CHAPTER 9 - Angela

Post-flight briefing

As Arnold and Peter approached Tanya's site, they knew that it was their very first landing, and dozens of eyes would be watching them. Under such pressure, they were glad they had remembered to rehearse the entire landing procedure in their minds while their wings were drying. The breeze was coming off the bank, so they came in over the water, slowly descending side by side, Arnold slightly ahead. As they reached the bank, they beat their wings in a more forward direction to slow to a hover, and then lessened the power of their strokes to land lightly on outstretched legs.

They turned around to face the water and sure enough, there were lots of little stonefly heads and antennae poking out of the water. Arnold recognized some of the closest ones, two of his own kind, Andy and Angela, as well as Nick and Todd, and quite a few others. Peter leaned toward Arnold and whispered, "How can we possibly tell 'em what they've been missin' all their lives? They won't be able to understand."

Arnold, noting that Peter had also been moved by the experience of his first flight, replied softly, "How can we not make every effort in our power? Their loyalty suggests that we're fulfilling a need in their lives, and we have a responsibility to enrich the lives of all stoneflies. "

"You sure haven’t lost your gift with words, Professor, and I’m with ya all the way!"

Arnold's heart lifted, for it was an enormous responsibility he was only too happy to share.

"Hey guys!" called Nick. "How about including us in your conversation?"

"That's our plan." Arnold reassured him. He and Peter went on to give them all of the facts and feelings they could remember about their brief flight. The nymphs were filled with excitement and awe over the prospect of such a change in their lives. This was the first time they were hearing such details from flying adults, and these particular adults were their former teachers. As the conversation wound down, Arnold reminded them that the original plan had been for this visit only, but he and Peter would like to keep the possibility open for more visits in the future, with a tentative plan to meet here every day at noon, as long as they were still alive. That way they would learn much more about adult life beyond the first flight.

Then Angela spoke up, asking Arnold, "D'you suppose that mating shortens one's life-span? So many stoneflies and mayflies seem to fade away soon after mating."

"That's an interesting question, Angela, but I prefer to think it may be related to nutrition. Some say that mayflies don't eat at all after emerging. I'm not sure how well adult stoneflies eat, but right now I'm starving. Perhaps I can increase my life-span by starting to eat well right now. What do you think?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea to me," Angela said softly. Her lingering look at Arnold gave him a funny feeling inside.

Reaping rewards

Arnold and Peter were living the best days of their lives. They had anticipated that they would be buzzing up and down the river all day, wearing themselves out looking for suitable mates. Quite to the contrary, they took only sunrise and sunset aerial patrols along the river, reasoning that if their mates didn't show up one day, they would surely turn up on the next one. The rest of the time they dined on the choicest bits of moss and lichen that grew on old trees along the banks. It was different from their underwater diet, but they relished the change, and thrived on it.

They didn't forget their promise to the nymphs, either. Every noon they landed at Tanya's site and relayed exactly what had happened during the previous day. One day Arnold noticed Peter having a long talk with another Perlesta nymph, Pamela.

"Now I know why you're not so terribly anxious to find a mate along the river," he teased, "you've taken a shine to Pamela."

"Don't think I haven't noticed those long, significant looks between you and Angela," he replied with a chuckle. "Let's just hope we both live long enough so we don't miss out altogether."

Domestic bliss

Pamela emerged the next morning. She and Peter mated and flew off to disperse her eggs, while Arnold spent a rare day by himself. When he visited the nymphs at noon, Angela asked him,

"You're waiting for me, aren't you?"

"Yes," he replied softly, "unless you and Andy have made plans. "

"I have no commitments with Andy, and I won't keep you waiting much longer. "

Sure enough, Angela emerged two days later. She encountered the same difficulty as Peter, splitting her dorsal chitin, but Arnold was right beside her, and he coached her through it step by step. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to care for her.

They mated while her wings were in the final drying stages. The tips of their abdomens touched, connected and undulated together for almost a minute. Just before they uncoupled, Angela trembled all through her body. Arnold felt it too, and asked, “Is it because of my weight or is it the ecstasy of the moment?"

"I think it's mostly the latter," she whispered breathlessly.

"Your delicate frame has gone through such tremendous changes in the last few hours, you must be tired. But I hope you have some energy left, because I'm ready to give you your first flying lesson any time. "

"I've been waiting all my life for this. Let's go now!"

There were no flight plans this time. They soared like two dancers in a ballet, sometimes flying tandem, sometimes side-by-side. He was so proud to show her all the beauties of Nature, and she was thrilled to have them shown to her by someone she had admired and loved for so long. They both hoped it would never end, but eventually her wing muscles called out for attention. They settled on a long willow branch hanging over the water and rested.

Angela spoke first. "That was a truly wonderful experience, Arnold, but now I'm starving. I could lay our eggs without food, but I certainly couldn't chase you all over the sky and into old age without it. "

"How thoughtless of me!" Arnold cried. "Just downstream there's a perfect little moss meadow that you won't be able to resist." He was pleased that he could be her guide for so many things. "We'll leave as soon as you've rested."

Just then two humans appeared coming down the river in a very sleek-looking boat. Their propelling sticks had blades on both ends rather than just one, as Arnold remembered from his close call last year. As they came underneath the stoneflies on their overhanging willow branch, the human in front passed something white back to the one behind. Suddenly they lost their balance and flipped upside down. They continued to drift downstream, having considerable difficulty in righting themselves. After much splashing and clamor they were successful, but by this time they were well downstream, and they seemed to have forgotten the white object that had started it all. It was still floating in its container, hung up in some lily pads near the opposite bank.

Arnold and Angela hadn't missed any of the action below them. They even noted the white thing arcing through the air as the boat flipped, landing in the lily pads. Arnold suggested that they check that out before heading to his moss meadow.

Angela hesitated. "Do you think it's wise to try something so different at a time like this? I feel so vulnerable with all these eggs not yet on their journey."

"I understand that you feel vulnerable, but it won't hurt to take a quick look. Besides, if that's human food, it will satisfy my curiosity as well as our appetite to try it. Let's go."

Arnold was so determined to do this that Angela followed him, against her better judgment. The lid had fallen off the sandwich, so they were able to land directly on it. The soft, springy texture and fresh taste of the bread was a delightful surprise. As they tore deeper into its substance they were attracted even more by a strange combination of scents they had never encountered before. Angela reached the core first:

"Wow! Is this delicious or are we in Heaven already?"

"I'm getting it too," said Arnold. Analyzing the flavors, he continued: '"It's smooth, brown and salty, and just a little deeper there's a very sweet red layer with fleshy lumps. Forget moss meadow, let's enjoy this feast all day!"

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