Jack strapped the seat belt on, and held the controls.
- We gonna land there?
- Yep, it's a road.
- It's 8 p.m.. It's pitch dark. How are we going to see the road to land?
- I think Adrian has lighten it up.
- You think?
MeXico just smiled.
- It's still quite far, we are very low, and with the flaps extended we are dragging, and wasting a lot of fuel.
- We have to fly very low, under the radar threshold. Many drug smugglers do this. I know what I'm doing.
They flew slowly over Portugal, both paying extreme attention at the displays. Jack would briefly look at the radar, to avoid close encounters with any other aircraft's. The lights of the city started fading away as they flew further into the interior of Portugal. Only small scattered smudges of light could be seen from the cockpit.
- Ok, we should be near... Make a left bank and start descending.
- MeXico, I can't see the fucking runway, or street, or whatever the fuck´s down there...
- It should be around there...
- Oh, my fuck!
They were flabbergasted, as two huge flames burned alongside the road. The flame was lighting a straight line...
- It can't be that!
- Oh yes but it is... Let's do this.
The flaps extended even more. MeXico reduced the speed of the aircraft, as Jack deployed the landing gear. Suddenly:
- Unidentified aircraft, here, Lisbon control tower, please report current flight data and destination. You are flying over restricted areas. Please advise. Over.
As soon as MeXico heard the communication, he started the jammer.
- What does that do?
- It will bounce our signal over random coordinates, so nobody really knows where we are.
- Cool! Now let's land this.
- Shit, the runway looks a bit short.
- MeXico, we can't quite now. We have to do this.
When they were at a few hundreds of meters, Jack turned on the landing lights.
- Fuck, it's not even tarmacked. It's a fucking dust trail!
- Quit bitching around, he have to land this.
As soon as the plane touched the ground it wobelled, as if it was going to dismantle itself. MeXico hit the brakes, as Jack opened the wind breakers. Even so, the plane would not grip and started swerving. They both channeled the braking to the other axle, and pulled the throttle to the maximum. The plane straightened a few degrees, but was still loosing grip. When the plane came to a halt they were both pale white. For a few seconds they didn't talk, didn't move and didn't even blink. Until, Jack got out of his seat and punched MeXico in the stomach.
- That's for not telling me anything until it was inevitable. And consider yourself lucky I didn't smash your face. It's already quite ruined.
MeXico looked at Jack and laughed.
- I guess I had it coming. Now get us some whiskey. I propose a toast.
Jack laughed and poured some whiskey. They toasted.
- We fucking landed this bird! Now, let's get ready to eat something. I hear the pork meat with potatoes and sauce is delicious.
- Are you preaching me? I was born in Portugal. That dish is called Carne de Porco À Alentejana.
They got out of the plane with the glasses in their hands. Adrian was waiting tor them. She was tall, and quite pretty. The black hair with a fringe, covering her forehead, gave her a french style. The brown eyes, thick lips and pale skin designed a remarkable silhouette in the dark of the landscape. She was wearing a black coat that covered her whole body.
- MeXico, I see you haven't lost the good habit of drinking and flying. Gosh, have you been fighting?
- You know me, always getting thing out of control. Not like you that has everything controled.
- That's what I like about you. When everything looks upside down, you still find a way of facing it, and getting out alive. Be careful, one day it might just crumble over you!
They hugged each other.
- Oh, sorry, and you must be Jack.
She drew her right hand and greeted Jack.
- Hi, pleased to meet you, Jack.
Adrian and MeXico started speaking french. Jack lit a cigarette and looked back at the plane.
- Oh, Fuck! MeXico look at this!
- Shit!
The plane's landing gear was destroyed. The main poles that held the wheels was dented and two tires were blown. The planes belly was full of holes from the stones that jumped during the landing.
Jack immediately started repairing the landing gear.
- Jack, we are going for supper, are you coming?
- What? Supper, we have a plane in the middle of a trail, it's wrecked and in need of repairs, and you still think we should go and have supper?
- I'm quite hungry. I don't think anyone would steel the plane.
- Have you forgotten we need to get to Congo?
- No, I've called Umbraq and told him we have a small delay!
- And you think a warlord tolerates delays?
- Well, this one does!
- Well I'm staying to fix this shit up.
- OK, suit yourself.
MeXico and Adrian walked away talking french. They got into a wrecked black Renault from the nineties, and drove off.
Jack spent the most part of the night repairing the plane. Around 4 a.m. he had finished patching it up. He sat down against the wheels, lit a Camel and just gazed at dawn.
- Jack, I brought you some food.
- Oh, thanks MeXico, it was so kind of you!
Jack picked up the Tupperware and threw it on the floor.
- Where in god's name have you been? I've been here all night patching up this shit.
- I was sorting out some problems.
- You could of told me, at least what the fuck we came to do here in the first place.
- In time.
- Fuck you, man, fuck you.
- Come on boys. Take it easy. - Said Adrian in a rough English.
Jack started running more tests in the landing gear, and checking for leaks in the fuel tanks, while MeXico and Adrian talked to each other, now in English.
- Have you seen her ever again?
- No, and I don't think I should, for her safety. It's better I put her behind my back. It's hard, it kills me, but I think it's for the best. What is life, but big decisions?
