Finding Carla by Ross Nixon

Author:Ross Nixon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History
Publisher: Aviation Supplies and Academics, Inc.
Published: 2016-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

In the same diminishing light and cooling air that chilled the lone walking man, the CAP search planes returned to their airport roosts after flying all day and covering the patchwork of square miles. Of course, there was no sighting of The Viking. No one even came close to the wreck on this “first nice day.” The searchers still flew a hundred miles away to the north. Maybe the mission could wrap up in the coming days. The CAP geared up on the weekends when more people escaped work to fly the planes and look out the windows. Their efforts slacked slightly during the weekdays when the volunteers reported to their regular jobs. This Saturday and Sunday, there’d be a big push to maximize eyeballs and airplanes. Maybe they’d find the plane with this maximum effort mission. The weather map finally showed promising conditions, and if it proved to be accurate, the planes could cover ground and make up for lost time.

Over the past week the atmosphere had coughed up some of the worst weather in California history. Somewhere a family lay in the wilderness. In their hearts, the search pilots and professional rescuers knew no one could survive in those conditions, but as long as the CAP mission leaders elected to keep the search alive, the loyal volunteers would keep flying their planes flying and eyes open.

While the Boss floundered down the mountain, fighting the first stages of hypothermia, hundreds of miles to the north his oldest son flew over the country, viewing it through the side Plexiglas blisters of the Oregon Air National Guard Grummans. Each night they flew back to base in Portland, landing at the International Airport that the Boss helped to build, delivering the gravel with his dump trucks. The Oregon Air Guard HU-16s would not fly training missions forever as a favor, and when they were done he’d rent his own search plane. Like the Old Man, Junior would not give up. He vowed to scour every square inch of the country between Portland and San Francisco with his eagle eyes until he found the plane. Junior planned to search until he ran out of time or money, or life. Junior had no idea his search flying would soon almost cost him his own life, and how, through a close call, he would find out what happened with his father’s plane.

While Al Jr. took care of the search-flying, Ron and Chuck continued to run the Clifford Hotel, keeping the doors open and the bills paid. Running the Old Man’s affairs was not part of their life plan but they knew it must be done. Though they’d been estranged, they knew someone had to fill the Old Man’s shoes. Of course he was not dead. He’d make it through and come walking out of the woods, and no doubt he’d give those search pilots a piece of his mind. It was just a matter of time.

Back at The Viking, Phyllis cuddled with Carla, conserving their pitiful warmth against the frigid air.

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