DragonSight

Donny Hansford forced himself to remain calm. He stood perfectly still with his eyes closed and listened.
He heard a scrape of a foot on rock. He could smell the scent of someone on the slight breeze that came from his right.
"I know you're there!" he tried to sound brave and confident, but the tremor in his voice gave away the fear he felt inside.
"Please, stop it."
Any second now he knew he was going to break. He was going to run, run frantically anywhere to get away.
Suddenly a hand pushed him in the chest. He felt a body behind his legs. He stumbled and fell backwards, his arms flailed as he went down breaking his fall and saving him from any serious injury. He lay there, dazed, while the chants began around him.
His eyes were open now but unseeing. Eyes that, four years ago saw blue sky, green fields and all the wonders that Layor could show him. Eyes that were now useless. His young, fifteen-year old face bore no scars from the accident that deprived him of his sight. A clap of thunder, and a blinding flash of light only a few feet from him, had thrown him hard into the ground and into a cold blackness.
When he awoke he was in his own bed, his parents at his side. He could feel the cool sheets on his body and the light touch of the doctors hands as he completed his examination. The doctor straightened up and turned to Donny's parents. He said nothing but motioned them to silence and ushered them out of the room.
"How bad is it, Chris?" Donny's father, Brian, asked worriedly after he had closed the door.
"As far as I can tell, physically he's fine.." he paused.
"But?" said Ann, Donny's mother.
Chris took a deep breath. "Donny is blind." It was a cold, stark, hard fact with no other way of breaking it to Donny's parents.
"Permanently?" asked Ann, catching hold of Brian's arm.
"I'm afraid so, Ann." said Chris. "The lightning seared the retina. He will be lucky if he can distinguish between bright light and complete darkness."
And that had been it. They had broken the news to him as gently as possible, and for the next four years Donny had struggled to come to terms with his blindness. To a greater degree, he succeeded admirably -- until Greg came along.
Greg Kandrell, the apple of his mother's eye and the thorn in the side of anyone who he came into contact with. Seventeen years old and big for his age, Greg had a chip on his shoulder that made a giant redwood look like a matchstick and an ego that would have him as the center of attention where ever he went.
Their first meeting was to set the standard for the next few months.
A ball game played after school with Greg naturally the one to pick the teams and organise the game. Donny sat on the edge of the field and listened to the excited chatter of the younger children who had been allowed to join in. At the side of him sat Deena, she was a year younger than Donny but always acted as his guardian, not in any patronising way but just making sure he came to no harm.
Donny always pictured her as he had last seen her, brown shoulder length hair, wide brown eyes a snub nose and a smile that would make you forget all the bad things in life. Her hair now was slightly longer and she had gained in height. But to Donny she smelt nice and she had a wonderful voice that he could listen to for ages.
Greg, of course was in love with her, he regarded her as his own and became jealous whenever she talked to anyone else, especially Donny. Deena on the other hand, while remaining friendly towards him, did nothing to encourage him and mostly tried to keep out of his way.
The game had started and Greg was being his usual bombastic self, calling out instructions and trying to attract the attention of Deena. Aware that he wasn't succeeding he decided to try a little harder. Catching the ball when it came his way, he threw it towards where Deena and Donny sat. In all honesty he never meant to throw it as hard as he did, neither did he mean to hit Donny. But as luck would have it, it caught Donny on the forehead and sent him sprawling backwards. Deena was up in a flash and ran over to where Greg stood grinning from ear to ear. She hurled herself at him and pushed him to the ground.
"You stupid great bully!" she cried standing over him and glaring down. "Is that all you are capable of doing, picking on someone who isn't able to defend themselves!"
Greg was stunned. Never had he seen her so angry and livid. Never had he been put down in front of his friends before. His ego was severely dented and he didn't like it.
His shock turned to temper. Getting to his feet he towered over Deena.
"If I want to hit someone nobody is going to stop me, and that includes you!" he shouted at her.
With that he pushed his past her and went over to where his friends were stood open mouthed.
"C'mon, lets go. I'm not staying around these sissies." he said jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the now retreating back of Deena.
"Are you all right?" she asked, as she helped Donny to his feet.
"I'm fine. Just a little confused. What happened?"
Deena told him. He felt her anger and reached out to take her arm.
"Don't worry. It was just an accident, he didn't mean it." he said quietly.
She took his hand and sighed. "Maybe not, but there was no need for him to stand there grinning. And he didn't even apologise!"

