“We’d love to,” David said as he strapped the two‑person glowstone pack onto Michael. With it, Michael and Benny could rise together up to Skyland, where Christy was waiting to help pull them safely down to the ledge.

Benny sat there, strapped in like a person ready to fly.

“He’s ready,” David said.

“Let’s do it!” Michael shouted as he jumped with Benny. Without any weight‑rocks, the two of them shot upward way over the top of Bowl Top Mountain waving at Christy as they sailed past Skyland’s ledge.

   David leapt after them, rising fast to meet them as they began descending. He guided their fall with a gentle push, steering them toward Christy so they would land safely beside her.

   They touched down perfectly, and Benny immediately jumped up on Christy, tail wagging wildly. Christy laughed as she pulled David toward the ledge to land beside them.

“This is what I planned,” David said. “You guys saw the red ribbon.”

Michael nodded. “Yes, we did all right. It flew by and hit us! The darn seahawk, I think, was moving.”

David paused, the pieces finally clicking together in his mind Christy’s shooting star, the red ribbon, the strange screech. “A bird,” he said slowly.

“Yes, a fast one,” Michael replied. “He screeched so loudly Benny climbed into a stump he found.”

“Must’ve been loud,” Christy said.

“Well, I’ll say we got the message, David,” Michael added.

    The four of them walked back toward the Pentagon to put their anti‑gravity packs away for the night. David stepped inside, crossed the room, and lit the fireplace its warm glow filling the space and adding a soft, steady light to their conversation.

 Author Jack W. Horn (Preview of Chapter 3 in The Emerald Moment)

Email bowltopmountain@gmail.com if you like the full chapter to read here.