CH 113

In a meeting room under the White House, the man on the monitor said, "None of our people we sent to Texas reported or came back. Two are in jail for trespassing and attempted murder. The others are gone. No sign of them."

"So then that must be where the trouble is. The ones in jail, can you get any information from them?"

"All we got is they sneaked onto a shooting range. The fools thought they were being shot at, and when two women came up to them, they shot them. The women blew their knees apart with shotguns. Neither is of any further use to us."

"Those women didn't die?"

"Body armor. What I suspect is someone saw them coming, set up that range and made sure they were not going to get by. Them shooting those women ensured they would be going to jail. Our guys fell into a trap. I am also sure the others we sent fell into traps. This area, Driftwood, shows nothing happening there by phone trackers, radio and internet signals, or by satellite. Yet, something is going on there. We know many states are visiting that place. What they are doing is yet to be discovered."

"They are planning an attempt to take over the government!"

"We have yet to prove that, Sir. If we can prove it, yes, we can act openly. Until then, we need to find proof."

"Then get it! This needs to be crushed as fast as possible!"

The man on the monitor said, "There is one lead we have. The mercs we hired went into town, then came back two days later and quit, told us to never bother them again. I insisted on knowing why. What they told me is you never want to anger a Connor. He would not elaborate."

"So is this Connor behind it?"

"Unknown, but most likely has some information."

"Then find this Connor, and get them out of there and interrogate them!"

"We do have a sports figure named Connor." Another man offered. "Joan Connor, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys."

"Find her, start gentle but do what you have to do find out everything she knows. Do it someplace secure so she can't get away."

.

"Joan, phone!" Allison said waking Joan up. Joan lifted her head up off Bob's arm she was using for a pillow as he held her tight in a spoon. "hmmm?" she asked and blinked.

"Coach Baker want to talk to you," Allison told her and handed her the phone.

Joan took in and forced herself to consciousness. "Coach Baker?" she asked. "Yeah ... OK, Sure, when? ... Give me a couple days, our car has flat tires from those stupid rats ... No, it's in Dallas, I brought a plane home ... I bought one ... Ok, day after tomorrow ... Noon? Sounds good." She then closed the phone up with a groan.

"Well?" Allison asked, sitting on the bed by her.

Joan nestled back into Bob's arm and pushed his hand a hold her breast a bit tighter. "To help kick start some games, the news agreed to do an interview with me, day after tomorrow at noon. I need to get my plane back."

"We're making tanks, Joan," Allison reminder her.

"I think our coaches want to try to get back to as normal as possible," Joan said. She then grinned, "K, Bob I know you're awake."

"Just don't want to move," he said into the back of her head, and gave her breast a squeeze.

Allison grinned. "He's holding you prisoner."

Joan let our a big, fake sigh. "Aww damn, guess I can't get up then."

"Oh no, we got stuff to do," Allison stated. "Come on, let's go!" she said then jumped up and bounced on the bed. She bounced and cried, "Up, Up, Up!"

"OK, OK!"

.

Throwing on some clothes, t-shirts and shorts, they went down and had breakfast. Bob looked outside to see what was going on. "Hey Joan, you're planes by the dock." he said.

Joan came over and saw the was right. Three terminators were standing near the plane on the right side of the dock. The big alligator was in the water on the left side, watching them.

"Good, she brought it back," Joan beamed. Barefoot with his her shorts and a T-shirt, Joan went out to see what the terminators were doing.

"BOOTS!" Bob called. He put his boots on and grabbed Joan's since she was already on the porch. Joan sat down on the front steps and put her boots on.

"Happy now?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't want you to get snake-bit." Bob replied.

.

The one terminator was the pilot that brought the plane back. He wanted to show Joan the additions to it. He had Joan get into the pilot seat. He sat beside her. "For storage now, the wings have an auto fold, but it will not work unless the engine is off." he explained. He pointed to the toggle switch. On top it said 'Wings' then 'out' Below the switch it said 'fold'.

Joan put the switch to fold. An electric motor sounded. The wings extended a little, then twisted vertical with the flap in the air and folded back along the body. She set them back to out, and the wings reversed their motion and spread out, locked in place.

"So we've got a good sized battery now?" she asked.

