Both soaring upwind, they aimed for an intersection. As they drew closer, two long booms with netting between were extended over the stern. Slowly they angled together. When it appeared that the glider would crash the bridge it pulled up, stalled and fell softly into the net.
He never failed to exhale a long breath after such a landing—catching, rather.
Launching was even more spectacular. The ship raced out on fast beam reach with its glider poised upwind on its two poles. Then a streaking corvette hissed up under the stern, swung slightly upwind, caught the braided stretch-line and actually yanked the glider aloft. Ward was quite sure it was something he never wanted to try.
The Bad Weather was coming around now. He caught the white flash of her glider high downwind. Tahn came to stand by him, his quick, cat-like motions betraying his eagerness.
"They bring more news," he grinned. "The Grimnal in Anda Bay is starting to raise sail."
Ward frowned.
"They think to trap us between them. Perhaps they expect us to race into the Passage after dark."
Tahn coughed his pleased cough.
"But our—uh—tactics, is it? They are to keep out of the Passage?"
Ward smiled.