Gray Salvation (A Tom Gray Novel Book 6) by Alan McDermott

Author:Alan McDermott [McDermott, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503933101
Published: 2016-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

Erwin McGregor sat in the cockpit of the Bell Ranger, checking his instruments for the tenth time. The rotors above him were stationary, but the engine was idling, ready for a quick take off.

Fuel was his only concern, the gauge looking a little on the low side. They certainly had enough to get out of the country and most of the way home, but whether they managed to get back to base was another thing. There would also be the added weight of the rescued hostage to take into account, but they’d already burnt up more than half of their Jet A-1, which just about compensated and kept them below the maximum flying weight.

‘We’re coming in hot, Mac. Bring the bird in now.’

When the words came over the headset, McGregor spooled up the rotors.

‘Roger that. Be there in three minutes.’

As soon as the blades were up to speed, he pulled up on the collective until the aircraft left the ground, then used the pedals to ease the nose around. That was when the juddering started. It sounded like a kid banging on a biscuit tin with a wooden spoon, but McGregor instinctively knew that it was incoming gunfire.

Warning lights came on and alarms began shrieking as the oil pressure dropped and the controls became sluggish. The Perspex screen spider-webbed in a dozen places as round after round hit the cockpit, and freezing air blew in as a bullet finally found a way through. Another soon followed, hitting McGregor on the right wrist. The pain made him release the cyclic for a split second, and when he tried to grab hold of it again, he found his fingers unresponsive.

He knew it was futile to try to fly one-handed, and even if he managed to control it long enough to get out of the area, the damage done to the hydraulics meant it would be a short flight.

And a fatal one.

Out of options, he lowered the collective and bumped back down to the ground, killing the engine with his good hand. Outside he could see several figures advancing towards him, rifles raised and ready to give him the bad news.

McGregor raised his hands and remained in his seat, already working on his cover story. He was on a flight when he lost electrical power and got disorientated, so he landed to try and fix the issue. He wasn’t armed, so it was a believable explanation.

‘Tom,’ he whispered into his throat microphone. ‘I’m not going to make it. I’m surrounded by a dozen X-rays; the bird’s shot to bits and I’m hit. You’re on your own, son.’

He removed the comms unit and dropped it under the seat, silently wishing them luck.

He knew he’d be needing a big dose himself.

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