- You are right MeXico. Let her go, for her safety. Listen, I have a letter from David Grey. The mushroom guy from Alma. He supposedly died two days ago with a poisonous mushroom. I doubt it, he was an expert. He would know better before eating one dangerous mushroom. He's family phoned me to deliver this to you. It has to get to a budist monk in Asia. They said only you could get it there.
- Yeah, I know what it's about.
Jack who was overhearing the conversation, got curious, but preferred to discus the matter during the flight. He walked up to them as Adrian gave the letter to Mexico.
- OK, MeXico, let's got. This plane wont get better than this. And besides, the sun is rising.
- Yeah, you're right. See you Adrian. Don't forget our meeting.
- OK, don't worry, I'll be there. It's my favorite city. And yours to, I think!
Jack shook her hand and they both got into the plane, strapped on the seat belts, reversed the plane to the beginning of the runway and halted it. They went through the security checks and started the take off. The plane shook wildly while they were gaining speed. Because of the poor grip the trail had to offer, the takeoff was longer, and they missed a patch of trees in front of them by a couple of meters.
- Fuck, and we though the landing was a close call. - Said MeXico sweating.
- You were the fucking wise guy who wanted to stop in Portugal. How did you know David Grey? He died?
- Yeah, he died the day after you were with him.
- How did you know I was with him?
- I had a tracking signal on the phone remember? I knew Grey. I had met him in Bhutan.He was there getting the Buddhist blessing and harvesting mushrooms.
- Do you think his death is related to me?
- Yeah.
- My hands are full of blood man. This mission is a suicidal one.
- Jack, my friend, a man doesn't die when he stops existing, only when he stops dreaming. So dream on. If you want to do that, then fight for it.
- It's easier said then done.
- I promised I would give you information about your mission. So, here is what I have to tell you.
A red panic light started flashing, and a repeating noise sounded.
- Fuck, the landing gear is jammed.
- Fuck, I'll get it up manually. We can't climb higher with it extended. And If we don't climb we will get caught by the radars.
Jack jumped from his seat, exited the cockpit and descended into the luggage compartment. He crawled to the landing gear mechanism and saw a branch stuck in the main mesh. He kicked it as hard as he could. After a few kicks it finally broke. He grabbed the leaver a pulled down. In a few seconds the landing gear was retracted. MeXico immediately gained height with the plane. Jack calmly walked up to the cockpit, sat down, poured two glasses of whiskey, lit a cigarette and asked:
- So, you were saying.
- I don't know much about your space program. All I know is that you were not the only astronaut that left the world, back in 1995. I know that, there were at least 4 takeoff's that happened simultaneously. You could not know of each other.
- You are not serious.
- Trust me I'm dead serious. I know of another astronaut like you. He is Brazilian. He lives in São Paulo. When your program was shut down, and you rebelled, he agreed to come back to Earth. No one chased him. I think he holds important information and you should talk to him.
Jack was stupefied with what he had just heard. He had not been alone for all those years. And someone on Earth could help him out.
During the rest of the flight, they did not talk to each other. Jack was still absorbing all the information MeXico had told him.
An hour before they had to land, MeXico got hold of the satellite phone and called someone:
- Hi man. Listen, I need a secure airstrip to land a Gulfstream, and I need to refuel it. Yes. OK. Thanks! No, undercover. Bribe the president. Yes, the money is there. Thanks, cheers.
MeXico placed to airport code GMAT into the navigation system. The route was calculated.
When they started descending, the radio silence was broken.
- GMAT tower, GMAT tower, this is Mike, Sierra, Charlie, 815, requesting permission to land. Over.
A weird English voice was heard:
- Mike, Sierra, Charlie, 815 this is GMAT tower, permission granted. Please proceed with two flyby's, we have traffic on the runway. Over.
Jack suspected the two flyby's asked by the control tower.
- Why did he ask for the two flyby's? There is no traffic on the radar. This is such a remote place.
- Yeah, probably they have some camels on the runway. Haha. This is Morocco, everything is possible. And besides, we have clearance to land here. I spoke to the President's secretary.
Slowly they performed the two flyby's and descended to to track. It was in a mess, as soon as the plane touched ground is trembled a lot.
- I would swear this is a trail like in Portugal! - Said Jack laughing.
- You can say that again.
The tower signaled them again:
- Mike, Sierra, Charlie, 815 please wait for taxi on the runway. Over.
They stopped the plane, and waited for the taxi.
Minutes later, instead of the taxi, a huge squadron of police cars where gaining on them. The flashing light and the sirens were getting closer.
- Fuck, we've been double crossed.
- And now!
- Now we have to think of something. - Said MeXico with his hands on his head.
- Quick, hide the cargo.
They took the Promethim and the toxin into a secret compartment, along with all their belongings.
- We will need money, shove as much as you can into your socks and underwear.
The police had surrounded the plane, and spoke through a megaphone:
- Paul MeXico, we know you are in there. Come out with your hands in the air.
MeXico turned to Jack.
- I've got this man. We will make it.
- I'll watch your back. We have to get out of this.
They opened the stairway of the plane, and walked down with their hands behind their heads. The blazing sun blinded them. As they set foot on the ground, two pairs of hands made them kneel. They got handcuffed behind their backs. Jack could see hundreds of police officers in front of them, holding machine guns.
- It's over! - He thought.
The last thing he saw was the butt of a machine gun moving towards his eyes. Then, only black.
1 comentário:
Portugal... nice developments.
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