“And Artoo crashed through a drift,” Threepio remembered. “Poor Artoo!”
“Then the trees grew leaves,” Forbee-X went on. “Flowers bloomed. Evidence of spring, correct? And now, look around. The leaves are full and green. The fruit is ripe, and the grass is long. Summer.”
“But how could the seasons go by so fast?” Stuart asked. “They last for months back home.”
“I don’t know yet,” Forbee-X said. “But when you try to solve a puzzle, you start with what you know. Let’s look at how the seasons work on a planet like Delantine.”
“Okay, that explains how we get one season, but how do we get the others?” Stuart asked.
“How about another diagram?” Forbee-X asked.
“You see?” Forbee-X continued. “On Delantine, the whole orbit takes a year — just over 365 days. But to get the speeded-up seasons we’re seeing here, this planet would have to make one whole orbit between sunrise and sunset. It would then make another whole orbit overnight.”
“That sounds impossible,” Stuart objected.
“My calculations agree with you,” Forbee-X said. “But you can’t argue with reality, Stuart. Observation is the scientist’s best friend.”
“This is some hyper-wacky planet,” Stuart said as he tucked the lizard back in the sling.
“Yes, it is,” Threepio agreed. “I can’t wait to leave it.”
The sun traveled across the sky as they floated, keeping them warm despite a gathering chill. Stuart kept watch anxiously, sure that around the next bend the city would appear.
Artoo gave a series of chirps and whirrs, and Forbee-X and Threepio both glanced at the riverbank.
“What did he say?” Stuart asked, stroking with his paddle.
“It’s fall,” Threepio said. “Look, the leaves have changed color.”
“Animals adapt to seasonal changes, too,” Forbee-X said. “Some animals grow a heavier fur coat to keep themselves warm in winter. Other animals hibernate, sleeping through winter. Birds sometimes migrate — they fly to warmer places during the cold winter months. Often, they travel in groups called —”
“Flocks!” Stuart guessed. “The birds that attacked us came from the south. Maybe they were migrating north for the summer.”
“Excellent deduction, Stuart,” Forbee-X approved.
“So they don’t live around here?” Threepio asked. “That’s reassuring, I must say.”
“Wait a second,” Stuart said. “If they migrated north in spring, wouldn’t they migrate back south again?”
“Very good, Stuart,” Forbee-X said. “I would say that is exactly what they would do.”
“So, wouldn’t they migrate in the fall?” Stuart continued.
“Ah,” Forbee-X said. “An excellent, if somewhat disturbing, deduction.”
“Oh, dear,” Threepio said. “I think I see what you’re getting at.”
They drifted with the current for a moment. All was eerily quiet. Everyone scanned the sky nervously.
Then Threepio heard it. A distant caw caw that sounded terribly familiar.
“Stuart, don’t let that —” Threepio began frantically. But it was too late. The lizard suddenly popped its head out of Stuart’s sling and began to screech again!
“Throw that creature overboard!” Threepio yelled over the sound of the lizard.
But it was too late.
The great wings of the birds beat steadily, carrying them swiftly toward the group. The sky grew black with their numbers. And this time, there was nowhere to hide.
Threepio frantically dug his paddle into the river. Stuart still had his paddle raised above the water as he struggled to keep the lizard in the sling. The boat swung wildly to the left, toward the middle of the river.
“Stop, Threepio!” Forbee-X shouted. The boat began to turn in a circle. “We’re going nowhere!”
Artoo chirped insistently.
“He said it’s too late —” Forbee-X began.
“— so we should —” Threepio continued.
“— protect Stuart —” Forbee-X interrupted.
“— by covering him with our bodies!” Threepio got out in a frantic rush.
They could hear the rush of wind as the great wings of the birds beat steadily, coming nearer. Stuart threw himself on the bottom of the boat. Artoo’s arms shot out, and he suspended himself over Stuart’s head. Threepio arranged himself over Stuart, trying to protect as much of the boy’s body as he could. Finally, Forbee-X’s arms and feet elongated and planted on the bottom of the boat, suspending her over them all.
