Distant Thunder

27

Jack Collins was approaching Islesboro, but in fog, even at three thousand feet. He started down, planning one thousand feet at five miles. At two thousand feet, he was still locked in a white world. At fifteen hundred, he caught a glimpse of trees, and like magic, at one thousand feet he popped into clear air, with the airfield in sight. He turned wide downwind to land to the north and drifted down to seven hundred feet. That would keep him above the treetops. He got the gear down and put in some flaps as he made his turn to final. He aimed to miss the treetops and set down just past the runway numbers.

He taxied to the end of the runway, then turned around and taxied to the other end, looking for parked cars or men on foot in the trees. He appeared to be alone.

He spun around at an existing set of tie-downs, and ran through his shutdown procedure. With the prop stopped, he opened his door wide and listened. Silence.

As he was unloading his two suitcases, a 1938 Ford woodie station wagon pulled up to the airplane. He hadn’t seen it coming. He adjusted his fake beard and moustache and hopped down from the wing, his hand out to meet Seth Hotchkiss.

From the north he heard a rumble of distant thunder.

“Looks like you made it just in time, Mr. Collins,” Seth said. “It’ll be raining hard in ten minutes.”

“Please, Seth, it’s Jack.”

“Jack it is,” Seth replied, tucking his luggage into the trunk.

As Jack slid into the passenger seat, he heard the thunder again, less distant than before.

Seth got in. “Are you tied down to your satisfaction?”

“I am.”

The car began to roll, and shortly they were at the house. Rain began to come down, and hard. Seth pulled into the garage. “That door to the house,” he said, pointing. “I’ll get the bags.”

As Jack stepped into the foyer, a clap of thunder nearly deafened him and lightning flashed. The house lights went off.

“Give it a few seconds,” Seth said, “and the generator will kick in.” It kicked in, and the lights came on again.

“We’ve got a full tank of diesel,” Seth said, “and it will last a couple of weeks. The truck will be back by then, so we’ll never go dark.”

Jack followed Seth upstairs and into a guest room.

“Would you like some lunch?” Seth asked. “There’s lobster stew.”

“Thanks,” Jack replied. “I’ll be right down.” The wind was gusting twenty or so knots now.

Downstairs Jack took a seat by the fire, and Mary brought him a tray and set it in his lap. “Would you like a glass of wine?” she asked.

“Yes, please.”

She left, then returned with a glass. “Holler, if you need anything,” she said, and left him to eat.

Jack could see out the back windows now, but not much further, what with the rain.

Somewhere a phone rang, and Seth called, “Stone for you, Jack.”

Jack picked up the phone beside his chair. “Hello?”

“Did you beat the weather in?”

“Just barely,” Jack replied. “I had it on the radar and stormscope ahead of time.”

“Is your airplane securely tied down?”

“It is, thanks.”

“Do you want to give me a phone number?”

“Sure.” He recited it. “It’s a throwaway.”

“That’s good enough. You might give Ed Rawls a ring when the weather is better.”

“I’ll do that.”

“See you.” Stone hung up.

Jack accepted a little more stew from Seth. “Anyone asking for me?” he asked.

“Nope, and if you stay out of the village store, nobody will.”

“Stone had mentioned it.”

He finished the stew and his wine, then he reclined his chair a bit and dozed through the thunder and lightning.

When he woke up, the rain had stopped, at least temporarily, and there were a few rays of sunshine outside. The phone rang again, and this time Jack answered. “Yes?”

“It’s Rawls. Come down here at six for a drink, and if you’re decent company, you can stay for dinner, which will be beef.”

“Thank you, yes.”

Rawls gave him directions to his place and instructions for dealing with the front gate, which apparently was a big log.

“See you at six,” Jack said.

Seth came back in and gave him the keys to the Ford. “Can you drive a stick shift?”

“Sure.”

“Not everybody can these days.”

Jack went upstairs and changed for dinner.