Lightning struck straight into the carpet and blue sparks ran across Gamayun’s steel feathers. I moved closer to Lumumba. “What altitude are we at?” “Seven hundred to eight hundred elbows,” the pieces of ice tinkled in his beard. “Can we go lower?” “The speed will drop.” Vanka, lying on the edge, moaned quietly: he was getting seasick. “Oh, young and green,” the teacher rubbed his hands. - So be it, I’ll spare you the pain. AYB BEN GIM! And we found ourselves in a cabin with portholes. A propeller rattled comfortably overhead, and a blue screen lit up on the wall. “Ships lie broken, chests stand open...” sang a beautiful mermaid. “Eskimo?” - asked the mentor. Vanka and I nodded joyfully, and Gamayun, licking her lips predatorily, came closer. “Suddenly a wizard will fly in…” Lumumba purred, sitting at the helm.