5. Flying High

"There's too much weight in this basket! That's why we're sinking," said Abigail. The goblin glared at Kirsty. "You're too heavy. Get out!" he ordered. Quick as a flash, Kirsty sprinkled herself with fairy dust from her locket and fluttered out of the goblin's way. "We're still sinking!" the goblin cried. Suddenly, his ugly face brightened. "But I don't need these heavy sandbags. They just help the balloon to land," he said. He grabbed the sandbags that hung around the edge of the basket and heaved them over the side. To his dismay, the balloon continued to sink lower and lower.

"What will I do?" he wailed. Abigail put her hands on her hips. "You'll have to throw out that feather!" she told the goblin firmly. "No!" snapped the goblin. "It's mine, and I'm keeping it! Besides, it's too light to make any difference." Kirsty and Rachel hovered in the air behind Abigail. Would she be able to convince the goblin to get rid of the feather? "It's a lot heavier than you think," Abigail said. The goblin scowled. "What do you mean?" "A pound of feathers weighs just the same as a pound of rocks, you know," Abigail replied.

Kirsty and Rachel laughed softly. They knew that a pound of anything weighs just the same as a pound of anything else! But goblins are foolish, and the girls guessed that Abigail was hoping to confuse this one. The goblin blinked and scratched his head. Abigail's plan was working! On the ground below, Twiglet barked and jumped up at the balloon. He seemed a lot closer now. "Argh! Don't let it get me!" screamed the goblin. And in desperation, he flung the feather out of the basket. Abigail flew after it in a blur of golden wings, but the feather was caught by the wind and swept away. "Come on!" shouted Rachel, flying after Abigail. Kirsty followed. "The wind's too strong. I can't fly!" cried Rachel in panic. The girls were tossed around by the wind. They flapped their wings and tried to regain control, but it was no use. They were drifting farther and farther from the Breeze Feather, and they couldn't even see Abigail through all the leaves and garbage swirling around them.

"We have to catch the Breeze Feather," shouted Kirsty. "Otherwise it could be lost forever!"