Aldwinckle, Eric, Letter, 17 August 1944

Letter, Eric Aldwinckle.
Description: 
Letter to Ruth Somers

Tabs

Case Study: 
Creative Dialogue Across the Ocean: Eric Aldwinckle’s Letters to Harry Somers
Creator: 
Aldwinckle, Eric
Source: 
letter
Date: 
17 August 1944
Place: Normandy
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Copyright, public domain: McMaster University owns the rights to the archival copy of the digital image in TIFF format. Reproduced with the kind permission of Margaret Bridgman.

Identifier: 
00001605-3
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

I went on writing -- Occasionally glancing over to witness the processes of my design.
One lowered himself, helicopter fashion, down to the pit and I presume that the resonant crescendo, and possibly the violent draught of the descent in this metal tube frightened the explorer, for he rose rapidly, swaying about in the exciting perfume, so violently that he knocked off one of his competitors who was clambering around the edge of the tin, contemplating walking it to the bottom. Fortunately for him, he fell outside the tin.
Soon, satisfied that there really was some 'honest to goodness' Joy Juice causing this fascinating aroma, one ventured down the side of the tin, with his motor running. Just in case, because it was a bit slippy. Halfway, he became engrossed in a blob of sweetishness and shut his motor off, clawing about sufficiently well by now to hang on with his distinctive feet, which has what look like hairs but are probably dozens of fine hooks or claws. Unfortunately the small amount of joy caused him to forget his ballistics and what little he knew about Newton, or Einstein's theory of geodesics and so ignoring north and south on his perpendicular plane he turned around once too often and plopped into the water.
Needless to say, this performance was repeated by other members of the brotherhood.