"Negative, five nuclear power supplies. Most functions use a fraction of the power. With all five, they run the 180 HP electric engine. The propeller attack angle had also been increased. Instead of just forward or reverse, the blades can move from -20 degrees, reverse, up to positive 35 degrees pitch," the terminator explained. Since the electric engine is lightweight, it weighs less that half of your original engine weight, which means the wing were reinforced with alloys and can take up to a 5-G maneuver. Originally, they were only good for a 2-G maneuver. We have not tested this plane's top speed, but it cruises at 140 Knots smoothly. t will also hold 560 pounds of cargo besides 400 pounds of pilot and passenger."

"So you made it better. Anything else?" Joan asked.

"Yes, besides moving up and down, the yoke now can be pushed side to side to control the ailerons directly," the Terminator explained. "That silver cover by your left thumb, flick it to the side."

Joan did. "There's a red button under it."

"Yes, a single pulse plasma canon. It can recharge and shoot again every .8 seconds."

"Mrs. Weaver gave my plane a weapon?" Joan cried.

"Yes, in case you need it."

Joan flipped the silver cover back down. "I don't think I'm going to use that," she said meekly. "I think I need to do some flying to get used to this."

"Yes, lease get familiar with your plane," the terminator said, got out and shut the canopy.

Joan giggled and started her plane in reverse and back out into the lake. Noting there was an automatic and a manual prop angle setting, she tried the automatic setting first. Watching the prop angle, she pushed the throttle to full for takeoff.

And she did. The engine spun fast and the prop angle increased, she heard the roar. She sank back in her seat and all but jumped up off the lake. Passing her Dad's dock, she was already a hundred feet up and going 90 knots. She pulled back on the stick and pointed skyward. The plane tipped up to stand in it's tail. She was gong vertical and still doing 87 knots. A big smile lit her face. She pulled back more and she was upside down. Trying the ailerons, she pushed right and the plane rolled right. She was back to level now and 900 feet up.

Looking down to see she was doing 150 knots, she eased back on the throttle. The prop pitch also lowered. Her speed only crept up to 151 knots. She banked one way, they the other. The plane was snappy in it's movements. She was also at 1300 feet. Another pull on the yoke and she went nose up and over, doing a loop. coming down from the loop she felt a couple G's.

YAHOO!

Bottoming out of the loop the tipped the plane to the right and pulled back in the stick to make a fast turn and fly away from the lake. This thing was now very agile. She's also dropped a couple hundred feet in her loop. OK she had to concentrate and find out what this plane could do.

Her cell phone rang. She picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Joan, I see you got your plane back."

"Yeah, and it's awesome! Dad, you gotta come ride with me!"

John laughed. "Since you're up there, west of Gramma Sarah's house, someone is doing something out past the road. She saw them when she was jogging. They ran for cover when she noticed them. Can you spot them?'

I'll go look. just hang on, I'll be there shortly." Joan said and banked over. She slowed down some and dropped to 400 feet to watch the ground.

Joan saw where Gramma's house was, she flew past the road, scrutinizing the ground. "I see them, two men in camo lying on the ground, they got some kind of device with them. Let me get another look." She banked higher and behind the men. "Ah, Dad, they're pointing guns at me." Joan jogged up. Seeing a rifle recoil, she jogged low, only 50 feet off the ground. She also put full thrust to the prop.

"They're shooting!" Joan cried.

"Get out of there!" John roared.

Joan knew where those men were, she flipped the silver slide to expose the red button and pulled back on the yoke hard. In the loop, she only went three quarters of the away around, then righted her plane right at the men. Both came up on their knees to point their guns at her. She pressed the red button.

The plasma bolt was bigger than the ones Delilah and Jackie shot out of their arms. It hit the ground to explode right next to the men. Joan had no space left, she pulled up hard and to the right as dirt and rock flew. She didn't see the men tumbling.

"JOAN!" John barked.

Joan got leveled out and missed being hit by debris. "I'm OK, Dad. Let me get turned around and see where they are. I missed."

"Damn it, Joan, those guys don't play! Get out of there!"

Joan got turned around and higher. "One man is running, the other looks wounded."

"Martin is out hunting them, let him take care of them!" John said firmly.

Joan lined up on the running man. She compensated for her miss and shot again. This time the man was in the explosion. She flew away and came back slower, only 75 knots. "Dad, I got one for sure, the wounded guy hasn't moved. I see Grandpa Martin coming."

John asked, "What did you shoot?"