From then on Greg had tried all ways to annoy Donny and get him into trouble. For all his placid attitude and natural good humour and patience, it started to affect Donny. His parents started to notice that he would not go out so much and spent most of his time indoors. Deena came over to see him as often as she could and during one of her visits Brian asked her if she knew what was troubling him. Eventually the story came out and Brian went to confront Greg's father. The meeting did not go well, it didn't quite come to blows but Brian came away feeling more angry than when he arrived. He began to worry and felt that he was not doing as much as he could to help. He somehow felt that it was all his fault.

After one particularly hard day at work Brian was called in to see his boss, Ken Davis.
"What's going on, Brian?" Ken asked him. "We nearly lost a complete shipment today. And it would have been down to you if we had. You are normally the best worker I have, so what is it?"
Ken leaned back in his chair and waited for Brian to speak. His face remained impassive. For although he was a good friend of the man sitting opposite, when it came to work he treated all his men the same. Firm but fair. He expected one hundred per cent out of them and that's what he got. The incentive for them to do well was of their own making. Some had come to Layor for adventure, some for a new start and some because a planet like Layor offered chances to make money and become someone, something they had little or no chance of doing on the over populated planets through-out the main planetary systems. Whatever their reasons they were not about to fail at their chosen skills. That was why mistakes were a rare occurrence and when they did happen there was usually a very, very good reason.
"I'm sorry Ken. I don't know what's happening. Usually I can leave my personal problems at home but this time things are starting to get to me."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ken asked, then smiled. "I may be able to help you know."
Brian smiled in return. "I'm not so sure if you will be able to. But... Well I don't suppose it would do any harm, and it may help me to put things into perspective."

A week later Brian was called in to see Ken once more. He entered the office and glanced at Ken then at the man who had risen from a chair at the side of the desk.
In his mid thirties, lean, tanned and standing just over six foot, Maxwell Tyler was the man everyone had to meet before they could be accepted as an inhabitant of Layor. It was he who made the decision as to whether they stayed, or left on the next ship. It was he the Queen had made Dragonking and given total power over the humans on her planet. Together with his wife, Paula and their respective dragons, Sheena and Star, they had ruled well and made Layor a profitable planet.
With the powers given to him by Sheena and Star he made a formidable enemy that few dared to cross, but he also made a friend for life with those he could trust. Ken Davis was one such man.
"Ken tells me that you have a problem with Donny," Max began, he motioned for Brian to sit down and without waiting for a reply continued, "Well, if you are agreeable, I think that I may have a solution. Let me explain. One of the dragons has recently lost it's rider. Now usually, because dragons live far longer than us humans, they do eventually overcome the loss even though the bonds between dragon and rider are very strong. Also they will never take another rider, or at least, it has not been know for them to do so. But the dragon I have in mind has taken the loss exceptionally badly and if something is not done soon then he will eventually destroy himself. Again, it has not been known to happen but Sheena tells me he is very close to it. Donny may be the answer we need, and, at the same time it could be what Donny needs also. Sheena is certain that they will find enough in each other to overcome their respective plights. However, I will not do anything until I have you and your wife's approval."
Brian looked at Max with a mixture of wild hope and almost total disbelief. He couldn't be serious, could he? His son and a dragon! How would that help Donny? He was blind, how would a blind boy aid a dragon? But... If it would help, then surely he could not stand in his way. If only. If...
Brian made up his mind.
"If you think that it will work, then you have our consent. Ann and I had already agreed that if any help came along then we would take it." he finally said.

Max and Sheena flew over Donny's home town of Haras with the riderless dragon alongside. Below them they could see a small group of children playing. One appeared to push another who then fell over a crouching figure behind him.
"Hey, did you see that?" the riderless dragon said to Sheena. "That wasn't very nice. Mind you," he added, as they glided into land, "it was a pretty good trick!" Max caught the approval in the dragon's thought.
"Maybe. But the victim is the person we have come to see!" he chided.
"Him! You mean I've got to look after a weakling like that! He can't even defend himself. Look at him just lying there. Why doesn't he get up and do something?" he said, full of scorn.
"Zhanta." Sheena said, calling the dragon by name. "There is something that we have not told you. The boy over there, Donny, he's blind."
Zhanta considered this for a while. At length he said, "You mean he cannot see with his eyes?"
"You've got it in one." said Max.
"Do you think he would mind if I took a look at him?" he asked Max.
"Ask him." Max answered.
