Sky Ship

by Robert P McAuley

  “Oh Dan, I'm nervous enough about flying on the dirigible - you know my fear of heights – so, please don't expect me to go up in one of those little things with you.”

  “Whatever you say, sweets, but you're gonna miss out on a whole lotta fun. And, as far as the dirigible goes, you're gonna have the time of your life. I’ve been on six flights so far, and it's fantastic! And safe; as being on an ocean liner - you feel completely at ease. You’ll see.”

  “If this dirigible is so safe, why do they have an ex-cop on every flight?

  “When you meet Jim McFarlane, you'll understand. Why, the ship's almost three football fields long and ten stories high. It's like his favorite toy - he's very protective of it.”

  She reached over and patted Dan on his shoulder. “This boss of yours’ sounds like an interesting character.”

  Dan nodded, “Jim goes for the gusto, that's for sure.”

  The long concrete road continues straight ahead except for the two lane black ribbon of macadam that veers off to the right where a sign says EXT. MCFARLANE CORP. & AIRFIELD. Dan followed it and after two miles a small city seemed to rise out of the flat terrain. The most prominent is the huge hanger that housed the dirigible. Surrounding it are a group of buildings, support, housing, arrivals and departures and everything needed to support Jim MacFarlane’s dream.

  “Hon, I’m going to drop you off at the reception area. Just go in and follow the signs to the reception area. I’ll park in the employees lot and meet you at the center in about fifteen minutes.”

  Jennifer entered the building under the hot sun grateful she didn’t have to walk far in it.

  Dan wheeled away and took the turn that said EMPLOYEE PARKING ONLY and drove down the road raising a cloud of sand behind him. He pulled up next to the cyclone fence and inserted his company identification card into the slot located in the post and it opened the gate of the parking lot. He parked his car across from two large structures: the flight center and the hangar. Dan got out of the car and the heat hit him right away. He grabbed their bags and walked toward the flight center. Dan spotted two other employees getting out of a parked car and he smiled broadly at Harry Slade and Mike Hanson. They are also carrying travel bags.

  “Hey guys. How’s it going?”

  Harry smiled and greeted Dan with, “Hey, Dan, nice shades.” Mike and Harry laughed.

  Dan took the snug sunglasses off and looked at them. “Darn, I couldn't find my Ray- Ahh! He stuffed them in his pocket and with a grin walked with Mike and Harry toward an employees' entrance.

  Mike asked, “Ready to protect our balloon, Officer Dan?”

  “Darn right I am. Hey, a dirigible is one helluva beat to walk.”

  Harry shrugged his massive shoulders and said, “Well, if you ever wanna switch jobs for a day, you can see what it's like cleaning one.”

  Dan flinched as though he were hit in the stomach, “Off, the man has a point.”

  At another gate marked PASSENGERS PARKING LOT, passengers are parking their cars or getting out of limos and taxis. All seem to look up at the hot sun then over to the huge hangar before taking their baggage and walking into the reception area to show their boarding pass to the attendants. A tan van parked and out of it step a group of young dark haired athletes all smiling.

  Extra wide revolving doors allowed groups to enter the passenger reception area quickly to get them into the air-conditioned processing center. Young men and women employees dressed in McKillop-plaid colored kilts attend to their every need once past the ticket-processing counter. Once the passengers have been processed they enter another large room colored with the McKillop colors of the MacFarlane Clan. Food and drinks are set out for the sixty passengers that will make the flight. On the main wall is an audio/visual display and most passengers are munching hors d’Oeuvres and sipping drinks with tiny umbrellas in them as the watch the display.

  Music sounded from the audio as the video came to life. It showed mid-forties Jim MacFarlane dressed in his familiar kilt as he greeted his passengers. His excitement showed and every few seconds he had to push his thick brown hair back. “Welcome to Sky Ship, the McFarlane Corporation's incredible luxury dirigible. Completed only one year ago, Sky Ship is a marvel of aviation engineering, accentuating adventure, safety and comfort. Luxury accommodations, a gourmet restaurant - even a casino, make flying on Sky Ship an unforgettable experience.” The image pointed to the right and continued. “Please take the time to look over the colorful wall map that depicts Sky Ship's circuitous, sightseeing route from South Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula to Caracas, Venezuela. Thank you and I’ll greet you all personally before boarding the Sky Ship.”

