Gabe buckled into the jump seat directly behind the cockpit. He had a hand radio resting on his lap and looked down to his phone for any texts from Gene.
His thumbs moved as he felt the plane lower. “How’s it going?” Gabe texted.
“Good. Your levels are good. But they’re building.”
Gabe nodded, looked up and saw his father. He returned to texting. “I won’t have my phone while I am fueling. It will be in the truck. Pilot will have one. I have a radio.”
“I will keep in touch.”
“How much time?” Gabe asked.
“An hour. Tops.”
“From now?”
“Yes.”
“Landing now.”
“Good luck.”
Gabe stayed focused. Immediately he set the time on his phone for forty-five minutes. When it went off that would give him enough time to safely remove the fuel line and get back on the plane.
It was all going to happen so fast. The moment they landed and started to head toward the tarmac, the co-pilot Lance would join Gabe and they’d go below. The main reason for that was, it was closer to the ground and there was an emergency rope ladder there as well.
The plane touched down and Gabe felt the flutter in his stomach. He kept looking out to the main cabin to see his father, maybe even his brother. But he couldn’t see Owen.
Once he felt the pressure of the landing begin to subside, Gabe undid his belt.
The aircraft slowed down and he stood. When he did, he made eye contact with his father.
There it was, Gabe thought. It was that look, the look of his father that told Gabe he had it. The same one his father had when he got up to bat at little league, or when he took his driver’s license exam.
The cockpit door opened and Lance emerged. A man about his father’s age, same build, not quite as tall as his dad.
Lance undid the lock on the hatch on the floor directly by the galley. He lifted it and looked at Gabe. “Let’s do this.” He then climbed down. Gabe placed the radio in his back pocket and followed.
They emerged into the forward cargo bay. At first Lance stood straight, then as he made his way to the door, he bent over, finally getting down on hands and knees. He waited by the side cargo door for Gabe.
It wasn’t tall, but it was wide.
Attached to the wall next to the door was the emergency rope and Lance grabbed it.
“We get down, I’ll prep the plane, you run and get the truck.”
“Got it.”
“You sure you can do this?” Lance asked.
“I’m positive. Unless this airport is different, there should be a fueling truck not far.” Gabe lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “He knows to pull near a fueling area, right?”
“I assume.” Lance smiled. “I’m sure he does.”
It seemed like forever to Gabe, the plane moved slowly, rolling along. Did the pilot realize they didn’t have much time?
Finally, the plane came to a full stop, and Lance reached for the handle to open the door.
It was at that moment, that precise moment that Gabe was struck with fear. It didn’t last long, only briefly when Lance opened that door.
Would the air be safe? Could Gabe breathe? Or were those final moments he could have spent with his family wasted sitting in a flight attendant seat wishing he could speak to his brother.
Air.
Gabe felt the warm air hit him. It didn’t smell bad and he was still alive so that accounted for something. He leaned toward the door, peering out.
“There.” Gabe pointed. “I think I see a truck. A hundred yards up by …” His words slowed down. He expected to see planes, luggage carts, he didn’t expect to see bodies.
Baggage handlers, ground crew, all lay there.
“Jesus,” Gabe gasped out.
“It’s hard, try not to look. Just focus.” Lance hooked up the ladder and lowered it.
“I will.” Gabe turned his body and immediately climbed down. He jumped the last wrung, landing flat on his feet. He turned to see Lance begin his climb, then Gabe took off running.
He didn’t make it far when he heard it.
How could he not.
It was so quiet. So eerily quiet, everything echoed.
It was a thump along with a crack.
Gabe stopped, looked back and saw Lance on the ground.
Immediately, he spun back around and raced to Lance.
That sound, the cracking sound, did he hear Lance break something. He prayed it wasn’t his skull and even sighed in relief when he saw Lance move.
He lay on the ground, extending his chest upward as his arms extended and he wretched visibly in pain.
“Lance.” Gabe crouched down to him.
Lance grunted loudly which transformed into a low groan. “Oh, God, I think I broke my leg or my hip.”
“Here let me help …”
“No!” Lance barked. “Go. We don’t have much time.”
Gabe hit his hand to the ground in frustration, stood and ran again. This time he pulled out the radio. “Captain, come in.”
“What’s up, Gabe?” the Captain replied.
“Lance fell from the hold. He’s down. He’s injured. I need help with him.”
“Roger that.”
Lance placed the radio in his pocket. The truck was in sight. It was close. He had to focus on that.
Why was his brother alone?
That was Owen’s thought. It was his understanding that Gabe and the co-pilot were going to get the fuel truck, but all he saw was his brother running across the apron.
“Dad?” Owen called for his father’s attention. “Gabe’s by himself.”
Tom lifted his head, leaning across the aisle to look. “Maybe the co-pilot is staying with the plane.”
Delaney spoke up. “I don’t think so.”
Owen looked at her to question why she would say that and she was focused forward. It was then