"My plane has plasma bolts, big ones!" Joan beamed.

There was a pause, then John said, "If you were still a kid, you'd be grounded."

Joan laughed. "Thanks for caring, Dad. I better land anyway. Got stuff to do today."

.

Inspecting he ground. Martin swore Joan had dropped bombs on those men. She made craters eight foot around and three deep, with melted bottoms. He found the 'wounded' man was dead from shrapnel damage by the time he got there. He didn't find any of the second man, only the crater. The man he did find had no ID on him.

Joan was thrilled with her plane, and a little scared how powerful those plasma bolts were. She's almost blown herself up. Going back to the lake, Joan lined up for a landing. She had to cut the throttle way down to get down to lake level. She deployed the flaps a little later, and still managed to settle down on the lake. Applying reverse thrust, she all but stopped. A fast idle of the engine pushed her along fast enough to cruise the lake and get back to her own dock. She timed a reverse to stop right beside the dock across from the big alligator.

Allison and Bob were there to tie her up. They both looked upset.

The instant the canopy was open Bob cried, "What happened? We saw you loop and go down, then there was a boom!"

"We thought you crashed!" Allison added.

Joan got out and beamed them a smile. "No, that was the plasma canon."

"You've got a plasma canon?" Allison asked.

Joan looked at the front of the top where the air scoop used to be. "Yeah, right there I think, That's where the shot came from."

"Well, don't go shooting anything when we go to Austin," Allison grumbled.

"I won't, unless someone shoots at me," Joan said defensively.

Bob frowned. "We better look this plane over."

.

After they ensured there were no holes in the plane, they spend the day making more tracks, and sent another truck full to John's house. For once, they ran out of track links and turret parts to put together. They decided since Bob wasn't coming it was go to be early time. Sitting up, Joan held Bob while she ensured got all the milk out of her breasts while Allison stroked him slowly, then Allison wanted her breasts suckled on. Seeing 'little' Bob was quivering with want, Joan rode him for while. She knew lying half on Allison on his back, he had a harder time having an orgasm, she took advantage of it. When he finally did erupt, wow, did he blow. Joan swore some of it shot back out, he filled her so much. Of course Allison wanted her turn. With coaxing, petting and more of Joan's breasts in his face, he rose to the occasion again. Allison rode him until she collapsed.

They had a good night.

.

In the morning, Bob helped them get packed and make sure they didn't forget anything. Going down to the plane, he helped them load, then got luxurious kisses goodbye. When they were in, he untied the plane from the dock and waved. He watched them take off and fly away.

As he watched, he was wishing Joan had gotten a plane with three seats.

Joan behaved herself on this flight. She only flew at 110 Knots, and stayed right at 1000 feet. Allison spent the trip watched the landscape they were going over. Coming close to Austin, She also spotted the local airport.

Joan landed on the runway and took the taxiway to a parking spot. baggage in hand they stopped by the terminal to let the counter girl know they had landed. Of course Joan had to pay a 'parking fee'. Not sure how long she was going to be here, Joan paid for a week. They caught a taxi to the Acoustics buildings. They got a dorm room then went to see Coach Baker. He gave Joan the address where this interview was to take place. Another taxi too them where this interview was.

Joan and Allison stood outside what looked like a warehouse that had several docks for trucks. One tractor-trailer was parked at the end dock.

"Something's not right, I thought this was a news building," Joan said as she eyed the building.

"It's a warehouse. Did the coach give you the right address?" Allison asked.

A man came out the pedestrian door to the side. "Hello? he called. "Joan Connor?"

The man was in a plain shirt and pants and looked unassuming. "Yes, you one of the interview people?" she asked.

He held the door open. "Yes. Our studio is being redone, so we have to do it here."

Joan and Allison walked over to him. Inside was an office. "We're not going to have to load trucks or anything, right?" Joan asked.

The man chuckled. "No, the Teamsters wouldn't like that." Looking at Allison, he motioned to a couch that had an end table with magazines on it. "Ma'am, if you could wait out here."

Both women eyed him. "Why?" Joan asked.

The man paused and shrugged. "I suppose it's all right to go in, You'll just be bored sitting and watching," he told Allison.

"My thrill is watching Joan," Allison said flatly.

The man nodded. "OK, fine, this way please."

