scoonts.theminotaur-第63节

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　〃As　you　can　plainly　see；　dear　wife；　I'm　not　wearing　my　wings　tonight；〃　Tarkington　replied　lightly。　He　flapped　his　elbows　experimentally。　〃'I'll　astonish　the　nation　and　all　creation；　by　flyin'　over　the　celebration！　I'll　dance　on　the　chimneys；　I'll　stand　on　the　steeple；　I'll　flop　up　to　winders　and　scare　all　the　people；'〃　quoted　he；　striking　a　precarious　pose；　or　trying　to；　up　there　on　the　ridge　of　the　roof　with　an　airplane　grasped　carefully　in　his　right　hand。
　〃Maybe　I'd　better　alert　the　emergency　room　at　the　hospital；〃　Callie　said；　laughing。
　〃Oh；　Callie；〃　Amy　groaned。　〃He's　not　going　to　jump！　Really！〃
　Toad　finished　his　recitation　with　a　flourish：　〃'And　I'll　say　to　the　gawpin'　fools　below；　What　world's　this　here　that　I've　e　near？'〃
　Jake　Grafton　handed　the　radio　control　box　to　David。　〃You're　up　first。　Whenever　you're　ready。〃
　The　youngster　centered　the　control　levers　and　shouted　to　Toad。
　〃Let　'er　go！〃
　With　the　gentlest　of　tosses；　Toad　laid　the　glider　into　the　rising　air　currents。　The　boy　immediately　banked　left　and　raised　the　nose　until　the　aircraft　was　barely　moving　in　relation　to　the　ground。　As　it　reached　the　end　of　the　house；　he　reversed　the　controls　and　flew　it　back　the　other　way。　The　ship　soared　upward　on　the　rising　current　of　air。　It　floated　above　Toad's　head；　back　and　forth　along　the　peak　of　the　roof；　banking　gently　to　maintain　position　and　rising　and　falling　as　the　air　currents　dictated。
　〃All　right！〃　Toad　shouted　and　began　to　clap。　On　the　ground　the　spectators　all　did　likewise。
　〃There's　just　enough　wind；〃　Jake　told　David；　grinning　broadly。　〃Now；　by　God；　that's　flying。〃
　〃Awesome；〃　David　agreed；　his　pixie　grin　spreading　uncontrollably。
　After　a　few　minutes；　David　handed　the　control　box　to　Jake。　He　overbanked　and　the　plane　lost　altitude　precipitously；　threatening　to　strike　Toad　straddling　the　roof's　ridge。　〃Keep　your　nose　up。〃　David　advised　hurriedly。　〃You　can　fly　slower　than　that。〃　As　the　glider　responded；　he　continued。　〃That's　it！　She's　got　plenty　of　camber　in　those　wings　and　good　washout。　She'll　fly　real；　real　slow；　just　riding　those　updrafts。　That's　it！　Let　'er　fly。　Just　sorta　urge　'er　along。〃
　He　was　right。　The　plane　soared　like　a　living　thing；　banking　and　diving　and　climbing；　seeking　the　rising　air　and　responding　willingly。　The　evening　sun　flashed　on　the　wings　and　fuselage　and　made　the　little　craft　brightly　lustrous　against　the　darkening　blue　of　the　sky　above。
　〃Let　Rita　try　it；〃　Amy　urged。
　〃Don't　you　want　to？〃
　〃No。　Let　Rita。〃
　〃e　over　here；　Rita　Moravia。〃　The　pilot　did　as　she　was　bid。　She　watched　the　captain　manipulate　the　controls　as　he　explained　what　each　was。　〃The　thing　you　gotta　watch　is　that　the　controls　work　backwards　as　you　look　at　the　plane　head…on。　Turn　around　and　fly　it　by　looking　over　your　shoulder。　Then　left　will　be　left　and　right　will　be　right。〃
　Rita　obediently　faced　away　from　the　house　and　looked　back　over　her　shoulder。　Toad　waved。　Jake　handed　her　the　radio　control　box。　As　David　and　Amy　tried　to　offer　simultaneous　advice；　Rita　clumsily　swung　the　plane　back　and　forth　and　worked　the　nose　hesitantly。　She　overcontrolled　as　David　groaned；　〃Not　too　much；　no　no　no。〃
