scoonts.theminotaur-第43部分

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　She　was　hurting　now。　As　the　numbness　wore　off　she　was　hurting。　Her　face　felt　like　someone　had　used　a　steak　hammer　on　it。　Like　she　had　slid　down　the　sidewalk　on　her　cheekbone　for　a　couple　hundred　yards。
　〃e　right　about　fifteen　degrees　or　so　and　you'll　be　lined　up；〃　Toad　said。　〃You　got　fourteen　thousand　feet　of　concrete　here；　Rita；　but　I　think　we　should　try　for　a　wire。〃　He　reached　up　with　his　left　hand　and　pulled　the　handle　to　drop　the　tailhook。　〃Just　keep　it　lined　up　and　descending　wings　level　and　we'll　be　in　fat　city。〃
　〃Fuel？　How's　our　fuel？〃
　〃About　ten　grand　or　so。　Just　a　little　heavy。　Let's　dump　the　fuel　in　the　wings。〃
　Rita　reached　with　her　left　hand；　up　there　under　that　blown…out　quarter　panel；　for　the　dump　switch　on　the　fuel　management　panel。　〃I　can't　get　it；〃　she　said　finally。
　〃I'll　get　it。〃　Toad　leaned　across　and　hunted　until　he　had　the　proper　switch。
　〃Landing　checklist。〃
　〃Okay；　you　got　three　down　and　locked；　flaps　and　slats　out；　stab　shifted；　boards？〃　She　put　them　out　and　added　some　power。　It　took　a　while　to　get　the　plane　stabilized　on　speed　again。
　〃Pop…up？〃　Toad　murmured　when　she　once　again　had　everything　under　control。　〃Can　you　check　the　flaperon　pop…up？〃　The　switch　was　on　her　left　console。　She　had　to　lower　her　head　and　look　as　she　rumbled　with　numb　fingers。　〃Watch　your　wings；〃　Toad　warned。
　She　brought　the　wings　back　to　level。
　〃Screw　the　pop…up；〃　Toad　announced；　figuring　that　she　just　couldn't　ascertain　the　switch　position。　〃It's　probably　still　on。　Check　the　brakes。〃
　This　also　took　some　doing。　She　had　to　lift　both　feet　free　of　the　deck　where　her　heels　rested　and　place　the　balls　of　her　feet　on　top　of　the　rudder　pedals；　then　push。　She　had　never　before　realized　what　a　strain　that　put　on　her　stomach　muscles。　She　was　weak　as　a　kitten。　She　struggled　and　got　her　feet　arranged　and　pushed　hard。　They　met　resistance。　〃Brakes　okay。〃　She　would　have　to　do　this　again　on　the　runway　if　the　hook　skipped　over　the　short…field　arresting　gear　or　she　landed　long。　For　now　she　let　her　feet　slide　down　the　pedals　until　her　heels　were　once　again　on　the　deck。
　〃My　mask。〃　She　gagged。　〃Get　my　mask　off！〃
　Toad　got　her　right　fitting　released　just　in　time。　She　retched　and　the　vomit　poured　down　over　her　chest。
　Seeing　Rita　vomit　and　smelling　that　smell；　Toad　felt　his　own　stomach　turn　over。　He　choked　it　back　and　helped　her　hold　the　plane　level　until　she　stopped　heaving。
　〃Okay；〃　she　said　when　she　finally　got　her　mask　back　on；　〃check　your　harness　lock　and　we're　ready　to　do　it。〃　She　took　her　hand　off　the　stick　and　locked　the　harness　lever　on　the　forward　right　corner　of　the　ejection　seat。
　〃Oh；　poo；〃　Toad　said。　She　glanced　his　way。　He　was　reconnecting　his　Koch　fittings。　〃Sort　of　forgot　to　strap　myself　back　in；〃　he　explained。
　She　ran　her　seat　up　as　far　as　she　could　and　yet　still　reach　the　rudder　pedals。　This　put　her　a　face　a　little　higher　out　of　the　wind；　and　in　seconds　she　could　see　better；　but　only　out　of　her　right　eye。　Her　left　was　still　clogged　with　blood。
　〃You're　ing　down　nicely；　passing　six　thousand　MSL；　eighteen　hundred　above　the　ground。　Let's　keep　this　sink　rate　and　we'll　do　okay。　e　left　a　couple　degrees；　though。〃
　She　plied。
　〃A　little　more。　And　gimme　just　a　smidgen　more　power。〃
　When　she　squinted　and　blinked　a　few　more　times；　she　could　make　out　the　runway。　There　was　a　little　crosswind　and　Toad　had　her　aimed　off　to　the　left　slightly　to　pensate。
