Balloon Buzzing

 The hands had been in the air all night long.  It had been a very beautiful and relaxing night, lying on the wings at 25,000 ft., the night stars brighter than bright and the smoothest buoyant air ever experienced by anyone who had ever flown.  It was coming on daybreak and the ants saw the sunrise before anyone living within 1000 miles of them.  The sun was big and red as it rose higher into the sky; the face of the earth was still as black as the night that the ants had just finished enjoying.

          Daybreak brought new sites and sounds as the ants flew at just above stall; hardly any wind noise and the sounds of the waking world drifting up to them. Two things broke the silence at once, the quiet roar of something down on earth and Acro saying that he was hungry.  A quick consensus showed that all the ants were indeed hungry.  Also, it was noticed that the continuing roar from below was getting louder and closer.  It was time for action and the ants were ready.  They all peered over the sides of the PPP-1 to civilization camped far beneath them.  Down there lived danger and food.  Living without danger they could do, but, living without food they hadn't mastered yet.  A plan to land had been made yet where to land was still the question.  They had to land somewhere that would be easy to relaunch from and also they needed to land near food.  They slowly descended in the cool morning air towards a green Valley, Acro was driving and the others were kicking back and enjoying just being.  The smell of maple syrup and the loudest roar from below arrived together causing an adrenalin rush that tingled all their senses at once.  Locating the rising hot air balloon calmed all senses but one, they could deal with a hot air balloon, but, the sweet smell of maple syrup kept their taste buds working overtime.  It was time for food and fun and not in that order.  The first goal was to play with the hot air balloons and then land near the balloonist's pancake breakfast and chow down.  Before taking on the balloon Wise-ant picked out a landing spot near the food that allowed for an easy relaunch, a tall tree overlooking the griddle.  They would top land in the tree and sneak down to share the morning picnic.  There were now five balloons in the air at varying altitudes and the ants would take on each one on the way down.  What a way to build their already huge appetite.  The ants huddled at the center of gravity and made the plan.  Acro would be in charge of the balloon buzzing and Wise-ant would take over for the landing.  Speck would be in charge of securing the PPP-1 to the treetop and be ready to initiate the relaunch.  The fun began with Acro calling out the dive order.  Mach speed was attained in seconds, diving on the first balloon.  The high-speed pass took the balloonist's by surprise.  Acro had come from the balloonist's blind spot and passed between the faces of the passengers.  Acro pulled up into a 90-degree wingover and slowly circled the basket as the other ants were rolling with laughter at these floating humans who were hopelessly suspended high above the ground.  Now diving on the second balloon the ants were unaware that their first target had radioed the other balloons, they were ready to greet the PPP-1 in a way that would be unpleasant!  Acro was going for the same maneuver that had worked before.  Only only one pilot occupied the second balloon and Acro was diving on his face.  Penee was riding lookout at the nose of the PPP-1 and was shocked to see three other people suddenly stand and outstretched their arms trying to catch the plane.  Acro had committed the PPP-1 in its dive and all they could do was hold on and watch in horror as the PPP-1 took them towards disaster.  The ants closed their eyes and held on waiting for the impact.  The ants heard the flailing of arms as they blasted through the basket area.  NO IMPACT!, all the flailing arms and outstretched hands had missed them.  Wise-ant took over and decided that eating would be more enjoyable than this game of Russian roulette in the air and directed the PPP-1 to a soft landing in the treetop.  Perched precariously at the top of a large pine tree, Speck went to work securing the PPP-1 in a nose down attitude, ready for a relaunch by severing the anchoring web.

          Their landing had been spotted by a group of boys who started throwing rocks at the PPP-1 trying to dislodge it.  The plane was at the top of the tree and well out of rock range and all the attention from below actually helped out by distracting all the early morning picnickers from the food.  This food safari would be easy!  Speck lowered a reconnaissance group of the strongest ants down the backside of the tree.  They would retrieve the food, hoisting it up on Speck's Super strong web.  Rocks continued to fly and one boy had started to climb the tree, the ants went into hurry mode.  With the food gathered the slow ascent started, the ants and Speck pulling the food and the re-con crew up as fast as they could.  The flying rocks had stopped and the only obstacle was the boy climbing the tree.  The branches were getting smaller and his progress slowed.  He didn't even notice the payload being hoisted up right past him.  Success and breakfast seemed close at hand until the re-con group saw the huge hot air balloon coming in from the South at tree top level.  The ants up top spotted it at the same time and pulled the load up faster than they thought possible.  The food was loaded and all the ants took their flying positions readying themselves for a diving relaunch.  Wise-ant watched the rogue balloon getting closer and closer.  He had wanted to wait to launch later in the day when there was more thermal activity but if they didn't get out of the tree now they would be caught for sure.  In the current no lift conditions they would be on the ground shortly after launching with no way to get back into the air.  To make matters worse there was another balloon firing up his burners preparing to get airborne.  The prevailing atmosphere on board the PPP-1 was that of doom, the end seemed very near.  The smallest ant on board, almost useless because of his small size and always unnoticed due to his quiet nature went up to Wise-ant and whispered into Wise-ant's ear.  "CUT THE LINE NOW!!!"  Wise-ant screamed catching everyone by surprise.  Speck responded at once and the plane plummeted straight down gaining airspeed.  The other ants knew to be ready to respond to flight commands; their lives depended on it!  "Pull up…  Hard left...  Left rudder...  High side and hold your positions!"  Wise-ant's orders came quickly and precisely; his crew was the best and responded promptly.  No one but Wise-ant knew what was going to happen but the crew had faith in their leader.  Wise-ant's plan soon became apparent as the PPP-1 flew flat circles just above the rising hot air balloon.  The ants were using the artificial heat source for lift and were able to stay with it to 8000 feet.  At that point they headed off downwind putting some distance between themselves and those pesky hot air balloons.  Now free and clear of the danger, the ants started to congratulate Wise-ant on his quick thinking.  Wise-ant thanked his crew but explained that the idea came from Teneey.  The ants were very surprised and even speechless for a moment.  Then a loud cheer started up lead by Acro.  Wise-ant ordered Teneey to have some breakfast and take over the control of the beautiful PPP-1.  Teneey was now pilot in command and he felt great.

Chapter Thirteen