Airborn

Kate wants to explore. Matt attempts to dissuade her, but Kate points out that he would struggle to physically stop her. She wishes to find the bones of the newborn creature her grandfather saw plummet. Matt attempts to call her bluff, assuming she will return when he fails to follow her. When she plunges into the foliage anyway, he chases after her. He continues to cajole her to return, citing wild animals, but Kate dismisses each potential predator he lists; based on her extensive reading on the area, Matt has not named any native species. She pauses at his suggestion that there might be native people on the island, but forges ahead, citing a duty “to science.” Reluctantly, Matt follows, hoping Kate soon tires of this quest.

The day grows hotter, but Kate’s zeal holds steady. Matt reminds her that he will need to return soon for his shift. Kate dismissively tells him he can return whenever he wishes, which frustrates him. He quizzes her on the return direction, which she fails to identify. They discuss Matt’s greater comfort in the sky than on land, which he clarifies is not precisely fear.

Despite Kate’s previous assertion that there would be no snakes on the island, they are suddenly pursued by a red snake, its coloring suggesting it is venomous. The snake chases them in astonishingly fast leaps, and they climb a tree to escape it. In the tree, they encounter an enormous skeleton that looks like Molloy’s drawings, its bones extremely light. The two marvel at how a creature that large could fly. Kate, overwhelmed by this proof of her grandfather’s sanity, cries.

Kate makes Matt promise to return with gear to document the find, telling him to inform nobody about their discovery, as she worries she will either be forbidden from returning or have the find taken from her. Matt protests that Walken is a “fair man,” but ultimately agrees. Kate begins to dream of disproving the Zoological Society, leaving Matt to wonder where he features in her narrative.

They return to the ship to find Miss Simpkins frantic that Kate is missing. Miss Simpkins accuses Matt of “forcing his attentions” on Kate, which Kate protests, insisting she asked Matt to accompany her. The captain is understanding even though Matt is late for duty, an offense that is normally serious. He tells Matt that the Aurora has enough hydrium to lift off once repairs are completed.

Matt aids in the “backbreaking work” of removing heavy objects from the ship to make it light enough to fly again, frustrated when passengers interrupt them to bemoan abandoning their possessions. Crew and passengers unite, however, in their excitement when the lightened Aurora lifts off the sand. Though there are more repairs to be done, the captain gives the crew the evening off, earning him praise from his subordinates. They enjoy a delicious meal made from fish caught in the lagoon.

Matt converses with Kate, growing flustered when she compliments Doc Halliday’s looks. She shows him a book that indicates the small snake who chased them is not poisonous. After dinner, Kate urges Matt to return for the skeleton despite his reluctance. She grows annoyed when he demurs, threatening to go with Bruce until Matt calls her bluff. He agrees to go with her the next morning, despite knowing it is a bad decision. He retires to bed, where he is plagued by restless dreams about being tethered to land.

The next morning, Kate photographs the skeleton. Matt tries to ignore Kate’s practical but unconventional choice to wear a short tennis dress with bare legs as she measures the different parts of the skeleton. They speculate whether the creatures live on land, both finding it unlikely. They dismantle and pack the skeleton in a carpet bag, wrapping the delicate bones in Kate’s clothing, which embarrasses Matt. Matt is mindful of the time and worried about being late for duty again, but Kate cares only for the skeleton.

Kate chatters about extinct animals, making Matt dwell on all the things he will never get the chance to read. She compares Matt to the creatures, commenting that they are both “born in the air” (184). She promises to mention his contributions in the scholarly article she plans to write about the bones, which she says will help him attend university. Matt surprises her by saying he has no wish to attend university; he just wants to fly airships. He is pleased with her indignant reaction when he tells his tale of being usurped as junior sailmaker by Bruce. Kate says he “must” attend the Air Academy, heedless of the financial limitations that make this impossible for Matt.

Matt observes that it is the day the Aurora is due to arrive in Sydney. When they fail to do so, people will worry. Kate suggests that her parents, who pay her little attention, will only feign worry. She laments that her parents wish her to be less bold. He explains how he came to be a cabin boy on the Aurora after his father’s death. She shows Matt a photograph of her grandfather as a child, eager for Matt to see the similarities between them.

Just as they prepare to return to the Aurora, they hear a loud shriek. They freeze, realizing one of the mysterious creatures has alighted in their tree. Kate, eager to get a photograph, pursues the creature as it flees from tree to tree. They realize the creature’s left wing cannot fully extend; it cannot fly. It is the creature Molloy saw fall.