　The　approach　seemed　to　take　forever；　perhaps　because　she　was　hurting　and　perhaps　because　she　was　unsure　if　she　could　handle　it　at　the　bottom。　She　would　just　have　to　wait　and　see；　but　it　was　difficult　waiting　when　she　was　so　cold；　and　growing　colder。
　She　let　the　plane　descend　without　throttle　corrections；　without　wiggling　the　stick　or　trying　to　sweeten　her　lineup。　With　three　hundred　feet　still　to　go　on　the　radar　altimeter；　she　made　a　heading　correction。　She　was　going　to　have　trouble　judging　the　altitude　with　only　one　eye；　and　she　thought　about　that。　She　could　do　it；　she　decided。　There　was　the　meatball　on　the　Optical　Landing　System。　She　began　to　fly　it；　working　mightily　to　move　the　throttles。　Still　ing　down。　on　speed；　lined　up；　across　the　threshold。　Now！　Throttles　back　a　little　and　nose　just　so；　right　rudder　and　left　stick　to　straighten　her　out。。。　oh　yes！'
　The　mainmounts　kissed　the　concrete。
　The　pilot　used　the　stick　to　hold　the　nose　wheel　off　as　she　smoothly　closed　the　throttles。　She　had　no　more　than　got　the　engines　to　idle　when　she　felt　the　rapid　deceleration　as　the　tailhook　engaged　the　short…field　arresting　gear。　The　nose　slammed　down。　As　the　plane　was　jerked　to　a　rapid　stop；　she　applied　the　brakes。
　She　got　the　flap　handle　forward　with　her　left　hand；　but　knew　she　wouldn't　be　able　to　tug　hard　enough　to　pull　the　parking　brake　handle　out。　Toggling　the　harness　lock　release　by　her　right　thigh；　she　got　enough　freedom　to　reach　it　with　her　right。
　Toad　opened　the　canopy。　As　it　whined　its　way　aft　a　fire　truck　came　roaring　up　and　screeched　to　a　halt　with　firemen　tumbling　off。
　Canopy　open；　Rita　checked　that　the　flaps　and　slats　were　in。　Her　left　shoulder　was　aching　badly　now　and　it　was　difficult　to　make　her　fingers　do　as　she　wished。　One　of　the　firemen　ran　out　from　the　wheel　well　and　made　a　cutting　motion　across　his　throat　He　had　inserted　the　safety　pins　in　the　landing　gear。
　Both　throttles　around　the　horn　to　cutoff；　engine…fuel　master　switches　off　as　the　RFMs　dropped。　Then　the　generators　dropped　off　the　line　with　an　audible　click　and　everything　in　the　cockpit　went　dead。　Exhausted；　she　fumbled　with　the　generator　switches　until　they　too　were　secured。
　It　was　very　quiet。　She　got　the　mask　loose　and；　using　only　her　right　hand；　pried　the　helmet　off。　The　pressor　blades　tinkled　steadily；　gently；　as　the　wind　kept　them　turning；　like　a　mobile　on　the　porch　of　your　grandmother's　house　when　you　returned　after　a　long　absence。
　A　man　was　standing　on　the　pilot's　boarding　ladder。　He　looked　at　her　and　drew　back　in　horror。
　〃A　bird；〃　she　croaked。
　She　heard　Toad　give　a　disgusted　exclamation。　〃Wipe　it　off　her；　man！　It's　just　bird　guts。　It　ain't　her　brains！〃
　They　were　loading　Rita　into　an　ambulance　and　the　crash　crew　was　filling　out　paperwork　when　a　gray　navy　sedan　screeched　to　a　halt　near　the　fire　truck。　Jake　Grafton　jumped　out　and　strode　toward　Toad　as　white　smoke　wafted　from　the　auto's　engine　partment。
　〃Looks　like　you　were　in　a　hurry；〃　Toad　said；　and　managed　a　grin。　He　was　sitting；　leaning　back　against　the　nose　wheel；　too　drained　to　even　stand。　He　felt　as　if　he　had　just　finished　a　ten…mile　run。　The　crash　chief　tossed　the　captain　a　salute　and　he　returned　it　even　though　he　wasn't　wearing　a　hat　He　obviously　had　other　things　on　his　mind。
　〃How's　Rita？〃
　〃Gonna　be　okay；　I　think。　When　they　looked　at　her　they　thought　she　had　brains　and　eyeballs　oozing　out　everywhere；　but　they　got　most　of　it　cleaned　off。　Never　saw　so　much　shit。　Must　have　been　a　damn　big　bird。　They're　taking　her　over　to　the　hospital　for　X　rays　and　all。〃