He led them across and open area and up a flight of stairs to a well appointed office. Within, there were two men and a blonde woman around a small table, a video camera on the table and chairs set up facing each other to the side. The man announced, "Joan Connor is here."

As soon as they came in, heads turned to them. All three stood up and smiled. Joan met and shook hands with Hanna, the blonde reporter who had dark roots, Frank her cameraman and Bill the sound/recorder.

Hanna showed everyone their places, Allison got to sit at the small table they had been at. Joan sat on one chair, Hanna in the other facing Joan. The cameraman set up to the side of them. The sound man sat behind his equipment.

Before Hanna sat down, Allison noted a bulge in the back of her waistband. "I have to wonder why you have a gun," Allision asked.

Joan looked at Allison, then Hanna. "Good question, why are you carrying a gun?"

Hanna grinned slightly. "You caught me." she turned her press badge over to show her FBI ID. "I'm actually a federal agent. We're going to question you."

"About what?" Joan asked innocently.

"We suspect you or your family is involved in an insurrection plot. Just tell us what you know," Hanna said firmly.

Joan raised an eyebrow. "I have to ask, where did you come up with this hair-brained idea? We're football players. When we're not playing football, we're working on building our house."

"Your high school has been having some strange meetings, what do you know about it?" Hanna asked.

Joan let out a snort. "Lady, I haven't been to the high school since I graduated. I have no idea what goes on there."

"You are not part of an insurrectionist plot?" Hanna asked.

"Not only no, but why would you ever think I would be?" Joan asked, leaning forward. "Me, Allie and Bob have good Jobs, fun jobs playing football. Why in the hell would we screw that up?"

"Why would you?"

"I wouldn't. I take it that there isn't going to be an interview now?" Joan asked dryly.

"There will still be an interview, me finding out what you know about the insurrection plot." Hanna stated.

"I don't know shit, lady, and I am not involved with anything like that." Joan said and got up. "Allie, we're leaving."

Hanna stood up. "No you are not! You are being held for questioning!"

Joan ignored her and moved past her to meet Allison. Hanna grabbed Joan's arm to try and twist it. Joan flung her off to bounce and crash into the cameraman.

A slide racked behind Allison. She turned to see the sound man holding a glock. She grabbed the barrel of the gun, pushed down and crushed it. "Do yourself a favor, don't try to shoot," Allison said in a hard tone. She let the gun go. Pieces of it fell to the floor.

Joan watched Hanna get up and draw her own gun in a two handed grip. She also looked at the camera. "That camera is a fake, it's not even on."

"Hands behind your back, You're under arrest!" Hanna snapped.

"You assaulted me," Joan stated.

"We can beat you bloody if we want!" Hanna growled. "On your knees, hands behind your back, or I will shoot you!"

Joan eyed her. "Aren't you just the tough one? Tell you what, me and Allie are leaving. If you try to stop us, we will beat you bloody. Put the gun away before you force me to teach you a lesson. Just because you're FBI doesn't mean you can abuse anyone you want. I know on no insurrection, or anything like that. We've done nothing wrong. Just because you don't believe me, doesn't mean it's not true. We are leaving now."

Allison glance at the guy who was staring at his gun. She followed Joan to the door. The door was locked. A hard push and the door fell into the hallway. Joan looked back to see no one else had moved. They were all frozen in place, watching her. "Have a nice day," Joan said in parting. She and Allison walked out.

.

After they left, Hanna swallowed, knowing she could have been killed. According to what their Chief said, anyone who had come in contact with these rebels had been killed and disappeared. She had also studied this Connor clan. They were cyborgs, and a human like her didn't stand a change against them even if they didn't crush the gun in her hand. From everything she had discovered, they were also on the side of law and order and helped the military. They had gotten Medals for protecting the US. For them to suddenly turn rouge didn't make sense. She also felt Joan was telling the truth. She wanted to know why the higher ups suspected them of basically treason.

This was not going to be a fun report she had to turn in.

.

"So after that abortion, we go home?" Allison asked as they walked down the street.

"Since we're out, I wanted to go to Dallas to check our apartment and the Bronco. I'm hoping we get tires for it soon," Joan replied.

"Damn Demon rats," Allison said. "Makes you wonder what other dirty tricks will be played on us."

"Some things, you just don't want to ask," Joan cautioned. Even as she said that, she noticed someone eyeing them from a doorway as they passed. "As far as what else can happen, I think we'll find out soon."

