Chapter Twenty-two
The rhythmic pulse of the overhead blades of the helicopter was all that kept Hamilton company as he peered ahead into the darkness and maintained his course. A text message confirmed their destination. Samantha, in the meantime, had fallen asleep over an hour ago but was now waking up.
She tried to adjust her position but was suddenly startled by the harness restraint and panicked. “Where am I!”
“It’s okay, Samantha.” Hamilton said, trying to calm her. “You’re safe! Safe with me.” He reached for her hand. “Remember? We fought off all those snakes?” He chuckled trying to ease the tension and released her hand.
She exhaled. “Yes. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You’ve been through a lot the past few days.”
She watched out the windows. “It’s dark. Where are we?”
“Miles away from our cozy desert hide-away.”
“That’s not an answer,” she said.
“I know,” he agreed. “So think of it as a secret surprise. Like a Christmas present.”
“Christmas,” she repeated without emotion.
“Yeah. You like Christmas, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, but this doesn’t feel anything like Christmas. It feels more like Halloween and definitely a trick... not a treat.”
She watched him fly, admiring his obvious skill and ease at the controls. “How do you know where you are and which way you’re going when it’s so dark outside?”
He tapped the screen of his guidance system. “This helps. Shows us exactly where we are, which direction we’re headed, how high we’re flying... that kind of stuff.”
“I see... I guess.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
“I can tell,” she said. “Obviously you know where we’re going, so how much longer?”
“I need to get fuel. I’m headed to a town up ahead to do that.”
“And after that?”
“We’ll fly away.”
“Another lame answer,” she said. “I’m just going to keep asking questions, you know.”
He laughed. “Then I might have to kiss you again.”
“You did not have to kiss me the last time. You could have just asked me to stop asking questions.”
Hamilton burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“You! I did ask you to stop. It was that kiss that did the trick.” He grinned without looking at her. “I think you liked it.”
“I did not!”
“Yes, you did.” He continued to stare out the windshield. “You liked it.”
“I’m not saying another word until we get to... wherever you’re taking me.”
Hamilton looked at her then grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “Too bad we couldn’t have met at another time and under different circumstances.”
She pulled her hand away and sat looking out her side window unable to speak. Her heart raced and she felt her cheeks flush. Hamilton glanced at her for a moment then refocused on flying.
For the next hour they rode in silence. Eventually Samantha fell asleep again with her head propped against the side window. Hamilton looked at her every so often wishing she’d wake up so they could talk a little. She could ask questions. He didn’t really care. He enjoyed the banter. If nothing else, it would keep him company.
Eventually approaching a community airport, he circled and landed near a self-service fuel station. The wind was gusting and clouds had completely obscured the stars. He hurried to fuel up watching the wind sock flap from side to side in the gusts.
The door to the cockpit opened and Samantha poked her head out. “Where are we?” she asked. “And can I get out and stretch?”
“Sure. You need some help?”
“I can manage.” She stepped down then wrapped her arms around her body and shivered. “It’s cold and windy.”
“You’re observant,” he said and grinned as she made a face. “Too bad the airport office is closed. We might have found a vending machine inside with some snacks in it.”
“That’s okay,” she said. “We brought snacks.” She laughed. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“What. Our emories? I thought you loved them.”
“How much longer?” she asked.
“A few minutes. Walk around to get the circulation going. Just don’t run off.”
“Run off? Where would I go in the middle of the night... in what appears to be a rain storm coming in, with no shoes... and who knows where we are?” she said.
“Good point.” He grinned and watched as she walked around, still holding her arms tightly around her torso. “You want my jacket?” he called out.
“No thanks. I’m going to get back onboard. Besides, I think I felt a drop of rain.”
Hamilton finished up and soon they were back in the air. He adjusted some settings on the navigation panel and made a slight course correction, then tuned the radio to a specific frequency to get a weather update for the region. “Sounds like the storm is a pretty big one,” he said.
“How big?”
“Significant, it sounds. I was hoping we’d get to our destination before the brunt of it hits us.”
“Are we that close?”
“Not really. Not close enough, I don’t think,” he replied. “We’re probably going to get slammed by some of it. Just stay cinched up good.”
Rain began to pelt the windshield. “I hate flying a helicopter in the rain,” he said. “Messes up the leading edges of all the blades.”
“But we’ll be safe, right?” she asked.
He nodded. “Yes. We’ll be safe. I promised I’d take care of you... and I meant it.” He continued to fly in silence debating about whether or not to tell her anything more then finally said, “We’ll be meeting up with some other people.”
“What other people?” Samantha looked at him with great interest.
“Good people. You’ll see.”
