Rocketman by Nancy Conrad

Author:Nancy Conrad [Conrad, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 045121837X
Publisher: NAL Trade
Published: 2006-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

The best part of reentry and recovery? Being done. Gordo used the last little bit of fuel they had to fire the thrusters and get her in right on the money. Suddenly they were sitting stock-still, looking straight up, ass-down, which is as unnatural a flight attitude as a pilot can ever find himself holding.

The stillness was a complete illusion. They were actually in a free fall, heading downward at a frighteningly high speed. There just isn’t enough air at 400,000 feet to give you that sensation. There would be soon enough.

The capsule heated up quickly as gravity took over. She started rocking and rolling again, glowing red as stowed gear and garbage started flying. Mission Control faded into a hiss of white noise as they headed into the ionosphere, watching the black above them turn to blue. Not much to discuss, just hang on, and hope all the boys you backslapped, bought drinks for, and told dirty jokes to did their jobs right. Especially the parachute guys.

The drogue chute popped out at sixty thousand feet, right on program. It slowed them down just enough, pitching them over thirty degrees. Then the main chute. Pete was able to lean up just enough to look out the porthole, and see the wake of the aircraft carrier Lake Champlain, which was steaming toward them eighty miles away.

It looked nice and gentle to us, like a beach ball floating down for a featherlight touchdown on the water. But if you’re in the damn thing, it gets your attention when the four tons of Gemini capsule hit the surface of the Atlantic, going about thirty.

And did they shake hands and congratulate each other on the new world’s record? No, there was a decision to be made, as the air bags were inflating around the capsule. The chopper could come pull the whole thing, Cooper and Conrad inside, and deposit them right on the deck of the carrier or any of the destroyers coming their way. Or they could blow the hatch, climb out, and let the frogmen help them into the harness to be pulled up like a gaffed tuna. Looks fun. Isn’t.

“What do you think, Pete?” Cooper’s face was bright red, sweat beading up over his lip.

“It’s gotta be a hundred thirty in here, Gordo. I’m sweating my ass off.”

“Yeah.”

The frogman was already there, banging on the hatch, wanting instructions.

“I can’t do another minute in here. Open the son of a bitch.”

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