Sky Ship

by P McAuley, Robert

  The passengers, thrown to the floor, are recovering slowly.

  At the first sound of the explosion, Jennifer shielded her head by standing under a large girder that went over the top of the tool shed. She pushed the twisted door back and climbed over it, just as flames erupted from her hiding spot. She ran towards the door that would take her to the passenger’s lounge. She knew that was where Dan was. Be safe, Dan, she thought as she reached the door and heard gunfire, be safe!

  The small yellow Piper Cub was trying to get back in position as the pilot cursed. “Damn it! The smoke from the airship bounces this aircraft all over the sky. I think we will shoot the next rocket into its side.” He looked at Quamel and continued. “Get the next one ready, and remember to watch the back-blast, Quamel.” He put the nose down a bit and the aircraft flew next to the airship. “Okay Quami, I’ll match her speed and when you are set, I’ll turn and aim the nose at her. That way you will be able to fire straight ahead.” Let me know when you are ready.”

  They flew two hundred feet away and Quami aimed slightly ahead of the center to adjust for the forward flight. “I’m ready, Ahmid,” he said.

  With a nod, Ahmid turned the aircraft and flew right at Sky Ship’s mid-section. “Hold, it . . . “ the pilot said, “hold, hold, hold, now fire!

  Once again Quami squeezed the firing trigger and once again a flash of fire and white smoke showed the trail of the rocket as it flew at its target. And, once again there was a flash of black smoke with a bright yellow and red flame center. The shot was textbook as both men and the woman screamed for joy!

  The explosion shook the room and Dan was thankful that he was already on the floor. Rashid had him trapped behind the table and he also had the superior firepower with the Uzi. Dan crawled around the mahogany gambling table and rolled to his right as bullets from Rashid’s weapon splattered the wall behind him. It was close enough for Dan to yell, as though he was hit. He lay still as he heard the distinct tinny sound of an empty magazine being removed from a weapon.

  It’s now or never! thought Dan as he leaped up and ran at the stunned Harun who thought he had hit Dan. The terrorist had just put a new magazine in his Uzi, and was about to cock it when Dan shot from the hip, and hit him square in the forehead. As he collapsed, Dan quipped, “Stupid! Always keep at least one bullet until you’re sure your opponent is finished.” He felt drained as he held his hand over the wound on his shoulder.

  Aziz put the bullet-return spring into the 9mm. pistol and slid a new magazine into the gun’s handle. The sound of the explosions covered the sound of his cocking the weapon.

  The door opened and Jennifer entered in a half crouch. The room was full of debris and she saw Dan as he leaned against a piano and held his arm.

  Aziz saw Jennifer from his position under the table.

  She said in a feeble voice, “Dan, oh Dan, you’re safe. Thank God you’re safe.” She started towards him when Aziz stood and took aim at her. Dan saw him stand and screamed, “Jenn, look out!”

  All of those days practicing on the volleyball sand-courts gave her the ability to dive fast and Aziz was shocked to see such a fleeting target. She dived to the floor as he fired his pistol after her. Furious at missing he swung around and took aim at Dan who stood not twenty feet away. Dan aimed at him and squeezed the trigger but all that was heard was an empty click. His gun was empty.

  At that very moment, Jim and Levon entered the room. Both saw Aziz as he grinned and took a slow aim at his antagonist.

  “It is time, McKee,” he said with a twitch in his eye. “You will die as I have predicted. Good bye.”

  Levon saw the small, silver model replica of the Sky Ship as it still stood on the bookcase. The shape reminded him instantly of a football. He picked it up and threw a perfect spiral smack into Aziz’s head, which caused his shot to miss Dan. Aziz collapsed in a heap on the floor.

  Dan ran to Jennifer and they embraced.

  First Officer Beniquez ‘s voice could be heard as he tried to set some kind of order with the excited passengers. First Lieutenant Wilcox dragged a moaning Colonel Aziz off the floor and stood him against the wall. One of the men saw Aziz and pointed at him. “That's him! That's the bastard!” Another elderly man shouted, “Let’s throw him overboard.”

  Captain Eckener entered the large room and put his hands up for attention, but it was no use, as the passengers were fast becoming an angry mob. The Flight Crew struggled with them.

  At the same time, the yellow aircraft was about to make another pass at the wounded airship with their last rocket. “Get the last rocket ready Quami,” said the pilot as he maneuvered around to the right side of Sky Ship. “We’ll put the last one in the right side opposite the last one. That should break her in half.”

  Quami got the last rocket from the female terrorist and put it up to his shoulder, outside the plane.

  “I’ll pull away about two hundred feet and when you are set, I’ll turn and aim at her.” He held up his finger, “Remember to watch the back-blast.” He flew the planned parallel course and “Quami screamed over the noise, “Ready, Ahmid, turn now.”

  The pilot turned left and once again aimed his aircraft like a fighter with Quami sticking out the right window with a rocket launcher. “Not yet,” called Ahmid, “not yet, not yet, hold, hold, and fire!”

  The rocket flew out of the launcher and struck the airship almost dead center, opposite the hit on the other side. All three were exuberant and slapped one another on the back.

  The explosion reminded the passengers that Aziz was the least of their problems at the moment. The ship tilted at an angle and smoke started to come from the interior. The lights went out then were replaced by the emergency lighting system. They started panicking and rushing for the door.

  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Ahmid, Quami and Rennie, the back-blast of the last rocket, ignited the fabric, which covered the aircraft over steel tubing. The pilot changed course and headed north to the little dirt field they had rented for a few weeks. Ahmid checked his compass and added a little pressure on his rudder pedal to turn right a bit. The aircraft turned a bit, then stopped turning and went straight ahead. He gave more pressure on the pedal, but this time the plane just flew straight ahead without even a hint of a turn.

  Perplexed, he pushed forward on the control stick to go down to a lower altitude, and when the aircraft didn’t respond, he knew something was wrong with the controls.

  He mumbled, “Something’s wrong. I seem to have no flight controls in the tail area.” He put his head out of the window and saw a trail of blue-black smoke following them. “Fire! We are on fire!” he screamed. “The back-blast! You idiot, I told you to watch the back-blast from the rocket motor.”

  They had no parachutes aboard in order to take the weight of the three of them and the missiles. Both men were suddenly hit on their heads and shoulders by the woman who screamed at them from the rear of the burning aircraft. “You stupid men,” she screamed as they both tried to duck. “You are killing me along with your worthless lives! I should have stayed on the ground, you worthless dung eating men!” They all screamed together as the aircraft fast became nothing more than steel tube-work and engine. They fell like a rock to the ocean below.

  The passengers were in a state of panic. Captain Eckener stood on a couch and waved his arms as he shouted, “Attention! Everyone, attention!”

  They seemed not to hear or see him.

  Dan stooped and picked up an Uzi and checked the magazine. He aimed it out a window and pulled the trigger. The sudden burst of gunfire got their attention and he yelled as they starred at him, “There’s a bomb aboard! You must keep calm and follow me right away!”

  That shocked them into standing still as Dan grabbed Jennifer and they ran towards the exit door located next to the first window at the front of the passenger’s lounge. Beniquez and Wilcox drag Aziz along.

  Jim got next to Dan and said, “Dan, we’re too high to get the passengers out safely. We have to
get down to twenty feet above the water then we can lower the slides.” He pointed to the emergency door and finished with, “You line them up, they seem to listen to you, while me, Eckener and Beniquez go to the gondola and lower her as much as we can.”

  He shook Dan’s hand, “Good luck again, laddie.”

  Dan winked and said, “We’ve gotten this far, James, and we’ll finish okay.”

  Jim led the two crewmen into the gondola. The wind that ripped through the broken windows cleared any smoke out and Captain Eckener grabbed the control wheel. Beniquez noted the blood all around the control room and quipped, “Wow! There must have been some fight in here.”

  “Yes,” answered Jim in a low voice, “too much blood has been spilled throughout this ship.” He turned to the captain. “Can she respond to the helm captain?”

  Eckener nodded as he clutched the control wheel so tight his knuckles went white. “I think so, Jim, she has only one engine working and even that’s sporadic. She also seems to want to circle around, but I’m getting her lower.”

