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Brian starts calling out the engine readings from behind us while I make another correction.

The climb finally slows.

For half a second, the airplane almost feels settled.

Then my stomach jumps into my throat.

Because we drop hard.

“Downdraft,” Colston says.

“I’ve got it.” I brace against the drop and ride it out.

The altimeter starts unwinding while Ruth drives us down through the air. My weight comes off the seat as the airplane drops, and I keep making small corrections while I wait for the descent to ease.

Colston’s watching the instruments and barking out what he sees. “Airspeed’s coming down.”

I add power, but the airplane rolls hard to the right before I can get the speed back.

I push against the roll, but another hit catches us before the wings are level. The yoke jerks hard in my hands, and pain shoots through my wrist as I fight to keep the right wing from dropping any farther.

Colston’s already ahead of me, eyes moving between the attitude indicator, airspeed, and altimeter while I concentrate on getting the airplane level again.

“Bank’s coming back. Airspeed still dropping.”

“I see it.”

I add even more power.

Something crashes in the cabin behind us, followed by somebody cursing over the intercom.

“Everybody hold on,” Brian calls.

Before anyone can say anything else, Ruth drops us again.

My stomach lurches as my body lifts against the restraints, then slams back into the seat when the airplane catches itself. Colston grabs his controls with both hands, ready to come in if I need him, but he keeps his attention on the instruments.

“We’re still losing altitude,” he says.

“How much?”

He gives me the number, then immediately follows it with our airspeed as another hard shudder runs through the airplane.

Sweat slides down my back beneath my flight suit. My jaw aches from how hard I’m clenching it, and the muscles through my shoulders and forearms are starting to burn from fighting Ruth every time she knocks us around.

The grin I had coming into this pass is long gone.

Ruth has my full fucking attention now.

The next drop comes before I can get us completely settled.

My stomach lurches as Ruth drops us again. Beside me, Colston watches the instruments, his voice staying unusually calm as the numbers keep falling.

“Still dropping,” Colston says. “She’s a little dramatic, huh?”

“Focus, Jenny.”

“I am focused.”