Airship Stowaway

Stranded

Joanna awoke to the sound of aero engines running up to takeoff thrust. She shook her head, confused. The altitude combined with the food and the stress of the morning had made her nod off. It was late afternoon, and the sun sent long beams through the windows. She sat up on the bench, slightly dazed. Then she suddenly realised what the sound of the engines meant. 

She jumped up and ran for the door, dashing through the canteen and out onto the roof. She was just in time to see Lotus Flower lift off the pad, engines roaring, and turn smoothly to the west, climbing all the while. 

Joanna ran madly after the departing airship, arms waving, screaming and crying in frustration. She finally collapsed at the edge of the pad as the airship dwindled from view, cradling her head in her hands. She felt as if the world had ended. She was stranded in a strange place thousands of miles from home. 

How long she remained sitting there, she couldn't have said. It was as if her misery was an entire world unto itself, and it consumed her utterly. There was nothing else, not even time. 

At some point an awareness of time passing returned, and with it sensations of the wind in her hair, and sun on her face. She looked around slowly. Lopsang stood a few paces away. 

"Joseph, I am so sorry. We did not know that he was planning to leave. We will find another way for you to get home."

She nodded. It didn't matter; she felt completely wrung out, incapable of feeling anything. 

"Something will come up. In the meantime, you must stay with us."

"Thank you," she replied mechanically. She felt as she were drifting, at the mercy of forces much greater than herself, and much too tired to fight them. 

Lopsang continued. "It is a bit late in the day to find you a dorm. You'll sleep here tonight, and we'll find you a more permanent place in the morning."

After more strange food for supper, Lopsang left her alone in the elaborately decorated room, which, she was informed, was usually reserved for visiting lamas. Joanna lay awake for hours, feeling very alone and out of place, but eventually she fell into a restless sleep. 

Dawn light awoke her, and she left her cosy bedding and shuffled across the cold stone floor to the veranda that ran across the front of the guest quarters. 

She leaned her arms on the veranda's railing, and looked out in wonder. The view was to the west, looking down the valley that held the city of Lhasa, flanked by mountain ranges to the north and south. The sun rising behind the palace bathed the mountains in a soft peach glow. Dawn mists wreathed the valley below, and the haze of distance smoothed the rough crags of the far-off ranges into soft curves. 

She had never seen anything so beautiful. 

As she stared at the view, feeling its majesty seep into her soul, she became gradually aware of a quiet presence at her side. She turned to see the calm face of Lopsang. 

The monk smiled. "Thank you", he said. 

Confusion filled her mind. "Thank me? For what?"

The old monk's eyes sparkled as he turned his gaze to the view. "For this. I walk past this view every day, but never look at it, never see it. You have shown it to me again, and reminded me of my first morning here, many years ago."

Lopsang pointed to the end of the southern mountain range. "Off in that direction is the Himalayas, and Everest." It was as if he was seeing all the way to that distant mountain.

His calm smile lingered a moment longer, then he became more brisk. "Here, drink this," he said, handing over a warm stone mug. "It's tea."

She accepted the mug gratefully. The tea was rich, sweet, and spicy. "Will I be going home today?"

The monk turned to her and laid a hand on her forearm, his calm face showing concern, and regret. "I am sorry to say, but no. Not today. Rasmussen has gone, and we do not have anyone who would be able to journey with you, should you leave."

Fear stabbed at her heart, and she felt a longing to see Aeropolis again. The beautiful view was suddenly alien and strange, and frightening. She thought of her mother again. Tears welled up in her eyes. 

The monk gripped her arm more firmly, and he looked directly into her eyes. "Do not be afraid. In time we will find the solution to this problem, and in the meantime you are our guest, and we will take care of you."

The monk's calmness, and the strength of his purpose, seemed to flow through the firm grip on her arm, and she felt the fear diminish. "Thank you."

She stared out at the view again. It still appeared alien and strange, but she could feel a glimmer of the wonder she had felt when she first saw it, before she had started worrying about the future. Living in the now wasn't easy. But she could see that it worked. She resolved to try harder. 

"What are we going to do today?"

The monk smiled. "Let us find you another place to stay. Go and gather your things, and we will go down to the boys' dormitory in the monastery itself."