  Beneath the map, stood a young Hispanic woman and her six-year old daughter. The woman pointed at the map and told her, “See this line, Marlina? It shows the route the dirigible is going to take us on, all the way to Venezuela. Isn't that exciting?”

  “We're going to fly all that way mother?”

  “That's right.”

  “Wow!”

  Next to them stood an elderly couple. The gray haired woman held her husband’s hand tightly and said in a low voice, “I’m scared, Elliot.”

  Her husband raised his eyebrows and said in a surprised voice, “You're scared? But, Amanda, you've been telling everyone we know how much you're looking forward to this trip.”

  “I know,” she said still in a low voice, “and I’ve tried to be brave. But last week I saw the story of the Hindenburg on the History Channel and now I can't stop thinking about it. Oh, that was horrible. I was a young girl at the time, but it all came back to me. It just blew up! Oh!”

  Elliot held his wife’s hand tight to reassure her that all was fine. “Amanda,” he said, “that was over seventy years ago. Back in the old days, zeppelins were filled with hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable. This zeppelin gets its lift by being filled with helium gas. Helium's non-flammable; it can't blow up. Plus, this airship has computers and heat-sensors and - and all kinds of modern technology. It's as safe as the jets we fly on when we go to see the grandkids in Seattle.”

  She looked up at the man she trusted for over fifty years and with a tight smile said, “Well, if you say so, Elliot.”

  At one end of the room a door opened and a man dressed in the kilts of the Scottish Highlands and a few of his staff walked out and start greeting the passengers. It was Jim Macfarlane now in his early sixties, and still a beefy, beaming, gregarious Scotsman with a thick head of reddish brown hair. He immediately began greeting one and all effusively. He spoke, with a Scottish accent, to a group of enchanted passengers. “It's absolutely the most beautiful sight you will ever see: the sun rising over the Yucatan, the vast blue ocean, the lush Venezuelan jungle; and all from an unbelievably low altitude. Why, you'll virtually be able to reach out and pick a banana off the top of a banana tree!”

  The passengers laughed and all are in a high adventurous spirit.

  Jim ended his short visit, “Everybody, enjoy your breakfasts. I'll see you on board, later. I have a thousand and one items to take care of before we lift off.” He left them laughing and noticed Dan, who stood unassumingly in a corner, taking everything in. Jim shook his hand vigorously. “Daniel, me boy, good mornin'! Great day to fly, isn't it, lad?”

  “Sure is,” he answered, “You know, Jim, I just had the strangest idea.”

  “And what would that be, Danny boy?”

  Dan grinned. “That the whole reason you built Sky Ship was because you like to throw parties for people while you are dressed in a kilt.”

  Jim leaned toward Dan, “Keep it under your hat: They booted me out of the Glasgow University School of Business for hosting one too many keg parties. I showed them: Success is the best revenge.” They both laughed.

  Jennifer walked up behind them and tugged gently on Dan’s sleeve.

  He turned and gave her a peck on her cheek then turned to Jim and said, “Jim, someone I'd like you to meet: my wife, Jennifer.”

 
“Ah!” Jim takes her hand.

  “Jennifer, Jim McFarlane.”

  “Mr. McFarlane, it's so nice to finally meet you.”

  “Oh, this is excellent! I'm so glad you could come along. And none of this Mister McFarlane' stuff – you call me Jim, young lady.”

  Jennifer is charmed, “Okay, Jim.”

  Jim bowed slightly at the waist, “As Dan's wife, I want you to consider yourself my special guest for this trip.”

  “Well, I'm honored sir, I mean Jim.”

  And now,” Jim said, “I must go about my duties. I insist on dinner at least once this trip. Agree?”

  “Dan and I would be honored.”

  “Settled then. I must be off, see you about.” Jim set off at a fast pace to the Sky Ship.

  One of the first passengers to arrive is Colonel Abdul Aziz.

  Dan checked his watch and turned to Jennifer. “Hon, I have to check on the ship. Just follow the crowd as they go up the walkway. I’ll meet you in the reception area of the Sky Ship.” He gave her a peck on the cheek and walked to the door.