Zhanta sent a soft tendril of thought into his mind.
"Donny?" the thought whispered in Donny's head.
"Wha..!" Donny gasped involuntary. He was so used to using his ears to gain information that he instinctively knew the voice he had heard had not come from an outside source.
"It's all right. Stay as you are, I'm not going to hurt you." Zhanta reassured him. "My name is Zhanta. I am what you humans call a dragon."
Donny was startled for a second but the voice was calm and not unfriendly as it carried on.
"Would you let me look inside your mind for a moment?"
"Uh, I guess so."
"Ha! Look at the creep." Greg shouted, mistaking Donny's mutterings for a plea for submission. "Don't worry creep, we're going now anyway. See ya' later." he said emphasizing the 'see'. He turned his back on Donny, beckoned to his friends and walked away.
"You're the creeps!" shouted Deena at their retreating backs. She turned and knelt beside Donny's still figure and tried to help him up but Donny lifted a hand and stopped her.
"Wait!" was all he said.
"Are you hurt?" Deena asked anxiously, but she received no reply.
"Donny, please!" she cried.
"He's not hurt. Leave him where he is for a while."
She turned her head up to look into the smiling face of Max.
"What's wrong with him?"
Max shook his head. "Nothing. He will be just fine in a few minutes. You must be Deena, Earl Scott's daughter." Max stated.
"Yes, I am." she said.
Max gave her his hand and helped her up. "Would you mind taking me to Donny's parents?"
Deena nodded and they began to walk away but she turned and looked back fretfully at Donny.
"He will be all right," Max reassured her, "you must think a lot of him."
Deena looked straight ahead. "I do. He's one of the nicest friends I have."
Although she tried to hide it, Max could still see the tears welling up in her eyes. He knew perfectly well where Donny lived, but he had to get Deena away so that Zhanta could be alone with him.

Ann was just handing Max his second cup of coffee when Donny walked in through the door. There was something, somehow different about him. An aura of confidence? Of expectation? Neither of Donny's parents could say what it was. But there was something. Max knew but he was not about to say anything. He also knew what was coming next.
"Mum, Dad. I have to go away for a while." Donny said matter of factly. "I won't be gone too long. Perhaps a month, maybe two."
He started towards his room. "I'll just get some things packed. Max will be able to explain."
He disappeared into his room before his parents had a chance to protest. Ann was about to say something but Max held up his hand.
"He will be safe. I promise you. And when he comes home again you will see a big difference in him. That I also promise."
"You mean his eyes will be restored?" Ann asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not, Ann. They will still be useless." Max said, sympathetically.
"Well I don't know what has happened in the last half an hour," Brian remarked, by way of lightening the mood, "but I've not seen him looking so buoyant for a long time."
"To quote a very old saying," grinned Max, "you ain't seen nothing yet!"
Donny came out of his room with a backpack and announced that he was ready to go. Ann went to him and gave him a hug.
"Please be careful, Donny." she said, trying not to cry.
"I will, don't worry." he said.
"Good luck son." Brian said, laying a hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently. "Thanks dad." Donny held the hand on his shoulder for a second or two before turning to Max. "Are you ready?"
"Ready when you are, Donny." He reached out and took the backpack from Donny's hand. "Here let me take that. I'll put it on Sheena's saddle.
They walked out to where the two dragon's waited and Max climbed up on to Sheena's back. He clipped the backpack on to the rear of the high-backed saddle then, when he had strapped himself in he reached down and, with the help of Brian, pulled Donny up and secured him in the saddle in front of him. When Donny nodded in answer to Max's question as to whether he was comfortable, Max wrapped his arms around Donny's waist.
"Okay, let's go!" Max told Sheena and Zhanta.
Sheena took one step, extended her wings and gave a powerful push with her hind legs. An instant later they were high above Haras and heading south. In an hour and a half they were gliding down to land on the deserted beach of an island six miles off the mainland. A flock of seabirds were startled into flight as the dragons came in, screeching in protest at being disturbed.
The island was one of seven that formed a chain stretching out into the southern ocean. Uninhabited, except for the seabirds and the few groups of amphibians that chose to make it their breeding ground in the spring, it was roughly five miles long and two miles across at it's widest point.
Minute particles of shell ground down by the action of the sea and bleached white by the sun, formed the beach they now stood on.
"Are we here?" asked Donny, lifting his face into the breeze coming in from the ocean and smelling the salt air.