“Let them try to attack us now!” Forbee-X said grimly.
Threepio was glad Stuart was protected, but he felt terribly exposed. If he got through this adventure without needing a new casing, he’d be lucky. That is, if the birds’ sharp beaks didn’t penetrate his circuits and put him out of commission altogether!
The great birds swooped down on them. Threepio felt sharp claws deliver a deep scratch down his flank.
“Oh, dear!” he moaned.
“Oh, deeeeeaarrrr!” Forbee-X suddenly screamed as she rose three feet off the boat. The bird had grabbed her with its claws, and was strong enough to carry her away!
“Nooooooo!” Threepio screamed. He grabbed onto Forbee-X’s dangling foot. “Let her go, you overgrown feathered beast!”
“Ohhhhhhh!” Forbee-X yelled as the bird began to rise.
“Heeellllppp!” Threepio screamed as he began to rise with her. The bird was even more powerful than he imagined. But he refused to let go of Forbee-X’s foot. He wouldn’t let the bird take her away!
Forbee-X managed to work both her arms free. They lengthened until her long fingers could grasp the edges of the boat. Startled, the bird loosened its grip. Forbee crashed down into the boat again, taking Threepio with her.
“Good work, Forbee!” Threepio panted. “That was clos-ohhhhh!”
The boat tilted alarmingly, almost spilling them backward into the river. The bird had gripped the bow of the boat. Threepio saw water inches from his face. Then another huge bird swooped down and stretched its claws around the stem. The two birds then carried the boat between them, up into the air. Forbee-X gripped the sides of the boat, stabilizing the craft.
“Whoooaaaa!” Threepio screamed as they rose, higher and higher.
“What’s happening? What’s happening?” Stuart shouted. From his position on the bottom of the boat, he couldn’t see a thing.
“We appear to be flying,” Forbee-X answered. “I think you can all sit up now. We’re fine.”
“Considering we’re in a tiny scrap of metal being carried by two ravenous flying beasts,” Threepio said nervously.
Stuart peered over the side of the boat. “I just hope they don’t drop us. We’ve left the river. It would be a hard landing.”
“Please don’t even mention the possibility,” Threepio said.
“Don’t worry,” Forbee-X said. “These birds are excellent flying machines.”
“You may remember lift as the force that kept our escape pod in the air as Stuart piloted us in for our emergency landing,” Forbee-X explained. “Each bird’s inner wing has a shape similar to that of the pod’s wings.”
“You see, it’s this basic shape, called an airfoil, that creates lift,” Forbee-X continued.
“That’s marvelous news,” Threepio approved. “As long as it keeps us in the air, that is.”
Artoo beeped and whirred.
“Good question, Artoo,” Forbee-X said. “And we’re in luck. The direction we’re traveling in is south. Exactly where we want to go!”
“And we’ll get there faster this way,” Stuart said, peering over the side again. The boat rocked a bit when he shifted his weight.
“Please don’t do that, Master Stuart!” Threepio begged. “I was finally able to pretend I was riding in a nice, stable airspeeder.”
Stuart carefully settled himself back in the bottom of the craft. “Why do you think the birds took us, Forbe
e?”
“Do we really need to know?” Threepio asked comfortably. “This is so much more pleasant than hiking. Let’s watch this glorious sunset.”
“I’m afraid we should be prepared for the answer to Stuart’s question,” Forbee-X said thoughtfully. “I can think of two reasons why the birds took us. One, for nest building.”
“Nest building?” Threepio asked doubtfully. “But we’re not terribly comfortable. All this metal. Even I wouldn’t want to nest on me.”
“Birds scavenge all kinds of things for nests,” Forbee-X explained. “And we don’t know the habits of these particular birds. They might make complicated structures. But I think it’s more likely that they consider us a possible food source. When we get back to their nests, they’ll discover that the droids are quite inedible.”
“What will they do with us?” Threepio asked in alarm.
