Globusz^® Publishing 

eter and Helen spent the night in the hayloft of a barn in the valley; unfortunately in the morning they had to wait until the roads became busy before setting out. Once again it was up into the forest but this time in style, riding in the truck. It was only half an hour’s journey before they could go no further when, hemmed in by the rain forest, they had to leave the truck and complete the journey on foot. Jorge was to stay with the truck whilst Vittorio and Alfredo accompanied Peter and Helen who insisted on carrying the glider themselves. At least the path was cleared, first by Vittorio then later Alfredo using Helen’s machete and making life a little easier for the two escapees. Now at last all the hard work of hacking through the rain forest for several hours showed some result. The undergrowth began to thin out, the ground beneath their feet became firmer and ahead they saw daylight. Clear sky filtered through the canopy of the forest and the sound of sea birds could be distinguished mixed with the usual sounds of the rain forest. Pushing aside the last of the branches the vista opened up as they stepped onto a plateau of grey rock which ended abruptly some four meters ahead.

The whole of the bay lay spread out before them, a great panorama in a monochrome of blue. The sea some seven hundred metres below, a beautiful bright turquoise shot through here and there with rivers of darker marine blue. This sea of variant hues stretched away to a distant hazy horizon where it merged with yet another tone of the sky. Away to their right the rain forest continued in a sweeping curve, coating the face of the steep cliffs in a green velvet carpet from sea to sky. Even this carpet of green was tinged with a blue haze stretching all the way out to the very tip of Cabo Cordillera. To their left the velvet carpet of forest continued some way before descending steeply towards the mouth of the Rio Milagro. Of Playa Sao Agusta only the golden beaches and one or two of the hotels on the front disturbed the monochrome of blue. Past the beaches the South arm of the Bahia de Milagro swept out to sea to form Punta Negra, whilst beyond that was a thin royal blue line almost lost in haze.

The surface of the sea in the bay was marred by three grey ships at anchor and the white arrow heads from the wake of two small boats. The flat deck on the larger ship distinguished the light aircraft carrier, whilst the pointed outline and slim lines of the two smaller ships anchored closer to the shore marked them down as destroyers.

Peter gazed with interest over the bay, slightly overawed by the magnificent panorama presented from their grandstand position. He turned to Helen as he lowered his end of the glider. “Well there is the end of our journey, all we have to do now is to fly out over the sea into the bay and land on one of those ships, once we are on board a U.S. Navel vessel they can’t touch us and when we tell our story. Well! The U.S. can’t fail to act on it.”

Helen slipped the carrying belt off her shoulders and lowered her end of the glider. She moved and stretched her shoulder as she walked over to Peter, slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed. “I can’t believe we’ve made it, those terrifying night flights then climbing and hacking our way through the rain forest. Now it comes down to this, nothing to stop us but a little gentle glide down to the ships. Isn’t this view magnificent, and that deep azure of the sea? The ships don’t look vary far away at all. It looks such an easy flight, and in daylight too... Those destroyers look so near, one could almost throw a stone onto their decks from up here.”

Their two assistants were also taken with the view; they were looking round with wonder as Peter, stepping back from the edge, turned to the leader of the two. “Vitorio can I borrow your binoculars for a moment.” He slipped the strap over his head and after adjusting the focus, looked first at one destroyer then the other.

“Hmm!”

He raised the binoculars and looked at the carrier. “This may not be as simple as it appears,” he commented to Helen. “First the two destroyers have helicopters ranged on their small flight decks, so there isn’t enough cleared space left for us to land on either of them.” Then lowering the binoculars he added. “The carrier is anchored so far out she may be a bit too distant for us to reach her. We won’t be getting any lift over the sea, so it would be a straight glide all the way.” Again he raised the binoculars and looked at the carrier. “I think they have visitors on board. That helicopter that’s been flying up and down the valley is parked on the flight deck.” With that, he paned round to look at what could be seen of Sao Agusta and then lowered them again to look at first one and then the other of the small boats. His whole frame stiffened before adjusting the focus of the binoculars he scanned the two small boats again.

Helen still had an arm loosely round his waist and noticed his stomach muscles tense. “What’s up Peter? Is there a problem? If we don’t reach the carrier and have to ditch in the sea they are bound to pick us up... They could hardly let us drown.”

“It’s not a question of letting us drown. Those two small boats down there are in shore semi-rigid inflatable boats, RIB’s. They're there to stop anyone from swimming out to the destroyers. If we ditched, even alongside one of the ships they would pick us up before the US navy could man a boat.”

“Are you sure they are patrolling, perhaps they belong to the destroyers, they could be U.S. Navy people in them.”

“I don’t think so Helen, they’re armed, and I doubt the U.S. Navy would do that in a friendly foreign country, besides they’re dressed in army camouflage fatigues.”

“Well what if we were to crash land on the front deck of one of the destroyers, it wouldn’t do the glider much good but then we wouldn’t need it again.”

“No! I don’t think that would be a good idea either.” Then handing the binoculars to Helen he added. “Look how cluttered their foredecks are. I don’t think it would do us much good... It could seriously damage our health... Let’s leave that as a last resort.”

Helen looked first at the destroyers; there wasn’t a level area of more than a couple of square meters without obstructions anywhere on their decks. She then turned her attention to the two patrolling boats that were between the destroyers and the shore. Each appeared to have three men in them or rather, she thought, sitting on them. Next she raised the binoculars and looked at the carrier. ‘It had three... no four helicopters on the deck and two other aircraft at the front. There’s plenty of space left to land the glider, but why does it have to be anchored so far out? Now! If we ditched all unnecessary weight and just went for it, maybe we could make it. What if only one of us flew the glider; that would save weight? Especially if it was me, I’m much lighter than Peter.’ She turned to look at him, about to make the suggestion and then changed her mind. ‘No way! There would be absolutely no way that he would let me fly off on my own. But it would probably mean he would try it him self and leave me to be rescued later. Besides we started together, we’ll finish together.’