　Jake　Grafton　deflated　visibly。　He　wiped　his　forehead　with　a　hand；　and　then　wiped　his　hand　on　his　trousers；　leaving　a　wet　stain。
　〃How　e　you　didn't　answer　me　on　the　damned　radio？　I　about　had　heart　failure　when　you　started　doing　whifferdills。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　sir。　I　disconnected　my　plugs　and　got　a　little　unstrapped　so　I　could　reach　over　and　fly　the　plane。　Rita　was　sorta　out　of　it　there　for　a　little　while。〃
　Jake　climbed　the　pilot's　ladder　and　surveyed　the　cockpit。　He　examined　the　hole　left　in　the　plexiglas　quarter　panel　by　the　late　buzzard　or　eagle　or　hawk。　〃She　e　around　okay？〃
　〃Came　to　and　landed　this　thing　like　it　was　on　rails。　Real　damn　sweet；　CAG。　Never　saw　a　better　landing。〃
　A　sailor　drove　up　aboard　a　yellow　flight…line　tractor。　He　swung　in　front　of　the　plane　and　backed　a　tow　bar　toward　the　nose　wheel。　〃Well；〃　said　Jake　Grafton　as　he　made　a　quick　inspection　of　the　Athena　antennas；　all　of　which　seemed　to　be　firmly　in　place；　〃you　better　zip　over　to　the　hospital　and　let　them　check　you　over　too。　I　gotta　get　this　plane　put　someplace　private。〃
　〃Uh；　CAG；　you're　still　gonna　let　us　fly　the　prototypes；　aren't　you？　I　mean；　it　wasn't　like　we　tried　to　hit　that　bird　or　anything。〃
　Jake　looked　at　Toad；　slightly　surprised。　〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃you　two　are　my　crew。　If　the　doctors　say　you　can　fly。　Now　get　over　to　the　hospital　and　find　out。　Better　get　cleaned　up　too。　You　look　like　you've　been　cleaning　chickens　and　the　chickens　won。〃
　〃Yessir。　You　bet。　But；　uh；　I　don't　have　a　ride。　Can　I　take　your　car？〃
　〃Aw；　Toad；　you're　gonna　get　that　bird　goo　all　over　the　seat。〃　He　glanced　at　the　car。　Smoke　was　still　leaking　out。　It　was　junk。　〃Keys　are　in　it。　But　be　careful…it's　government　property。〃
　Amazingly　enough；　the　car　engine　actually　started　after　Toad　ground　on　it　awhile。　Jake　had　driven　about　forty　miles　at　full　throttle；　about　a　hundred　miles　per　hour；　so　he　shook　his　head　in　wonder　when　the　transmission　engaged　with　a　thunk　and　Toad　drove　away　trailing　smoke。
　
　15
　
　The　base　dispensary　contained　an　emergency　room；　but　no　other　hospital　facilities。　After　Rita　Moravia　was　cut　out　of　her　flight　gear；　cleaned　up　and　examined　by　a　doctor；　she　was　taken　to　a　hospital　in　Reno；　seventy　miles　away。　Toad　Tarkington　arrived　at　the　dispensary　as　the　ambulance　was　driving　away。
　〃Oh；　Doctor；〃　the　corpsman　called　when　he　saw　Toad　ing　through　the　door；　〃here　es　the　other　one。〃
　The　doctor　was　only　a　year　or　two　out　of　med　school；　but　he　had　already　acquired　the　nuances　of　military　practice。　〃In　here。〃　He　gestured　to　an　examining　room。　A　corpsman　followed　them　in　and　closed　the　door。　〃Strip　to　the　skin；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃How　do　you　feel？〃　He　grasped　Toad's　wrist　and　glanced　at　his　watch。
　〃Okay；　Doc。　The　pilot　took　the　bird　hit。　I　just　got　splattered。〃
　〃Did　you　bee　hypoxic；　pass　out；　inhale　any　feathers　or　anything　like　that？〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　just　peed　my　pants。〃
　The　doctor　checked　his　watch　again；　then　looked　at　Toad　with　raised　eyebrows。
　〃Not　really；〃　Toad　said；　suddenly　aware　that　he　was　no　longer　in　the　pany　of　his　peers。　〃Sorry。　How's　Moravia？〃
　The　doctor　was　still　all　business。　〃Blurred　vision　in　her　left　eye；　some　bruises　and　cuts；　nothing　serious。　But　she's　an　excellent　candidate　for　a　major…league　infection。　I　gave　her　a　large　dose