08: Rescue: Rodent 11
"What do you mean, voice lessons?"
William Shatner
Patrick was cleaning his customary glass behind the bar when the phone rang. "O'Malley's, Patrick speaking."
"Pat did the others show up later last night. They didn't show up here and..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down Brook. Take it from the top."
Brook took a long, calming breath. "The guys didn't show up last night. I... I hoped that they were there. That they had stayed when the storm hit. If they were still out, then..." Her voice faded off.
"Their not there?"
"No."
"I'll form the search party. Brook they'll be ok, don't worry."
Patrick hung up. He walked to the back room. In the corner was an indiscreet panel. He removed it, revealing an old radio receiver. He fired it up, the tubes coming to life, the analog display moving for the first time in years. He keyed the mic.
* * * *
Geegaw and Jennifer had righted the plane and was in the process of assessing the damage.
The right engine was out, the left in an unknown status. The Landing gear was inoperable. The balloon had a small leak, but had been patched. It had lost a lot of helium, but still had enough left, if kept warm.
Magnolia had been alert for some time, but was ordered to bed. She wanted to help, but was told to get some rest. She persisted, and a compromise was reached. She would monitor the radios; under one condition, no excessive movement, and that she would wear Jennifer's 'heat bags' under her jacket. She finally agreed, sensing that this was the best offer she would get.
She sat in the copilots seat, kicking back, Gadgets old two-way radio sitting on the seat next to her, tuned into the weather being broadcasted, the planes two radios, on the REC, and a predetermined channel that would be used to reach them.
Suddenly that station crackled to life, startling Magnolia.
"Gopher to Eagle, Gopher to Eagle do you copy over." Magnolia sat in a stoopper. The radio continued, "Do you read over." She picked up the mic, recognizing their designation 'Eagle', and responded.
"G... Gopher this is Eagle, we copy over."
"Boy it's good to hear your voice. What's your situation, over." By this time Jennifer had reached the radio. Magnolia gladly relinquished it.
"Gopher, situation is as follows. Engine down, other half power. Gear damaged, one broken arm, and a few empty stomachs, over."
"Can field repairs be made."
"Positive."
"Call off position for supplies."
"Position is as fallows. 1.5 clicks due south from town. Exact position unknown. Needed, two 1K 1/2 watt resistors and tool case from room and splint. Oh, and my spare batteries would help also, over."
"Roger, be there by lunch time, stay on channel for updates, over and out."
Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief. Help was on the way.
* * * *
Brook was waiting by the phone, passing the time fidgeting. It rang, but never finished the first ring as she picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Brook, we'll need Jen's tool case and her batteries. Meet me at the bar ASAP, we have a dog to meet about a man." He hung up the phone. She hung up the phone in a daze.
"Well...?" Agnes prompted from her place seated at the table.
Brook squealed. "Their ok."
"What do you mean, voice lessons?"
William Shatner
Patrick was cleaning his customary glass behind the bar when the phone rang. "O'Malley's, Patrick speaking."
"Pat did the others show up later last night. They didn't show up here and..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down Brook. Take it from the top."
Brook took a long, calming breath. "The guys didn't show up last night. I... I hoped that they were there. That they had stayed when the storm hit. If they were still out, then..." Her voice faded off.
"Their not there?"
"No."
"I'll form the search party. Brook they'll be ok, don't worry."
Patrick hung up. He walked to the back room. In the corner was an indiscreet panel. He removed it, revealing an old radio receiver. He fired it up, the tubes coming to life, the analog display moving for the first time in years. He keyed the mic.
* * * *
Geegaw and Jennifer had righted the plane and was in the process of assessing the damage.
The right engine was out, the left in an unknown status. The Landing gear was inoperable. The balloon had a small leak, but had been patched. It had lost a lot of helium, but still had enough left, if kept warm.
Magnolia had been alert for some time, but was ordered to bed. She wanted to help, but was told to get some rest. She persisted, and a compromise was reached. She would monitor the radios; under one condition, no excessive movement, and that she would wear Jennifer's 'heat bags' under her jacket. She finally agreed, sensing that this was the best offer she would get.
She sat in the copilots seat, kicking back, Gadgets old two-way radio sitting on the seat next to her, tuned into the weather being broadcasted, the planes two radios, on the REC, and a predetermined channel that would be used to reach them.
Suddenly that station crackled to life, startling Magnolia.
"Gopher to Eagle, Gopher to Eagle do you copy over." Magnolia sat in a stoopper. The radio continued, "Do you read over." She picked up the mic, recognizing their designation 'Eagle', and responded.
"G... Gopher this is Eagle, we copy over."
"Boy it's good to hear your voice. What's your situation, over." By this time Jennifer had reached the radio. Magnolia gladly relinquished it.
"Gopher, situation is as follows. Engine down, other half power. Gear damaged, one broken arm, and a few empty stomachs, over."
"Can field repairs be made."
"Positive."
"Call off position for supplies."
"Position is as fallows. 1.5 clicks due south from town. Exact position unknown. Needed, two 1K 1/2 watt resistors and tool case from room and splint. Oh, and my spare batteries would help also, over."
"Roger, be there by lunch time, stay on channel for updates, over and out."
Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief. Help was on the way.
* * * *
Brook was waiting by the phone, passing the time fidgeting. It rang, but never finished the first ring as she picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Brook, we'll need Jen's tool case and her batteries. Meet me at the bar ASAP, we have a dog to meet about a man." He hung up the phone. She hung up the phone in a daze.
"Well...?" Agnes prompted from her place seated at the table.
Brook squealed. "Their ok."