FIRE ON HIGH
“Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2006 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.
The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios, and all characters associated with ZZ Studios, James Sheppard, and Marvin Badger © James Bruner and appear here with his permission. Although characters from and events referring to Zig Zag the Story appear here, this story is not canon to that one, and the author will disavow any knowledge of this story. Wanda Vixen © Chris Yost and appears here with his permission. Sabrina Mustidalae © Eric W. Schwartz and appears here with his permission. This story is not canon to Sabrina Online the comic, or Sabrina Online the Story, either. Matt Barstock, Intermountain Charter, The Bitch, and her crew © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE. Gail Rutherford © me and is not canon to any other story involving ZZ Studios.
Chapter 41
Northbound
Alex absently scratched his chin as he put the final items into his travel bag. He’d been up for over an hour, and as he glanced out his bedroom window, he could see the bright sunshine just touching the tops of the trees along the hilltop. Zipping his bag closed, he stretched from head to tail. He spent several more minutes moving his luggage and training materials out to his truck. He then went to the kitchen and started the coffee pot. He looked in the refrigerator to see what he had in the way of breakfast.
“Hmmm, don’t know how heavy Zig eats for breakfast. Ah, the fruit from last night.”
Alex took the tray out and removed the cling wrap. He then took out a quart each of juice and milk. He went to the cabinet and retrieved two plates and forks, and two glasses. Any leftover fruit and drink would follow the remnants of the pizza down to Jenna’s on their way out. The last thing he wanted was spoiled food in the house after being gone a month. Breakfast laid out, he walked down the hall to the guest room door. He listened intently for a few seconds, but couldn’t hear any sign that his cousin was awake yet. He gently knocked on the door.
“Zig Zag, time to get up,” he called through the closed door. He heard a mumble and then the sound of covers being moved. He was about to go back to the kitchen to wait when the door opened.
Alex found himself smiling. Zig Zag stood in the doorway, her sleepy expression telling him she was only partly awake. Her hair was slightly disheveled, framing her face in a halo of white. She wore a male’s dress shirt which, fortunately for Alex, was both mostly buttoned and just long enough to be decent. To any other male, the sight would have been intensely sexy, but Alex was seeing his little cousin. He remembered seeing the same sleepy, innocent expression when little Tonya would wake up from a short nap. She would curl up in some of the oddest places, alternately tucked away in nearly impossible positions or totally out in the open. Knowing now what she had been going through then, he understood her drive to hide, or to not be closed in. During their conversations, she’d hinted that she was a bit claustrophobic.
“Good morning, Cousin,” he greeted her. “Breakfast is laid out, coffee’s on, and we need to leave for the airport within the hour.”
“Uh, g’morning,” she replied, stifling a yawn and ruffling her hair to try and wake up. “I’ll get dressed and be right out. Sorry, I won’t be too presentable. All I brought to travel home in is jeans and a T. Thought I’d be driving a rental car back.”
“No problem here. I have a few spare flight suits at Kentiger. I think we can make one of them work. I have a couple of different sizes, in case I give guest rides.”
“Ah—,” Zig began, but Alex had already turned and headed for the kitchen. Yawning widely again, she shut the door and went to get dressed.
In less than fifteen minutes, Zig Zag walked into the kitchen. Alex sat at the table, working on a cup of coffee and a piece of melon. He smiled to himself again. Even in just jeans and a t-shirt, his cousin was a knockout. She’d pulled her long white hair back in a thick ponytail, leaving her signature bangs loose to frame her face. Alex stood up and indicated the coffee pot.
“Care for a cup?”
“Yes please. I need something to get me moving this early, and the coffee smells great.”
“Thanks. Hope you don’t mind leftover fruit. I’ve emptied everything else out, since I’ll be gone awhile.”
“Oh no, that’s fine.” Zig Zag took the cup that Alex proffered, and picked up her fork. She picked a couple of pieces of fruit, and poured some juice in the glass Alex had set out. Alex sat down and they ate in silence. Zig Zag still didn’t look too awake, so Alex didn’t start any conversation.
When they finished, Zig Zag went to get her things while Alex poured out the remains of the coffee and rinsed out the carafe. He rewrapped the fruit tray and took it and the milk and juice out to his truck.
Zig Zag met him at the door as he returned. “Zig, the truck is open, just put your things in the back seat.”
She nodded her understanding and walked out to his truck, placing her suit bag, overnight bag, and the poster satchel in while he locked the house and set the security system. She held one poster out, placing it beside her bag on the seat. Alex joined her and they got in the truck and headed down the driveway.
Stopping in front of Jenna’s house on the way out, Alex managed to slip the remains of their breakfast into Jenna’s kitchen, and leave the poster satchel on the table, without waking anyone. He hoped Jenna would find the satchel before Tia or Andrew did. In either case, she’d take it to work with her Monday, along with the note Zig had put in saying no changes were needed. He slipped back behind the wheel and they drove off toward Lexington.
