In the annals zeppelin racing, there are few incidents as famous as the Atomic Age Zeppelin Race between the Pegasusand Wotansraven. Coincidentally, there are few boy adventurers as famous as Johnny Dangerfist, or as pathetic as his brother Lefty. The race, which spanned most of globe and the greater part of a fortnight, has been hailed as a triumph of our time and as one of the worst potential disasters of the modern era. There is little doubt that the careers of the great Captain Drake Daedalus or his nemesis, Baron Siegfried von Schmeck, would have been extremely different, and most probably much more boring, had they not undertaken this competition. Johnny and Lefty Dangerfist, next to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, Calvin and Hobbes, and Vladimir and Estragon seem to the casual eye to be unsuspecting heroes. It is sometimes impressive how observant the casual eye can be…. (begin story)
Johnny: Don't touch that Lefty, you might get killed!
Lefty: Well golly gee Johny, I was just try to help.
Johnny: Well don't, you know your left handed, don't you remember what happened at the textile factory!
Lefty: Gee johnny I was I was almost twelve.
Johnny: Well your not, your only nine.
***Lefty did in remember what happened at the textile factory, And Lefty offered no protest, he withdrew his hands and as if by reflex traced the smooth scars that zigzagged the backs his hands. Lefty knew he was of no use, he was left handed. Johnny, being almost twelve, pushed his brother out of the way and set about tinkering the mast bearings, Lefty, being only nine, wistfully looked on as his competent, right handed, older brother adjusted a rather large looking knot.***
First Mate: The mooring line is secure Captain Daedelus! Ready to debark!
Captain Drake Daedelus: Thank you Jeffries. Johnny, we're going to be docked at the Ed-dirigible for the next three hours. You and Lefty go aboard and get some food, try not to get into too much trouble. And I don't want you bringing back any more of that damn bubble gum onto my zeppelin, we seen more than enough Pterodactyls as it is.
Johnny: Aye Aye Captain! Lets go Lefty.
(steps, door opens)
Johnny headed down the gangplank in search of swashbuckling adventure. Lefty followed, on the lookout for soda and bubble gum.
As the brothers stomped down the bridge toward the expansive flight deck they noticed the fins of a black Zeppelin with silver trim protruding omionously from behind the Ed-derigible.
Look Johnny! A slingshot!
Where?
Right there, in the store window.
Oh golly gee Lefty, I've always wanted a sling slot.
Me too! Maybe they'll have one for left handed people.
(Hearty chuckle) Yes and perhaps one day there will be schools for left handed people as well. Lets go look at the slingshot.
(door opens)
Oh wow! a real Carnagie Slingshot, i saw one of these in the Sears Catalogue!
**I'm pretty sure We've written the conflict scene here, I remember writing the line "Not if Mr. Theodore Canagie has anything to say about it"**
Daedelus: Ah, I see you’ve met Baron Zigfried von Schmeck
Baron: I vant zat boy’z head Daedelus.
D: Well You cant have it. I have a better plan – A race, Baron. You have wanted one for years now. Here’s your chance. Once and for all, the best zeppelin in the skies.
B: Hah! Ze great Drake Daedelus finally vants a race? Dumbkopf! (mumbling in Germanish)
***Perhaps you would be vize to learn from a lesson from your father, Daedelus. (Hearty chuckle from his crew)...or from your son. (gasp followed by silence)*** (I think something like this might be relevant)
(Perhaps a rebuttal from Daedelus which brings back his credibility and chides the Baron)
And just vhere is zis race going to?
D: From San Francisco to New York.
B: Pazetic, we could be zere by noon.
D: Longways.
D: From San Francisco to New York.
B: Pazetic, we could be zere by noon.
D: Longways.
(crowd gasps)
B: Verdammt, you really vant zis race don’t you Daedelus? Fine, around ze vorld. (Dead son reference) Winner get’s ze other’s zeppelin no?
D: Agreed.
B: And ven does it start?
Door Slams
Sir Arnold Bettington: When I say so gentlemen.
Baron: Who iz zis bastard?
D: This "bastard" is Sir Arnold Beddington
Bettington: Thats Bettington Daedelus.