  A large door opened beneath the Audio/Video display and the attendants guided the passengers toward it. Outside of seeing videos and newscasts most of the passengers have never seen the airship up close and they are in awe of it. As the video continued to show the sights of the Florida Keys from only five hundred feet, his audio stated; “Sky Ship is eight hundred feet long and one hundred feet in diameter. Its silvery finish is made of plastic resin stronger but lighter than steel. The six powerful engines are mounted three to a side and all can swivel up or down for outstanding directional control. On the craft’s belly is a gondola that houses the flight crew.”

  The passengers could see them clearly through the large plexiglas windows that surround the gondola and every so often one of the crew waved to the passengers. The crew was dressed in white uniforms except for Captain Hugo Eckener who wore white pants with a dark blue military style jacket and white captain’s cap. Eckener had short white hair worn in a crew cut fashion and sported a white handlebar mustache.

  A low rumbling was heard and all heads turned to face the front of the large hangar as two doors slowly slid open, allowing a widening shaft of bright sunlight to enter. Suddenly all could see the entire airship and the ‘Ohhs and Ahhs’ told Dan that they were awed by her size.

  She was buoyant, but secured to a mooring mast at the nose that held her tightly in place. Beneath the ship’s gondola the ground crew, all dressed in their white coveralls, look tiny beneath the monstrous zeppelin as they prepare the ship for boarding. Portable maintenance systems are detached and a passengers' walkway is rolled into position. The walkway went from the ground up into the ship’s belly, behind and above the gondola.

  Dan walked up the walkway and went directly to the gondola. His light leather brown jacket and tan slacks are in direct contrast to the starched whites worn by all the others. He stood to the side as the flight crew went about their pre-flight checklist.

  All is as it should be. He thought as he looked around the control room. Besides Captain Hugo Eckener is First Officer Beniquez, the pilot and Flight Engineer Ellis. Behind the wheel that swung the giant rudder and elevators at the rear, sat Lt. Steve Wilcox.

  Captain Eckener spoke in a low, steady voice of command. “Mr. Beniquez, please give me the status on gas cells and fuel.”

  “Sir,” he answered, “all gas cells, one hundred per cent, fuel state, sixty-four tons.

  Eckener nodded and walked to the front window. “Water ballast, Mr. Beniquez? The First Officer looked at his gauges and responded. “Water ballast, twenty tons, Sir.”

  Throughout the ship and hangars a female voice sounded over the public address system: “Ladies and gentlemen, boarding in ten minutes for your excursion to Caracas, Venezuela, on the world's only luxury cruise dirigible, Sky Ship. The McFarlane Corporation would like to thank you for flying with us. Bon voyage and buen viaje.”

  Dan left the gondola, walked down to the boarding area and stood by the metal detectors. Guides walked the passengers through them, then through the door to the portable stairs that led up into the airship. The stairs were carpeted in a deep red plush carpet and guides stood ready every few feet to help if needed. The passengers walked up as their luggage was lifted into the airship’s storage area in the belly.

  At the top of the stairs, as they entered the ship, they found themselves in a spacious area with chairs, tables, a bar and tall windows. Flight attendants greeted the passengers and answered questions. The walls were adorned with beautiful oil paintings of places the airship has visited. A baby Grand piano sat in one corner and on a large mahogany shelf sat an eighteen-inch long, silver model of Sky Ship. As the last passenger left the security area, the security man waved at Dan who looked around then boarded. As usual, he was the last person aboard and secured the door as the ground crew removed the portable stairs away from the ship.

  Dan walked to a door marked 'NO ADMITTANCE'; used his electronic pass-card and opened it. He now looked around the ship’s huge interior. The vastness of this area was stunning: Pairs of huge gas cells dominated the entire interior, and guy wires crisscross like spider webs. There were four narrow walkways that ran down the ship from its tip to its tail. The main center walkway that ran down on dead center while the hull walkway ran along the ship’s hull and two more, which ran alongside the right and left side of the ship. Dan was whistling as he walked down the center walkway towards the tail of the ship.

  In the gondola, lights on the control panel went from red to green as doors were locked and systems engaged. First Officer Beniquez turned and reported to Captain Eckener, “Entrance ladders removed and outside entrance hatches closed and secured sir.”