Traffic was light this early on a Saturday, and Alex and Zig Zag chatted about the night before and what she could expect during their flight. Soon they pulled into the parking lot at Kentiger. To Alex’s surprise, both Billy and Loni’s vehicles were there. From the other vehicles, he surmised that only two flight crews were out. They parked, and Alex led the way inside.
Zig Zag was immediately impressed at how clean and orderly the hangar looked and smelled as they walked through. She’d only been in a couple of hangars before in her life, but they had looked grimy and smelled of oil and fuel. The hangar here at Kentiger looked spotless. Alex noted her expression, with one eyebrow slightly arched.
“We store some of the aircraft in here. All the maintenance is done next door at Bluegrass Aviation.”
Zig Zag nodded as they walked out of the hangar and into Kentiger’s lobby and admin area. Loni Jetter was at her desk, looking intently at her computer screen. Billy Panelli stood to one side, bent over and also peering at the computer screen.
“Must be some weather for our crews today,” Alex said without preamble.
Both Billy and Loni started a bit. Billy spun around to face Alex.
“Geez Alex! How many times . . do . . .I . . .”
When Billy’s tirade aborted at takeoff, Loni looked around and took note that Alex had someone with him. Ever the professional, she stood and stepped around to greet them, stopping to push Billy’s muzzle closed on the way.
“Hello, welcome to Kentiger. I’m Loni, resident receptionist and gofer.”
Alex grinned. “Don’t let her fool you, cousin. She’s who keeps this place running. Loni, this is my cousin, Zig Zag. Zig, this is Loni Jetter, our Administrative Technician.”
“Nice to meet you, Loni,” Zig Zag said pleasantly as she extended her paw to shake. “Well, if you run this place, I guess I couldn’t steal you away to make movies for me. A shame, too. You’re very beautiful.”
Loni blushed, but took the offer in stride as she shook paws. “A pleasure, Miss Zag. No, I’m afraid Billy would forget to breathe if I wasn’t here to remind him.”
“Ah-ah, it’s either Zig Zag or just Zig.”
“Oh, alright Zig Zag. Can I get you anything?”
“No, we just had breakfast.”
“I’m dropping her off in Columbus on my way north,” Alex interjected. That woke Billy from his stunned silence.
“Holy Toledo! You really are Zig Zag, and Alex’s cousin.” He shook his head a bit. “Uh, a pleasure to meet you. Alex has said many good things about you. Oh, I’m Billy Panelli, Alex’s partner.”
“No, Columbus, not Toledo,” Zig Zag said as she made to shake the tiger’s paw. She flashed him a dazzling smile, showing her very sharp teeth.
“By the way,” she continued, “If you’d like, and it’s okay with Alex, I have something for you to put up in your lobby. I’ll be right back.”
Zig turned and walked out. Billy and Loni looked expectantly at Alex, who just shrugged. Loni went back to her desk as Billy grinned at Alex and lightly cuffed him on the shoulder.
“WOW! She’s quite a stunner! I didn’t realize she was that tall. Shoulda figured so, though, since she’s related to you. She seems nice, like you said. So, you’re giving her a ride home?”
Alex smirked. “She sure stunned you, anyway. Yep, she stopped by unexpectedly yesterday, so it works out that I get to fly her home. That reminds me, I need to get her a flight suit to wear.”
Alex walked back toward his office as Billy managed to return his attention to Loni’s computer screen. Once in his office, Alex went to the closet and got out his flight suit. He kept a couple of ones his size, plus a couple changes of clothes there just in case. He transferred his wallet and the pocket knife he carried to it, and then put it on. His keys he’d leave with Loni. He looked over the spare suits he kept, and picked one that looked closest to Zig’s general size. He draped that over his arm, and was about to walk out when he remembered something. He went to his desk drawer and got out the picture of him and his cousin in front of Stripes One the first time they’d met up again. The “non-family” one. He slipped it into his front pocket to give to Zig Zag, and then turned and walked back to the lobby.
When he got there, Zig Zag had returned, and was showing a very interested Billy and Loni what she’d brought in. As he walked up, Billy turned to him and beamed.
“She’s giving us a poster, signed, to hang up.”
“If that’s okay?” Zig Zag asked, a bit tentatively. Alex nodded his assent.
“Fine with me, as long as it isn’t the goof shot. Stripes One looks great in them, and after all, part of the reason for having her is publicity and marketing for us.”
Zig Zag giggled. “Some have said the same about me. No, this is the one with the whole crew, including you, in it.”
Billy was grinning again. “Great! We’ll put it right on that wall, so it’ll adorn the pilot’s lounge area.”
