The Battling Pilot by L. Ron Hubbard

Author:L. Ron Hubbard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action & Adventure
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Published: 2012-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

A Completely Baffled Pilot

PETE flew the route and flew it faster than he had ever flown it before. The single-seater, a stubby-winged, snarling ship, built to deal death and destruction, was like a bullet under his throttle hand.

In spite of Brainard’s questioning attitude, the man had carried through. And now if Barin was still in Pennsylvania, Pete knew he would find him.

The Pennsylvania State Police would be on their way and would probably arrive a few minutes before Pete would get there. Pete was hoping that Barin would make a break for it. If he did, Pete promised himself that he would knock Barin spinning out of the sky. It would be a pleasure to match that black ship with one of its kind.

Pete, like almost all transport pilots flying the airlines, had had reserve training and he could, on occasion, play hell with gunnery and stunt tactics.

He had the wherewithal now. All he needed was a target like Barin would make against the smoky blue sky.

Maryland fled under his short wings and gave way to Pennsylvania, and the hills loomed up ahead.

Pete crouched forward tensely, hoping to see the black plane, but it was not in evidence. Barin was in for a surprise, gloated Pete. This was going to be too easy.

Suddenly the clearing was under him. He put down a wing and looked at the brick farmhouse.

The place was deserted, but Pete had expected to see the hangar closed and the house lifeless. Barin and Constanza and Emil and the rest would be inside, of course.

A movement showed in the trees. Pete circled and made out the snappy uniform of a State Trooper. The place was guarded from the ground.

Good.

Pete dived toward the trees, cut his gun and banked. He swooped down upon the field, made a matchless landing and taxied toward the house, his hand on his gun butt.

Let them try to get out now. Oh, for a glimpse of Barin.

Pete came to a stop. A trooper strode toward him. Pete stepped out of his cockpit, lifted the flaps of his helmet and said, “Have you got them already?”

“Who?” said the trooper. “This place is empty, brother.”

“Empty!” cried Pete. “But you haven’t been in the house…”

The doorway filled for a moment and two more troopers came out. One of them, a corporal, looked thoughtfully at Pete.

“We got a tip some kind of gang was here,” said the corporal, “but somebody’s crazy. There’s dust all over the place. Hasn’t been lived in for years.”

Pete jumped down to the ground and walked confidently toward the trees where the hangar had been. He saw that something was wrong with the place. Then he realized that where the hangar had stood there was only a small clearing. No sign of the brush doors, or even of wheel marks on the earth.

The grass had been carefully lifted upright by hand. Dust had been scattered carefully. Nothing remained to show that Barin had been there at all.

Panic-stricken at the thought of losing all touch with the princess and Duffy, Pete sprinted for the house.

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