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Captain Kirk rides again!
Jim stared at Commander Spock’s
tall, gaunt figure, high on a granite spire, spreading his arms
to the wind as if he had wings.
Jim had no time to consider,
no time to explain, no time to even think.
”Lindy! Look out!”
He ran toward Athene. He stepped just wrong on his right leg,
hearing the twist and snap of the joint but barely feeling it,
anyway it did not matter, one more step and he lunged over Athene’s
hindquarters and onto her back and propelled her forward with
his heels and his voice. Lindy jumped away with a shout of surprise.
Athene plunged into a rough gallop. She, too, favored one knee.
Jim clutched her mane. Her wings spread and rose and beat. She
lurched into the air. Her feathers brushed against him from ankle
to shoulder. He wished he had flown on Athene, not just ridden
her. He wished Athene liked him better. He wished he had a bridle.
He leaned into a turn. Athene
responded, flying toward Spock. The Vulcan looked exhausted and
confused and at the limits of his strength. He wavered.
Athene swooped past him. As
Spock‘s legs buckled, Jim grabbed him by one arm. Spock
fell against Athene’s side. The extra weight and the abrupt,
awkward change made her falter. Her wings hesitated, then pounded
harder as she struggled to remain in the air.
Jim barely kept his seat.
Though Spock weighed little, the low gravity did not diminish
his mass, his inertia. Jim had no leverage. Leaning sideways
with his arm extended against Athene’s flank, he dragged
Spock along. He clamped his legs to Athene’s side. Pain
stabbed through his knee.
”Commander Spock! Dammit,
give me some help!”
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