Loni rolled her eyes. Alex shook his head and moved on to another subject.
“So, why are you both in here on a Saturday?”
Loni answered, as Billy was watching Zig Zag autograph the poster. “You got it right when you walked in. Bad weather out west, right across the route Deiter and Sara are flying in one of the Citations.”
“They’re sharp, they’ll put down if it looks too bad.” Alex shrugged.
“True, but with as demanding as furs are getting, Billy wanted to be here to back them up, if needed.”
“Besides,” Billy said, holding the poster and smiling at it as Zig recapped the marker. “I wanted to make a couple of calls. That and take a break. The two grandkittens are wearing me out.”
Alex narrowed one eye at his friend. “Uh-huh. You sure Penny didn’t clue you in that Zig was in town?”
“Weeell, she might have mentioned it, but I really did want to come in and make a couple of calls. A friend of mine who’s an aircraft broker sent me an email that he might have a line on a Citation and a Gee Four that might be for sale.”
Alex grinned again. “If you say so, Billy.”
“Ah, go learn to fly helicopters,” Billy retorted, grinning back.
All four had a good laugh at the exchange. Alex took that as a good time to get started towards his aircraft.
“Good idea. Zig, let’s get you flight ready.”
“Ah, alright. What does that mean, exactly?”
“Flight suit, so you don’t mess up your clothes. I also have a g-suit, helmet, and ‘chute harness for you. Relax, that’s not as much to wear as it sounds.”
Zig Zag had looked a bit doubtful as Alex had described all the paraphernalia she’d have to wear. She stuck her chin out and said, “Lead on, then.”
Alex showed her where to go to change into the flight suit. When she came back out, Alex just shook his head and grinned. She had cuffed the sleeves and legs to fit her, and she hadn’t quite gotten the zipper up past her bosom. The effect would be devastating to most males within twenty yards.
“Keep the suit when we get to Columbus. Maybe someone can hem the legs and sleeves for you. I know no one else would ever do it justice again.”
Zig Zag smiled broadly at the compliment, until she saw the contraption Alex now held aloft.
“This is a G-suit,” he explained. “It inflates with air to squeeze your lower half, so as to keep the blood going up to your brain under a high G load. May I help you put it on?”
Zig Zag cocked her head to the side. After a few seconds, she nodded, muttering, “In for a penny, in for a pound.”
“Good. Now, step in, one leg at a time. There you go, just like that. Now we pull it up to just under, ah, them. Zip it up, and then I’ll pull the laces tight.”
“Ugh! It’s like a corset! Does it have to be that tight?”
“I’m afraid so, or else it wouldn’t work. Now, put your arms through here. This is the parachute harness. Good, and it fastens here, and here, and these come up through here. There, you’re all set.”
Alex took only a minute to don his G-suit and harness, and he nodded for Zig to follow him out. Billy and Loni both looked up as they walked into the lobby, and again Billy was speechless for a few seconds. Loni stood up and smiled.
“Now this looks like a Kodak moment. Let me get the digital.”
Loni retrieved a digital camera from her desk, and Alex and Zig stood by the wall while she snapped a couple of photos. Alex took the chance to see how Zig signed the poster, which lay on the table awaiting a frame.
“To Kentiger. Thanks for flying us! Zig Zag.”
Alex nodded in satisfaction, and then hitched a thumb toward the door. “Let’s go, Cousin. Billy can drool over that without us here.”
Zig Zag giggled. Billy started to retort, but in the end just shrugged and made a shooing motion with his paw. Loni waved as she updated the weather page they were looking at. Alex led the way out to his truck where they retrieved their luggage, and then they headed for the ramp in front of the hangar. Allaistor McCrory had made sure Stripes One was out on the line and ready to go. Alex opened the pod under the aircraft’s belly and carefully stowed their luggage inside. He placed the two parachutes from the pod by the boarding ladders, and placed his helmet and the spare for Zig Zag on them.
“Okay Zig, I’m going to preflight the aircraft. You can come along, or wait here, whichever you want.”
Zig Zag’s face took on a curious expression. “Lead on, Cousin.”
Alex gave her a grin, and then led the way as he went through his preflight routine. He explained and showed her what he was doing as he checked control surfaces, landing gear, engine inlets, and removed the various pins and covers. After a complete circuit of the T-38, they stopped by the ladders. Alex helped Zig Zag on with her parachute, and then donned his own. He helped Zig up the ladder and into the front cockpit. Once she was seated, he helped her fasten the various straps and connect the com and oxygen lines. He helped her ease her helmet on, and then leaned in close to her ear.
“Zig, are you okay with wearing an oxygen mask? You’re not too claustrophobic for that?”