"Yes, this is going to be your home for the next month or so, Donny." Max said, as he removed Donny's pack from Sheena. "There is a small metal air conditioned hut at the far end of the beach. It was one that was left over from one of the mining operations. I had it brought here to use it as a getaway when I wanted peace and quiet. It has enough supplies for two or three days, but either myself or Paula, my wife, will be bringing you fresh provisions every few days and make sure you are all right. Come on, I'll take you to the hut and show you around."
The interior of the hut was surprisingly cool, considering the temperature outside, and when Donny remarked on it Max explained; "The walls are double skinned and vacuum sealed. The temperature remains constant thanks to the power unit attached to the rear of the hut. It's a complete self-contained unit."
Max led him around the room letting him get the feel of the place. A door at the rear of the room opened into a small bathroom to which underground water storage and pumps supplied the shower and toilet. When he was satisfied that Donny was familiar with his new surroundings Max took him outside again.
"Is there anything that you want to know before I leave you?" he asked as they walked back down to the beach and the waiting Sheena and Zhanta.
"What about the rest of the island?"
"I'll leave Zhanta to show you that." was Max's cryptic answer.
He left Donny with a puzzled look on his face as he mounted Sheena and left.
"Show me?" Donny shook his head. "Zhanta?"
"I'm here Donny."
"What did he mean about you showing me the island?"
"Do you remember what I said when we first met?"
"Yes, that we would be alone with each other for a while so that we could try and sort out our respective problems."
"That's right. My problem is getting over the loss of my previous rider. You see, Donny, there is a bond that exists between dragon and rider that goes beyond just friendship. You become each other. If one of them dies then part of the other dies also. It is very rare, but it has happened that the survivor has taken their own life... "
"Your not...!" interrupted Donny, shocked.
"No. I have gotten past that stage." Zhanta reassured him. "But I still have an emptiness that needs to be filled."
"So you want me to become your new rider!" Donny's heart leapt, this was something he had never even considered. A companion, yes. But a rider! Then suddenly his heart sank. His voice turned to a hoarse whisper.
"But I'm blind."
"Ah!" exclaimed Zhanta. "Now we come to your dilemma. But even if you were not blind, becoming a rider is not easy. To create the bond there must be complete and utter trust on either side. That is why we have to spend this time together."
Donny's face brightened again. "So there is a chance for me then. But what about my blindness?"
"Forget that for now. Lets go and see if we can find something to eat." Zhanta said, closing the subject for the time being.
Like all dragons Zhanta had an insatiable appetite and there were very few things they would not, or could not, eat.
After satisfying their hunger from the rations provided by Max, Zhanta suggested that it was about time they got to work.
"Work!" exclaimed Donny, "but I thought we were here to enjoy ourselves!"
A slight chuckle was evident in Zhanta's thought reply. "We are. But to solve our problems we have to work on them. And to solve mine we first have to solve yours. Now, I want you to find a place to lie down and get comfortable."
Donny started to say something.
"No. No questions. Just do it. Trust, remember?"
Donny found it difficult. To ask questions was in his nature, he was a naturally inquisitive person and to keep silent went against the grain. But he held his tongue in check and did as he was asked.
"That's fine." Zhanta's thought came to him. "First I'm going to teach you how to go 'inside'. Now, starting from your toes and working your way up to your head, I want you to relax each part of your body. Within your mind, make each part of your body feel as though it weighs so heavy that you cannot lift it. So heavy in fact that it is sinking into the ground. To help you, take a deep breath and let it out very slowly as you relax. Are you ready?"
"Yes." said Donny and began to let his whole being relax. After a few minutes his body felt like lead.
"That's good, Donny." Zhanta encouraged. "Stay as you are and in your mind picture a black void. Clear your mind of everything else, of this beach, of home and yes, of Deena too! All I want you to see is darkness."
He tried hard to follow the instructions, but there were distracting thoughts flickering away at the edges of his mind. Each time it happened Zhanta would make him stop and start all over again. It took many hours of trying before he could successfully focus on the black, empty void he was striving to reach.

When Zhanta was finally satisfied with his progress he called a halt to the days work. The following morning they began again. Once more going through the routine, making sure the lessons learned from the previous day were firmly instilled in Donny's mind.
"Very good." Zhanta approved after Donny had successfully completed the task for the fifth time without fault, towards the evening of the second day.
"Now you are going to learn how to do it faster. So that when you say 'inside' you will automatically go in to your relaxed state. Eventually you will not have to say anything, it will become second nature to you, just like breathing.