Allison looked at the doorway, the man within looked down and away. "We're being watched?"

"No biggie, we're leaving anyway," Joan said.

"Yeah, but let's not lead them right to our plane," Allison grumbled quietly.

"True."

After a couple blocks, Joan and Allison recognized two men and two women they kept seeing. Planning out what to do, They took the next corner. Right after rounding the corner, Allison stopped and found a doorway to step into. Joan shot off down the street running to the next corner, then ducked into a doorway on a parallel street.

Joan wasn't there long before she heard, "I'm at that street now, I should see them soon." The woman then walked up and stepped into the same doorway as Joan.

"We're already here," Joan told her, as clapped a hand around her throat. The brown haired woman yelped with wide eyes. Wow, did she look scared. Joan drew her closer and said, "Tell them we went North down that street."

The woman's lips quivered. She keys the mike on her coat collar. "They passed through the intersection, Continuing on Burgess."

Joan stood her in the opposite corner. "Now, we'll wait here for your friends. Don't try to warn them, or I'll throw your head at them."

"My ... head?"

"Yes, I just want to collect them. If I threw your whole body at them they could get hurt. This way, the most I can do is knock them out."

In a whine she begged, "please, don't rip my head off!"

"Then call them together at this intersection. Better yet, let me." Joan then keyed her mike. In the woman's voice she said, "Everyone, meet me at the intersection if Burgess and fourth." In her own voice Joan asked, "Now, why are you following me?"

Quickly, the woman said, 'To be sure the feds didn't! We say tou walk out of that warehouse. a man came out to watch you go down the street. If they tried to follow you, we were to block them. away. The Governor ordered it."

Joan took her hand down from the woman's throat. "Really?"

"Yes! We know Governors are in some high level talks, and your father is involved. To keep the secrecy, we were to keep the feds from following you so they couldn't find out where your father is."

She was telling the truth, Joan knew it. "Then, thank you. We didn't know. I'm going to get Allie, I'll meet your people here at the corner."

Joan didn't go far when she saw another couple coming. Allison was trailing behind them. The couple stopped to look at a store , they were interested in pets. JOan walked up and tappe the man in the shoulder. "We're meeting at the corner down here."

The man faked surprise. "What?" he asked eyeing her cautiously.

"Meeting, then next corner. you can walk or I can drag you."

They came willingly.

Coming to the corner, the woman from before now had a man with her. He said, "Joan Connor, the Governor has something he wishes to pass to your father. Will you take a message to him?"

Joan nodded.

"A car and driver will be here shortly."

.

The new man from Washington looked down his nose at Hanna. "You failed in your mission, Why?"

"No, we didn't. Joan Connor knows nothing about and insurrection or terrorist threat..."

"THAT is a lie!" the man barked. You had her, why did you let her get away?"

Hanna motioned to Charlie. "Charlie, show him your gun."

Charlie pulled out his broken Glock.

"You see that? Allison did that just by gripping the barrel. She crushed his gun in her hand! Mike got thrown across the room!" Hanna spat. "Joan was shot with a high powered rifle, she was playing football a few days later. Her mother was shot, point blank in the back THREE TIMES, and it didn't even slow her down. What in the hell to you think our guns were going to to, other than piss them off and get us all killed? Joan Connor answered my questions, everything was fine until we showed we could get rough. Guess what, THEY can get rougher.""

The man turned to their chief. "Fire them for incompetence. Unless you can find out where these Connors are, you're next!" he then strode out.

The chief glared at where the man left. "I'm beginning to think we're on the wrong side."

.

Joan and Allison got a ride back to the Acoustic dorms. On the way, the driver handed her a thumb drive. "Give this to your father, no one else."

"Will do, Sir."

"I understand you're flying home?" he asked.

"Yes, low and fast."

"Don't go doing anything too dangerous, we need John to get that drive. There will be a Texas guard helicopter near your flight path to ensure no Army or Air Force craft try to track you. If they see a radar return it will be our helicopter."

Joan picketed the drive. "I will ensure Dad gets this."

Let off at the dorms, Joan and Allison got their bags and walked for the airport. They kept a watch out on their way and didn't see anyone interested in them. Once they got there, they went int o tell the counter lady they were leaving. There were a pair of pilots there in camo.

Joan went up and showed the woman her license. "It wasn't planned, but we're leaving today."