She looked at her cousin. Alex could see old fear and pain behind her eyes, buried deep. He reached down and turned the master switch on, and turned the O2 selector to “normal.” He then carefully guided her in putting the mask on and snapping the bayonet clips that held it in place. Her eyes got wide as she took a careful breath, and then Alex could see her grin right through the mask. He tapped her lightly on top of the helmet, and then quickly got himself settled in the rear cockpit. A moment later, Zig Zag heard his voice in the helmet earphones.
“Comm check. How’s that, Zig?”
“Fine. I don’t feel short of breath at all. It’s almost like the mask isn’t there.”
“Good. I’ll do the instrument and cockpit checks, and then start the engines, should only be a couple of minutes.”
“Okay,” Zig replied.
Another couple of minutes went by. Zig Zag looked at the gauges in front of her, not able to make much sense of them. She assumed the one that said “airspeed” told how fast they were going, and the one marked “altitude” in small letters on its face told how high they were, but that was about it. A couple of the dials moved, and some of the numbers on what she assumed were radios changed as Alex did his checks. Then the biggest gauge directly in front of her seemed to joggle around and then settle with a blue field on top and a dark brown one on the bottom. Then Alex came back on the intercom.
“The ramp guy is about to remove the boarding ladders. Don’t be startled.”
Zig Zag looked down to the left. A young squirrel had just grabbed hold of the ladder she’d climbed up. He glanced up and did a double take to see a pair of feminine blue eyes looking down at him. Zig Zag thought quickly and then gave him a thumbs up like she’d seen in the movies. The young fur grinned and nodded, then turned and took the ladder over to a waiting truck. He repeated the process with Alex’s ladder, and then walked out in front of the aircraft. He raised his paws and began signaling for a port engine start. Zig Zag looked curiously for a second, and then pushed the button on the stick Alex had showed her for the intercom.
“Uh, Alex, the ramp guy is out in front signaling something. His arms are up in the air, and he’s spinning his right paw around with his pointer finger up.”
“Okay, thanks Zig. He’s signaling for us to start the left engine. Just return the signal and nod.”
Zig Zag did so, and was surprised to both hear and feel the left engine begin to wind up. In a few seconds she felt a small thump as the engine ignited and began to spool up. The same process was repeated for the other engine. They went through the control checks in a like manner, with Zig Zag relaying the squirrel’s moves to Alex, and him telling her how to respond. At last they came to the end.
“Alright Zig, everything checks out fine. Now put your paws out on either side of the windshield. Curl them into a fist, palm forward, and put your thumbs out. Now push outward with them like you were double hitchhiking. That’s good.”
Zig Zag did the move, and the squirrel scrambled out of sight under the aircraft. He reappeared a couple of seconds later carrying three sets of chocks. He walked over to the truck and turned, giving a snappy salute before tossing the chocks into the truck. Zig Zag did her best imitation back, and then gave a short gasp as Alex announced, “Here we go!”
The sudden movement had startled her, but she recovered quickly. She took in the view as Alex taxied them out toward the runway, and she realized he was right. She could see almost everything from the front seat. They stopped short of the runway, and Alex talked her through closing and locking the canopy. Then suddenly her earphones were filled with the chatter of communications at the busy airport. It took Alex another minute to do his final checks, and then she heard him call out.
“Bluegrass Tower, Niner Sierra Tango copies cleared for takeoff on Runway Two Two. Niner Sierra Tango rolling.”
“Bluegrass Tower copies you rolling, Nine Sierra Tango. Have a good flight,” the tower replied.
They started moving and made a very sharp left turn. Alex lined them up on the runway centerline without stopping. Zig Zag gasped again, in earnest this time, as she felt two sharp thuds and the sudden press of acceleration.
Then things began to go by in a blur.
# # #
Izzy Quai sighed in a very satisfied way. He’d been up for quite a while, and already on this Saturday morning he’d had breakfast, worked out and practiced, had a shower, and finished his morning meditations. Many times, his Saturdays were taken up by tournaments, where he judged the competitions. Not today, though. He was looking forward to relaxing for a change.
He went to sit down in his favorite chair. It was the one luxury he allowed in his otherwise rather Spartan living quarters. He was about to pick up a book he’d been reading when the front door chime rang.
“Hmmm, I’m not expecting anyone today,” he thought. “Perhaps it’s someone inquiring about lessons.”
He stood back up and walked at an easy pace through the quiet, empty dojo toward the front door. On the way he contemplated the school. It used to be bustling on Saturdays. He used to host tournaments, and even a Saturday class or two, until the neighborhood began to deteriorate and many wouldn’t bring their children into the area on the weekend. Perhaps with the gang disbanded, things would get better. As he approached the front door, his thoughts turned to the invasion and fight, and all the damage to the dojo it had done. At least he hadn’t lost any students, either to injury or their parents pulling them out. The new door itself was an indicator of how the neighborhood had changed from when he first came there. It was a heavy, highly reinforced affair, with a video monitor and intercom off to one side. All had been recommended by Detective Phillips after the fight.