　But　the　wind　was　dying。　She　got　the　nose　too　high　trying　to　maintain　altitude：　the　plane　stalled　and　the　nose　fell　through。　The　plane　shot　forward　away　from　the　house；　toward　the　street。　David　scrambled；　but　Rita　stalled　it　again　and　the　left　wing　and　nose　dug　into　the　sandy　lawn　before　the　running　boy　could　reach　it　The　rubber　bands　let　loose　and　the　wing　popped　free　of　the　fuselage；　minimizing　the　damage。　〃Nasty；〃　David　declared。
　〃My　dinner！〃　Callie　exclaimed；　and　charged　for　the　door。
　〃You　did　great　for　a　first　solo；〃　Amy　assured　Rita。　The　pilot　pulled　the　girl　to　her　and　gave　her　a　mighty　hug　and　a　kiss　on　the　cheek。　She　got　a　big　hug　in　return。
　〃She　ain't　banged　up　too　bad；　Cap'n；〃　David　called。　Up　on　the　roof　Toad　was　laughing。　He　blew　Rita　a　kiss。
　After　dinner　Callie　shooed　Jake　and　Toad　off　to　the　screened…in　porch　while　she　cleaned　up　the　dishes。　Rita　and　Amy　helped。
　〃So　what　did　your　parents　think　of　Toad　when　they　met　him；　or　have　they　yet？〃　Callie　asked　Rita。
　〃We　went　to　visit　them　two　weekends　ago。　Mother　invited　a　few　of　their　closest　friends　over　to　meet　the　newlyweds。　Then　she　cornered　Toad；　and　making　sure　I　was　in　earshot；　she　asked　him；　'Now　that　you're　married；　when　is　Rita　going　to　give　up　flying？'〃　Rita　laughed　ruefully；　remembering。　〃How　well　do　you　know　Toad？〃　she　asked　Callie。
　〃Not　very　well。　I　met　him　for　the　first　time　last　year　in　the　Mediterranean。〃
　〃Well；　he　looked　at　Mother　with　that　slightly　baffled。　Lord　of　the　Turnip　Truck　expression　of　his；　and　said；　'Why　would　she　do　that？　Flying　is　what　she　does。'　I　could　have　kissed　him　right　there　in　front　of　everyone。〃　Rita　chuckled　again。
　〃Doesn't　your　mom　want　you　to　fly；〃　Amy　piped；　her　chin　resting　on　a　hand；　her　eyes　fixed　on　her　new　heroine。
　〃My　mother　is　one　of　these　new　moderns　who　have　elevated　the　elimination　of　risk　to　a　religious　status。　She　serves　only　food　certified　safe　for　laboratory　rats。　She　writes　weekly　letters　to　congressmen　urging　a　national　fifty…five…miles…per…hour　speed　limit；　helmets　for　motorcyclists；　gun　control…she　has　never　been　on　a　motorcycle　in　her　life　and　to　the　best　of　my　knowledge　has　never　even　seen　a　real　firearm。　Her　latest　cause　is　a　ban　on　mountain　climbing　since　she　read　an　article　about　how　many　people　per　year　fall　off　cliffs　or　die　of　hypothermia。　This　from　a　woman　who　regards　a　walk　across　a　large　parking　lot　as　a　survival　trek。〃
　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　things；〃　Amy　assured　Rita。
　〃It's　not　fear　that　motivates　Mother。　She　thinks　of　government　as　Super…Mom；　and　who　better　to　advise　the　politicians　than　the　superest　mom　of　them　all？〃
　〃Flying　is　risky；　inherently　dangerous。　I　can　understand　your　mother's　concern；〃　Callie　said　as　she　rinsed　a　pot。　〃Flying　is　something　I've　had　to　live　with。　It's　a　part　of　Jake　and　his　life；　a　big　part。　But　I've　had　very　mixed　emotions　about　his　being　grounded。〃　As　she　dried　the　pot　she　turned　to　Rita。　〃You　or　Toad　may　be　killed　or　crippled　for　life　in　an　accident。　After　it　happens；　if　it　happens；　it　won't　matter　whose　fault　it　is　or　how　good　you　are　in　a　cockpit。　I　know。　I've　seen　it　too　many　times。〃
