NanoSteps -- the brainstorming thread

[Mark Skarr]

On my way home, I had an idea for another, obscure one.  MonkeyFist says this is less obscure than the other idea, so I'll post them both:

I cautiously approached the book that the red-speedo-and-bandolier clad man dropped.  I couldn’t imagine what it had been that freaked him out so thoroughly.  It was an old book, sure.  But, it looked like the world had ended here a century or so ago, so the fact that the book was still in one piece was, frankly, amazing.

I reached the book and could see the man and his cronies were off a ways away.  He was talking with them, rather emphatically.  I picked the book up and wiped the new dirt from its cover.

The Wizard of Oz.

Okay?

-----

I didn’t think anything would surprise me after crossing the police checkpoint blended in with a group of punk kids.  Hell, I didn’t think that would work, but it did.  The three of us made it to Tower Bridge without a second glance from the police.

The hawk-faced man from before was in his chamber and only mildly surprised to see James and I walk in.  But, the pilot guy caused his jaw to drop and his eyes to well up with tears.  The raven he was tending twisted and moved toward the three of us.

James didn’t have time to introduce us before, and, honestly, I didn’t care who the pilot guy was.  In the ten minutes I had known him he was a quick-thinker and good on his feet.  But, the hawk-faced man knew him.  It was obvious, almost like he hadn’t seen him in years.  There were several awkward moments of silence before the hawk-faced man said the pilot’s nick name:  “Biggles!”

Now it was my turn.  My jaw hit the floor.  “You’re shittin’ me!  He’s Biggles?”