As predicted, the storm became more intense, forcing Hamilton to remain completely focused on his piloting. Samantha winced every time the helicopter lurched to one side or the other. Although she couldn’t see anything because of the darkness and pelting rain, she maintained a vigilant watch out the windshield, while Hamilton kept a steady grip on the controls, struggling to maintain his course and altitude.
With only his instruments to guide him, he eventually took a new easterly heading. “Not much further,” he said.
“Good,” Samantha replied. “This is not fun. I never want to fly in another helicopter the rest of my life.”
A strong crosswind suddenly slammed against the aircraft violently throwing it to one side. Samantha screamed and immediately apologized. “I’m sorry!”
Hamilton got his rig under control then slowly began to descend. “Keep your eyes open for anything below us,” he said. “Especially lights of any kind.”
“Okay,” she replied watching out her side window. All was black as the rain rammed her window with a vengeance. She continued to watch but kept a firm grip on her harness at the same time.
“I may have to put down,” he said. “This storm is almost too much for the helicopter and I’m getting tired.” He dared to take his hand off one of the controls to push a couple of buttons on the navigation panel.
Samantha remained quiet as Hamilton began to descend. Suddenly an automated voice called out, “Traffic! Traffic!”
“What the...” Hamilton started to say.
Samantha looked at him in fright. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone else is flying out in this storm too! And they’re close enough for the traffic collision system to detect them.”
“Are they going to hit us?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. I see their ID on the screen and they’re moving away from us. We should be fine.”
Samantha clos
ed her eyes and began to whisper.
“You say something?” he asked, still focused on the navigation screen.
“I’m just praying,” she said.
“That’s good. We can use all the help we can get.”
Moments later they flew into an open pocket of airspace out of the clouds. The rain was lighter and they could both make out a road below by the sight of headlights and taillights of moving vehicles, but especially a big rig and all its running lights acting almost like a beacon, leading them on.
“Now that’s a welcome sight,” Hamilton said. “And it gives me a better idea where we are.”
“Which is...” Samantha prodded.
“Right where we need to be,” he replied. “I know. That’s a lame answer.”
“Yes it is!” she snapped at him. “Really lame and I’m getting tired of it.”
“Can’t be helped right now,” he said then changed his mind. “Okay, we’re over the State of Washington but we’ll be crossing into Idaho soon, if that helps any.”
“Idaho,” she repeated. “Are we headed for Coeur d’Alene?”
“Not exactly.” He was quiet for a moment then said, “You know... I’m not accustomed to giving a play-by-play of everything I do. I usually travel alone or if someone is with me, it’s because we’re working the same job. You were a job,” he explained.
“That makes me feel important. Real important.”
“You are important or I wouldn’t be going to so much trouble to help,” he replied. “I’m just used to working alone, that’s all.”
Samantha watched him then asked, “Did your marriage end in a divorce?”
“What? You decided to ask me that now?”
“I just wondered, that’s all,” she said. “If I were your wife, I’m sure I’d be frustrated all the time. ‘Sorry, honey, I can’t tell you about this or that’.”
“No divorce,” he said.
Samantha quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. You’re under a lot of stress flying and I shouldn’t pry. Forget I asked.”
He tapped a couple of buttons and seemed to be checking the instruments then said, “She died.”
“Oh. Brad. I’m very sorry. I apologize for...”
“No need to apologize. Things happen.”
Samantha sat back and gazed down at the dark landscape and the one lone road with its few vehicles traveling in opposing directions.
“Her name was Melissa,” he said. “Melissa Lorraine Hamilton.”
Samantha could sense he felt a great loss just by the mere mention of his wife. “That’s a beautiful name. I’m sure she was just as lovely.”
“Yes. Yes she was.” He stayed focused on his task and said nothing more about his deceased wife. Moments later, wisps of a cloud scooted past their aircraft. “I’m going to try to stay below the cloud cover if possible,” he said as he brought the aircraft lower. “Just sit tight.”
Carefully guiding the helicopter in a gradual descent he finally leveled off and continued on their course. Another unexpected blast of air slammed the helicopter. Hamilton gripped the controls and fought to compensate. Samantha had an iron grip on her harness as she stared straight ahead.
“I’m scared,” she managed to say.
“I know.”
More buffeting bounced the aircraft from side to side, sending tremors the length of the fuselage. Once again heavy rain began to pommel the helicopter, the drops streaking across the windshield in countless rivulets.
“How can you see anything?” Samantha asked.
“The guidance system, Sam. Just like I showed you earlier. I watch the instruments.”
“But we might crash into something if you can’t see it.”
“This rig has a terrain avoidance system in addition to the collision avoidance system, so we should be okay.”