The two chatter excitedly about their discovery as they return to the Aurora, already late. Kate marvels at the creature’s survival while Matt laments that the flightless creature is alone. Kate’s excitement about the bones is diminished, replaced by the disappointment that she did not get a good photograph of the living creature. She insists they call the creature “she,” annoyed by the assumption it was a male. Matt contends that it is perhaps best they did not get too close to the creature, as she could have attacked them. Kate seems surprised by the possibility. Matt begins to think of the creatures as “cloud cats,” though he does not say this out loud, fearing Kate will mock him for its simplicity. He suddenly feels a storm approaching and races for the beach, worried about how this will affect the Aurora.

The storm hits them quickly, making their dash for the beach perilous. Soon they are forced to take shelter in a small cave. Matt pulls out the compass he rarely needs to consult, immediately reorienting himself. He frets about the Aurora, confessing that if he does not have the ship, he fears his unhappiness will “catch up with” him (202). The storm quiets and they realize there is a hissing coming from inside the cave. They resume their trek to the beach, the smell of mangoes—the same scent as hydrium—permeating the air.

When they reach the beach, the Aurora is deflated. Walken looks disappointed with Matt. Baz confirms that the Aurora is in dire straits and warns Matt about getting involved with a first-class passenger. Matt protests that he is merely helping Kate travel the island, but cannot explain what they found, bound by his promise to Kate. Walken calls a meeting in which the bleakness of their situation is confirmed: their radio is broken, they are far off their original route, and their hopes of rescue are slim. They plan to explore the island, with Matt (who is laughed at by the crew for his dereliction of duty) as part of the exploratory crew.

Bruce suggests turning what remains of the Aurora’s hydrium and undamaged hull into a hot air balloon so that a small group can be sent for help. The wireless officer suggests this may help increase the radio signal if they can repair the transmitter. Though Walken is distressed at the idea of “cannibalizing” the Aurora, he agrees this is the best course of action. Only Vlad, the chef, is cheerful; the island’s natural bounty presents him with an exciting culinary challenge.

Matt hauls water, wondering if the difficult, solitary task is punishment, angry with both Kate and himself for going along with her scheme. Just as sailmakers are about to cut into the Aurora, Matt realizes the hissing sound combined with the scent of mangoes indicates hydrium on the island. He suggests they use rubber hosing (removed the previous day from the cargo hold) to pump the hydrium from the cave to the Aurora. Walken commends Matt on his luck and quick thinking.

To Matt’s relief, the chief sailmaker, Mr. Levy, confirms his theory: there is hydrium in the cave and the Aurora won’t be “butchered.” The crew toasts Matt over dinner; Vlad serves Matt’s favorite dinner, though he jokes that he “should be angry” (220) for denying him the chance to cook with the island’s ingredients. He enjoys a hopeful evening, though night brings more nightmares of falling and being earthbound.

Matt cannot fall back asleep after his nightmares. He enters the “projectionists’ booth” (a small movie theater) and watches Gilgamesh by the “Lumière triplets,” a film about a “half man, half animal who falls from the sky” (223). (The Lumière triplets are a fictionalized version of real-world cinematographers Auguste and Louis Lumière, whose third was Georges Méliès, no relation.) He is enthralled by the film until Gilgamesh falls, caught at the last moment from plunging to his death. Matt, thinking of his own father’s fall to his death, weeps.

The next day, Matt works on the makeshift hydrium pipeline. He is relieved not to see Kate, who is closely guarded by Miss Simpkins, worried he would not be able to resist her if she asked him to explore again. When the hose is in place, Matt watches the Aurora, despite knowing it will be hours before the increase in hydrium makes a visible difference. Later, on the ship, he encounters an outraged Miss Simpkins waving one of the creatures’ recovered bones, pursued by a shouting Kate. Walken summons Kate, Matt, and Miss Simpkins to his cabin.

Miss Simpkins wails about Kate’s inappropriate interest in archaeologic zoology and promises to confine Kate to the stateroom until they depart the island. Kate pleads with the captain to intervene, but Walken opines that he would prefer everyone stay near the ship, lest they miss favorable winds due to an absence. When Miss Simpkins attempts to blame Matt for Kate’s antics, Walken argues that Matt, in discovering the hydrium, saved them. Kate and Miss Simpkins leave. Walken dismisses Matt’s apology and urges him to focus on repairing the ship.

Later, when Matt goes outside to check on the Aurora’s inflation, Kate sends paper airplane notes out the stateroom window, begging him to aid her escape so they can photograph the creature. Frustrated with Kate’s failure to understand his responsibilities, Matt walks away.