Code Red 2 - Wildfire by Ryan Chris

Author:Ryan, Chris
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781409098256

Chapter Fourteen

In the desert below, the railway line snaked up to a small cluster of buildings. ‘I can see a station,’ said Ben. ‘And a couple of huts.’

Kelly consulted the map on her knee. ‘It’s Coober Pedy.’

‘I think we should land,’ Ben said. ‘We can ask if the police have found my mum or your dad.’

Kelly mulled over the idea, biting her lip. She seemed reluctant.

‘If we don’t land here,’ said Ben, ‘how far are we going to go? All the way to Darwin?’

Kelly straightened up in her seat. ‘OK, give me control. I might be able to land.’

Ben was surprised she was going to try it. He was a bit disappointed too. He felt he had got the hang of flying and was looking forward to trying a landing. With a sigh he took his hands away. Kelly reached for the controls.

As soon as her left hand touched the stick her mouth twisted with pain. She folded her arms into her body, hunching over them protectively.

‘No good. My hands are too painful,’ she gasped.

‘That’s another reason for landing. There ought to be a doctor around here.’

‘One station building and two huts? You’re being optimistic.’

Ben shrugged. ‘At least they’d have a proper firstaid kit. Look, can you talk me through landing?’

Kelly thought about it. Instead of answering, she said, ‘You’ve got control.’

‘I’ve got control.’ Ben took back the stick and the throttle. He felt a bit guilty, but all the same he was pleased to get the chance.

Kelly straightened up. ‘Landing is the most dangerous part of flying and it’s difficult. You’ve got to do exactly as I say.’

Ben gave her a withering look. She certainly knew how to wipe out any ounce of sympathy he might feel. ‘Do I ever not do as I’m told?’

Kelly looked out of the window. ‘Let your altitude drop to five hundred feet. We’ll aim for that flat stretch of road there, so bring her around in a big circle while I check it out.’

Ben tilted the stick left and balanced with a little rudder. He executed a perfect turn to the left, then glanced at the altimeter. It said eight hundred feet. He now felt completely at home manoeuvring the little craft in the air. Landing would be a cinch. He put the nose down.

‘That’s too steep!’ shrieked Kelly. ‘We’re going too fast. Ease off the throttle and that’ll take you lower. You don’t need to point the nose down.’

A bit shocked at being shouted at, Ben pushed the throttle down to decrease the revs.

‘Not too slow! You might stall. Don’t let the speed get below fifty knots.’

‘All right,’ Ben retorted through gritted teeth. ‘No need to screech about it.’

‘Throttle!’ she said.

In a moment, thought Ben, I might throttle you.

Kelly looked out of the window again.

‘What are you looking for?’ said Ben. ‘I thought you’d decided where to land.’

‘I’m checking to see how bumpy it is. And that there are no obstacles like trees or telegraph poles.’

Ben glanced out of the other side.

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