Ghanima Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
atreideslioness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2009-06-21 09:41 pm
atreideslioness) wrote in fandomhigh2009-06-21 09:41 pm
Entry tags:
Keeping Your Advantage: Terrain and You, Week VII [Monday, Period 4]
"Welcome to your last official class of the semester," Ghanima said as the students arrived. "Today, we're looking at a type of terrain that is near and dear to my heart: the desert."
Deserts take up about one third of the Earth's land surface, and usually have a large diurnal and seasonal temperature range, with high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures that can reach 45 °C/113 °F or higher. The dry desert air is incapable of blocking sunlight during the day or trapping heat during the night without water. Thus, during daylight most of the sun's heat reaches the ground, and as soon as the sun sets the desert cools quickly by radiating its heat into space."
"Most deserts are formed by rain shadows; mountains blocking the path of precipitation. Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes called ergs and stony surfaces called hamada surfaces compose a minority of desert surfaces. Exposures of rocky terrain are typical, and reflect minimal soil development and sparseness of vegetation."
The Danger Shop rippled around them, and the students would find themselves standing on a rocky outcropping, looking out over a landscape of sand and blinding sun. "It is unfortunate that many people equate deserts with a hostile environment that conspires against human life," Ghanima continued easily, seemingly unbothered by the change in scenery. "In the popular media, desert areas seem to be considered to be at the top of the wilderness list for danger. The historical fact is, however, that the human race was cradled in arid lands and people are well adapted to survive in deserts. Learning to be part of the desert's ecosystem, and not view it as an antagonist is the first step of desert survival. Preparation starts with how you dress. People stand upright and receive only 60% of the solar radiation that animals on all fours do. By adding a proper hat, with a wide brim and closed crown, the head and body are further protected. A common mistake made by new desert visitors is wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts. Loose fitting long sleeves and pants provide good air circulation and much better protection than sunblock."
"Deserts are defined by their lack of water. Learn to ration sweat, not water. By staying in the shade, limiting activity to cooler times such as night and using your available water, your chances for survival increase greatly. Sipping water does not get it to the brain and vital organs. Take a good drink when you need it. People have been found dead from dehydration with water in their canteens. Also, do not rely on "parlor tricks" such as solar stills as a primary source. These will often produce more sweat digging the hole than is obtained from water gained. Learn to locate water through areas of green vegetation, flights of birds, converging animal trails and digging in the outside bends of dry creek beds."
"You're probably all expecting a final," she said, looking at the students. "I hate to disappoint you, but you aren't getting one here today. Instead, go ahead and play in the sand. Try not to get bitten by scorpions, get heatstroke, or burn your hands. Learn how to walk - and run - without falling."
"Next week, for those who are interested, we'll be going on a little trip." Ghanima tilted her face towards the sun, shutting her eyes and smiling. "Anyone is welcome, and we will be going to Arrakis. Dune. Seat of the Imperium and fiefdom of House Atreides. Those of you who want to go along will get a final of a different sort, something that cannot be replicated in the Danger Shop to any degree of accuracy." She waved one hand, and another hologram shimmered into being.
"You will ride the worms," she said simply, walking over to one of the rising behemoths and placing her hand against its side. "They say that God created Arrakis to train the faithful. In truth, I think he made it for Shai-Hulud to roam. Nowhere else in the Known Universe will you find these beautiful creatures; they are the life and breath of this planet, and the primary mode of distance transportation for the wandering tribes of Fremen. That does not, however, mean they are tame."
"The sign-up sheet will be on the door of my office until next Monday." Another wave of her hand, and the worms vanished as she turned back to them. "Now go play, and no throwing snakes at each other."
[OCD up]
Deserts take up about one third of the Earth's land surface, and usually have a large diurnal and seasonal temperature range, with high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures that can reach 45 °C/113 °F or higher. The dry desert air is incapable of blocking sunlight during the day or trapping heat during the night without water. Thus, during daylight most of the sun's heat reaches the ground, and as soon as the sun sets the desert cools quickly by radiating its heat into space."
"Most deserts are formed by rain shadows; mountains blocking the path of precipitation. Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes called ergs and stony surfaces called hamada surfaces compose a minority of desert surfaces. Exposures of rocky terrain are typical, and reflect minimal soil development and sparseness of vegetation."
The Danger Shop rippled around them, and the students would find themselves standing on a rocky outcropping, looking out over a landscape of sand and blinding sun. "It is unfortunate that many people equate deserts with a hostile environment that conspires against human life," Ghanima continued easily, seemingly unbothered by the change in scenery. "In the popular media, desert areas seem to be considered to be at the top of the wilderness list for danger. The historical fact is, however, that the human race was cradled in arid lands and people are well adapted to survive in deserts. Learning to be part of the desert's ecosystem, and not view it as an antagonist is the first step of desert survival. Preparation starts with how you dress. People stand upright and receive only 60% of the solar radiation that animals on all fours do. By adding a proper hat, with a wide brim and closed crown, the head and body are further protected. A common mistake made by new desert visitors is wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts. Loose fitting long sleeves and pants provide good air circulation and much better protection than sunblock."
