Air Wonder Stories, July 1929 — page 79: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MEN WITH WINGS 77 anxious to cultivate the Fine Arts among his people, for he well knew that a civilization has its foundations in Art, From time to time I had been seeing Miss Lois either in the clearings tnder the trees or in the lounge rooms below. I knew from the very first that I was in love with this beautiful angelic creature, but I did not know if she harbored a like feeling for me. Kindly, she answered all my ques- tions, told me of her work, advised me and helped me in whatever way she could. And several times she was good enough to take me for short flights above the trees. Once she suggested a tour of Mentor for me; and, as she was going with Doctor Morris in a round of inspection of the hospital, I was invited to accompany them. Morris was borne aloft by a winged youth and another was provided for me, and the five of us went from city to city. Life in the five other settlements was much the same as in Number One City. Each were designated by its number. The Mentorite is a fine flyer. Their wings are very powerful—as from childhood they are taught to develop them, And part of their training is to carry heavy burdens as they fly, the weight of the burden increasing with their years so that a hun- dred pound weight is nothing for them to carry a distance of from five hundred to a thousand miles in a long sustained flight! Endurance contests were encouraged. The longest sustained flight record among them is for one hundred and fifty hours! On many a fine day it is not an uncommon sight to see a tiny dot high in the sky that looks no more than a speck of dust and know that it is either a man or woman out to break a record. They, carry enough food and water to last them for a long time. Wearing heavier clothing they climb to tremendous heights, as high as it is possible for human beings to climb and yet survive. One morning, Lois asked if I should care to wit- ness the morning drill. I quickly assented. I knew now how to place my weight in a position that is best for my bearer and, as easily as it I were a child, the broad wings of Lois bore me up through one of the passages to the air above. Early morning over the jungle is pleasant indeed. The air is fresh and keen, and the warm odor of growing things fills the air. Lois picked out a comfortable crotch in a big jungle giant from where I could watch the maneuvres as from a ring-side seat. Thousands of the winged people were al- ready abroad, and many more were coming up through the trees. I would have been glad to climb with Lois to the sun that morning, but with a smile and a wave she left me in my seat as she hurried to join her fellows. There were other spectators beside myself. Later Miss Lois showed me that many of the trees were hung with giant vines and also ropes that had been camouflaged in such a manner as to look like the living vines. By this means the Earth- hound might climb to the lowest branches of the ‘rees and from there he would find steps leading upward, small ladders of interwoven branches. After discovering that, I spent a great deal of my ‘time in the trees. The Drill TNE8 me today was seated a captive, like my- self, who was familiar with all the features of the drill and pointed out to me the more interesting exercises. He was a youth scarcely eighteen, as pretty as a girl. He had come to Mentor when he was but twelve years old. He pointed out the eight sentinels stationed at the eight points of the compass. They had taken their places several thousand feet up in the sky, They were the outlooks and would warn the com- panies below of the approach of aircraft. Once in a while we see an aeroplane far off in the sky. Usually, however, we were warned of its arrival long before it could be seen and under pain of death we were forced to hide ourselves in the trees. One could only recall the fate of the woman we had seen from the plane on the day we had come looking for Mentor to be sure not to desire a like fate. The winged men and women were now gather- ing into squads and companies, and at the sound of a sharp whistle a line was formed in the air as neatly as an infantry could on the ground—as battalion after battalion took its place. 1 marveled at the dexterity with which the flying people mas- tered the air. It was a marvelous sight when all the companies had fallen into place and, with wings outstretched, maintained themselves in one position as easily as a man stands upright on his feet. How brilliant that scene was in the bright tropic sunlight, with the variegated shining wings of every hue and color known to the birds. I noted that each company was made up of those whose wings were of one color, The first company were all white winged, the second black, the third golden, the fourth red, the fifth green, the sixth blue and so on through the natural colors and on into those whose wings were of various color combinations, Last and most beautiful were those of the rain- bowed wings, and among them was Miss Lois who ranked a captain! At the sound of a second whistle all was very still, and I saw that the Patriarch had arrived. He took his place in front of the first company. He was wearing a costume of snowy white and was a striking creature with his great black wings. He now blew his whistle and the companies came. to rigid attention, their bodies stiffened, their wings quivering under the tension. Immediately two blasts of the whistle shrilled out and with it came a roar that was almost deafening. Thirty thousand pairs of wings were beating the air as the flyers arose, company after company, straight toward the heavens. Never was a company of soldiers better trained. Every body was as straight and as motionless as a tamrod; each man kept his distance from his companion as if the distance had been measured by a yardstick, Rising, they looked as if they would never halt again; until finally the whistle sounded. Immediately the battalions broke order, half their number flying rapidly in one direction, the other the opposite. A thousand yards apart they came to a halt and we could see that they had separated according to the colors of their wings, the solid- hued wings on one side, the variegated upon the other. conniclooolks.com