The next four days saw Donny going over and over the same rituals, getting quicker and quicker until, as Zhanta promised, it had almost become an accepted part of his life.
They took two days off from the exercises then and spent most of the time relaxing and talking. Donny told of his coming to Layor and his accident. Of how he had grown to love Layor and the people there and, even after the accident how he still managed to enjoy the feel and scents of the planet around him, until Greg arrived. From then on it had become a nightmare. It helped to talk about it and as he did so Donny found himself taking a broader view of his situation and realised that things were not as bad as he had believed. In turn, as they quizzed each other, Zhanta relieved himself of the burden of losing his rider, Alun.
Once, Donny asked him to tell of his meeting with Alun and their shared adventures. At first Zhanta was reluctant, but after being reminded that if he could come to terms with his blindness, then it would help Zhanta to talk about his past, he became more open in reliving those times without feeling any hurt. That is not to say he did not still miss Alun, but he found the memories easier to live with.

Into the second week, after Paula and her dragon Star had delivered more provisions and made sure they were both well, Zhanta announced that they would be starting on the second phase of Donny's training.
"Second phase?" Donny queried. "But I thought we had done it all."
"Nowhere near yet, we have only just begun!" Zhanta told him. "Right, if you are ready we will begin now."
"I'm ready," Donny said eagerly, "but just how many phases are there?"
"Three. But this one is the easiest, it shouldn't take too long and I will be doing most of the work."
"Sounds great to me!" Donny smiled.
"I certainly hope it will be. Now, go 'inside' and picture the void."
There was no delay, one second there were a thousand thoughts milling about in his head and in the next they had disappeared leaving a blank screen.
"What I want you to do now," came Zhanta's thought, loud and clear in the void, "before we begin is to try not to talk with your mouth. Imagine the words in your mind and try to think the whole sentence as one single block. It will be difficult at first, but you can do it."
"I'll try, Zhanta." Donny half mouthed, half thought at Zhanta.
"Very good." Zhanta approved. "That's a good start. You would be surprised at how long it takes some people to do that."
Donny felt pleased with himself and his face wore a broad grin.
"Hold that void!" Zhanta's thought shouted at him.
For a moment Donny's mind wavered then steadied as Zhanta's rebuff made itself felt.
"Sorry." Donny said, chastened.
"You have to concentrate the whole time, Donny. Even if you are thinking or doing something else." Zhanta's thought was softer, forgiving. "And don't forget to think your words."
"Okay." Donny thought back.
"Better. Now that you have the void back, tell me what you see. Think it at me."
"Nothing." thought Donny.
"And now?"
All at once there was a beautiful panorama in Donny's mind. Bright blue sky, a few fluffy white clouds, a beach, an almost perfectly calm sea. Trees on the beach, their slim trunks bowing over the sea dipping the long thin leaves into the water as the slight breeze caught at them. All this Donny described in wonder. Not once did he even think of using his vocal chords, he thought it all at Zhanta.
Slowly the view panned along the beach until it reached the other end. There, Donny could see, at the edge of the trees and just on the beach, a hut. Beside the hut, sitting on the beach was a figure.
"That's me!" he cried out. This time vocally. "But where are you, Zhanta?"
Zhanta said nothing.
"Oh, I get it, that's your view I'm seeing."
"Yes, and from now on I will be your eyes." Zhanta declared.
Donny was stunned.
"You mean...." Donny felt his throat tighten. He swallowed with difficulty. "You mean we will be together, always?"
"Yes." Zhanta said simply.
It was Donny's turn to remain silent. He could not find the words to describe his feelings. But he didn't have to, his emotions said it all for him. They were not difficult for Zhanta to pick up. For the first time in a long while a tear found it's way from under Donny's eyelid and traced its way down his cheek.
He was able to see again. Maybe not with his own eyes, but it was as good as, and maybe even better.
"Before you get too overjoyed, we now go into the third stage. There is going to be a lot of hard work done by you before you will be able to use you new vision properly. Try and walk towards me."
Donny tried to co-ordinate his movements to what he could see. Slowly he rose from where he sat and tried taking a step
He fell. The vision broke up and he started to berate himself.
"It's all right Donny, try again. This is what I mean by concentration. You must be aware of your body's movements and of what you see. It's like trying to walk all over again." Zhanta explained.
"Have you done this sort of thing before?"
"No. But I have been inside your mind and I know what it is like for you to be blind. Also, the first time I was shown a similar sight, I too was disorientated. It will take some time."
