Darkness and Light

"P-precisely. The lightning is vital for the operation of oui m-machine." Stutts smiled and patted the arm of his chair "Isn't it a b-beauty? It is called the C-Cloudmaster." "What does it do?" "It f-flies." "Oh, of course it does," Kitiara said with a chuckle. "Very ingenious of you gnomes. What does that have to do with Sturm and me?" Stutts's small face flushed a deeper shade of pink. "Ahem. W-we've had a bit of b-bad luck. You see, in calculating the op-optimal lift-to-weight ratio, someone failed to consider the effect of the Cloudmaster coming to r-rest on soil in an advanced state of hydration." "What did you say!" "We're st-stuck in the mud," said Stutts, turning pink again. "And you want us to dig you out?" asked Kitiara. "For which we will g-gratefully fly you to any point on Kry