Chapter 57
Jump!
The helicopter flew for a couple more hours, eventually encountering a severe thunderstorm. The rain pounded on the sides of the helicopter, but inside the storm was barley audible.
Arnold felt himself dosing off. Helga was still holding his hand, not loosening her grip even for an instant. Arnold began to subconsciously stroke her hand, feeling her soft skin beneath his fingers.
"I'm in heaven!" Helga thought happily. "Nothing could possibly ruin this moment."
Suddenly, the helicopter violently lurched forward, jerking both of them out of their thoughts.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing to worry about, kid," Jack said, a concerned edge to his voice. "Just some minor turbulence is all." The helicopter dropped a few feet but then continued to fly. "James, secure all maintenance and check the transmition!"
The pilot flicked a couple switches and turned the steering wheel to the right.
"All systems go!" Jack picked up a CB radio. "This is Corsair to Missing Control! Mission Control! Do you read me?"
Some static could be heard, and then a man's voice came over the intercom.
"Corsair, this is Mission Control. What seems to be the problem?"
"We seem to have some technical difficulties regarding code 2B7D."
"That bad, huh? Did you secure all maintenance?"
"Yes, sir! Sir, the condition is very bad. The storm is something awful, and we have two young kids aboard with us."
"Young kids you say? What exactly is your relative location?"
"We are somewhere over Lacey, Washington."
"How many parachutes do you have with you at the time?'
"Just two sir, for Capt. James and myself."
"Is there any way of the situation improving somewhere in the near future?"
"Not very likely, sir."
"Very well then. Best to let the children have the parachutes."
"Sir?"
"You need to stay and help Capt. James try to land the aircraft safely."
"But, sir, what if we are incapable of doing so?"
"The goal of our organization is to find lost children, is it not?"
"Yes, sir, but-"
"Then you have to insure that the children get safely back to where they came."
"But, sir, what about Capt. James and-"
"But? Did I hear a 'but'? Do we allow 'buts' in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Major Jack?"
"No, sir," Jack replied sheepishly.
"Very good. You have been given you orders, now follow through!" The static returned once again, and Jack turned off the radio.
"What's going on?" Arnold asked.
Jack cleared his throat. "Well…um…you see, it seems that the replacement engine has been struck by lightning, and the fuse has been shot."
"So…"
"So, um, it seems that the helicopter will no longer be able to fulfill its desired assignment…"
"Criminy, we're only nine! Do you think you could try talking in English?" Helga shouted.
"Um…well…"
"WE'RE GOING TO CRASH!" James suddenly screamed.
Everyone turned to look at him. It was the first time he had spoken the whole flight.
"EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF! ABANDON SHIP! THE WORLD'S COMING TO AN END!"
"Get a hold of yourself, James!" Jack cried. "We have to get these kids out of here!"
"Good idea! If we push them overboard, the helicopter won't be so heavy, and we won't crash!"
"Um…not quite what I was thinking…"
Suddenly, James jumped out of his seat and walked in front of Arnold and Helga, a murderous glint in his eyes.
"James, the controls!" Jack cried.
With no one piloting the helicopter, the wind took over the navigation. A strong gust of wind made the helicopter swing hard to the left. James lost his balance and hit his head against the wall. He fell over, unconscious.
"Please tell me you know how to fly this thing," Helga said, turning to Jack.
"Um…actually…I'm just the hypotonic transitioner," Jack said worriedly.
"Which is?"
"Unfortunately, nothing important." Jack sighed in defeat. "The only reason I ever went into this business was-"
"I don't care about your less-than-perfect life history! I just want to get the heck out of this broken down contraption before it crashes and we die!"
"Hmm…what?" Jack said, looking at her confusedly. "Oh, yes! The parachutes!"
"The what?"
"Parachutes." Jack reached under his seat and pulled out two bags with straps on them. He handed one to her and one to Arnold. "Now just slide your arms through the straps, jump out of the copter, and when you reach about five hundred degrees altitude, pull the tab," Jack explained, as if he did this everyday. "Any questions?"
"I got one bucko," Helga snapped at him, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"
"Perhaps, but not at the moment. Why?"
"You seriously want me to jump out of a plane?!"
"Helicopter," Jack corrected.
"I don't care what it is! It's big, black and hundreds of miles above the ground, and there's no way Helga G. Pataki is jumping out of it!" she said, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, well, guess what? It's also about to crash." The helicopter did another wild drop, tossing them all onto the floor. Jack shakily stood up. "If you still won't jump, I'd gladly like to be in possession of your parachute."
"Don't hold your breath. I'll jump, but I won't be happy about it." She put on the parachute, and so did Arnold.
"Very well then." Jack crossed the aircraft and with great difficulty opened the side door. "Good luck."
"Yeah, whatever, same to you." Helga peered out the door and screamed. "THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I AM JUMPING! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"
The helicopter dropped again. Jack dropped to his knees and began to pray.
"Dear Heavenly Father, blessed be You who has…SAVE ME! SAVE ME! SAVE ME!"
"Oh, man, this just isn't my day," Helga muttered.
Arnold came up behind her and took her hand for reassurance. "You can do it, Helga."
"This is so my day," Helga thought happily. She looked out the door.
"No, I can't!" she cried.
The helicopter tilted dangerously, almost tipping over.
"If you're gonna do it, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME!" Jack cried.
"Helga, do you remember when we were on the raft?" Arnold said hurriedly.
"Yeah."
"And we thought we would get killed by that wave?"
"Yeah…"
"And remember how you told me not to let go of you because you didn't want to die alone?"
"Yeah…so what's your point?"
"I won't let you die alone."
Helga looked at him, confused.
"We're going together, one way or the other. If you stay, I stay."
She looked at him in shock.
"Yep, that'll work," Arnold thought to himself.
Helga stepped up to the door. "Come on, football head, we've got a plane to jump out of."
"Helicopter," Jack muttered.
"Shut up."
"Okay, Helga, on the count of three?" Arnold asked.
"You got it. Oh, and, Arnold?"
The helicopter dropped again.
"Yeah?"
"Don't let go of my hand, okay?" Helga asked him, fear rising in her voice.
"I can't believe she trusts me this much," Arnold thought in bewilderment. "She's willing to do anything for me. All I need to do is give a little back."
He squeezed her hand. "Never."
Helga smiled at him.
"She's so beautiful when she smiles," Arnold thought absentmindedly.
"Alright, one…"
"Two…"
Helga looked out the door. The ground seemed to be a thousand feet below them. It probably was.
"Two and a half…"
"Two and three quarters…"
They dropped again.
"THREE!"