Determined to do well, Donny pushed himself to the limit. He repeated the exercises Zhanta gave him again and again. Over the next three weeks he mastered the art of controlling his body's movements from all sorts of different angles that Zhanta showed him. Sometimes from the side, sometimes from in front or behind and sometimes from way up high. But always Zhanta had a task for him to achieve, a goal to reach. From the simple test of picking a particular shell from the beach to the more difficult mission of climbing a rock face while Zhanta was on the move.
Donny asked for no mercy and he got none. Every waking moment was spent on his training.
For another four weeks they continued. Max or Paula would bring in the supplies and any news from Donny's parents, and once a letter from Deena, that Max, with a wink to Zhanta, said he would read to him if he wanted.
"I saw that, Max!" Donny exclaimed, laughing.
During those weeks Donny became more adept with his new found sight and with it his confidence grew. For Zhanta the challenge made him relinquish the old memories like shrugging of a bad dream. His new charge rekindled the zest for life he once had.
All too soon the day to leave came upon them. Donny was busy packing when Zhanta poked his head through the open door of the hut to ask if he was ready.
Because the hut was made of a particular type of metal a dragons thought waves were unable to pass through it. It had proved to be a stumbling block in the fight to rid Layor of those who would have tried to take it for themselves. It was also a hindrance to Donny who had to resort to his blind state while inside, unless as now, Zhanta had his head inside the door. Donny had been feeling around the room trying to find a cup he had dropped. As soon as Zhanta's head came in Donny regained his sight.
"Found it! Thanks Zhanta. I will only be a little longer. Has Max arrived yet?"
"No." said Zhanta removing his head from the doorway.
"Then I have still got a little time then."
"No."
"No?"
"No, we are leaving now."
"Now! But..."
"No buts. If we are to be together then you have to learn to ride me."
Donny came out of the hut like a bullet from a gun. He stood facing the dragon.
"Ride you! Here, now!"
"Well, you have to learn sometime, why not now? Come on, get your pack and climb on."
Donny needed no second invitation. He went back in the hut to collect his pack and rushed outside again slamming the door behind him. He had almost reached Zhanta when he stopped dead.
"I can't. We don't have a saddle."
There was a triumphant feel to the thought that Donny received.
"I already have one on! Max brought it the last time he came. That's why I sent you chasing halfway around the island! So he was able to fit if when you were away."
"Why you..!" Donny laughed. "But how did you keep my sight for me?"
"That was Sheena flying above, she relayed what she saw to me so that I could keep giving you instructions. And of course you would not have been able to see the saddle unless I swung my head around, like this!"
"Wow! It's brand new, and it has my name on it."
The saddle was indeed new. Max had had it made especially for him. The high backed seat was covered in burnished leather with Donny's name embossed at the top. The armrests were padded as were the two channels where his legs would rest. The safety harness was made up of four thick leather belts, two were attached either side of the headrest and were made to fit over his shoulders and two lower down to fit around his waist. They all came together in a magnificent steel buckle with a dragons head engraved in the center. Below the head was Zhanta's name picked out in gold.
Zhanta kept his head turned so that Donny could climb into the saddle and fasten the harness. His pack he attached to the side on the clips provided.
"Are you all set?" asked Zhanta.
"I think so." There was a note of apprehension in Donny's thought.
Without giving Donny any more time to think, Zhanta thrust upwards with his hind legs and gave a powerful down-beat with his wings that sent them soaring high into the air.
The thrust forced Donny deep into the padded seat. He gave an involuntary gasp then a wild shout of exultation. He was flying! He was actually flying on his own. This was nothing like the flight over on Sheena, as good as that had been it had no comparison with this!
Zhanta caught his mood and gave a great bellow. He began to show off, diving and swooping over the island while Donny shouted encouragement at him. For nearly an hour they played this way, until Zhanta, somewhat more somberly, suggested that they head for home.
"Do we have to, Zhanta?"
"I'm afraid so. I promised Max that we would return today. Mind you," he added, with a mischievous glint in his eye, "I didn't say what time we would be back!"
Donny gave a whoop of joy as they headed out over the sea and towards the mainland.
For the rest of the day, once they had crossed the sea, they spent their time exploring the land below them. When Zhanta became hungry he dropped Donny off and went hunting for haarls. A creature that, to a certain extent, resembled Earth cattle and were the main diet of the dragons.
When his hunger had been satisfied, they took off again and continued with their explorations.