Emergence by David Palmer

Author:David Palmer
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780553245011
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1984-11-15T06:00:00+00:00

VOLUME IV

Destiny

Hello, Posterity . . . ! Great life, isn't it?

Sorry; being silly. Please excuse. Euphoria betrays intensity of relief on finding self still alive.

Quite unexpectedly so: Surviving events of this morning brings new depth to expression "cheating odds."

Granted, details of flirtation with Grim Reaper, viewed objectively, probably of interest to participant only (was indeed; heart surely stopped couple times from thrill factor alone). But data valuable to Adam; understanding cause of problem key to preventing repetition—and truly in favor of that: Airplane engine failure contains potential for more than passing inconvenience!

Shan't bother with introduction, history review this time around. Don't anticipate spending much time on this volume: Shall merge with Vol. III immediately upon rejoining party (tomorrow morning, with luck). Could make record then, but events best recorded while fresh in mind.

(Originally planned to use this pen, pad to make notes, draw map en route. Instead, will discharge duty to history during twilight hours, plus entertain self.)

Trap sprung during this morning's first reconnaissance flight while heading generally east over Sierra Nevadas, studying roads en passant, reporting back via helmet radio.

USGS map suggested possible logging/fire-trail pass over mountains, through Sequoia National

Forest. Overflight confirmed hard-surface and/or graded roads intact to ruts' jumpoff into wilderness.

Passable trail led thence into forestlands, over mountains. Barely discernible as break in solid forest cover, through which could observe ground here, there; verify no landslides, earthquake damage existed on scale likely to block rig.

Intended to follow, inspect tracks until fuel limitations necessitated turning back. Never got that far.

Lacked probably 15 minutes of turnaround point when engine went sour. One moment howling

merrily, as good ex-motorcycle engine should; next moment sputtering, tachometer dropping toward idle; total shutdown threatening, imminent.

Until then reveling in sheer joy of flight ("O bliss!"); mindlessly wallowing in freedom of motion, endless visibility. Occasionally essayed snap roll, or some other aerobatic excess, just for fun of it.

Having wonderful time, with never a thought toward potential consequences of mechanical failure.

Sudden power loss restored focus on reality. Jarringly so. Nothing in sight to raise hopes for safe emergency landing: Nothing but endless sea of conical treetops stretching uninterrupted every direction to mountainous horizon and beyond.

Abruptly conscious of chill fingers tickling pit of stomach.

Cut back power immediately. Knew from lawn mower, outboard motor experience: Sometimes

possible to keep distressed engine running by nursing throttle; often continues operation under partial load, even though won't take max or cruise settings.

Relieved to note similar response from ultralight engine: Exhaust note smoothed out as revs dropped.

Quickly edged throttle forward again, feeling for critical setting. And found it . . .

Lower than hoped, well below point at which altitude maintainable.

Felt cold fingers tighten grip on liver & lights.

Fiddled with throttle again, trying to learn more about problem. Soon assembled picture: While only about quarter throttle available for sustained use, could get as much as five seconds' full power or about 15-18 seconds at minimum cruise after idling just shy of full minute.

But positively engine's best offer. Increasing idle time produced no further change in power-on

duration.

Even

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