They could

          see the grand townhouses of Kensington and Notting Hill; Holland Park buzzing with activity; Piccadilly Circus crowded with tourists; the splendor of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey; the Thames flowing by the House of Parliament; Big Ben soaring into the sky; Tower Bridge crossing the river; black cabs and red double-decker buses dashing everywhere.

          Tom had a wide grin on his face, his eyes bouncing back and forth from one thing to another. After all those years of dreaming and planning, he was finally here. His spirits soared, and his heart raced with anticipation.

          “It’s brilliant,” he said, astounded.

          “Was it worth the wait, Tom?” asked Hainsworth.

          “Absolutely.”

          “And was I right?” inquired Sarah with a smirk.

          “Yes, you were right, Sarah.”

“Where do you

think we should land, Professor?” wondered Sarah, the problem now apparent.

          It was a question Hainsworth hadn’t thought about. Landing a balloon in the middle of London was extremely dangerous, considering the populace and densely packed buildings.

          “We’ll have to find an open field,” he answered reluctantly, leaning over the basket and searching the city.

“The balloon

          flew above the tiled rooftops of Chelsea and onto Hyde Park, its beautiful grass fields and winding walkways scattered throughout six hundred acres. People were relaxing outside, cycling along the paths and playing a variety of sports. Others walked along the Serpentine, a three-mile lake used for boating and water activities.

          We need to find an open spot,” said Sarah anxiously.

          “We can’t land on the grass. It’s too crowded!” warned Tom, now panicked.

     Not knowing

           what else to do, Tom aimed for the lake. He gave the release rope a solid tug and the balloon swiftly descended.

          “Tom!” Sarah shouted fearfully, glaring at him white-faced and petrified. “I can’t swim!”       

           It was too late. The balloon splashed into the Serpentine Lake, tipping over the basket and dumping everyone out.

          Submerged, Tom quickly swam to the surface looking for Sarah. Hainsworth floundered around, trying to help.

          “Where is she?” gasped Tom, turning his head left, right, then back again. “I don’t see her!”

          “Keep looking!” yelled the professor. “She’s here somewhere.”

          Although only a few officers ran toward the balloon, other authorities had been contacted. It wouldn’t be long before the park was crawling with an army of policemen, firemen, paramedics and news reporters.

          Terrified, Tom continued to search. He couldn’t imagine losing Sarah. His imagination ran wild with fear as he dove down again, hoping to see her. He kicked his feet around, swimming blindly from one side to the other. Hainsworth scouted the water’s surface, looking for any sign of movement.

          “Sarah!” he yelled, his voiced strained. “Sarah!”