Athena Unknown by Andrew Mallin

Author:Andrew Mallin [Mallin, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

Prince William Sound, Alaska

August 7, 1930

The four youths dressed quickly. Will and Tommy, still soaked from when they had launched the canoe, ditched their wet clothes, and they all put on warm flannel lined pants. Then came lined boots, heavy down jackets, aviators lined hats and plenty of warm, dry layers of clothing in between. The sizes were far too big on all of them except Will, and Cameron was almost lost from sight entirely within her winter clothes, but they were all too excited to notice or care. None of them had been in a plane before.

They could feel the boat slowing, and then the sound of the big engines cut out altogether, and with a look at the others Will led them up. As they emerged back on deck James was throwing the second of two heavy anchors over the side.

He shouted to them, “We leave the boat here.”

He jumped overboard, tied a single line from the boat to the dock, and began uncovering their next means of transport.

Deep Bay of Hawkins Island was quiet, sheltered from the wind, conifer trees crowding around the shore, and near the shore of the bay an improvised dock bobbed in light waves. A number of thick logs had been lashed together, and as their boat bumped against the dock they could finally clearly see a seaplane.

The seaplane had been covered by a light olive-green netting which James now removed. Tommy was fascinated by seaplanes, and he had several books on aviation at home, but he’d never seen a plane like this. From a cabin that looked like it could fit eight people or more, a column extended up to the large wing on which the three large propellers were mounted abreast. Metal struts served to firmly affix the wing to the fuselage and the fuselage to the two floats underneath. Tommy thought it looked like a very powerful plane, good for bad weather.

James called out, “Alright, over the sides. Watch your step on the dock, it’s pretty rough.”

The four of them evidently didn’t respond or move quickly enough, because in a flash James turned angry, just as he had been when first approaching their canoe. “Now!” he roared, and watched in satisfaction as they hopped to, resembling a group of penguins as they clambered off the boat in over-sized gear.

“Better. The goons are likely somewhere between Crater Lake and here. No recent sign of their airship, but they can’t be far, so we’re going to get cooking.” James opened the door of the seaplane. “Three in back, one up front.”

As they climbed aboard James threw off the lines that had tied the seaplane to the improvised dock and pushed the plane from the makeshift dock. Dropping the lines, James jumped onto the floats and climbed into the cockpit.

The engines roared to life as James’ hands moved in a blur, throwing switches and cranking gears, readying them for takeoff. “Alright, I want you all to hold on tight. This can be a bit bumpy.

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