Chapter 1 - Prologue
String rubbed the back of his neck and tried to stretch. His body ached from staying in a crouched position for what seemed to be hours. He had been working on the little Piper since he arrived that morning. Cait had complained that the throttle seemed sluggish when she took her student up in it the previous afternoon, so he had taken it upon himself to check the fuel lines and pump boosters before it had to be used for a charter the next day. He had forgotten, however, that trying to check the fuel lines without dropping the engine out of the body of a Piper required the skills of a contortionist.
Cursing under his breath, he decided he had had enough for one day. Heading straight to the counter which housed their coffee machine, String stopped to pick up the few oily rags that he had thrown at various targets in frustration.
Pouring himself a cup of steaming hot, black coffee, String leaned back against the counter and closed his eyes. The hot mug in his hand was a pleasant weight and the muscles in his back were beginning to unknot themselves. String took a big sip of the coffee and decided that it might be best if he asked for help with the Piper.
"Dom?" said String, poking his head around the open doorway which led to the main office. Dom was sitting in his red leatherette office chair, trying to work out some kinks in his shoulders. "Good God in Heaven, String, I think I must be getting old. It feels like this day is going on forever."
"Tell me about it!" growled String. "That bloody Piper sure is keeping her secrets. I've been trying to get to the fuel lines for the past two hours and I still can't get in there. Think I'll need your help in a bit, Dom. I can't drop the engine out by myself."
"Isn't it lunch time yet?" said Dom hopefully.
"Tell you what, let's drop the engine out, then I'll buy you a sandwich. Meatball sub sound good to you?" said String.
"Yeah!" said Dom enthusiastically.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAW
String found himself leaning against the counter again. With yet another cup of coffee in his hand, and a pile of oily rags in the other. "Well, at least the engine is back in the Piper and she's ready to go," he thought to himself. The sound of the industrial vacuum cleaner hummed through the air, as Cait busied herself with cleaning the Piper ready for her scheduled charter the next day. Dom had retreated back into his office and seemed to be buried under yet another pile of paperwork. String closed his eyes as he took yet another sip of the bitter brew. Next thing he knew, hot liquid was cascading down the front of his overalls (which were, thankfully, filthy anyway). "Owww!" he yelped, bringing Cait and Dom running.
"You OK, String?"
"Yeah, just tired…I guess. Shoot." Said String. "Thanks, Cait," as she came up to him with a handful of clean kitchen cloths.
"Sounds like you need a break, String. How many hours have you been working on that Piper?" asked Dom, concerned.
"Probably most of today, since I got in, with breaks for coffee and that sandwich."
"Well, team, what do you say to a work holiday? I've just had a call from my buddy Mitch, he's asked if we would like to do the television coverage for the bike races on the Isle of Man."
"Dom, I could kiss you!" exclaimed Caitlin. "When are we going?" String smiled to himself, too tired to get excited.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAW