They skirted the harsh blue mountains, wearing their mantles of
sun-blazing snow, and rode the tail of the wild winds that came down off
them.
Wind is like the sea, David. It breaks and swirls around high ground.
Watch for it. David nodded as he listened to his first fragments of
flying lore, but his eyes were fixed ahead savouring each instant of the
experience.
They turned north over the bleak bare land, the earth naked pink and
smoky brown, stripped by the harvest of its robes of golden wheat.
Wheel and rudder together, David, Barney told him.Let's try a steep turn
now. Down went the wing and boldly the nose swept around holding its
attitude to the horizon.
Ahead of them the sea broke in long lines of cream on the white beaches.
The Atlantic was cold green and ruffled by the wind, flecked with
dancing white.
South again, following the coastline where small figures on the white
sand paused to look up at them from under shading hands, south towards
the great flat mountain that marked the limit of the land, its shape
unfamiliar from this approach.
The shipping lay thick in the bay and the winter sunlight flashed from
the windows of the white buildings huddling below the steep wooded sides
of the mountain.
Another turn, confident and sure, Barney sitting with his hands in his
lap and his feet off the rudder bars, and they ran in over the Tygerberg
towards the airfield.
Okay, said Barney. I've got her. And he took them in for the
touch-down and taxied back to the concrete apron beside the hangars. He
pulled the mixture control fully lean and let the engine starve and die.
They sat silent for a moment, neither of them moving or speaking, both
of them unwinding but still aware that something important and
significant had happened and that they had shared it.
Okay? Barney asked at last.
Yes, sir, David nodded, and they unstrapped and climbed down on to the
concrete stiffly. Without speaking they walked side by side through the
hangar and office. At the door they paused.
Next Wednesday? Barney asked.
Yes, sir. David left him and started towards the waiting Cadillac, but
after a dozen steps he stopped, hesitated, then turned back.
That was the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me, he said
shyly. Thank you, sir. And he hurried away leaving Barney staring
after him.
The Cadillac pulled off, gathering speed, and disappeared round a bend
amongst the trees beyond the last buildings. Barney chuckled, shook his
head ruefully and turned back into his office. He dropped into the
ancient swivel chair and crossed his ankles on the desk. He fished a
crumpled cigarette from the pack, straightened and lit it.
Beautiful? he grunted, grinning. Crap! He flicked the match at the
waste bin and missed it.
The telephone woke Mitzi Morgan and she crept out from under her pillows
