The Lieutenant Takes the Sky by L. Ron Hubbard

Author:L. Ron Hubbard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action and Adventure
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Published: 2013-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

CLUTCHING the silver box, Lois sat back in her seat. She was too elated and overcome with success to pay much attention to anything else, and Mike had to buckle her chute straps on her shoulders. She scarcely knew what he was doing.

Mike started the engine and examined the poor excuse for a runway ahead. He had to go in that direction, if he wanted to use the wind. Five hundred feet in front, the plateau ended in a gorge. He had to take a chance on the help of an updraft, because he would drop over the lip without sufficient flying speed and run the chance of crashing into the cliff beyond the chasm.

He started. He held his breath as he fought his way through the stones. The ground blurred and then was gone. Below, a stream sparkled and the plane started to sink toward it. A gust of air caught the wings and sent them hurtling skyward. The opposite cliff was grazed by the wheels, which spun madly as Mike fought to get far aloft.

At last he was clear, and building altitude. He grew conscious of the moisture on his brow and hands. With a look of relief he turned to Lois.

But she had scarcely seen what had happened. At first it made him somewhat angry to have his two skillful flying victories so lightly regarded.

“You might at least say, ‘Gosh’” reproved Mike. “It isn’t human not to be scared stiff when you go through something like that.”

She looked at him in wonder, realizing that he was actually a little put out at her. “But,” she said without thinking, “you’re at the controls and I know you’ll see us through no matter what—” She stopped suddenly, realizing what confidence she had expressed, as though frightened that he would misunderstand.

He grinned at her. “I’m a louse, but you trust me,” he coaxed.

“Why shouldn’t I trust you? I’m sure that your character hasn’t much to do with your fighting skill.”

It brought him down for a moment. But he had no time to ruminate on her swift check.

High above them three planes were flying in tight formation. They were pursuit ships, and their absence of all insignia was insignia enough.

“I hope you’re right,” said Mike, pulling back and beginning a fast climb for advantageous altitude. “We’ve got callers.”

The sight of those three hovering planes drove all triumph out of her. Her hands clutched L’Aud’s silver case and she winced under the threat of losing that for which she had sought so long. Anxiously she looked at Mike’s wide shoulders.

He wasn’t as natty now as he had been. The khaki was stained with dust and grease, and his shoulders were dark with sweat. But in the hood glass she could see his strong profile and the glint of determination which had come into his bright Irish eyes.

The two-seater was boring sky, and the earth was all crazy and aslant below, and the three ships above were waiting with calm circles, as though more than certain of their prey.

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