Scene 9

A small passenger plane over the Guyana Highlands

I scrambled to pull myself back to my feet.

“Status!” I yelled.

“I’ve lost a lot of control and power,” Ms. Falcon reported, struggling to hold the controls steady.

“The missile hit the right engine,” Ms. Hawk reported from the cabin. “It’s on fire.”

“Anywhere to land?” I asked.

“Do you see anywhere?” Ms. Falcon shot back. “All I see are trees and mountains. The only clearing was back with the people who shot at us, and it is nowhere big enough to land in, even if I could get the plane back there. My controls are nearly frozen; it’s all I can do to keep us straight and level.”

“Do we bail out?” I asked.

“Unless you want to ride it down, and I don’t recommend that. This plane will either go down in the trees or against the side of a mountain, and neither one is favorable to our survival.”

“Right,” I replied. “Swan, get in the back and initiate the emergency evacuation. Get the dogs hooked up to their assigned partners and get everyone out of the plane.”

When Ms. Swan evacuated her seat, I sat down and grabbed the copilot controls.

After a few moments, Ms. Swan called out, “Ready!”

“Get them out of here!” I ordered.

I heard my associates getting the team out of the door as I helped Ms. Falcon keep the plane steady.

“All out!” I heard Ms. Swan report.

“Go, we’re right behind you!” I ordered.

“You too,” Ms. Falcon told me.

“No, we go together.”

“I can’t. If I let go of the controls now, the plane will pitch too much for anyone to get out. You have to go now.” I heard the desperation in her voice and turned to look at her. She met my gaze and tears filled her eyes.

“Please Dave,” she pleaded. “Go!”

I knew right then what she planned to do. The odds were against her surviving a crash, but it was possible that she might. I stood from the seat and grabbed one of the remaining parachutes.

After strapping the pack on, I placed my hand on her shoulder. “I’ll come after you Susie,” I promised.

Unable to release the controls, she placed her cheek against my hand. “I know,” she said, “now get out of here.”

I quickly moved back to the open cabin door and glanced back at her. Then I turned and jumped out of the door.

I tumbled out into the open air and pulled the ripcord as soon as I had cleared the plane. Twisting around, I watched the plane as it descended.

The plane’s flight was taking it directly towards one of the tepuis. As I drifted down, I saw the plane pass over the top of the mountain and disappear from view. After just a moment, I heard the impact of metal as the plane crashed atop the mesa.