The landing gear rumbled again.
“Gus?” This time when Char yelled his name, the timbre of her voice rose an octave. When he didn’t answer, she looked to me. “What do you think it is?”
I closed my eyes as I answered.
“It’s not coming down.”
“What?”
“The landing gear isn’t coming down. Didn’t you feel it? He’s tried three times now.”
“What does that mean?” Her voice went up in pitch again.
“It’s going to be a rough landing.”
She said a string of words and then wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to get ahold of herself.
“What about them?” she asked, nodding toward our patients.
But I didn’t answer. There was nothing to say.
Mac appeared then, his face covered in a sheen of sweat, forcing a smile so as not to alert the men in back in case they were watching us.
“Landing gear is stuck,” he said. “We’re gonna bypass the airfield and go for the beach just past it.” He looked to me with an almost apologetic smile.
“Twice in one day?” I said.
“At least we won’t be landing under fire.”
“Not sure which is better, landing gear and bullets buzzing my head, or no landing gear at all.”
“It’ll be fine,” he said. “Just a little rough. And then we’ll have to hike a little ways, get some of the men to come help unload the patients.”
I felt Char’s body rise and fall beside me as she sighed.
“I’m never flying with you again,” I said with a smile that was anything but amused.
“We’re just trying to keep it exciting for you ladies.”
“I like my flights boring,” Char said.
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time, doll.”
I grabbed Char’s hand.
“Ready when you are,” I said to Mac, who gave us a salute and then rejoined Gus up front.
“Shit,” Char whispered. “Shit shit shit.”
We came in low and fast, the plane shuddering as we hit trees on our way down before the belly of the fuselage finally touched ground and we skimmed the surface and then bounced twice before crashing down hard and sliding for what seemed like forever.
The men in their beds shouted in fear and pain as Char and I grasped the straps of our buckles, our eyes squeezed shut. Which was why when the large metal trunk came loose of its bindings, neither of us saw it careening toward us.
7
William
Seattle, 2003