“Discard us, most likely,” Forbee-X answered. “From a very significant height, I’m sure. Stuart, on the other hand, will make a tasty treat.”
“Uh, thanks, Forbee,” Stuart said. He looked green. “All of a sudden, I don’t feel so good.”
“Don’t worry, Stuart,” Forbee-X said, beaming a cheerful yellow at him. “We’re not licked yet.”
Artoo beeped several times.
“That’s right, Artoo!” Threepio said. “We forgot about the parachute! Maybe we should fasten it to the boat, just in case the birds get tired of carrying us.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Forbee-X agreed. “It must be in one of the supply packs.”
Stuart reached down to pick up a pack. But before he could open it, they heard a loud angry caw above them. A fellow bird, larger and stronger than the birds that carried the boat, suddenly dived at the bird carrying the bow. Its beak tore into the smaller bird’s flesh.
“I’m afraid our birds are under attack,” Forbee-X said, just as the predator rammed into the smaller bird again, shaking the boat. Forbee-X gripped the boat more tightly, trying to stabilize the craft. Then the bird that was carrying the bow loosened its grip, and the boat tipped to one side.
“Maybe we should do something about that parachute,” Forbee-X called nervously.
“Too late!” Threepio screamed as the bird dropped the bow completely. “We’re going down!”
The boat tilted alarmingly, almost spilling them out. But the bird who had been carrying the bow lunged and grabbed it again just in time. The boat stabilized as the carrier birds beat their wings in unison and cawed furiously, protecting their treasure.
But the attacking bird didn’t fly away. With a ferocious cry, it dove toward the smaller bird once again. The predator tore at the bird’s flesh while the smaller bird tried to defend itself with its sharp beak. The bird’s mate at the stern screeched a warning.
“Oh, my!” Forbee-X yelled over the crying of the three birds. “I had no idea these birds would fight over us!”
Threepio felt paralyzed with fear. Every time the boat tipped, he saw blue sky rush up at him. The ground tilted crazily far, far below.
Stuart scrambled frantically through the supply packs. “I can’t find the parachute!”
“Attack coming in toward the rear!” Forbee-X’s screen flashed crazily. “Hang on!”
This time, the attacking bird chose to assault the bird at the stern. Claws outstretched, beak open, it struck again and again in a frenzied attack. The predator dug its claws into the neck of the smaller bird.
The craft tilted as the smaller bird tried to twist away. Then, shrieking, it began to dive, and the bird carrying the bow followed.
Wind whistled past the craft as it plummeted hundreds of feet in seconds. Stuart yelled and Threepio screamed as the boat tilted crazily.
Then the two carrier birds stabilized, their wings flapping furiously.
“Whew,” Stuart said. “That was close.”
“As close as I ever want to get to falling,” Threepio said. He peeked down at the ground. Through the dusk, he could just make out the terrain. “It looks like sand.”
Stuart peeked over, too. “And spiny plants. Ouch!”
“At least we’re at a lower altitude,” Forbee-X said. “Just in case we’re dropped.”
“Please don’t say that,” Threepio moaned. “I’m sure the other bird has given up. But just in case, Stuart, find that parachute!”
“Here it comes again!” Forbee-X shouted.
Claws outstretched, the predator dropped on top of the back of the bird holding the bow. The attacker’s claws ripped into the smaller bird’s flesh and stayed there. With a shriek of pain, the carrier bird dropped the boat and took off, with the predator still pecking and clawing at its body.
Now the boat hung straight down, suspended from the claws of the bird holding the stern. The droids and Threepio held onto the sides, their feet dangling in midair. Forbee-X managed to catch one of the supply boxes with her toes, but the rest rained down onto the land below.
“Eeeeeeeee!” Threepio screamed.
“Let’s just hope the other bird doesn’t let goooooooooooo!” Forbee-X screamed as the bird suddenly dropped the boat and flew off.
They only had time to feel sheer terror as the ground rushed up at them. Dots of color turned into plants. Smudges of gray turned into rocks.
Threepio closed his eyes. He pictured his metal body scattered over the landscape. A golden arm here, a shiny foot there.
