Chapter 7: Mad to be Saved
"Insanity -- a perfectly rational
adjustment to an insane world."
R.D. Lang
----------
Before any of the soldiers could move a powerful shock wave sent them flying backwards.
"Hurry." Yelled Adam as they all raced out of the building and jumped into a nearby Humvee.
"Where to?"
"Just drive Brennan." The vehicle leapt forward and sped away as Wallace and his cronies came flooding out of the building. They jumped into two other vehicles and set off after them. A siren wailed in the background.
"That's just great." Commented Orion. "We'll have the whole base after us now."
"Head back to the airfield." The car swung round the corner of a hangar. "There. Head for that one." Brennan slid them to a complete stop yards from a cargo plane. They hurried inside as their pursuers closed. Orion and Jesse ran forward in to the cockpit.
"I guess we can skip the pre-flight check." Jesse grinned.
"Nice to see your back."
"Pity I'm not my usual self." Slowly the giant began to creep forward towards the runway.
"Major Wolf! You can't go anywhere we have the runway blocked off. Turn off the engine and surrender now." came Wallaces' voice over a megapohne. The pair looked at each other. Adam came running into the cockpit.
"According to Shalimar we're at Randolph Air Force Base." Orion nodded.
"That means we're in Texas. The city of Seguin is about half a lie away."
"What good does that do?" Said Jesse. "We can't fly." Orion gave him a rabid stare.
"No, but we can drive." Orion grabbed the throttle and slammed it forward. The giant craft careered down the runway before banking away from the roadblock. "I don't suppose anyone knows the way to the exit?" Both Adam and Jesse stared at him.
"You sure you're OK?" He never looked up.
"Never better. Gotta love morphine." Adam stepped into the back. Everyone looked up at him.
"Welcome aboard flight M X one. Please fasten your seat belts while the pilot carries out some delicate manoeuvres." As if to prove the point the aircraft pulled hard left.
"Adam what the hell are you on about?" He looked at Shalimar and smiled.
"Unfortunately, we don't have enough runway to take off so we're going to drive to the nearest town." They stared at their leader in disbelief.
"We're what?" Brennan stood and walked forward. "This is the most half-baked plan you've ever come up with."
"What do you suppose we do? Stay and fight an entire base full of armed soldiers. None of us are invincible." He stormed past Adam and into the cockpit. The others soon followed.
"Now while I like all of you, don't you think it's a bit crowded in here." Observed Orion.
"If you intend to risk my life I'd damm well like to see how." Brennan half-answered.
"There!" Jesse yelled while pointing out the window. "The exit's that way."
"Hang on." The mighty craft turned and everyone looked on in horror. The exit was blocked by a truck and surrounded by several soldiers. To make matters worse buildings on either side were far too close for all the plane to fit.
"What now?" Asked Jesse. Orion slowed the craft to crawl.
"OK. All in favour of surrendering?" No-one responded. "All in favour of ramming speed."
"Aye." Orion smashed the throttle down and once again the mighty beast sprang forward. Some of the guards opened fire, most just ran.
"Behold the beast that has the pointed tail, that crosses mountains, leaves walls and weapons broken, and makes the stench of which the world is full!"
"What?"
"Sorry Jess. It's from the Divine Comedy."
"The band?"
"No, the book. You know, Dante's Inferno?"
"Thanks." Brennan smiled at his friend.
"Sometimes you can be so common." Before Jesse could respond the aircraft crash first into the buildings and then into the truck. The screech of metal tearing echoed through the cockpit.
"How many engines?"
"One each side. The road sign says Randolph is to the West."
"West it is." The traffic was just beginning to get busy as people returned from work. Everyone stopped to watch as the wounded beast thundered down the road towards the unknowing town.
Deputy Stevens was settling down to a nice easy evening. He'd pulled speeding duty on the road. He looked at his coffee and noticed the ripples.
"Must be a plane landing at the base." He said to himself. The ripples became more and more pronounced until they started to splash over the side of the cup. Stevens lifted his cup and looked at the sight cannoning down the road. "What in the name of....?" He watched in grim fascination as a damaged cargo plane rolled down the road and into town. He threw his coffee out the window and started the car. As he chased the monstrosity down the road he picked up him radio.
"Sheriff, you'd better clear all roads on route eighty heading from the air base."
"Why?" Came a disgruntled voice. Stevens stared at the aircraft as he gained rapidly.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
As they approached the city everyone started to strap themselves in. Jesse looked over at Orion.
"You ever think of slowing down."
"Good idea except for two things, first the brakes aren't working and second the brakes aren't working."
"So how do you intend to stop?" Orion pointed out the now shattered window.
"See that building?" He looked and saw a sign for the local mill.
"Yeah?" Orion jumped out of his seat and ran into the main body. Jesse got the idea and followed. No sooner had he belted himself in than the air plane came to an abrupt halt. Orion stood and walked over to open the nearest exit.
"Thank you for flying insane airlines. Please enjoy your stay in lovely downtown Seguin." Everyone laughed at the bad joke as they left the plane. As they collected outside several people came running forward only to stop when Orion stepped out. In all the commotion he'd forgotten he was still wearing just hospital robes and looked like the missing link. An old, overweight man came shuffling forward.
"Who was driving this monstrosity?"
"That would be me." The man backed off as Orion stepped forward.
"I'm Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane." The sheriff looked from Orion to the remains of the mill and plane and back again. "I take it you brakes failed?" Orion grinned like a madman.
"Nope. I was delivering the mill when I ran out off gas."
"You just had to make that comment didn't you?" Orion looked at his friend.
"At least I can blame it on the morphine. What's your excuse?" Jesse sat up and looked at him.
"Thanks to you we're under arrest for reckless abandonment, damaging public property and driving under the influence." Orion waved him off.
"Be glad they're only charging us and not everyone else." Jesse smiled.
"True. I must admit I'm looking forward to the Judges reaction to you. Any ideas how we get out off this one?"
"Have a little faith."
"Faith! Every time we met you we end up getting shot at." He collapsed back down onto his bunk. "I knew working for the government was a bad idea." Before Orion could respond Adam and the sheriff came walking into the jail block followed by a very unhappy looking admiral.
"Major Wolf." Orion snapped to attention.
"Sir."
"At ease." The admiral studied him. "I see you let yourself go this time." Orion grinned.
"I've had my moments. With respect sir, how did you know I was here."
"Actually, you can thank Adam. We know each other from a long time ago." He turned to the sheriff. "If you would be so kind."
"You're free to go though you will be billed for the damage caused." As they exited the cell Orion turned to the sheriff.
"One question?" The sheriff looked at him. "Where's the nearest barber?"
----------
I know it's a silly chapter but it's fun!
