Chapter 13
“I suppose it is beautiful,” Lina said. She scanned the horizon, with its thick puffy clouds all around, some of the wisps even making their way over the side deck to curl around her feet before being carried away on the breeze.
Lina basked in the warm sun from high above and just behind. She was transported back to the carefree days of her youth—a time when her only task was to absorb the knowledge and history that was passed down from Mentor to her. And that, at least as far as Lina’s mentor was concerned, included the traditional art of cloud skimming.
Lina had learned the basic principles of steering, and the science at work that kept them afloat on the clouds. She understood how Mentor’s series of tacking maneuvers, alternately dipping the port and starboard mainsails, allowed them to effectively sail directly into the wind using a zigzag path. Taking this course on the way out meant they could have a more leisurely time heading back in, simply letting the skimmer drift.