Izzy stepped up and activated the monitor to see who was there. To his surprise, it was one of the more scruffy members of the T-Rads. He could see several more of them standing out on the sidewalk. None had a belligerent look to them. The one at the door had an almost hopeful expression, which was quickly beginning to fall as the time passed with no answer to the door chime. The young fur mumbled something and started to turn away.
Izzy toggled the intercom on and nearly caused the canid to jump out of his hide as he spoke. “Yes, what do you want?” he sounded a bit gruff, but not hateful or angry.
“Uhm, Mr. Quai, sir. I’m Shawn Reston, uh, I’m called Shagger. I was one o’ the gang, the T-Rads.” The canid was hesitant, his body language submissive.
Izzy thought a few seconds. The remains of the gang had been there, under police escort, to help repair the doors they’d destroyed. He hadn’t been allowed to talk to them at that time, and since he hadn’t heard anything more since, he’d counted the incident closed. Curious, he decided to see what Shagger had to say.
“Yes Shagger, I remember you. What can I do for you?”
“Well sir, ah, can I come in and talk to you? Just me alone. The rest of us will wait out here.”
Izzy thought several more long seconds about that. The others were not set to rush the door if he opened it, and something in Shagger’s voice told him the canid had no ill intent. He stepped over, unlocked the door, and opened it without saying anything. Shagger carefully stepped inside, and Izzy closed the door and relocked it.
“Thank you, Mr. Quai. I don’t know nothin’ about how or when to bow or anything,” the canid said as he faced the snow leopard.
“That is alright, Shagger. You aren’t one of my students. Now, what can I do for you?”
“Well sir, me and Bo, Chug, and Skinner, we finished up our community service time, and we was looking for something constructive to do. The gang was all the friends we had, but Lieutenant Phillips convinced us that was no way to live. We was wondering if maybe, we could work for you around here, and maybe you could teach us.”
Izzy looked steadily at the scruffy canid. Shagger returned his gaze eye to eye for a few seconds, but then looked down and away, unconsciously baring his throat to the snow leopard.
“Ah, never mind. Shoulda known you wouldn’t want any of us hangin’ round after what we did, much less teach us.” Shagger turned to leave, but before he could take a step, Izzy spoke.
“I did not say no.”
The young canid turned back, a hopeful expression beginning to show on his face. Izzy continued.
“But I did not say yes, either. Why indeed should I teach the ones who a short time ago were howling for my blood?”
Shagger knew he had to make his answer a good one. Privately, Izzy had hoped an opportunity might present itself for him to be a positive influence on the younger gang members left in the neighborhood, but he wanted to make sure Shagger and his friends were serious about their proposal.
The scruffy teen took a deep breath and answered Izzy’s question. “Well sir, like I said, me and the other three talked it out, and decided being a street gang, or even part of one, was a real dead end. Then we got to talking about the fight. How we all just rushed in, with no idea what we were doing except charging ‘cause that’s what T-Lo said to do. We didn’t cover each other, cause in the gang it was always everyone out for themselves, and only help somebody else out when they outranked you. You and that tiger, and your students, they watched each other’s backs, and fought together, even when it looked like you was outnumbered and things were gonna be tough. They had, ah, what’s the word, when they hold together when things look bad?”
“Discipline,” Izzy answered.
“Yeah, that’s it. We decided if we learned some of that, we’d do a lot better in a lot of ways. T-Lo’s idea of, ah, discipline was a whack across the muzzle if we didn’t do what he said. No one was strong enough to challenge him.”
Izzy again though for a few long moments. Then, his decision made, he gave a single nod of his head. “Agreed. Ask your friends to step inside and we’ll begin.”
A broad smile lit Shagger’s face. He practically leapt to the door and opened it. “C’mon! He said he’d do it!”
The other three canids quickly filed in and arranged themselves in a loose line in front of Izzy. He looked each one in the eye, and each in turn looked down and away after a few seconds.
“Well,” he began. All four looked up at him, then. “First of all, your training in martial arts will begin Wednesday night at five o’clock. After the first few lessons, I can shift that to Saturdays after you finish your work here, if you wish. I realize funds are probably scarce for you, so I will provide training uniforms, which will remain here when you aren’t using them for now. I have a place for you to wash them, which will be part of your Saturday duties. Your other duties will be to clean the dojo, and help maintain it and the grounds. Dojo means school. This is a school of martial arts, but I like to think it can be a school of life, as well. Since you are now my students, you will address me as Sensei or Sensei Quai. Sensei means teacher. In the event my friend Alex O’Whitt, the large white tiger you saw during the fight, is here, you will address him as Sensei also.”
