Read Online The Tide: Breakwater (Tide Series Book 2) by Anthony J Melchiorri - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anthony J Melchiorri
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“Run!”
-9-
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D om patted Kara’s knee and leaned over to squeeze Sadie’s shoulder. “Don’t you two worry. This type of landing isn’t that bad.”
“Speak for yourself,” Kara said through gritted teeth. Maggie whined.
“I hear ya, dog.” Miguel held the dog close.
Hector and Renee both clutched their weapons as they watched the ground rise. Long shadows cast by trees and picnic shelters draped across the mulch and grass surrounding the state park’s entrance. The cars in the parking lot were rapidly growing larger as the chopper descended.
“We’re right on target,” Frank said. His eyes remained straight ahead. “No need to panic, folks. This is one of the first things they teach you when learning how to operate a bird like this.” Without glancing at his passengers, he shot them a thumbs up.
“Fuck that, bro,” Miguel said, “I don’t care if you say it’s easy, we’re still going down!”
The Hunters shuffled in their seats, and Dom fought the fear trickling through him.
“Seriously,” Frank said. “This isn’t as bad as it looks.”
Frank’s confidence wasn’t as contagious as the pilot must’ve thought. Dom knew he was telling the truth; an autorotation glide landing wasn’t exactly routine, but in some ways it was easier than hovering in place or the other advanced piloting Frank had mastered. But it didn’t make him feel any better. He did his best to appear stolid and unworried. In truth, he wasn’t too concerned about himself. He glanced at Kara and Sadie again. Kara remained staunchly stone-faced. Sadie seemed to draw from her sister’s strength, but her bottom lip still quivered and her eyes remained wide.
Dom pressed his binos to his eyes. He searched along the empty parking lot, lines of trees, and abandoned vehicles. “I don’t see any contacts, but be prepared, Hunters.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” came the responses.
The trees grew closer, and the leaves and branches no longer appeared as an indistinguishable blur of browns and greens. They skimmed over the forest as those branches scratched the bottom of the chopper.
“Brace yourselves,” Frank said.
The chopper hit the asphalt and bounced on its wheels. Frank leaned his weight into the collective and brought it down again. Dom reached for his daughters, holding their hands as the chopper slid toward a minivan. The rotor blades still spun, cutting through the air. With a jerk, the chopper lurched to a stop.
“Everybody okay?” Dom asked.
“Aye, aye, Chief,” Miguel said. “Might need a change of pants, but I’ll be all right.”
“God, I hope you’re not serious.” Renee wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She undid her harness, as did Hector and Meredith. Each loaded their weapons.
“Frank, how long until you fix this thing?” Dom asked.
“Hard to tell,” Frank said. “Based on the loss of rotor speed and the throttle’s lack of response, I’m going to say there’s something wrong with digital engine control.”
“Can you override it?” Dom asked.
“Afraid not. These things are fully automated.”
“Then how do you fix it?”
“I’m just the pilot, not the electronics expert.”
Adam held up his hands. “Don’t look at me.”
Dom clicked on his comm link. “Chao, Samantha, do you read?”
“Loud and clear,” Samantha responded. “We heard you, and we’re ready to troubleshoot the FADEC.”
“FA—what?” Adam asked.
“Full authority digital electronics control,” Chao said. “We can relay instructions to Adam and Frank if you guys are ready.”
The sun had already dropped below the trees. Shafts of orange fought against the encroaching hues of purple and blue. Without daylight, repairing the chopper would be hard.
“Let’s do this quick,” Dom said.
“Contact spotted,” Renee said, her voice cold. “Make that two.”
“Skulls?” Meredith asked, crouched and making her way toward Renee’s side
-9-
––––––––
D om patted Kara’s knee and leaned over to squeeze Sadie’s shoulder. “Don’t you two worry. This type of landing isn’t that bad.”
“Speak for yourself,” Kara said through gritted teeth. Maggie whined.
“I hear ya, dog.” Miguel held the dog close.
Hector and Renee both clutched their weapons as they watched the ground rise. Long shadows cast by trees and picnic shelters draped across the mulch and grass surrounding the state park’s entrance. The cars in the parking lot were rapidly growing larger as the chopper descended.
“We’re right on target,” Frank said. His eyes remained straight ahead. “No need to panic, folks. This is one of the first things they teach you when learning how to operate a bird like this.” Without glancing at his passengers, he shot them a thumbs up.
“Fuck that, bro,” Miguel said, “I don’t care if you say it’s easy, we’re still going down!”
The Hunters shuffled in their seats, and Dom fought the fear trickling through him.
“Seriously,” Frank said. “This isn’t as bad as it looks.”
Frank’s confidence wasn’t as contagious as the pilot must’ve thought. Dom knew he was telling the truth; an autorotation glide landing wasn’t exactly routine, but in some ways it was easier than hovering in place or the other advanced piloting Frank had mastered. But it didn’t make him feel any better. He did his best to appear stolid and unworried. In truth, he wasn’t too concerned about himself. He glanced at Kara and Sadie again. Kara remained staunchly stone-faced. Sadie seemed to draw from her sister’s strength, but her bottom lip still quivered and her eyes remained wide.
Dom pressed his binos to his eyes. He searched along the empty parking lot, lines of trees, and abandoned vehicles. “I don’t see any contacts, but be prepared, Hunters.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” came the responses.
The trees grew closer, and the leaves and branches no longer appeared as an indistinguishable blur of browns and greens. They skimmed over the forest as those branches scratched the bottom of the chopper.
“Brace yourselves,” Frank said.
The chopper hit the asphalt and bounced on its wheels. Frank leaned his weight into the collective and brought it down again. Dom reached for his daughters, holding their hands as the chopper slid toward a minivan. The rotor blades still spun, cutting through the air. With a jerk, the chopper lurched to a stop.
“Everybody okay?” Dom asked.
“Aye, aye, Chief,” Miguel said. “Might need a change of pants, but I’ll be all right.”
“God, I hope you’re not serious.” Renee wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She undid her harness, as did Hector and Meredith. Each loaded their weapons.
“Frank, how long until you fix this thing?” Dom asked.
“Hard to tell,” Frank said. “Based on the loss of rotor speed and the throttle’s lack of response, I’m going to say there’s something wrong with digital engine control.”
“Can you override it?” Dom asked.
“Afraid not. These things are fully automated.”
“Then how do you fix it?”
“I’m just the pilot, not the electronics expert.”
Adam held up his hands. “Don’t look at me.”
Dom clicked on his comm link. “Chao, Samantha, do you read?”
“Loud and clear,” Samantha responded. “We heard you, and we’re ready to troubleshoot the FADEC.”
“FA—what?” Adam asked.
“Full authority digital electronics control,” Chao said. “We can relay instructions to Adam and Frank if you guys are ready.”
The sun had already dropped below the trees. Shafts of orange fought against the encroaching hues of purple and blue. Without daylight, repairing the chopper would be hard.
“Let’s do this quick,” Dom said.
“Contact spotted,” Renee said, her voice cold. “Make that two.”
“Skulls?” Meredith asked, crouched and making her way toward Renee’s side
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