Fast Flight Read Online Free PDF Page B

throat.
    â€˜Kidding!’ said Igor. ‘Relax, I don’t need a co-pilot. It’s not part of standard procedures. Having one pilot on standby is expensiveenough.’ He chuckled to himself and Dillon wasn’t sure if he was joking again.
    Dillon’s eyes returned to the dashboard. There were two screens in the centre that reminded him of the one in the fancy new hybrid car his parents bought a couple of months ago. The first screen displayed a navigational chart and the other a series of complex-looking readings, mostly numbers. Dillon let out a long breath.
    â€˜It’s not as complicated as it seems,’ Igor assured him. ‘And once you’re up in the air it’s mostly automatic, anyway. I’m just here for show.’ He chuckled again, deep and hearty.
    Dillon looked through the windscreen. In the distance he could see a large cluster of lights. ‘Is that Melbourne?’ he asked.
    â€˜Sure is,’ said Igor. ‘Beautiful from up here, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Uh-huh,’ agreed Dillon.
    â€˜Especially in the dark,’ continued Igor. ‘I love the lights at night, like little explosions of joy in the lonely blackness. As you get closer the lights multiply. One dot becomes many. And every dot brightens the lives of many people. It is magnificent.’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Dillon slowly, awestruck by the sight and the concept. ‘Yes, it is.’
    I could stay up here forever , he thought. Above everything. Beyond all my problems and fears.
    Igor’s arm shot out and his hand zipped over the controls.

    â€˜This is Flying-Doctor-5-4-1,’ said Igor, adjusting his headset. He listened a moment,then continued. ‘We have a patient transfer for the organ donor program, so, yes, it is important we land ASAP.’ He paused a moment and his voice rose. ‘Why? What’s happening?’ He paused again. ‘Could you please … actually, hold on.’ He covered the microphone with his hand and turned to Dillon, any trace of cheer and humour gone from his face. ‘I’m going to have to ask you to return to the cabin now, thank you.’
    Dillon’s heart was racing as he got up. In his hurry he banged his hip into the back of the seat, then rushed out.
    Mum took one look at his expression as he returned and immediately leaned forward to ask: ‘What’s wrong?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ said Dillon, panic rising. ‘Something.’

Dillon and his mum looked at each other with mounting worry. There had been no word from Igor since Dillon had left the cockpit. Not knowing what was going on was stressful. It might not be anything to be concerned about but, then again, it could be some sort of disaster.
    â€˜What’s the matter?’ asked Flick, noticing their exchange of worried glances.
    Before Dillon could answer, Igor’s voice boomed from the speakers: ‘We have a bit of a situation. One of the runways is temporarily out of commission. Something is wrong with the lights. They are down to using one runway for all arrivals and departures, and there is a backlog of freight planes circling and waiting to land. I’ve stressed the importance of our situation and am now awaiting further instruction.’ Dillon heard a long, deep intake of breath. ‘So, for now, we’re stuck up here.’
    â€˜Delay?’ Mum’s eyes were wide and concerned. ‘What about the transplant? We were told we had to get there as quickly as possible.’
    A tremor ran through Dillon’s body. First a flat tyre, now an airport delay – nothing was going right.
    â€˜Let’s not get too concerned yet,’ said Flick, her voice calm and even. ‘The delay may only be short. And even if it is a while, that doesn’t necessarily mean the transplant has to be cancelled. There is usually some leeway in terms of timing.’
    â€˜I hope you’re right,’ said Mum, folding