The four, who had averted their eyes downward again, nodded and mumbled a low, “Yes sir.”
“Ah, no. First lesson, my young friends. When I address you, I expect your eyes to up and on me, and your answers to be clear. Now, try it again.”
Timidly at first, four pairs of eyes lifted to look at the snow leopard. Clearer this time, all four said, “Yes sir.”
“Better. Now, for today I don’t have a good list of duties made up, so here is what I want you to do. Ah, first introduce yourselves to me. Shagger I already met, so let’s start with you on his left.”
The pug, who looked slightly overweight, nodded his head. “Charlie Candera. They call me Chug.”
The next in line was a stocky shepherd mix. “Frederick Shultz, and I’m called Bo.”
The last was a tall, slender greyhound. “Harry Freeler, they call me Skinner ‘cause I’m so skinny, and I can climb nearly anything.”
“All right, young furs, welcome. Shagger and Bo, everything could use a good dusting. You’ll find cloths for that in the supply closet. First door on the right, down the hall there.” Izzy pointed down the hallway in the general direction of his office.
“Chug and Skinner, the grounds could use a good pick up. You’ll find trash bags in the same closet. After you are done, report back to me. Welcome to the dojo.”
The four began to move to start their assignments, but Izzy stopped them. “Ah, wait. I forgot you don’t know about this yet. Second lesson, then. Bowing. You bow in greeting, as a sign of respect, you for your teacher, and your teacher in acknowledgement. You also bow anytime you leave an instructor’s immediate presence. You bow from the waist, but maintain eye contact. Now, shall we try it?”
The four faced back toward Izzy, and hesitantly bowed from the waist. None got it quite right, either bowing too much or not enough, but they did try. Izzy returned their bow.
“A good start. Now, I’ll see you in a bit.”
The four now moved out in earnest. Izzy noted an eager, hopeful look, as well as a grin or two, on their faces. He smiled to himself, his tail curling up behind him as he headed for his office. Since he had four new students, there was paperwork to complete.
# # #
“Let me get this straight,” the thin, scruffy canid stated. Carl Branson looked up at his father, apprehension showing on his face. His mother had told the older canid beside him about Carl’s new school. Frank Branson hadn’t commented then, other than to fix his son with an angry eye. Now, as they drove toward Frank’s run down house outside Winchester for his bi-weekly visitation, Carl was being confronted by his father.
“You let some little kitty femme kick yer ass, an’ now you are bein’ sent to reform school. I oughtta kick it again for ya, fer bein’ yellow.”
The older canid reached over and slapped his son hard across the ear.
“Oww! Dad!”
“Don’t ya ‘Dad” me! I raised ya tougher ‘n that. What happened?”
Carl was silent briefly, until a shift in his father’s position warned of another possible slap. “She’s always struttin’ around like she’s really somethin’. I was gonna put her in her place, just like you say a femme should be done. She’s some kinda hot-shot karate expert, and she took me by surprise. She’s got all her claws, and they’re sharp as razors.”
“Huh. Where’s she live?”
Carl looked askance at his father. “Uh, out north o’ town, I think.”
“What’s her family like?”
Carl was beginning to become alarmed at this line of questioning, but he didn’t dare refuse to answer. “Word is at school her father died a couple o’ years back. He was some kinda pilot, and he crashed. I think she’s got a younger brother, too. We don’t exactly hang in the same circles.”
“Got a name for her mother?” The older canid now had a gleam in his eye that caused Carl to shiver.
“Uhm, yeah, I just heard it while I was in the office waiting for school t’ end. Lessee, Janie? Janet? No, it was Jenna. Yeah, Jenna, that’s what it was. Jenna O’Whitt.”
That seemed to satisfy Frank, and they drove on in silence for a while. Just before they got to Frank’s house he spoke again in a low, menacing voice.
“Forget we said any o’ this. It’s too late t’ do anything this weekend, anyway. Next time yer with me, though, we’ll jest see if we can put this kitty in her place. Provided you ain’t too yellow t’ follow yer old fur.”
Carl just nodded as they pulled up in front of Frank’s house. Privately, he had set his mind on just getting through his time at Tonemaine and then let it go. No use wasting time on a hard target like Tia O’Whitt, when there were always easier ones around. Now his father seemed determined to have a confrontation with the O’Whitt femmes.
“Well,” he thought as he got out of the car. “Mebbe Dad won’t be able to get their address, an’ that’ll be that.”
That was his hope as he walked from the car into the house, wincing a bit as he was still quite sore.
