Chasing the Arrow by Charles Reid

Author:Charles Reid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV016160
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2006-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Over the next couple of weeks Robbie hardly saw his mother as the Arrow team worked ever-longer hours. Although he hadn’t had another major confrontation with Rollie Briggs, Robbie was once again having trouble concentrating on his studies and he knew he wasn’t getting enough sleep. A couple of times he had almost fallen asleep in class. He wanted desperately to tell his mother about the bully, but still thought that might make matters worse. Besides, it was pretty hard to talk to her these days, and she had her own worries to wrestle with. So, when Friday rolled around and some of the Arrow team assembled at his house, Robbie was so tired he had gone to bed early, surprising his mother. Eventually, though, the steady buzz of conversation from below woke him. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he carefully slid out of his bedroom and across the landing until he was pressed against the railing.

“Do you know if the defence minister’s said anything new about the Arrow, Jack?” Joe Wilkie asked.

“I don’t think so,” Jack Fowler said. “The last time Crawford mentioned it, Pearkes still hadn’t met with the prime minister. As far as I know, the review’s still going on.”

“Well,” Emily said, “since Pearkes is handling the Arrow’s public launch, I’m sure he’ll say something positive then.”

Joe helped himself to one of Mrs. Brady’s homemade oatmeal cookies. “Thank God the launch is only a week away.”

“And not a hitch anywhere in sight,” Emily said happily. She winked at Joe. “I still have my fingers crossed, though.”

Fowler glanced at Bob Jenson. “Any more news on how the engine tests are going?”

Jenson yawned slightly. “Excuse me, but these long hours are really getting to me.”

“I’m sure we could all use a vacation, but it’s going to be like this all the way into next spring,” Fowler said. “What about the engine tests, Bob?”

“Everything’s on schedule. We’ll be carrying out major flight tests with the B-47 by December.”

“If only we could get Diefenbaker to look objectively at what we’ve achieved,” Emily said.

Joe nodded. “Amen to that.”

“Well, until the government finishes the review we don’t really know what they think, so let’s not get depressed about something that might not happen,” Fowler said.

Jenson hovered over the last oatmeal cookie, then snatched it up. “Of course you’re right, Jack, but Crawford’s pessimism isn’t making our jobs any easier.”

“True, true, but he’s got a lot on his plate these days. After all, our case wasn’t helped when the Russians launched that ballistic missile in August.”

Jenson jumped to his feet suddenly, obviously agitated. “Now that’s what really bothers me, Jack. The missile guys in the defence department, and the Americans, too, are using that as more evidence that jet fighters are a thing of the past.”

“Calm down, Bob,” Fowler said. “We’ve got the Arrow rollout coming up and that’s what we should focus on. So how about a toast? To the Arrow! To success!”

“Hear, hear!” they all chimed, clinking their cups.

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