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She shook her head, sweat tracking down her gri her normally blond hair to ency procedures on a Cessna 195 was likenever" She skimmed her hands over the panel and controls "My father was only a kid when this plane was made But hey, I' these, too, at our next safety summit"

Ah, a dig at what the squadron called hisat safety briefs Normally she wouldn't have made such a comment, but these weren't normal circu to lead the discussion?"

"Sorry, sir" A srubby face, in spite of the increasing gunfire, not closer, but more frequent

Even the oldinside his wooden office Tiround

"No problem" He couldn't help but think the comment was actually damned funny—more of Sara's influence that he be human "Let me study it for a second"

Seabrook pointed "I remember that's the throttle"

"Yeah, I got that" More gunfire stuttered Closer? He couldn't be sure "If there was a key, you'd think the old iven it to us"

"Uh, is that a start button?" She pointed again

"Well, look at that It certainly is All right, let's see if we can reas tank Thatand instincts took control of his hands as he sank into routine "Then we as and air, and noe need spark"

Lucas pressed the start button The engine coughed twice and finally roared to life He pushed the mixture knob inwaitedprayed

The engine smoothed

He increased the throttle The engine revved, yes, louder, yes, until with a tiny jolt the aircraft rolled out of its parking spot, rattling Yesss Only fifty feet to get a feel for the craft before he reached the dirt stretch

Since he couldn't see over the nose of a taildragger aircraft, he swung the tail back and forth so he could look out the side s for a view of the end of the runway, increasing speed

Thirty knots

The vibration increased, harder until he wondered if the whole thing would shake apart in his hands before they left the ground He held the plane together with the force of his will and finessing of the yoke