# # #
Zig Zag sat in awe, amazed at how breathtaking the view in front of her was. She’d looked out the window of planes before, even out the windshield of a few, but nothing compared to the panorama now before her. She could see the entire deep blue sky above her, broken only by some clouds far off to her left. Far below, a few puffy clouds floated by lazily. Below that, what seemed like the whole world was laid out like a blanket below her feet. Alex had informed her that they were flying at twenty seven thousand feet, making four hundred and fifty knots on a heading of zero three zero. She had just politely thanked him, since she barely understood exactly what that meant. To her, it only meant that they were really high, going really fast. She felt she could see forever, like the large river just ahead of them that she assumed was the Ohio. Smaller things like houses and vehicles were harder to see, but even at their altitude, she could make out many of them, especially the moving vehicles.
The radio was alive with chatter, and Zig could only really make out what was said when Alex called or responded to a call. He had told her it took a little while to get a “trained ear” for that kind of thing.
“What do you think, Zig?” Alex’s voice sounded in her earphones, breaking her rapt contemplation of the view.
“It’s fantastic. I don’t feel the least bit closed in, and I feel like I can see forever.”
Alex grinned to himself. “Good, then you can see that Dee-Cee Nine at two o’clock, a thousand feet above us and crossing from right to left?”
Zig Zag looked up and to her right, and gasped to see an airliner passing right in front of her. In her amazement at the view, she hadn’t even noticed it coming in.
“Oh! Is that okay? Are we too close?”
“We’re fine,” Alex replied. “He’s a bit over three miles away, and at a different altitude. You sometimes cross paths like this when traffic is tight.”
Zig smiled. “A traffic jam, even up here.”
“The airspace near Cincinnati can be pretty congested. Tell you what, let’s see if we can deviate a little to the east. That’ll put us more out in the open.”
Zig Zag could hear a hint of mirth in Alex’s voice, even through the earphones. She nodded in response, and listened as Alex called on the radio.
“Indianapolis Center, Niner Sierra Tango, we’re going to go over to east to Practice Area Tango for about thirty mikes. Will call when exiting and returning to our filed course.”
A moment went by before Zig heard an answer come in. “Niner Sierra Tango, Indy Center. We copy you into Tango for thirty. Area shows clear of traffic.”
As they banked to the right a bit, Zig Zag asked, “Alex, what are you up to?”
“Well, there is less traffic over there, and I was wondering if you’d like to see a bit of what Stripes One can do? I promise, nothing too severe.”
Zig thought a second. Then she grinned to herself. If Alex had seen that look he would have known he would be in trouble at some future time. She would make sure the scene he watched them film was a really, really sexy one. “Uh, okay I guess, but if you make me throw up, you get to clean it up.”
“No problem. Making you sick isn’t my intent. Just in case, though, if you look in that little space near your right elbow, I think there’s a sick bag in case you need it.”
“Ah, I see it, but if you make me sick, I want you to have a nice mess to clean, so I might not use it.”
Alex could hear the teasing tone in his cousin’s voice. “Uh-huh. It’ll be a couple of minutes before we actually reach the practice area.”
They were both silent as they flew on. The radio continued its chatter, and then Alex called out, “Indy center, Niner Sierra Tango is entering Tango.”
“Center copies,” came the reply. Alex gave it another few seconds to make sure they were in, and then spoke to Zig Zag.
“Okay Zig, we’ll take it nice and easy. How about a basic loop?”
“Uh, okay?”
Zig Zag watched intently out of the windshield. They seemed to nose down a little. Then Zig gasped as she found herself pressed into the seat and looking skyward.
“Zig, look up,” Alex’s calm voice instructed. She did, and was surprised to see the ground beginning to slide into view above her head. She then felt as though she were floating for a second as Alex unloaded the G’s at the top of the loop. The ground continued to rotate into view as they started down the backside. Now she was looking forward out the windshield at the ground, which was beginning to rapidly come closer. Then there was another press into her seat as Alex pulled out level again, and the loop was done.
“Okay Zig?”
“Wow! Yes, I’m okay, but uh, not too many of those. That was totally awesome, but I think my stomach is still up on top somewhere.”
“No problem. Let’s try a maneuver I need to practice a bit for my airshow routine. It’s nice and gentle. It’s called a slow roll. Here we go.”
Zig felt the aircraft’s nose come up a little, and then, at a slow, easy, deliberate pace, the earth and sky changed places, and then continued over to change back again.
“Oh wow! That was really beautiful Alex,” Zig Zag exclaimed as they returned to wings level flight.
“Thank you. That one did go just right. We can roll much faster, but I don’t want to upset your stomach any further.”
“Oh, my stomach’s fine now, it caught up to me just before we started the roll. You can roll faster? Don’t show me, but tell me. How fast?” Zig Zag’s curiosity was aroused.
“Around seven hundred twenty degrees a second. That’s two revolutions a second.”
