Chapter four

The loud echo shuddered through his soul. He held steady to the nearest tree until he secured his footing, and as his eyes followed the black smoke drifting into the sky, his feet began to move in that direction. First slowly as the mud claimed his boots, then he began to concentrate on her, plunging in and out of the mud with a strength equal to ten men.

It would be several kilometers away, on a hillside they could barely see if not for the bright orange flames and dark smoke hurling into the rain clouds above. It had to be during the rainy season as well, and raining it was. Before Joseph had cursed it, but now he prayed to the God above and thanked Him for it, knowing it could only help her and anyone else in the vicinity of that explosion. Airplane fuel was never anything to play around. Looking at what it did now, Joseph's heart beat a million times a minute.

It had to be Genovia One. Somewhere in his heart he wished it were not. Joseph could picture her sitting safely on her jet, complaining silently at how long it was taking to reach her home...and him. She would be looking out the porthole of a window into the storm, inwardly shuddering as lightning flashed before her and thunder banged loudly throughout the air. Her eyes may be on the storm, but her thoughts would be on coming home. Hopefully on seeing him again.

He closed his eyes momentarily, just long enough to be able to see her and only her. How beautiful she was, and had always been. He could melt into her eyes, and had on several occasions, though none where he was able to honestly tell her. Almost certain of it, she had done the same.

He glanced back, making certain the three others were still visible. They were having a hard time keeping up, and Joseph encouraged each one. He didn't care if the briers tore at his skin or the branches scratched at his face. All he was concerned about was the state she was in. How could he concentrate on himself when he had no idea at all of how she was?

As they neared the scene, the flames had significantly died down. The smoke still bellowed into the sky, but had turned from a dark black to a gray mist. The rain had done its job and fought the heat.

"Look! Over there!" Joseph turned his head to the voice behind him. His eyes followed the arrowed fingers to a small chunk of steal...with the letters OVIA ONE still clearly visible on its side.

Joseph began running. He pulled his boots even harder out of the mud, and used the slippery surfaces to his advantage, sliding forward even more. Within a minute the massive wreckage was before him.

Scouring the sight, Joseph stood. The plane had taken off a mass of treetops to his left, creating its own runway of sorts. How far it went he could not tell. Genovia One was in three large pieces. The two smaller ones had burned, and was still quite hot with flashed of flames shooting from inside them both. The third, and quite large piece was off to the side, untouched by the explosion except for several massive black streaks upon its white exterior.

"Clarisse!" Joseph let go and called loudly. "Clarisse!" The three others began scouring the wreckage when a solitary voice cut through the air.

"Joe! In here." Joseph ran toward his voice, knowing it was his friend. He jumped the small pieces of steel and climbed into the large side of the plane.

"Joe. I knew you'd come."

"Shades..my friend. Speak to me..." Joseph began pulling and tugging at his clothing, trying to evaluate his condition.

"It's my back...not sure how bad. Joe...'mandas dead. So are the pilots. Clarisse...I don't know where.."

"Okay, relax. I brought three others." Two of which squatted down next to him. "They'll take care of you. They'll have to hike you outta here. It's rough territory. Can you make it Shades?" Watching him nod, Joseph hit his friends shoulder. "I've gotta stay until I find her...Do you know what happened?"

"I think it was lightning..hit the cockpit..knocked out everything." Joseph nodded.

"That's enough for now. Get well my friend. Make these guys earn their living. I'm not coming out unless I find her." Shades nodded, understanding.

"I know my friend."

Joseph took a last look as the three prepared to carry out his friend. He knew Shades was in good hands. He left that worry and prepared himself for the bigger one before him. He took several deep breaths.

With all he had, Joseph began turning over the mass of shredded steel. The parts that he could, that were not too hot. He figured if she was under those, he wasn't quite prepared that much to find her. He needed her very much alive. So in that piece of mind, Joseph's search bought him to every nick and cranny in that small acreage of hillside forest where she could still be alive. Alive and waiting for him.