“Don’t worry about parachuting,” said the hermit. “Easiest thing in the world. I could teach a chipmunk to parachute. And you won’t be alone. I’m going to put the Argot on automatic pilot, and you”—he pointed to Old Tom—“will be jumping with this boy.” He pointed to Wilfred. “And you, you idiot”—he pointed to Flying Bob—“will be jumping with this girl and Zebediah. We’re going to harness you together. Nobody will be jumping alone. The grown-ups will pull the cord—I’ll explain how—and all you children have to do is float through the air.”

“Heck, I know how,” said Flying Bob. “I’ve studied parachuting. I love everything about planes.”

“Well, that’s a help,” said the hermit. “You’re going to have to keep an eye out and stay close to this guy, then.” He pointed to Old Tom. “If he forgets to pull his cord, I’m counting on you to remind him. Yell, ‘Pull the cord,’ and keep yelling it until he does. I’m going to show both of you”—he nodded to Wilfred—“how to work it. Let this one”—he nodded at Old Tom—“try it first, but if he fails, you do it.”

Wilfred nodded.

Everyone stood quietly while Flying Bob got two parachutes out. Then the hermit gave them a short tutorial on parachuting.

Flying Bob interrupted at intervals saying, “That’s right. Obviously my hallucinating brain is remembering all of this to put in the mouth of my hallucinated pilot friend to tell me. The brain. What a machine! Especially mine! Whee!”

The others ignored him. If you are about to jump out of an airplane in the dark, you are pretty much focused on that.

“I’m glad it’s nighttime,” said Winifred when the hermit opened the door to the plane. “I couldn’t do this if I could see the ground.”

“I see something ahead,” said Zebediah, looking down. “Look, it’s glowing.”

“That’s the night garden,” said the hermit. “When it’s directly below, you jump.”

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” said Winifred.

“What about you?” Zebediah asked the hermit. “Where’s your parachute?”

“I don’t need one. I’m circling the plane and landing on the water at first light. I’m aiming to land close to my cabin.”

“Why don’t you let the plane crash and jump with us?” asked Zebediah.

“It might crash on someone’s house,” said the hermit. “We’re going to make sure there are no casualties tonight. Not like last time.”

“What last time?” asked Zebediah.

“I don’t know,” said the hermit, looking confused and worried for a moment.

“You can’t land a plane on the water,” said Zebediah.

“Yes you can. I’ve done it many times,” said the hermit. “And if I get close enough I can swim to shore.”