“Sheeesh, really? Glad I didn’t ask for a demo.” Zig”s eyes were wide with amazement. Could Alex really control an aircraft spinning that fast?
“Yep,” he replied. “As Tia put it once, Holy Shit!”
“Alex!”
“That was pretty much my reaction to her, too.”
Zig Zag found a half-grin on her face. She had heard Alex use foul language exactly never before then. It warmed her thoughts toward him in a friendly way. He was good, no doubt, but he wasn’t perfect.
“Well, I must say that I’m impressed. I can see how you fell in love with the sky.”
Alex was silent a moment, taken aback. He loved flying, but the way Zig said it, it sounded like he counted the sky as a wife and lover. After mulling it over, he answered.
“Yes, I guess I did. Heh, one day then I hope to be a bigamist. I still want to find someone special to love, and to love me in return.”
Zig Zag smiled as Alex did some high-speed turns. “Don’t give up that hope. If love could find me, then I’m sure it can find you.”
“Ah-ah, No self-depreciation allowed around me, Zig. You are a great person, and well deserving of a great love. You just had to wait for the right one to be at the right place and time to be able to give you that love.”
“Hmm, backatcha Cousin. The same is true for you then. You just haven’t met that right one yet.”
“Okay, okay, I give. I’ll quit pining if you’ll quit downing yourself. It’s time we got going. Are you ready to head for Columbus?”
Zig Zag grinned. “You’re the pilot. I sure don’t know how to fly this thing.”
Alex laughed as he turned toward the northeast. A call to Indianapolis Center later, they were back on course for Columbus. The rest of the flight went smoothly, as did the approach and landing. Alex got Stripes One parked and shut down, and a boarding platform was rolled into place. He got out and removed his helmet, placing it on his seat. He then went forward and helped Zig Zag extricate herself from the seat straps and wires and hoses.
“Just leave your helmet in the seat. We’ll get the parachute and harness, and the G-suit off you when we get down.”
“Thanks. Give me a paw up.”
Alex took her paw and helped her step up out of the cockpit. They eased down the stairs, and then Alex helped her off with the flight gear. He took those items and stored them in the centerline pod as he retrieved her luggage.
They walked together toward the building that housed the FBO. They were about halfway there when a familiar form emerged from the building and headed their way.
“James!” Zig called as she ran to the coyote and threw her arms around him. James Sheppard gladly returned the hug.
“Hi Zig, did you enjoy the flight? Here Alex, let me take those.” James took the bags Alex had been carrying for Zig Zag. Alex just nodded and let him take them. Now that he was sure Zig had a ride home, he could get back in the air and northbound. Zig Zag replied to James’s question.
“It was fantastic! You really need to fly with Alex sometime.”
James looked at Alex, who noted the smirk on the canid’s face. He answered with a smile. “You’re welcome anytime, Zig. James, just say when and I’ll be glad to have you fly in Stripes One. Only, not right now, please. I have to get going or I’ll be way late getting into Maine. Bye Cousin. Thanks for classing up Stripes One for a while. Hey, that reminds me.”
Alex produced the picture he’d retrieved from his desk and gave it to Zig Zag. Both she and James let out a hearty laugh as they looked at it.
“Oh Alex,” Zig Zag finally managed. “You look like someone stepped on your tail.”
“And you always look sexy, Sweetheart,” James added. Zig Zag nodded and kissed him on the cheek while giving him a wink. Alex grinned and shook his head as he stepped in to give her a side-armed hug.
“I’ll give you a call when I get back. Love you, Cousin. Take care, James.”
James said goodbye, but Zig Zag was slow to respond. She was not used to anyone saying they loved her with that note of family affection. She and James traded I-love-you statements all the time now, and she still thrilled a bit each time, but that was different.
“Bye Alex, love you too.”
Alex watched them as they turned and walked away. After they went back into the FBO building, he smiled to himself again. He then turned and headed back to Stripes One. The fuel truck had arrived, and he watched them top off the pair of drop tanks. After signing for the fuel, he did a quick preflight, and within ten minutes, was back in the air.
The rest of the flight was uneventful. He’d planned to stay clear of the really congested northeast corridor as much as possible. By the time he taxied to a stop on the ramp at Lewiston, Maine the sun was well toward the western horizon. He walked into the lobby of Silver Wings Aviation and paid for Stripes One’s upkeep for their stay. The ferret behind the counter also gave him a set of keys for the rental SUV he’d arranged for. He drove to his hotel and checked in.
Alex hauled his gear, training materials and luggage up to his room. He decided to rest a bit before unpacking and looking for supper. Tomorrow he would orient himself to the town a bit, and then be at the airport bright and early Monday morning to start his training.
Such were his thoughts as he stretched out on the bed, where he promptly fell fast asleep.
End of Chapter 41