Flying Hero Through The Mythological Land, 12/14/88

I'm the designated hero of a group, the first to attempt this feat. My task is to journey safely through a magical, metaphorical area. The place has the quality of an outdoor labyrinth. The eucalyptus trees grow in circles and invite the traveler to go inside as if they mark the beginning of some secret pathway. I avoid the first two clumps but my curiosity gets the better of me and I go into the third clump. As I suspected, the trees are mobile. They crowd around and close the exit behind me.

I'm not worried, however. I know I'm not trapped because I can fly. I rise up next to the tree trunks. These strange trees have no branches or leaves at their tops.

Now that I'm in the air above the land, it's a signal for the air-creatures to attack. There are three of them, shaped like squat dragons or pterodactyls. Avoiding them easily, I slip quickly between and away from the creatures. I rise far enough above to where they'd have trouble breathing the thin air and stand, watching them below me. Then something dark and heavy approaches from above, so I decide to head towards the earth.

I land on a high wall which separates the former part of the journey from the second stage. Some troll or griffin-like creatures are on the ground below, but there's only about three. I know that if I can get beyond them, I'll be home free.

I look down at my feet. Sneaking up the side of the wall is a dark, flat, blob-like creature, which has been pretending to be a shadow. Following the curves of the wall, it has bent over the edge and is just about to reach out and grab me by the foot when I glance at it. Then its edge flips up with an "Oops! I've been found out!" As I give it a raised eyebrow, the shadow blob scuttles back down the wall. From the same direction, a troll is climbing up the steep wall steps. Because it's only as tall as my knee, I feel that both critters are little nuisances, at best. But I'd rather not deal with them, so I hop/fly across the second area to the end of the trek.

Now I'm back at the kingdom, in a Great Hall with curtains pulled back to reveal my entrance. I am honored and congratulated on accomplishing my feat. Of course, the first question is, "How did you do it?"

"Oh, no, I won't tell," I say. "But I can tell you this: if I can do it, so can you!" This is because I want the people to realize that they have the ability to fly, too. I don't leave them high and dry, however.

In the last scene, I am with the group of mythological creatures. Most are quite little, waist-sized or smaller. I sense that a few, outside my vision are as tall or taller than I. But there is no feeling of fear or dread and this is what I want the people to know. I introduce the creatures, gesturing for them to go forward to meet the humans. The humans are crowded in a group. They are not afraid, just wide-eyed with curiosity.