CHAPTER 4
When Jarvick returned to the small office, Charlie had his feet up on his desk and was holding a metal flask, having just taken a drink of something out of it. Seeing Jarvick, he put the flask back into his shirt pocket and put out his cigar. Jarvick handed him the cash and Charlie put it in his pocket without counting it.
“Alrighty then, let’s get going. The plane is out this way.” They both walked out of the little storefront and around a corner to another door marked AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Charlie pushed it open and they both were outside the terminal in the heat. Jarvick was startled by how hot it was as he followed Charlie toward a small plane that looked like it was in the middle of being repaired. The metal cover behind the propeller covering the engine was open and there were some small hand tools on the ground. The plane had large, balloon like tires and the entire aircraft had a covering of reddish dust. Charlie picked up the tools and put them in a canvas holder and rolled it up. He then closed the engine cowling, opened the door on the left side and threw the tools in the back.
“Throw your bag in the back and walk ‘round the other side.”
Jarvick did as he was told and when he reached the right side of the plane, Charlie was unwinding a piece of wire that apparently held that door shut. He opened it and motioned for Jarvick to get in. When Jarvick sat down, Charlie closed the door and re-wired the door shut. Getting into his side of the plane, Charlie said “I haven’t had time to fix that yet. Put your seat belt on.” When he found only ropes where the seat belt should be, Jarvick looked at Charlie with a quizzical look and Charlie said “That too. Just tie it and hold on, we have about a four hour flight.”
It took a couple of tries to get the engine to stay running, but they were finally starting to taxi to the runway. The engine noise was deafening, and Charlie pointed to a headset near Jarvick and motioned for him to put it on. Jarvick did so and could hear Charlie speaking to the control tower. When they were cleared for takeoff, Charlie wound up the engine and the old aircraft started to roll down the runway. It lifted off the ground thirty seconds later and began to gain altitude. After a minute or so, Charlie turned the plane slightly to the left and headed south. Twenty minutes into the flight, Charlie began to relax and took out his flask. “Want a snort?”
“What is it?” Jarvick asked.
Charlie handed it to him, “Hooch. I have a still at my ranch.”
Jarvick took a small taste and wanted to spit it out, it tasted horrible and burned his mouth. Charlie looked at Jarvick’s expression and guffawed, taking the flask back and taking another drink for himself.
Jarvick recovered and shook his head, “That tasted like poison! What’s in it?”
“Almost pure alcohol, I’ve been brewing this stuff for years, a lot cheaper than whiskey, but it’s an acquired taste.”
“I don’t want anymore, thank you.” Jarvick said.
Charlie laughed, took another sip and put the flask in his shirt. The next hour was quiet, Jarvick looking out the window at the landscape below, asking questions about something on the ground occasionally. At around 12:30, Charlie said “Lunchtime” and turned the plane toward the right and began to descend. Jarvick couldn’t see a runway but the plane was losing altitude anyway. He could see three small buildings ahead as Charlie set the plane down in the middle of a dirt road, slowing and coming to a stop next to one of them. Charlie got out, unwired Jarvick’s door, and then they both walked toward a single story building with a sign above the door that said MACKENNAS.
Once inside, Jarvick saw that it was a café on one side and had a bar on the other.
Charlie walked to the bar side where a heavyset man was cleaning a table with his back turned. He slapped the big guy on the back and said “Mac, you old woofer, how ya’ been?”
They engaged in a man-hug and conversed a little, then Mac asked Charlie “What are you doing in these parts?”
“I’m taking this yank down to the Springs and we need a couple of sammies and beers.”
“Sure thing Charlie, just let me finish up here.”
Charlie turned to Jarvick and called him over. “Mac, meet Jarvick, my yank friend.”
The two shook hands and then Charlie asked “Mac, you still got that petrol tank out behind the bar?”
Mac said “Yes, but I don’t know if it’s any good. It’s been there awhile.”
“Can I have a few liters? I’m a little short.”
The two talked a little while Jarvick wandered off in search of a bathroom. When he came out, Charlie was sitting at a table with two plates on it, each containing a sandwich, and two beers. Charlie’s beer was already half gone and was working on the sandwich. The two of them ate while Mac and Charlie talked, and when Charlie finished, he stood up and walked over to a table with four men in the corner. Jarvick finished his meal and went over to where Charlie was, and saw that they were playing cards. Charlie said “Sit down and join us, dollar a hand.”
“I thought we were supposed to fly to Alice Springs? I’m paying you for the trip, not so you can play cards.”
Charlie looked at Jarvick and said “That plane can’t fly without petrol, mate. They’re putting some in it now, so why don’t you sit down and relax.”
Jarvick declined and walked outside. There was a man with a large barrel in a wheeled contraption that had a hand pump that he was cranking. The plane was being refueled. Jarvick decided to walk out into the surrounding brush and look at the scenery.
Five minutes had gone by when he heard shouting coming from the bar, so Jarvick ran toward the commotion and saw Charlie running to the plane.
“Get in, Get in!” Charlie got into the pilot seat and Jarvick got into his, without wiring the door.
“Worry about that later, hang on!” Charlie started the engine and gunned it, and the plane was already moving. He taxied a short distance and turned around, then gunned the engine more. As they were taking off, Jarvick saw Mac come out of the bar holding what looked like a shotgun. He asked Charlie what happened, at which Charlie replied “They didn’t like having five aces in one deck.”