She kept staring out her side window hoping to see something recognizable below.
“You remind me of her,” Hamilton said suddenly.
“Excuse me?” Samantha asked somewhat taken aback.
“My wife. You remind me of her. She was sweet and vulnerable, just like you... and stubborn... but fun to be with. She had this warm smile that could light up a room, and the nicest voice, just like yours.
“I could listen to her talk on and on about her interests and projects,” he continued. “She was always so animated and excited about life.” He kept staring ahead. “She liked to paint. She was always painting something... if not a canvas, then murals and designs on the walls of our apartment... without permission from the landlord, of course.” He chuckled softly. “She could usually talk her way out of any kind of a situation... except that one last time.” He grew quiet again.
Samantha chose not to say anything, but instead watched the darkness ahead. Silently, though, she mourned for him and the tragic loss of his wife, wondering why and how she died and why he felt compelled to share that painful experience with her.
They continued to fly in silence with only the pulsating rhythm of the overhead blade biting into the cold wet night air. The turbulence was getting worse, as evidenced by the increasing bumps and shudders.
“We’re heading back into the storm, I’m afraid” he said calmly. “Stay belted in tight.”
“I will,” she replied just as a flash of lightening streaked across the sky in front of them. Samantha shrieked as the thunder exploded around them with immense power and intensity.
“We’ll be fine!” he said.
She continued to watch the sky, fearful of more lightening and the very real prospect of being struck. Another bolt flashed to the west of them but further away. “I’m really scared.”
“I know. I’ll do my best to keep us safe. We’re getting close.” Hamilton looked at her and smiled. “You’re going to be fine. You don’t think I would let a little bad weather spoil all the fun we’ve been through, do you?” He forced a grin. A buzzing distracted him.
“Can you grab my phone?” he asked. “It’s on my belt.”
Samantha reached under his jacket and pulled the phone from its holster and held it out to him.
“Hang on to it,” he said as he quickly unlocked it with his thumbprint. “Open that text for me.” She did and held the phone so he could read it. “Okay. Hold on to it for a few minutes. We should get another message.”
“Who was it from?” she asked.
“The people we’re meeting up with. They’re expecting us.”
“Do you need to reply?”
“Not yet.”
The phone buzzed again and she held up the phone. He read the message as they continued to bounce around in the erratic wind. “I need you to send a reply,” he said. “Write exactly what I tell you.”
She nodded and held the phone ready.
“Write, ‘B-I-M-D’ then ‘bad storm’ then ‘ETA 40’ and send it.”
She did as he instructed.
“Wait for a reply.”
She looked out the window again. “I’m surprised we’re getting any reception up here.”
“Me too. But we’re pretty low and there must be some cell towers around here.”
A moment later the reply came. “It says ‘copy,’” she said. “That’s it.”
“Okay. Good. Now see if you can get it back in the holster for me.”
She put it back. “Can I ask a question?”
He laughed. “Now you’re asking permission to ask questions?” He laughed again.
“I just wondered what B-I-M-D stands for.”
“It’s just a code. Nothing to worry about. Just hang on. We’re almost there.”
“If we don’t get fried first,” she said.
“Don’t touch anything metallic.”
“Okay, but what about you?” She looked at the controls he was handling.
“Rubber grips. Insulation. I’ll be okay.”
Almost immediately they were swallowed up in more clouds. Sama
ntha caught her breath and stiffened.
“Stay calm, Samantha. I need you to stay calm. It will help me stay calm, okay?”
“Okay,” she said. Taking a deep breath, she tried to relax. “I’m just not used to this, that’s all. Not even in a commercial airliner.”
“I understand. But in about another thirty minutes or so I’ll need you to help me watch for an airstrip.”
“Airstrip? How will we see it with all the clouds?”
“I’ll worry about that, you just get ready to keep your eyes peeled. Deal?”
“Yes.” She nodded. Deal.”
The wind continued to pound them and lightning lit up the sky all around but at a distance. Even the thunder didn’t seem as threatening.
“Looks like your prayer is working,” he said.
“They usually do.”
He glanced at her. She seemed calmer but still gripped her shoulder strap.
“So what happens when we land?” she asked. “What are you going to do with me?”
“Nothing. My job will be over. The others will look after you.”
“Look after me? I’m beginning to feel like a lost puppy that’s being shuffled from one place to another.”
“And a darned cute one,” he said. “Why don’t you say another prayer? It might make you feel better.”
“You’re making fun of me,” she said.
“No, I’m not,” he replied. “I know it’s important to you and they seem to be helping.” He stole another glance. Her lips were moving slightly. He smiled. Although not a religious man per se, a prayer coming from Samantha was somehow very comforting.