A Halloween Kitemare

[Sander]

:twisted:
Johnnie woke up on Halloween morning with a startóhe had been dreaming of catching the most air he had ever achievedó and the fright from being so high awoke him before he landed. The adrenaline was still coarsing through his veins as he started his morning ritual of checking the NWS forecast while drinking his coffee.

His excitement soon waned as he read the detailed forecast discussion. The windy season was on its tail end and off-shore winds were forecast. However, being a seasoned sailor Johnnie knew that you always had to keep your eyes open for the possibility of wind. That, combined with his desire at trying the new kite that he had just ordered off the internet (strange, though that it had postmarks from somewhere in eastern Europe), were keeping his hopes up for some kiting action.

Sure enough, by early-afternoon it was apparent that the weather forecast was wrong, and a good breeze had picked up on the water. So Johnnie checked out of work early to go down to his local spot.

Eagerly, Jonnie unpacked the brand new kite from its bag, and in his haste didnít bother to pick up the instruction manual that came out at the same time and blew down the beach a bit. He didnít know if he liked the color scheme so muchóblack and orangeóbut when he pumped it up and laid out his lines he could tell there was something special about this kite. The fabric had some kind of weird sheen to it, and even though the wind was light, the kite was looking lively, like it wanted to launch on its own.

He kept a groan inside as he looked around to ask for a launch and saw that only the crusty old kiter guy was with him at the beach. This dude had been a windsurfer in a former life and would talk your ear off about his knowledge of the local conditions while you waited for a launch.

Just as he feared, Johnnie had to wait impatiently as the old man delivered his pre-launch sermon.

ìThat sure is a nice looking kite you got there boy! You sure you feel comfortable taking out such a big size?î said the old-timer

Johnnie could barely contain his disdain as he scoffed, ìDude, this kite is the newest design with the most range, most hangtime, most snap, and according to the ads the most insane jumps of anything yet. Plus, I always rig this size for this amount of wind. Now if you wouldnít mind launchingÖî

The old-timer nodded his head towards the east and said, ìWell, I donít know about you, but there is something strange about those clouds over the hills. Iím gonna wait a while before I go out. You be careful, hear? By the way, I think you dropped some papers when you unpacked your kiteÖî

Johnnie ignored the old-timer and nodded distractedly as he looked out on the water and noticed some whitecaps building. Soon, he got his new kite in the air, grabbed his board and made his way out on the water. As he planed along, he tested out the kite, noting how the lines made an unusual haunting, shrieking noise, as the wind kept picking up. He hucked a few jumps, timidly at first, then with more gusto as he got a feel for the kite. It was amazing, he was equalling his records for hangtime in just a few attempts.

The wind continued to build as the clouds to the east darkened and swelled to impressive heights. Johnnie, however, didnít notice the sky grow dim as he was entranced by all the cool new features of his kite. When the wind picked up another notch, stabilizer flaps came out at weird angles from the leading edge, just like he had read somewhere, although he didnít remember their description as being so angular and pointy looking.

Johnnie felt electric when his kite lines howled in the full-on fury of the wind and the kite profile changed as another depower mechanism kicked inóthis one turning the profile from a regular upside down ìUî shape into a menacing, undulating, snarl with the stabilizer flaps resembling fangs.

On shore the rest of the local crew had showed up, but with the conditions getting hairy, no one else had ventured out. Even through the howling winds, people at the launch could hear Johnnieís maniacal laughter as he kept hucking jumps of amazing height and hangtime. A chill crept into the air as the sky was now totally overcast with gloomy clouds and a ghostly mist sprayed off the water.

Johnnie had never felt such power in a kite, such a feeling of exhilaration, total control, connectedness. As he looked up at his kite his face metamorphosed to reflect the crazed snarl of his kite and he bore down towards the launch with fearsome speed. Johnnie let out a primal scream, fearsome and wild and demented, as he launched his biggest air yet. People on the beach instinctively cringed in fear and awe as they watched him charge upwards towards the heavens.

Johnnie cried out at the apex of his awesome jump, ìI am the man, bow down, yee lowly mortals!î

Suddenly, a blinding bolt of lightning flashed and just as quickly a deafening boom of thunder cracked and Johnnie was nowhere to be seen, except in the afterimage in peopleís eyes.

Just as quickly as they rose, the winds let up and the sky started to clear. The local crew assembled by the waterís edge, some stunned and slack jawed and others still twitching with fear. A piece of paper cartwheeled down the beach and stuck to someoneís legóit was the tattered remains of Johnnieís instruction manual.

The old-timer snatched it up, read a couple lines and said, ìWell, I guess thatís what Johnnie gets for littering and not reading the manual! Look here, it says on the first couple lines: Warning- - This kite is made from special fabrics woven in our new factories in the Slovak province of Transylvania. Do not use kite on Halloween!î
:evil:

[OliverG]

Aaaahhhhhh! I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight. All these really scary kids just came by the house too! Halloween's so scary!

8-[ :snakeman: 8-[ :snakeman: 8-[ :snakeman:

[ram]https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/psycho.mp3[/ram]