Sybil was looking worriedly through the little window of the plane. Until now, the flight had been peaceful and silent; neither of them seeming to want to make the first step to start the conversation. But, as they were nearing Papeete, the sky was darker. Tom had his back to her and was silent but she could see the little worried looks as he inspected the sky and his control equipment. His whole demeanor seemed tense.
"How special is this case for you to abandon Larry on an exotic island?" Tom finally asked Sybil trying to distract her as she was beginning to get agitated at talking to his back.
"It's about a young woman I'm taking care of. She's like my protégée. I feel responsible for her."
"You haven't changed, I can see. Always putting the well being of others first to the detriment of your own happiness."
Tom was clearly thinking about the way she had given him up two years ago to save her father from bankruptcy but Sybil did not seem to note the insinuation.
"Was that a compliment, Tom?" she asked with a smile.
"Take it however you want," answered Tom, shrugging his shoulders but smiling despite himself. "But sometimes, you should think a little bit more about yourself."
"Tell me. Is this piece of advice included in the $500 or do I have to pay extra?"
"It's on the house."
"Thank you."
The plane suddenly bounced because of a gust of wind and Sybil couldn't contain a little cry. Then, rain began to come down on them.
At the same time, MakateaLarry took his place at the dinner table reserved for them but his heart was elsewhere. Looking at the couples around him having a good time together, his heart squeezed and he thought about Sybil who was probably nearing Tahiti with Tom. He, nevertheless, ordered his meal and then decided to enjoy the Tamoure's evening. Outside, the rain was pouring and he had nothing better to do.
The first sounds of the drums beating the local dance echoed, and he looked back to the stage. There, the body gracefully encased in a loincloth and a top that barely hid her sure charms, Larry didn't lose any time to recognize Edna, Tom's girlfriend. She was bouncing her hips with the rhythm of the music. He gulped as she was slowly but surely dancing languorously toward him, her eyes glued to his. After a few seconds, Larry had forgotten everything…He was alone in his own world. Alone with a creature of a dream who was dancing for him…and for him only.
In the plane…"I'm calling air traffic control. Here Boomer I'm about 3.5 nautical, cap 1.1.0. I would like the last weather bulletin on our way, please," asked Tom with his radio as Sybil was nervously glancing outside.
"…..west south of your position…," said a blurred voice.
"Repeat," asked Tom, shaking his head.
Only a scratchy sound came out and Tom put down the radio, shaking his head again as the sky was pierced by lightning.
"I'm sorry, the weather has deteriorated much faster than expected," said Tom. "We have to go back to Makatea," he added, turning the plane around with the stick.
"What?" said Sybil, gritted from fear.
"No need to take risks."
"Euh, ok," she answered, looking through the window and gripping her seat as the plane was taking it's turn.
They flew for a few seconds in silence and Sybil noted that the weather wasn't looking any better in this direction. The sky was torn by lightning worth the greatest disaster movies ever released and the plane shook from the wind.
"We are in front of a line of storms," yelled Tom over the plane's sounds. "Tighten your belt, it's gonna shake."
Sybil threw him a panicked look. It was out of the question that her flight with Tom would end in another place besides the tarmac.
"Would...would it bother you if I sit near you?" she asked taking a place at his side without waiting for his answer.
Tom just smiled at her before the plane began shaking violently.
"Buckle up," he said to her.
Sybil obeyed and then searched through her purse. She successfully pulled out a small bottle of medicine.
"What's that?" asked Tom.
"Xalas. My doctor gave it to me for anxiety. 100% natural. I think now is a good time to take it."
Tom shook his head, laughing.
"Give me two," he said holding out his hand.
"No, you...you're flying!" she replied, taking a pill…then a second one when the plane took a rough erratic swerve.
A few minutes passed by without any improvement in the situation and Sybil took the flacon out again. She took two more pills.
"What are you taking again?"
"Xalas. It's my doctor, he gave it to me against…" began Sybil, mumbling.
The effect of too many pills was starting to show.
"Give me that," said Tom taking the flacon from her hands.
Catching it, Tom noted the ring on Sybil's left hand. He immediately understood what it meant but, before he could say anything, there was a big light and the plane violently shook again.
"Waouh, Hey!" exclaimed Sybil as Tom was glancing around them with a worried look. "It was very near, wasn't it?" she asked, visibly troubled by the medicine she took.
Tom worked on his instruments but they were not cooperating.
"It was more than close. We've been hit."
"Oh nooooooooooo!" exclaimed Sybil sounding as someone who drank too much.
"Shit, the radio is dead."
"Oh no, that's annoying," Sybil calmly answered.
Tom glared at her and took his radio.
"Mayday, Mayday…" he cried in the microphone. "Boomer talking, impossible to keep the altitude. Anyone hear me? Mayday, Mayday, Mayday…"
"Your attention please, dear passengers!" bawled Sybil in the second radio, "Safety vests are on special at 12.90 pounds."
"Put that back!" scolded Tom seeing she obviously wasn't in her normal state.
"Ahhhhhhhh," moaned Sybil, falling on him.
Tom pushed her back with his shoulder, exasperated.
"40000 south /south-east from Makatea."
Tom put back the radio and tried to stay focused in order to keep them in the air as Sybil was now singing the famous Mayday with an opera air.
"How many of them did you take?" he asked.
She thought about it a long moment, her eyes looking to the ceiling then leaned to him.
"I'll say that I have no idea," she stammered, throwing her arm around his neck.
"Listen …''
"What?"
"We're in a kind of mess, so stay glued to your seat," he said, pushing her back again. "Shut up, keep your seatbelt tight and let me pilot this thing."
Sybil threw a black look at him before grumbling a "Yes, Sir" with a military salute.
Looking to his left, Tom saw a black figure behind the wall of rain that was partially blocking his view. He oriented the little plane in its direction and sighed lightly when the figure got clearer.
"There's an island under us."
A new flash of lightning split the sky.
"I can see a beach. We're going to land."
Sybil, suddenly interested, sat up to try to see over his shoulder.
"Okayyyyyy," she sighed quietly.
Tom steered the plane toward the beach, trying hard to maintain it on the axis. The driving rain and the violent wind weren't easing things for him and he honestly thought he wouldn't be able to land them without any damage. But he kept his thoughts to himself; no need to alarm Sybil who was suddenly very silent. He looked at her while setting in motion the handle to put the wings in the landing position and noted her astounded state. Eyes opened wide from fear, her mouth hanging open, she seemed to be sobering as fast as the sand of the beach was coming closer to them.
Only a few seconds later, but what felt like an eternity, the plane's wheels touched the sand and the plane jumped slightly. Tom did his best to slow it down but it wasn't easy with so little space to operate. The plane was struggling to lose some speed when Sybil's voice startled him from his concentration.
"Rock on the beach! Rock on the beach!" she yelled out to him, pointing to the obstacle with her finger.
"Ah shit," said Tom through gritted teeth.
Before he could do anything, the right wheel hit the rock violently and the plane swerved to the side, half in the water. It made several turns on itself and, in an ear-splitting sound of wrecked metal, ended its course, the nose in the sand between two coconut palms.
To be continued