Chapter 38
Chapter 38
M orning crept painfully slowly through the white-out; you could barely notice. There was a change from black, to navy blue, to dark gray. And the flakes kept coming. Morag stared out ominously, but finally, at around 7 a.m., turned to Ranald. He was less worried about the snow than he was about crosswinds. Heavy, large planes didn’t really suffer, but their little twin otter wasn’t terribly happy in them.
“Gonne be bumpy.”
Morag nodded.
“You know,” she said. “When you say you could fly this route blindfolded.”
Ranald nodded. “Yup,” he said. “Today’s sure the day to test it out.”
There was no hope of ferries or flights today. The helos weren’t there, and in any case wouldn’t be able to get a whole clutch off a mountain. Only Dolly 2 could make it. Mackintosh and Pete were already out, shoveling snow off the gritted runway.
The same could not be said of the other end. It would depend on the weather whether they would drop supplies and return, and wait it out for tomorrow, or attempt a landing today if conditions improved.
Morag sat down with Gertie, who would be needed in case they couldn’t land and useful if they did, and outlined what they were going to do. Gertie was going to have to be ready. Morag could really do with Nalitha, very familiar with the plane, but Gertie could manage. There was a hatch at the back of the plane. Morag would fly low; Ranald would come back and open the hatch. They’d be as accurate as they could—Ranald started talking about his father’s bombing missions again. And they had two parcels, bundled up in bubble wrap, wrapped in wool, so even if one missed they’d still call it a success.
It was going to be difficult flying. Very difficult. Low, in terrible conditions. Morag thought back to her old job: long miles of nothing, copiloting holidaymakers up and down to safe airports in Portugal, Spain, and Greece; happy children, drunken stag nights; safe, repetitive, solid flying.
This... this was the real thing. This would take every ounce of her skill and training and experience. She felt nothing but excitement.
Morag caught Ranald looking at her, reading her every thought. He winked, slowly, understanding it all, and this made her even more reassured. Gramps had no doubt at all they could do it. It was what they had trained for, practiced for, after all. He was looking forward to it.
M ORAG WENT OUT to walk to the plane. The wind grabbed her breath, shocked her as she went out into the maelstrom. Oh, those babies, she thought suddenly. Those poor babies.
She noticed a commotion in the tin shed. Gertie had already gone forward toward it.
It was, Morag realized, the parents. Word had gotten around. She frowned and looked back at the office, but then realized Gertie was already there, dealing with everything as best she could.
“When are they coming home?” someone was demanding. “Why are you even still here? Why didn’t you go last night?”
“Where are the helicopters? Can’t the boat go?”
“Are they safe? I want to talk to my kid right now!”
“This isn’t a supermarket, Gertrude! Kids could die.”
Gertie had her hand up trying to calm the situation but her color was dangerously high. She wanted to tell them everything would be all right, but what if that wasn’t true? What if it really was dangerous? Khalid’s mum was in floods of tears. Many were shaking. They were right. This wasn’t the supermarket.
And perhaps she wasn’t the right person to go. Maybe she couldn’t do it. The wind was making even louder noises across the rattling tin can of the airport, and she felt the worry build inside her.
Just as Morag was wondering what would be the best thing to do, and if interceding would make it look like she didn’t trust Gertie either, suddenly the KCs had materialized, in a line, between Gertie’s desk and the families.
“Listen!” Jean was shouting. “Do you not think these guys have been flying here forever? Do you not think those people up in Archland aren’t trained?”
“My kid only has an Iron Man sleeping bag,” said Jimmy’s mum, worried. “I’m not even sure it’s suitable for outdoor use. The year I went the sun shone all the time and we were too hot. I thought it was just a joke.”
“They’ll be getting extra blankets,” said Jean, sharply. The other KCs were forming a barrier between Gertie and the mothers.
“Gertie is going to go and help... We’re going to make sure everything is okay here,” Jean said firmly, turning her face toward her daughter, who nodded.
“Magnificent woman!” murmured Ranald to Morag, who looked at him curiously.
“And we’re staying here to look after you,” said Jean. “Don’t worry. They’re not going to let you down. Gertie would never let you down.”
Gertie felt a lump in her throat.
One of the mothers looked out toward the weather through the heavy doors, which were shaking in place, and she made a tiny sound of anguish.
“Right,” said Morag, briskly and calmly. “Let’s get going. Come on, Gertie.”