  The staff and crew helped the passengers into life preservers. Jim came back into the lounge and said, “Dan, Captain Eckener will send Beniquez up when we are low enough to release the slides.” He tilted his head towards the door leading from the interior and raised his eyebrows, “It’ll be close, Danny Boy.” They both saw the smoke curling up from beneath the closed door.

  Sweat poured out of Eckener as he wrestled the big control wheel. Internal explosions could be heard in the gondola as he brought the ship closer to the ocean. Suddenly a shout came up from beneath them.

  Beniquez looked at the captain; “Did you hear someone? From outside the gondola?” He ran to the broken window and peered down. He looked at Eckener then back down. “Sir, you won’t believe this, but there’s a man tied to a rope attached to this window!”

  The captain looked at him then said, “Grab hold of the wheel one moment, Mr. Beniquez.” When the First Officer took the helm, Eckener went to the window. He looked down, walked back and took the wheel as he said, “That fellow is the terrorist who claimed to be a pilot.”

  Beniquez looked back and the man yelled feebly, “My colonel . . . help me.”

  Eckener asked, “How long would you say the rope is, Mr. Beniquez?”

  The First Officer looked down at the man as he swung on the end of the rope. “I’d judge it to be about forty feet long sir.”

  Eckener then nodded and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Good! The ship’s altimeter is broken so we’ll use him to judge our height. When he hits the water we’ll be at forty feet, and when he is being dragged a bit, we’ll call that twenty feet and tell Jim to blow down the escape slides.” He looked at the surprised First Officer, “Sound about right to you, Mr. Beniquez?”

  Beniquez’s answer was a smile with a nod.

  Ten minutes later, Karim’s feet created a white foamy line in the water. Instantly Beniquez called out, “Forty feet sir!”

  Eckener nodded, “Very well, Mr. Beniquez. Continue to observe and report at twenty feet.”

  The First Officer smiled as he answered, “Aye, aye sir!”

  Five minutes after that the man was being dragged through the water at a forty-five degree angle and Beniquez reported, “Twenty feet, captain Eckener.” Once again the captain nodded. “Well done, Mr. Beniquez, please alert Mr. MacFarlane that we have reached the altitude to allow the release of the emergency slides.”

  The man left and Eckener took off his belt and tied the wheel steady. He stood back and, assured that the ship flew straight ahead, saluted and followed Beniquez up to the lounge.

  Beniquez ran into the lounge and was shocked as dark smoke swirled about. Dan had everyone lying on the floor. All had their yellow life preservers on.

  “Twenty feet, Mr. MacFarlane. We can activate the escape slides now.

  Jim nodded, got up and went to the door. He opened the door first, then a small glass door marked, ‘EMERGENCY SLIDE DOOR RELEASE’ and pulled the red handled lanyard. There was a loud hiss as the yellow slide inflated and unfurled from a hatch just beneath the open door. The slide quickly became solid and went from the door to the ocean at an angle. A few people started to run towards it, but Beniquez blocked them.

  “Not yet! We need to release the rafts first.” He gestured to the floor, “Get back down until I tell you.” He turned, pulled another lanyard from the glass box and four panels opened beneath the doorframe, releasing four packages that fall to the ocean. On contact with the water, the packages popped open and were filled by the compressed air bottles they carried. A rope connected them together and to the extended slide.

  The First Officer nodded to Dan who shouted, “Okay! Let’s get out of here in an orderly manner.”

  The crew guided the passengers to the slide. Dan shouted instructions. “Shoes off. Cross your arms, sit on the top and let yourself slide down. When you hit the water climb into a raft. If you can’t climb into one, just hold on and we’ll pull you in.” He counted twenty people and stopped as he grabbed a crewmember, “You go down next so you can help anyone that needs help.” After the crewman had slid down, they resumed sending passengers down.

  The airship was keeping the twenty-foot altitude Captain Eckener tied the helm at, and the rafts strung out behind the slow moving airship. The ropes kept them all connected, and more than one passenger glanced at the terrorist who gulped for air as he was trailed behind them.

