***
Charlie returned from a pre-dawn run, turned a corner, and almost knocked over his next door neighbor and best friend. Harry halted and struggled to balance an arm full of printouts from one side to the other. Charlie caught a few papers as they started to slide. "Sorry for almost knocking you down. What's the hurry?"
Harry glanced at him as he took the papers back, his glasses just off center on his nose. "Thanks. I have to get to the airport. We've a huge one coming, emergency landing. Problems with the engine."
Charlie whistled long and low. "Good God, any idea what's wrong with it?"
Harry shrugged. "Not sure until I get to the 'port." As supervisor of the airport and staff, he had a high stress job Charlie didn't envy.
"Some tourist throwing a fit because he just found out native flowers and fruits aren't allowed in the plane cabin?" Charlie smiled and tried to lighten the mood for his way-too-serious-most-of-the-time friend.
Harry didn't smile back. "There are three hundred and fifty two souls aboard this jumbo. They've had problems since leaving Sydney. It's a miracle they aren't already down from what I hear. This could be one of the worst avian accidents in history, especially since our small terminal isn't equipped to handle something on this scale."
Charlie grabbed his arm. "Where was it headed?"
"LA like usual. They aren't going to make it. They might not even make it here." Harry shook off his hand. "Sorry, I have to go. Talk to you soon."
Charlie stood motionless as Harry dashed away. Christine's plans included a flight home today through LA. Could she be on the crippled plane? He raced inside his apartment and pounded his keyboard to pull up the email which detailed her travel. Jumbo flight back to the mainland, today's date to land in LA mid-morning. Oh dear God. Charlie showered and changed in record time. He pictured her, dark eyes wide with terror as the plane interior filled with smoke as she strapped an oxygen mask across her lovely face. Or could she be trapped inside as water flooded the cabin after a crash into an unforgiving ocean where it would be weeks before anyone found them?
He broke out in a cold sweat and started to run. He ignored the startled glances of people around him. Few people rushed, unless they were tourists trying to make a tour bus or boat. Islanders had no need to hurry in this laid back world of paradise. Most went about the daily routines, waited for something different to happen, rarely diverting from the norm. Had he waited too long?
***
Crash position had to be one of the most uncomfortable positions in the world. Christine leaned forward along with everyone else and began to pray. And I said I wouldn't stop in Hawaii.
The entire flight had been troubled. The pilot assured everyone the plane suffered only minimal damage from a blown tire at take-off. But the shaking continued until the flight crew wore forced expressions of calm. Rumors soon spread through the plane. They were in trouble, something with the engine. Nothing but deep ocean stretched between Australia and mainland USA except little Hawaii and some uncharted islands.
"I really don't want to see the Pacific up close and personal this way without my surfboard. And I really don't want to live like the characters on Lost." Davy, the young boy beside Christine, said his voice muted and shaky.
Christine entwined her hand with his. He gripped her fingers so tight she almost cried out in pain. He was around her daughter Anna's age, barely in college. He had his whole life ahead of him. They'd talked, joked, and tried to ignore the plane shudders until the announcement and instructions to assume crash position came from the pilot. She wished Charlie could be with her. Then she gave thanks he wasn't, especially if they crashed.
"Holy shit!" Davy yelled as a huge bump shook the entire plane and jarred her very bones. "Did we hit the water? Oh, God, please. I don't want to die."
"Shh. We're okay. It's okay." Christine tried to push her fear aside and reassure him. She lifted her head to look out the window; nothing but darkness could be seen. A loud grinding noise, echoed by a few thin screams from other passengers, filled the cabin as their seats thumped. The engines screamed like nails on a chalkboard. Christine saw the flash of asphalt and runway lights as they jolted with bone rattling intensity. "We're on the ground. Oh thank you, God, we're safe on the ground. Davy, look. We're okay. We're on land not water. See? It's an air strip."