"Deserts are defined by their lack of water. Learn to ration sweat, not water. By staying in the shade, limiting activity to cooler times such as night and using your available water, your chances for survival increase greatly. Sipping water does not get it to the brain and vital organs. Take a good drink when you need it. People have been found dead from dehydration with water in their canteens. Also, do not rely on "parlor tricks" such as solar stills as a primary source. These will often produce more sweat digging the hole than is obtained from water gained. Learn to locate water through areas of green vegetation, flights of birds, converging animal trails and digging in the outside bends of dry creek beds."
"You're probably all expecting a final," she said, looking at the students. "I hate to disappoint you, but you aren't getting one here today. Instead, go ahead and play in the sand. Try not to get bitten by scorpions, get heatstroke, or burn your hands. Learn how to walk - and run - without falling."
"Next week, for those who are interested, we'll be going on a little trip." Ghanima tilted her face towards the sun, shutting her eyes and smiling. "Anyone is welcome, and we will be going to Arrakis. Dune. Seat of the Imperium and fiefdom of House Atreides. Those of you who want to go along will get a final of a different sort, something that cannot be replicated in the Danger Shop to any degree of accuracy." She waved one hand, and another hologram shimmered into being.
"You will ride the worms," she said simply, walking over to one of the rising behemoths and placing her hand against its side. "They say that God created Arrakis to train the faithful. In truth, I think he made it for Shai-Hulud to roam. Nowhere else in the Known Universe will you find these beautiful creatures; they are the life and breath of this planet, and the primary mode of distance transportation for the wandering tribes of Fremen. That does not, however, mean they are tame."
"The sign-up sheet will be on the door of my office until next Monday." Another wave of her hand, and the worms vanished as she turned back to them. "Now go play, and no throwing snakes at each other."
[OCD up]
Re: React to the Sandworms
Yes, Zack was in total agreement of the 'oof' part, there, and it took him a moment to realize that he'd been bowled over before he could actually pull himself back out from under Dinah again, laugh, and then crawl over to the edge of the worm's mouth.
Yes, he was totally waving down at Ghanima. Why?
"We're fine, thanks!"
He had the situation totally under control. Honest.
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
He was so very observant.
"Let's never try this again?"
Because the next time they encountered a really, really big mouth, it would probably commence eating them shortly afterward?
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
"I have nooooo idea how we're getting down from here," he added, still grinning. They weren't going to be climbing up again, and climbing down kind of involved some creative hand-hold-hunting, because they were going to have to do some kind of freakish sandworm-monkeybars act to get to some piece of the worm that wasn't horizontal.
Re: React to the Sandworms
Dinah poked at a tooth, fascinated. "But not yet!"
Re: React to the Sandworms
And he was perhaps never going to get over the fact that they were inside a mouth.
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
"Let's do ourselves a favor and not get too close to the throat, huh? We'd be better off falling the other way, I think."
Smothering in the gut of a giant worm was not his idea of a good time. Ever.
"It would be an easy jump," Zack mused, walking back to the edge and peering down. A few hundred feet. Into sand. Oh, heck yeah. It was a breeze. "Well, kinda. I don't think you'd want to make a leap like that."
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
"Pretty sure," he settled on, and then gave her a firm nod. "Maybe not on my feet. A jump like that, I'd probably mostly-land, and then fall on my butt or something. But we make jumps like this in training."
A pause.
"Out of helicopters," he clarified. And then there was another pause. "Onto moving trains."
Face-first.
"I could jump with you?"
Re: React to the Sandworms
The thing about jumping, is sometimes, you just want to do it, even if you're not sure it's safe.... "We wouldn't die, right? Or make it so Professor Atreides denies us lollipops?"
Re: React to the Sandworms
That was fair, right?
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
And Zack was, besides insane, taking this jump at a nose-dive as he scooped Dinah into both arms while they fell.
Re: React to the Sandworms
And an additional bit of, Wheeeeee! WHEEEE!
Re: React to the Sandworms
He hit the ground feet-first, bent at the knees, went into a roll with Dinah still in his arms, and finally ground to a halt, sand in places he didn't knew he had, in a half-crouch.
No, no, there went his balance. He was now sitting on his butt.
"Ow," he decided. Not because of the landing. Because of his ears.
Re: React to the Sandworms
Someone who knew her might think she wanted to do that again.
Re: React to the Sandworms
"Told you I could make it!"
He wasn't bragging. Honest.
And if he was, it was in a very pleasant, Zack-y kind of way that was mostly intended to be reassuring and possibly just coming across as bragging.
He was bragging.
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
This boasting would be more impressive if he wasn't still seated in the sand, perhaps.
"I'm not going to be doing that off of a real one, though. That probably wouldn't go half as smoothly."
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
And then he was sitting up again.
"It would be so... liberating!"
He had no idea.
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms
Re: React to the Sandworms