  Aziz had his hands tied in front of him. He stole a glance at his wristwatch. Twelve minutes to go! he thought as he shifted his gaze to his hands. They were shaking. Can this be happening? he thought as he bit his lip. Twelve minutes until the bomb goes off. Do I die this way? A no-body? My countrymen won’t ever know of the mission I planned. My name will never be on their lips as they pray. He looked at himself in a darkened, cracked mirror. Is that me? I look like an average peasant? Where is the glory I was promised? He looked at the line of passengers ahead of him. They are so slow! This rabble will cause me to die here.

  Dan glanced at Aziz just as he checked his wristwatch. The frightened look on his face told him that it was close to the bomb going off. He put his face in the terrorist’s. “You motherless bastard! Where’s the freakin’ bomb?

  Aziz forced a grin. “We will all die here, McKee.”

  Dan shoved him and walked away.

  Finally, Wilcox and Beniquez have Colonel Aziz in a life vest and are about to take him out. Dan stepped forward. “Allow me.” He grabbed and flung the colonel down the slide. Wilcox slid down and Beniquez turned to Jim and Captain Eckener, “After you sirs.”

  Eckener shook his head, “Thank you, First Officer, but I’d like to be the last person off the ship.”

  Dan took Jennifer’s hand and half led, half pushed her to the slide. “Jenn, you’re next.”

  She hesitated. “What about you, Dan? Let’s go together.”

  Dan shook his head, “Go! I’ll be right behind you!”

  She sat and crossed her arms as Dan bent over, kissed her cheek and shoved her down to the waiting crew bobbing below.

  Jim turned to Captain Eckener and said in a friendly, but firm voice, “Hugo, I insist you go first. I understand the saying, ‘The captain goes down with the ship’ and fully appreciate it, but your wife will kill me if somehow you stayed onboard.” He pointed to the slide, “Go! I’ll need a good captain to handle my next ship and I’d like it to be you.” Dan and Jim didn’t wait for an answer as they both took an arm and set him on the slide, after that gravity took over and the captain joined his crew.

  Another explosion goes off inside the airship and she shivered at first then began to rise slowly. Dan turned to Jim, “The airship is starting to rise?”

  Jim nodded, “Yes, it’s a combination of the passengers and crew getting off and the fires inside her. As she gets lighter, she’ll rise and the heat from the fires make her want to lift up even more.” He tilted his head towards the slide, “Let’s go Danny Boy.”
r />   Dan had a look of concern on his face.

  “What’s the problem, Dan?” Asked Jim as he started to sit on the slide. “It’s time to leave.”

  Dan squatted down as though he were going to sit next to Jim and asked, “Jim, did anyone radio for help?”

  Jim shrugged his shoulders, “Ach, Danny, I don’t know lad. I just don’t know, what with all the fighting and explosions.” He shook his head, “I just don’t know. But, don’t worry, we're near shore - someone will see us before long!”

  Dan shook his head and answered, “What if the weather changes again Jim? We can’t risk losing more people. Go ahead, Jim! I’ll meet you on the raft.”

  Jim started to get up as he said, “Where the hell are you going, Dan?”

  Dan put his hand in the middle of Jim’s back and gently pushed. “To radio for help. Sorry, Jim,” he shouted as Jim tried to keep his kilt in place.

  The crew has pulled the last of the passengers into the rafts. An explanation of awe leaves the lips of all of them as they see Sky Ship suddenly ascend. Another sound, but this one is a groan, as Karim is once again pulled aloft by the airship.

  They pull Jim with his very wet and heavy kilt into the raft and Jennifer grabbed him and shouted, “Where's Dan? Why is the ship going up?”

  Lieutenant Wilcox answered for the sputtering Jim, “Less weight - and the fires, heating up the internal air.”

  Jennifer held her head as she cried, “Why doesn't he just slide out?”

  The ship rose as the fires ignited the fuel and heated her up even more. She was at a nose down attitude and Dan had to hold on as he walked down the stairs to the gondola. He slipped on the combination of the blood and water slicked floor and slid all the way to the front of the gondola and struck his head against the wall. He murmured as he rubbed his head, “Ohh, Dan! Why don’t you stop being the cop on the beat? Retire and leave this sinking gasbag.”