The woman looked them up in the book. "That's fine. You already paid for a week, I will credit you with six days of parking."

"No refund?" Allison asked.

"You'll use it," the woman assured them.

"Joan Connor?" one of the pilots asked.

"Yes?"

"We'll escort you out to your plane."

Joan nodded. They all walked out together. A helicopter was sitting outside, the pilot pointed to the bottom. "We're going to have a solid white light below. Watch it." He dug out a paper that had dots and dashes on it. "This is morse coed for 'run'. If you see us flashing that from that light, get as fast and low as you dare. It means someone is coming and we don't want them to see you. Don't be reckless, but low and fast as sately possible. We'll keep them occupied."

Joan took the code and handed it to Allison. "Keep watch for me?"

"Plan on it."

"What speed do you usually fly at?" Joan asked the pilot.

"Normally, around 120 knots. You can't go that fast in that little plane, can you?"

Joan grinned. "We can. Plan on 120 for the trip?"

"That's good with us. I already talked to the controller. you get down on the end of the runway, wait until we're airborne, then follow us. We'll be at 2000 feet. Try to stay around 800 ."

"Got it. See you up there." Joan said and waved.

.

Strapped in and cleared to take off, Joan ran her plane down the taxiway and waited while the helicopter spun up.

"They are going through much trouble to get that message to John," Allison noted.

"Yup, so we have to be sure he gets it."

Once the helicopter was in the air and tipped forward, Joan pushed her own throttle forwards and rolled down the runway. Seeing they were catching up, she backed off some. The helicopter gained height quick, Joan was flying along the runway, waiting for them to get higher. Once she was sure their downwash wasn't going to affect her she climbed up to 8- feet and adjusted their speed to 120. The helicopter flew much higher, she she got all but directly under it.

"See-em?" Joan asked.

"I do, back up just a bit ... OK, that's good," Allison coached.

Since they were following the helicopter, Joan didn't use the autopilot. Leaning back in her seat, Allison watched the helicopter above and just ahead of them.

Allison giggled. "Never thought we'd get a military escort. I thought they'd be pointing guns at us. Weren't we suppose to be under martial law by now?"

"That's what the news said. I think the Government doesn't know enough where to enforce it so they try to get information out of us."

Allison pointed. "What's that?" The same time she saw the streak, the helicopter started flashing the bottom light and turned sharply and shot out a few flares. The missile shot past the helicopter and behind them. Joan pushed the throttle to the firewall and dove. "We're hot! Find me that plane Allie!"

Joan charged the ground and followed a road just below tree level. The cars below them were flying past. A glance showed she was doing 170 knots and climbing.

"I think I see it, above. One o-clock," Allison said, pointing. Joan lifted and banked to where Allison pointed. It was a jet moving fast. Taking her best guess, Joan flipped the silver cover and shot a plasma bolt at it. She hauled back on the stick hard to keep sight of the jet. It was way up there. Her plasma bolt shot behind it. She gave more lead and shot again, then another farther in front of it.

The second bolt came close but still went behind the jet. The third one hit. The plane exploded and spread itself along the sky.

"YES!" Joan cried and rolled over to dive again. "Allie, see that helicopter?"

Allison looked around as Joan leveled out. "OK, think so, is that it, on your left?"

Joan had 180 knots, she banked over easy to close on the helicopter. Slowing and getting closer, she could see the pilots. She clenched a fist and raised her thumb up at the windshield. The co-pilot stuck his arm out his window and returned the gesture. She slowed down to 120 and dropped back to 800 feet. Shortly, the helicopter was above and slightly ahead of them again.

"Who was that that shot at us?" Allison asked.

"No clue, but they tried to destroy our escort."

"Snoopy!" Allison beamed at Joan.

"huh?" Joan looked confused.

"You shot down the Red Baron!"

Joan giggled. "So now I'm a funny looking do with a big brown nose?"

"But a cute one," Allison said and scratched behind Joan's ear.

"Let's just get home in one piece."

.

Approaching Driftwood, The helicopter kept going, Joan banked away to line up with the lake. She had a lot of speed to bleed off, so the engine was just idling as she came down over Allison's house. Seeing figures under the water, she held it up a little more before she settled down on the surface, then reversed the prop to get stopped.

Not bad, she was only fifty yards or so past her own dock. Then she realized she had to go to her parent's dock.