  Eckener nodded and continued his walk back and forth. “Very well Officer Beniquez, start engines; set to idle.”

  “Aye, aye, Sir, start engines and set to idle,” he repeated, then spoke into a hand held mike and said, “Start engines, set to idle.”

  In the engine room Smitty and Phil, the two Engine Room men, sat at their instrument panel. Both heard Beniquez order and repeated it back to him. “Start engines, set to idle, aye, aye sir.”

  Smitty depressed a red button and held it down as he depressed another marked FUEL FLOW. Diesel engines revved up to a soft hum. “Engines started and set to idle, Mr. Beniquez,” Smitty spoke into the microphone.

  Phil is studying his engine gauges and turned at the sound of a knock at the door to his engine room and said, “It’s open.”

  There’s another knock and Phil shouted louder, “It’s open.”

  Dan opened the door. ”What's the word, Thunderbird?”

  “Why, it's Constable Dan, making his rounds,” said a grinning Phil.

  Dan answered him in his best Irish policeman brogue, “Now, don't let me catch you two touching any of those dials; we want this thing to fly right!”

  Smitty laughed and asked, “Hey, Dan, when are you gonna give us the low-down on your pre-mature retirement from the New York City Police Department?”

  Dan answered, still with his Irish brogue, “Well, see, that had to do with philosophical differences: The Commissioner and I disagreed on the correct interpretation of departmental guidelines pertinent to the discharge o’ firearms in public places.”

  Phil arched his eyebrows and shook his head, “Huh?”

  “Phil,” said Smitty, “I think he said he shot himself in the foot in a movie theatre.”

  “Whatever,” Phil quipped, “Hey, poker game's in the Auxiliary Control Room at twelve hundred hours today, Dan.”

  Dan shook his head, “No can do boys, I got the wife along for this trip.”

  Smitty tapped a gauge as he answered, “So stop by for a couple of hands. Or are you tired of taking our money?”

  “Ha! I'm usually the one who gets taken. On second thought, I will stop by. I have a feeling this is gonna be my lucky day.” Dan turned toward the door, “Got to finish my beat lads, you know;
keep the bad guys at bay. See you later.”

  Smitty made a note in the engine room log as he mumbled to himself, “Someday I'm gonna get him to come clean about his N.Y.P.D. days.”

  Dan walked out and entered the main center walkway and met Harry Slade and Mike Hanson walking aft. They both carried a mop and a pail of water each. “Hey guys,” Dan said as he passed them, “game's in the Auxiliary Control Room, today, twelve noon.”

  “Got it, Dan, we’ll be there,” answered Harry.

  Dan stopped at a small side platform and pressed a button that summoned a two person, open, workman’s electric trolley that ran parallel to the main walkway. It stopped next to the platform and Dan hopped aboard and pushed the lever that started the trolley off down the main track to the forward section, gasbags loomed above him.

  Jennifer looked at her ticket and saw that her room number was #27. She set off to find it and walked along the outside corridor, which was lined with large windows that were opened, and almost everyone had a group of passengers looking out them. Seeing an elderly couple standing by the last window she approached and stood to the side. The woman turned and smiled at Jennifer. “Dear, would you like to stand at the window? You can see much better here.”

  “No, no. Please stay there,” Jennifer answered, “I can see past you.”

  “Actually,” the woman answered as she bit her lower lip, “I sort of wanted to get away from them. You see I’m sort of frightened.”

  The man shrugged his shoulders and said, “I told her there’s nothing to be afraid of. Why this ship is as safe as sitting in our living room.”

  Jennifer smiled warmly to the woman. “If it helps any, my husband works onboard the Sky Ship and he says it’s very safe. He said that the ship has every modern safety feature built in.”

  “You see my love,” continued her husband, “I’m sure this young lady wouldn’t be here if it were unsafe. Now, let’s go to our cabin and wash up for lunch.” She smiled and offered her hand to Jennifer. “Thank you ever so much for the reassuring words young lady. I’m Amanda Tross and this is my husband, Elliot. We’d be pleased to have tea with you if you and your husband are free sometime during our trip.”