meeting be placed and at what elevation of the sun?
In the ruined castle on the hill, at the rising of the sun, confirmed the YBK
The stone walls did not notice as they passed the broken gate and thin windows of defense. The Sun, as yet a precursor of its final glory, lurked below the worlds edge sending hints and suggestions of its latent power into the prearranged cloud layer.
In the courtyard, where once all finery and marshal splendour was arrayed for the delectation of powerful people, they found the Harpy, wings at rest, awaiting.
If that woman hits me once more with her stick I shall lose it completely, began the Harpy, I’ve been trying to be nice but battered and bruised I shall not be.
She stretched out her wings and shook them in agitation.
What do guys want anyways? I’ve rarely seen a more motley crew.
She Sphinx made as if to speak but Sheba signalled and indicated that The YBK should speak first.
Please could you unfold your wings once more, said the YBK, I have never seen.
Shy at first and then in glory robed, the Harpy spread her wings once more.
Each feather holding a design in detailed tapestry, aligned in rack and pinions arrayed with a colours calling and changing, one by the dozen, as the light was taken in and stripped down to basics, primary and complimentary. Looking closer, one might examine the design history of the racing humans, racing to their destruction, racing to the stars.
Your wings are looking splendid today cousin, said She Sphinx, Keeping well? Long time. Do I discern a missing feather or is the rising sun creeping in my eye?
You discern the reality as displayed? said the Harpy, I would be fine if I could just retrieve the feather that is kept hostage by the mayor of this nearby town. Without full plumage my powers are reduced. I have the remit to revel in all of the rich skullduggery and if one is missing then the set is worthless, even you have the original box, and all in mint condition.
I know the feeling, said the Sphinx, I can never get anything done until my tail is in order.
Let the boy lead, said Sheba, he must also spread his wings.
Tell me, oh colourful and shiny Harpy, how is this affairs come passing? Asked the YBK, I would be the oil on your troubled waters, and a thorn in the paw of wrong makers.
Just don’t get any on my feathers, said the Harpy, and I expect that goes for tail fur as well.
The Sphinx nodded her mighty head. It goes without, she said.
It was a Thursday as I flew serene in time and place, began the Harpy to relate, When in an instant a fireball of meteoritic flash, origin unknown, had dashed me headfirst into dust and disarray my feathers so.
In checking and rearrange my careful habits to continue, I preened my way back to an order, only to discover, to my upset, shame and horror that a feather was amiss and missing.
I tracked it by satellite imagery and geopositional zoning, only to discover that it had been spirited away to a nearby village which had pretensions to be a destination of choice.
I have also reviewed my catalogues and numbered card systems and I believe the missing feather is a record entire of the history of the Paisley Pattern. Originating on the Indian sub-continent and hijacked by the town of Paisley.
If I cannot retrieve said feather, it will eventually fade and the design will be lost.
Let us then shoulder this burden and effect a quick and satisfactory return, said the YBK, feeling all. We shall be your guiding light and saviour.
He is take this very seriously, said she Sphinx aside to Sheba.
And so he should, she replied, So he should.
The Guardians of the Cave 