Author's note: I've gone and done it again. If I write this one right it could easily be one of my favorites, but I didn't. I've been stuck on these recently, and I thought that last one would be the last, but it looks like I have a couple more left in me. I'm not really sure if that's a good thing or just plain sad. Anyway, thanks for coming along on this silly ride that probably all started with great pizza, a best friend, and too much Mountain Dew. And Ezio of course, but that's a given. I have been working on my original novel (a crime novel with a comedic aspect) and have semi lost my muse, so I'm not sure how many more there will be. Enjoy while it lasts.
Failure to Launch
Ezio watched as Leonardo, who was a little too excited about all this, bustled about putting the finishing touches on the flying machine. When he had first learned of it Ezio had been intrigued. The concept of a man flying was amazing. Unheard of. Totally crazy. It would have to be Leonardo who would come up with such a thing. It looked a little different than when he'd seen it on the way to Venezia, and even then it had been in the back of the carriage so it was a little hard to see.
"Is it ready?" Ezio asked, glancing back to Leonardo who was still at work.
Leonardo didn't even look at him. "Solo qualche aggiustamento di più. Siate pazienti." He said, waving him off. "You can't rush genio."
"I do all the time."
Leonardo paused, casting him a glance which Ezio met with amusement. Leonardo sighed, shaking his head before he went back to work. "I wouldn't call what you do all that genius." He made one final correction, before standing up and admiring his work. "Magnifico! Take a look."
Antonio stood up, and turned to the machine. "You're going to fly on that? What in the world is it made out of? Is that paper or canvas?"
"Does it really matter?" Leonardo asked, admiring his invention. "Well, it's all set for you Ezio. See how she flies." He came to the edge where Ezio was standing, and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. Ezio didn't move for a moment, his eyes fixed over the edge.
"Antonio, be my guest. Go ahead." He said, pulling himself away from the edge.
Antonio looked taken aback, a little more than confused. "What are you talking about? I didn't volunteer. He's your friend. I don't trust his science and this aggeggio maledetto."
Ezio looked between the two, both of them expecting him to go. There was a moment of silence. "Well? Aren't you going to try it?" Leonardo asked with a hopeful expression on his face.
"Leonardo… I know that I said that I would, but…" he cast another nervous glance over his shoulder to the edge, and Leonardo sighed.
"You're not afraid of heights, are you?"
"When I said that I would test it, I was more thinking off of a smaller building. You know one only a few stories high. Not higher than a cathedral tower." Ezio explained.
"I wanted to make it realistic. You have to make it all the way over to the Palazzo Ducale, so I figured that we'd want somewhere high up. There's no use testing it at a different altitude than the one that you'll be using it. Besides, it's perfectly safe." Leonardo reaffirmed.
He nodded, switching his attention from Leonardo to the flying contraption. He could see Antonio's point. He walked over examining the wings. If one of them broke through, or ripped it would cut his flight line very short. "What are they made of?" he asked, repeating Antonio's question.
"My own special material. I knew that it had to be light, but strong and to be honest I was having a little bit of trouble finding something that would be durable enough, so in the end I came up with my own. You can feel it. It's quite secure." Leonardo's excitement hadn't faded.
Ezio checked the machine's wing, almost wishing that he could find something wrong with it. The wooden support boards that created the structure were thin but supple. They probably wouldn't break. And the joints had all been reinforced by metal. There was no reason not to try it. "I don't know…"
Leonardo shook his head, "My friend, I've seen you leap off structures this high without even flinching. What's the matter?"
Ezio inched his way back over to the edge and peeked over again. "Jumping isn't the issue. I could do that in a heartbeat. But this… I don't know. Forse è non solo per me."
"What happened to this so called madman? You're not going to just chicken out of this…" Antonio grinned, "this great opportunity, are you?" Antonio and Leonardo seemed to exchange a glance and Antonio crossed his arms getting a cocky grin. "You can't let him down. You said you would test it."
Leonardo took a moment, before he looked dejected and a little downhearted. "It's okay Ezio. I shouldn't have expected you too. After all, it's crazy, right?"
"Leonardo, you can't give up because of him." Antonio said, sending an accusing wave Ezio's way.
Leonardo looked down and shook his head. "No. Che cosa stavo pensando? I mean really... inventor? I should just stick to my paintings."
The leader of the thieves only seemed to smirk. "I guess that you should have. After all, it really isn't practical."
"I'm sorry, Ezio. I shouldn't have dragged you up here on this crazy mission. It's suicide really."
Ezio sighed, shaking his head and going over to the machine. "Questo aveva un lavoro migliore." He slipped under the wing taking his place in the center.
"Very good." Leonardo said cheerfully, coming over. "You want to have your hands on each side as far as they go. Just run off, and jump. It should carry you."
"I'm going to die." He whispered. He'd never been raised very religious, but he crossed himself for luck. Maybe the saints would have mercy on him.
Leonardo paused, a half laugh escaping. "It… was the other way. You did it wrong."
"Did I?"
"Now when you crash mind that you brace your neck." Antonio laughed, and then practically pushed him from the ledge.
Glossary of Italian: (I don't speak Italian. All translation was checked, double check, and rechecked on my favorite online dictionary.)
aggeggio maledetto – damn contraption
Che cosa stavo pensando? – What was I thinking?
Forse è non solo per me. – Maybe it's just not for me. (I did the best translation on this one that I could. But it was giving me a couple problems.)
genio - genius
Magnifico! – Magnificent!
Questo aveva un lavoro migliore. – This had better work.
Solo qualche aggiustamento di più. Siate pazienti. – Only a few more adjustments. Be patient.