　〃Life　is　risky；〃　Rita　replied；　〃Life　isn't　some　bland　puree　with　all　the　caffeine　and　cholesterol　removed。　It　doesn't　just　go　on　for　ever　and　ever　without　end。　Amen。　For　every　living　thing　there　is　a　beginning；　a　middle；　and　an　end。　And　me　is　chance。　Chance　is　the　means　whereby　God　rules　the　universe。〃
　The　flier　thought　a　moment；　then　continued；　choosing　her　words　carefully。　〃I　have　the　courage　to　try　to　live　with　my　fate；　whatever　it　may　be。〃
　〃Do　you　have　enough？〃　Amy　asked；　dead　serious。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Rita。　She　smiled　at　the　youngster。　〃I　hope　so。　I　haven't　needed　much　courage　so　far。　I'm　healthy；　reasonably　intelligent；　and　I've　been　lucky。　But　still；　I　gather　courage　where　I　find　it　and　save　it　for　the　storms　to　e。〃
　
　20
　
　Through　the　years　Jake　Grafton　had　bee　a　connoisseur　of　air　force　bases。　Visiting　one　was　like　driving　through　Newport　or　Beverly　Hills。　With　manicured　lawns；　trimmed　trees；　well…kept　substantial　buildings　and　nifty　painted　signs；　air　force　bases　made　him　fed　like　a　poor　farm　boy　visiting　the　estate　of　a　rich　uncle。　In　contrast；　the　money　tile　admirals　wheedled　from　a　parsimonious　Congress　went　into　ships　and　airplanes。　The　dedication　of　a　new　cinder…block　enlisted　quarters　at　some　cramped　navy　base　in　the　industrial　district　of　a　major　port　city　was　such　a　rare　event　that　it　would　draw　a　half　dozen　admirals　and　maybe　the　CNO。
　The　Tonopah　facility；　however；　didn't　look　like　any　air　force　base　Jake　had　ever　seen。　It　looked　like　some　shacky；　jerry…built　temporary　facility　the　navy　had　stuck　out　in　the　middle　of　nowhere　during　World　War　n　and　had　only　now　decided　to　improve。　Perhaps　this　base　was　just　too　new。　Bulldozers　and　carthmovere　sat　scattered　around　on　large；　open　wounds　of　raw　earth。　No　trees　or　grass　yet；　though　two　trenchers　appeared　to　be　excavating　for　a　sprinkler　system。　When　the　wind　blew；　great　clouds　of　dust　embedded　with　tumbleweeds　swept　across　the　flat；　featureless　desert　and　through　the　stark　frames　of　buildings　under　construction；　and　the　wind　blew　most　of　the　time。
　Security　was　as　tight　as　Jake　had　ever　seen　it　in　the　military。　Air　policemen　in　natty　uniforms　with　white　dickeys　at　their　throats　manned　the　gates　and　patrolled　chain　link　fences　topped　with　barbed　wire　while　they　fought　to　keep　their　spiffy　blue　berets　in　place　against　the　wind。　The　fences　were　woven　with　metal　strips　to　form　opaque　barriers。　Signs　every　few　yards　forbade　stopping　or　photography。　You　needed　a　pass　to　enter　any　area；　and　prominent　signs　vibrating　in　the　wind　advised　you　of　that　fact
　The　place　reeked　with　that　peculiar　aroma　of　government　intrigue：　Important；　stupendous　things　are　happening　here。　You　don't　want　to　know！　We　who　do　also　know　that　you　couldn't　handle　it。　Trust　us。　In　other　words；　the　overall　effect　was　precisely　the　same　gray　ambience　of　don't…bother…us　superiority　that　oozes　from　large　post　offices　and　the　mausoleums　that　house　the　departments　of　motor　vehicles；