The Other Pilot (Boyd Chailland) by Ed Baldwin

Author:Ed Baldwin [Baldwin, Ed]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, thriller, political, military aviation, pilot, vintage warbirds, P-51 Mustang, Messerschmitt, dogfight, Ponzi scheme, Bank fraud, militia movement, Nazi
Publisher: Brasfield Books
Published: 2013-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

“I wrote a poem.” Boyd said, shyly. He had called Colleen at the university in the afternoon.

“Hum. That should be interesting.” She was polite, formal.

“Would you like to hear it? It’s about clouds,” Boyd said, expectantly.

“Does it contain the words white and fluffy?”

“Nope.”

“Maybe there is more to you than I thought. Ok. Let’s hear it,” she said, challenging.

“Not so fast. A poet doesn’t just throw out the sweat of his brow over the phone. There must be a mood setting.”

“You’re proposing a formal poetry reading, in the faculty lounge perhaps? We could make some punch.”

“No. I was thinking of taking you up to about 10,000 feet over Arapahoe County and recite it to you while you watch a cumulonimbus build over Boulder tomorrow afternoon,” Boyd said, confidently, the plan having been carefully laid the past few days.

“Not in your plane.” She said darkly.

“No. I’ve checked out the aero club plane. It’s a Cessna 170; much better for watching clouds.”

“Intriguing,” she said, thoughtfully.

“Have you ever flown?” He asked simply. He could tell she had taken the hook.

“Just airliners.”

“You’re gonna love it. I’ll pick you up at your place at two.”

The clouds built in the plains east of Boulder by early afternoon. It was warm and the plowed fields and pastures had absorbed the bright Colorado sunshine since dawn. The heat rose and finally produced an updraft a mile wide, drawing air from all directions. As this updraft rose to 20,000 feet it cooled, and moisture condensed, forming clouds. Still rising, but now carrying cloud with it, and drawing yet more ground level air into it, a mushroom cumulo-nimbus formed.

More than a mile away, but still too close, Boyd and Colleen marvelled at the boiling cloud, rising, expanding. Their little plane was buffeted by the surrounding turbulence at 10,000 feet as they circled.

“The power; I had no idea. What would happen if we flew in there?” Colleen asked into the intercom as she twisted and leaned forward to look up at the top of the cloud. Though fascinated by the whole adventure she had managed to maintain a businesslike demeanor. The headset, khaki slacks, and simple blouse gave her a professional appearance.

When she sat back up Boyd saw her erect nipples peering through the thin cotton blouse. So, she was enjoying the show. He’d heard how women would become sexually excited in a small plane, especially if they had never flown before.

“We’d be torn apart. Even the largest aircraft stay out of thunderheads. The turbulence can be incredible, not to mention the possibility of hail. You run into hail swirling around in there and it’s all over,” Boyd said, turning away, remembering the purpose of this trip and searching his shirt pocket for the poem. “I think poetry is appropriate at this point. I must confess, my cloud poem is still in the development stage, but I have, nevertheless, come prepared with a poem about flight.”

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered

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