Visual Story: Feathered Friend | English Poorvi Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

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Feathered Friend
by Arthur C. Clarke
Meet Sven Olsen
Small, wiry, and highly skilled - Sven was one of 
the best construction workers in zero gravity. There 
was no rule against pets on the space station, and 
even if there had been, Sven would not have obeyed 
it.
The Perfect Worker
In space, size and weight mattered. Sven was 
excellent at handling floating girders and welding 
them perfectly into the station's structure.
A Mysterious Whistle
One day, whilst in his small office, the narrator heard a strange, 
cheerful whistle. At first, he thought it was a fault in the 
intercom system, but the sound continued.
Looking up, he was shocked to see a tiny yellow canary floating 
freely in mid-air . The bird was Claribel, perfectly at ease in 
weightlessness, even doing a loop in the air!
The narrator realised Sven must have brought her secretly. 
Sven did not admit this immediately, but later explained he was 
curious to see how a bird would adapt to zero gravity.
Claribel Becomes Part of the Crew
A Perfect Companion
Claribel proved to be a quiet, 
cheerful companion, requiring 
little food or space. Unlike many 
animals, she was not frightened 
in space, which surprised the 
crew.
Everyone's Favourite
Soon, everyone grew fond of 
her, so Sven could no longer be 
scolded. The crew sometimes 
had trouble hiding her from 
important visitors from Earth, 
as her chirping was hard to 
silence.
A Well-Kept Secret
Despite this challenge, no outsider ever discovered her presence. 
Claribel remained the crew's special secret.
The Day Everything Changed
An Unusual Morning
One such morning, the narrator 
woke up with a headache and 
felt oddly tired.
Sven Goes Missing
At breakfast, the others noticed 
Sven was missing. Someone 
remarked that Claribel usually 
woke him with her singing, but 
that day she was silent.
A Frightening Discovery
Sven then appeared, looking 
very upset, holding Claribel in 
his hands. She was motionless, 
limp, and silent, and the crew 
feared she had died.
Emergency Action
Desperate Measures
The cook, Jock Duncan, tried to check for her 
heartbeat by pressing his ear close, but could not 
detect one.
In desperation, the crew gave her oxygen from an 
emergency supply.
Miraculously, she revived, fluttered, and chirped 
happily4only to faint again shortly after .
The Life-Saving Realisation
The narrator suddenly recalled that miners used to carry canaries into coal mines. Since canaries are more 
sensitive to bad air , their collapse would warn miners of danger .
1
The Warning
He realised Claribel's condition 
was a warning of trouble with the 
station's air .
2
Alert the Engineer
He alerted Jim, the duty engineer , 
who dismissed the idea at first, 
saying the alarms would have 
sounded.
3
The Truth
Jim's assistant reminded him that 
the second alarm system was 
not yet connected. Shocked, Jim 
rushed off to check the systems.
The Dangerous Discovery
Jim's Embarrassing 
Return
Ten minutes later , he returned 
embarrassed, admitting the 
narrator was right.
The System Failure
During an eclipse, Earth's 
shadow had caused part of the 
air purifier to freeze, and it 
stopped working. The one alarm 
that was connected had also 
failed to activate.
A Close Call
This meant the crew had been 
breathing thinning oxygen 
without realising it. Without 
Claribel's warning, they might 
have suffocated before 
discovering the fault.
The Hero's Legacy
Problem Solved
Thanks to Claribel, they were 
able to fix the purifier and 
restore the air supply.
A Brilliant Idea
After this, the idea spread that 
having canaries aboard space 
stations was not only pleasant 
but also a practical safeguard.
The Greatest Lesson
The story shows that even the 
smallest creature can be more 
reliable than the most advanced 
machines.
Themes and Messages
Companionship
The story illustrates the importance of 
companionship, even in the most unusual 
environments, as shown by Sven's bond with 
Claribel.
Unexpected Protectors
The narrative highlights the unexpected roles 
animals can play in human lives, serving as both 
pets and protectors.
Safety First
It emphasises the need for safety and vigilance in 
technology-dependent environments like space 
stations.
Teamwork
The story conveys a sense of teamwork and 
camaraderie among the crew as they work together 
to solve the problem.
Ultimately, the presence of Claribel reinforces the idea that sometimes the smallest beings 
can have the largest impact on our lives.