Free Cloud Riders by Don Hurst Page B

you could imagine yourself riding another cloud,” Reshape, now an ostrich, said, as it lowered its head and became a large goldfish, about the size of an elephant.
    Below them were clouds, each a potential ride.
    Reshape flash-changed into a golden flying octopus, tentacles flailing up and down as if wings to keep it aloft. From what Paul could see, none of the other clouds could change shape quite the same as Reshape.
    Far ahead Vicki again haunted Paul with her laugh. Then, from a far direction that defied location, she screamed. A fist of panic squeezed Paul's stomach. “Vicki!” he cried out. “Go fast, Silk, toward—"
    "Toward sister's scream, Master?"
    "Of course!” Paul yelled at his cloud ride. “Where else?"
    "You are the navigator, Master."
    "Do you know what direction to go?"
    "I go in the direction I go, Master. Is Master giving Silk a riddle?"
    "Find Vicki is the direction to go. Okay, Silk?"
    "I am puzzled, Master. Am I unworthy? Do you wish another cloud ride to replace Silk, Master? I love to please my master, Master."
    "You are totally worthy, Silk. I'm pleased to have you as my ride. I'm just trying to get you to set our course toward Vicki.” He thought a moment, and then said, “I order you to understand me. Please."
    "I please you, Master! Joy and pleasure fill me. Thank you."
    Will spoke quietly, Blanch keeping pace with Paul and Isno's rides. “Not to interrupt, mate. But are you saying your cloud doesn't know where we're going, like?” He held up his hand in a gesture of apology. “Don't mean to interrupt, but shouldn't someone know where we're going?” He pressed his lips tight together. “I've been up here riding Blanch for five years and never knew where I was going, don't you know. Going nowhere, for five years, all by myself, weren't I. Now I'm with your lot kind of, and still don't—"
    "Will, we're going in the direction our clouds take us. So we have a direction, okay? We just don't know exactly what that direction is."
    "I go in the direction Master tells me. Master is so funny."
    Defeated. How could Paul navigate when the direction of Vicki's scream seemed indefinable? When one didn't know where a sound originated, finding it could be a matter of mostly luck. “Silk, couldn't you figure out where Vicki's scream came from?"
    "We fly there now, Master. May I continue?" Her flight remained uninterrupted or altered in any way.
    Paul glanced over at Isno in time to see him lift his head and spring to his feet, legs braced, his claws digging into Huff's surface. “Human my! Bump we!” He bared his long fangs and blew out an open-mouthed hiss. “Out look!"
    They headed toward a massive golden cloud stretched across the sky like a giant pillow without their cloud rides slowing.
    "Blimey!” Will confirmed Isno's reaction in a loud voice.
    Paul gritted his teeth and prepared for the cloud crash.
    Will put his arm over his eyes and Isno did the same with his front paws.
    Paul held his breath and listened warily for any sound of Vicki coming from within, his face set for the collision, eyes wide and unprotected. Sound from deep inside the sun-reflected billow horrified him; the sound of Vicki's distant voice, distinct and terrified.
    "Paulie! Help me!"
    Adrenalin flooded Paul's muscles, readying him for whatever he had to endure to save her. Nothing else remained as important, not his companions, nor saving the solar system.
    Will pressed his body into Blanch so tightly he looked as though he might be absorbed into his ride.
    Isno dug his claws even deeper into Huff, arched his back and screeched in his best catfight voice.
    "Reshape! Can't you help us?” Paul called without looking back. No answer.
    Silk didn't slow her speed as she neared the golden barrier. What now? If the cloud's makeup proved as dense as it looked, they were all about to impact in a cloud crunch. He lowered his head and shut his eyes.
    They pushed into the gigantic cloud pillow as smoothly as fish entering