D: Whatever, which means that our race is now registered with "The Firm."
Btton: Hello Daedelus. I was informed there is a race to take place? You know the Firm handles all such matters. A race without bets is hardly a race. It’s a thing of honor old boy, something your father probably didn't teach you about, before he died, tragically.
B: Ah yes, ze infamous french alps explosion.
D: Shut it shmeck. Fine, you can have little game Sir Beddington, But the destinations stay the same.
Btton: And so the hand it dealt.
B: And ven do ve begin? My crew is eager to see New York (chuckles maliciously)
Btton: Tomorrow. 5pm. Treasure Island Zeppelin Port.
Both captains: Agreed.
D: Cmon Johnny, grab that brother of yours and lets get back to Pegasus.
Johnny: We’re havin’ a race? Oh boy! Are we going to win?
D: Only if you stop causing trouble.
B: Vat are you looking at?
B: I was just wondering, care for a game of whist?
(Door opens, misc steps…another door, sounds of zeppelin)
D: Jeffries! Prepare for cast off! Set course for San Francisco!
Music.
Narrator: The news of the race spread quickly. Bettington wired "the Firm" and soon its members worldwide were gathering to place their bets. In the few hours it took Pegasus to get to San Francisco, the city had been informed of the next day's excitement. The Wotansraven was well known to be Germany's fastest zeppelin, and Baron von Schmeck and his crew were equally well known. It was also suspected that they acted as freelance agents for Berlin. The world of zeppelin intrigue was in full swing.
Jeffries: Captain! San Francisco 10 degrees off the port bow, 5 miles out. Wind's from the west as usual, sir!
D: Thank you Jeffries. Secure that line! Watch out for gusts as we approach "the Slot."
Misc crewmember: "Aye aye captain"
J: Wow San Francisco! Ive never seen it! Look Lefty!
L: woooah
Jeffries: 50 feet and falling sir.
D: Excellent, secure the port side.
MCM: Secure!
D: Starboard side!
MCM: Secure!
D: Welcome to San Francisco lads.
(doors opening, props dying, general chatter)
J: Are we going into town?
D:I am going into town, YOU are staying on the zeppelin. Lefty too.
J: Ah shucks!
(Planes/zeppelins in the background, steps come up)
Tarkington: 'Ello Daedalus. Heard you got yourself in a bit of a scrape with a bloody Hun. Damn the Kaiser.
D: Tarkington! Coyne Tarkington. I was hoping I would find you here. What are exactly are you doing here?
T: Oh the usual, just selling some priceless mummified Siamese; Ming Dynasty, very difficult to find. Acquired these ones near Shanghai. Ming Dao the Second seemed eager to be rid of them. It was either me or the communists.
D: I can't imagine how you persuaded him.
T: Oh you know, the usual, my trusty shovel made him a deal he couldnt refuse. Hehe it reminds of this one incident in the Suez in '93. Damn Bedouin wouldnt...
D: Yes, thank you Coyne, I recall the story.
T: Right... Speaking of incidents, Flex Brawnmans here. Got in a fight with a grizzly at the zoo this morning. Poor bear, never saw it coming....
D: Well I need him Coyne, von Schmeck isnt schmucking around. He means business.
T: I think I know where we can find him.
-----
(clock ticking)
J: Im bored.
L: They've only been gone 5 minutes Johnny. Want some bubblegum?
J: Whered you get that bubblegum Lefty?
L: My pocket.
J: Captain Daedalus told us not bring any back to the zeppelin.
L: Oh yea.
J:They've been gone an awful long time. Should we go look for them? Maybe they need us? Klaus wouldnt have stayed at the zeppelin. Lets go after them.
L: Johnny, Captain Daedalus told us to stay here.
J: Yea, but he didnt tell what to do in an emergency Lefty.
L: Should we tell Jeffries?
J: No, he went to the maintenance office.
Narrator: What Johnny referred to as
The evening of edition of the Chronicle was headlined: "American zeppelin crew faces off with the Kaiser's finest!
Next time on Johnny Dangerfist! The Atomic Age Zeppelin Race begins but treachery is afoot! (something) in San Francisco!
No comments:
Post a Comment