The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-08-04
CHAPTER TX

bathed and FURNISHED in a strong
metallic radiance, and the sun was
sinking into the western sea in a
molten blaze of unbelievable glory.
Pop perched on the edge of his
Z seat, looking off, looking down. His
unpleasant pallor was enhanced and
there was a pinched look about his
nose and mouth. He was breathing
badly, but his eyes were enrap-
tured. He caught her scrutiny upon
him and smiled at her, drawing a
long. quivering breath, tipping his
head back, relaxing like a SWIM
mer about to float on a gentle sea.
The Hermod swooped and swirled
like gull, dipped and rose again.
Sarah Lynn pulled herself to atten-
ton. This proud dominion over the
fowl of the air and the fish of the
sea was not a bird-like inconse-
quence but business of infinite i'm
portant detail, of levers and gears
and hair-trigger precision. The sea-
gulls, white dots against green-blue,
far below them now, flew because
they couldn't help it, but men flew
because they had conquered.
The taxi-driver was waiting for
them. eli, Pop" he said, ''you bet
ter beat it! Lena, she's fit to be
ted"
The little man tried to thank Gun
mar but he made only a series of
embarrassed gurgles.
The flier gave him a comradely
clap on the shoulder. cit is good!
Now you remember always?"
Sarah Lynn escorted him back to
the restaurant.
Driving back to Danavale she said
again, 81 want to come down in a
parachute, Gunnar."
eyes. After you have soloed for
month. Then I will take YOU"
''Take me?"
"You shall do it from the Her
mod. I will remove the door, for
your Department of Commerce,
Conrad Jordan has told me, makes
you wear two chutes when it is the
jump of intention"
"Oh? In case one doesn't work?
And it would be too bulky to get
out through the door? But after I'm
once out, it's perfectly simple, isn't
it, Gunnar? Just to wait long
enough to be clear of the ship be-
fore I pull the string?"
''That is ALL" he agreed. His
mouth looked rather grim.
"Gunnar, did you mind when you
did it,"
Son the ground, before, had fear
like a great sickness. In the air
it left me-"
LIE Roy suggested her first flight
alone in secret but she decided
against it. 1t was due Great-granny
and Uncle Lynn and old Penny if
they wanted to come, and at the
last instant she whispered to her
young brother Bill. Bills freckles,
standing out like brown polka-dots
on his paled face were the last
things she thought about as she
walked over to the plane.
She slipped round to the further
side, unobserved, and laid her face
against the Chinese lacquer red.
Don't be jittery, darlingl" he
whispered. 81 won't even nick your
nailpolish. I promise! I'll take you
up like swallow and bring you
down like leaf"
She got into the cockpit and went
through the routine she had re-
hearsed again and again. It had
become an integral part of her men
tai process.
The assistant sprang aside from
the propeller.
"Clearl"
Clear, oh, clear! Forever and for
ever, life for the queer dark Dana
girl, shining and clear.
Sarah Lynn pushed her throttle
to the stop and Ladybug went for
ward with roar, left the ground
and began to climb into the wind.
Sarah Lynn reached the altitude she
wanted, readjusted her stabilizer to
take the load off the Joy stick,
leveled off, banked to the left, build
ing her own road as she flew. She
exulted. "No matter what comes
r. me, if I live to be hundred, I
can never be as happy as this in
stantl"
The little ship quivered under her
hal.ds, sprang forward at her touch,
dipped, scared. It was living
thing, vibrant, sensitive; delicate
and dear; helpless in her care, de-
pending upon her courage and skill.