And then they landed with an oof and a squish.
A squish?
Cautiously, Threepio opened his eyes. They had landed on a huge plant!
“What is this thing?” Stuart asked.
Forbee-X scratched at the plant, her screen flashing with data. “It’s a succulent,” she said. “It’s adapted to dry desert conditions. This thick skin helps the plant store water. That’s what saved us.”
“Well, I’m very grateful to it,” Threepio said fervently. “It saved us from a ghastly end, I’m sure.”
Stuart unzipped his survival suit to check on the lizard. It lay against his body, its eyes closed as though it were asleep.
“It’s getting dark,” Forbee-X said worriedly. “I suggest we locate as many supplies as we can.”
The boat and many of the boxes had also landed on or near the plant. Stuart and the droids canvassed the area and found most of the supplies. They gathered them and stacked them by the boat, then wearily climbed into it for shelter.
Stuart shivered. “It’s awfully cold. I thought deserts were hot, Forbee.”
“Look up at the sky,” Forbee-X instructed.
The first stars of evening were beginning to twinkle. They looked bright against the deepening blue of the sky.
“No clouds,” Forbee-X said. “Deserts have very little cloud cover. That’s what causes them to change temperature rapidly. They can reach temperatures of well over a hundred degrees during the day, then lose up to eighty of those degrees at night.”
“That’s exactly what Tatooine is like,” Threepio said. “What a ghastly planet. It’s either too hot or too cold.”
Artoo beeped his agreement.
“The worst is that there is no shade, either,” Threepio complained. “You could fry a kroyie egg on my shell.”
“In the desert, not only is there little shade from plant life, there is little shade from clouds,” Forbee-X agreed. “Most of the sun’s rays reach the ground, making temperatures soar higher. Then, at night, there are no clouds to act as insulation.”
“Insulation?” Stuart asked. “Could you explain that, Forbee?”
“Do you think she’d actually say no?” Threepio murmured. Artoo beeped at him, warning him to be nice.
“I’d be delighted, Stuart.” Forbee-X beamed a cheerful yellow screen. “Simply put, insulation is something that keeps heat in — or out. If you lie in bed in a cold room, the heat travels from your body into the cold air around you. You get chilly. A blanket would act as insulation, keeping more heat in your body.”
“Blanket!” Threepio
exclaimed. “Artoo, we must find that parachute for Stuart.”
Artoo and Threepio began to dig through the supply boxes.
“On the other hand,” Forbee-X continued, “if you carry a cold drink outside on a hot day, heat travels from the hot air into the cold liquid. Soon, your drink is warm. A thermos would act as insulation, keeping the heat out of your cold drink.”
“Can we go back to the part about keeping heat in?” Stuart asked, shivering.
“Certainly,” Forbee-X answered brightly. “At night, a layer of clouds acts much like a blanket. It keeps more heat in the air near the ground. But in a desert, the heat easily travels upward, away from the ground.”
“Here it is!” Threepio cried, flourishing the spun-carbon parachute. “It may not have saved us from that nasty fall, but it might keep you warm, Stuart.” He drew the parachute around Stuart, but the boy continued to shiver.
Artoo reached down into the bottom of the boat and brought up the scrap metal he’d stored. Then he beeped and whistled at Threepio, who handed him the tools.
“I don’t know what you’re going to do with those,” Threepio stated. “You can’t make another blanket out of scrap metal.”
“I’m worried about the lizard,” Stuart said. “I don’t know if he can survive the cold.”
“I’m more worried about you, Master Stuart,” Threepio fussed.
Stuart shivered. “I can stand it for a few hours. Isn’t spring a few hours away, Forbee?”
“Not during the night, I’m afraid,” Forbee-X told him. “The seasons are caused by sunlight. We only see the changes during the day. The nights would still be very cold. You’ll have to wait until morning until you’re warm again.”
Stuart groaned.
“The temperatures will be very hot for travel tomorrow,” Forbee-X continued. “We’ll have to rest often.”