Peter meanwhile was thinking along similar lines. He could see why the carrier, with deeper draught, was anchored further out than the other two ships. The colour of the sea was darker where it was deeper, the colour and the shading of the sea in the bay even showed up the channel at this height. The destroyers were anchored on the very edge of the deep-water channel into Porto Agusta whilst the carrier was anchored just where the channel merged with deeper water of the bay. There was a current flowing along the coast Northwards in the bay and the tide was on the ebb. The destroyers had swung so that they were pointing in shore and bows on to the light off shore breeze whilst the carrier, anchored in the current was pointing to the South. ‘If only the channel had been deeper, or wider.’ Then he checked him self, ‘If only we had an engine on the front of the hang-glider... it wouldn’t be a glider, it would be a micro-light.’

‘Could I make it on my own? Would my weight be enough to stabilise the hang-glider? ... Possibly, probably even, but I don't fancy trying to find out from the top of a two thousand foot cliff.’ He looked about again for any alternatives. ‘In daylight there is only one place to land where they weren't likely to break their necks and yet still be safe from the patrolling boats and that was on the deck of that carrier... But what if the opposition couldn’t see them! We’re used to flying at night.’

“Hmmm!”

“Peter, if we left our packs behind to save weight, what would be our chances of reaching the carrier?”

“That’s the million dollar question... I’ve been asking myself that for the last few minutes. If I flew it on my own it may make a difference but I optimised the glider to fly with two people, with just me it may be a bit too unstable... How are you for swimming, indifferent or what? I mean, can you swim without holding on to a raft?”

“Yes! ... No problem, but you said about those boats.”

“I was just debating... What if... be honest with me now. Can you swim under water?”

Helen looked at him “Pretty fair”. Then thought some more. ‘He is very serious, and this is no time for false modesty.’ Touching his arm for emphasis she added. “Well, actually I’m a good swimmer... and yes I can swim under water some... I wouldn’t have a problem getting free from the glider if we ditched. Nor would I be afraid of landing in the sea as long as I had some warning.” Then she thought about it some more before asking. “What about you, can you swim under water?”

“Me! Yes, I can swim okay... What I was thinking was... the breeze will not help us over this stretch, it won’t generate any lift in fact probably the reverse at the moment. If we waited until it was dusk when the wind usually drops for a short while before the sea breeze sets in. We could aim for the carrier. It’s bound to show some lights when it gets dark. Those patrolling boats are between the destroyers and the shore and will be busy watching for swimmers from shore. They’re not likely to see us as we’ll be so high and we could fly straight over them. If we come up short of the carrier, then we ditch, up current of the ship and swim the rest of the way. Those men in the boats probably wouldn’t notice us.”

Helen thought about this for a while, weighing the pros and cons, then after a glance at the sun to estimate the time. “It sounds good to me; I don’t mind ditching in the sea when it’s dark... It must be somewhere around one or two o’clock now. That means waiting for six or seven hours until sunset... Okay! In the mean time let’s rig the glider and leave it at the back of this ledge. If either of the helicopters on the destroyers takes off we can launch the glider and pinch his landing site real quick.”

Peter gave her a quick glance. “Yes! Yes I like that... And the glider will be ready if there is an emergency.” He took the binoculars back from Helen and had another look around before handing them back to Vitorio he explained what they proposed to do.

It took them less than half an hour to rig the glider. They were getting used to it now and this time they had full daylight to see what they were doing. The two partisans took a great interest in the final result examining the various joints and stringers but commenting between them that they wouldn’t jump off the cliff face and trust it to fly. Soon the job was completed. The glider now fully assembled was parked with its nose down at the back of the ledge under the overhang of the trees. Then it was time to have some lunch and rest. It didn’t take long to finish off the coarse brown bread, goats cheese and fruit, washed down with a couple of beers. Vitorio and Alfredo stretched out on their backs and soon started snoring. Peter lay back and closed his eyes, content in the warm sunshine and with a full stomach he started to doze off. Helen lay down near him resting her head on his stomach. “This is nice Peter. You make a good pillow; wake me when it’s time to leave”.

Peter lay there for some time but couldn’t sleep, his eyes were heavy and he had them closed but something was bugging him. ‘Wake her when it’s time to leave! When it’s time to leave!’ The words circled around inside his head. ‘There’s a clue here some where, I’m missing something.’ He was restless and would have liked to get up and pace about but didn’t want to disturb Helen. She was already fast asleep and breathing heavily. ‘I don’t need to wake her before it is time to leave and we are hardly likely to be discovered so what is the problem. The glider is rigged we only have to put on our harness, hook on and go. Sure we will have to run a bit, because with no wind their will be no lift over the edge. That shouldn’t be a problem, the ledge is fairly flat and we have about five meters or so. What’s bugging you man? We just glide down to the ship, as far as we can and then swim the rest of the way. What if the U.S. Navy doesn’t see us ditch? Or it’s not there? But it is there! What if it’s time to leave? ... What if they start to go? ... Today! ... Hell!!’ Peter straightened up with an oath before slowly lowered Helens head on to the ground as he rolled first onto his front and reached for the binoculars. He raised him self onto his knees and quickly looked at first the carrier then the destroyers. No movement, no one on deck, not a sign of anything happening, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile Helen had come fully awake. “What’s happening, what is it Peter?”

“No problem, nothing is happening, I was just checking that the ships aren't about to leave. We can’t all go to sleep. One of us will have to keep watch in case things change.”

“Yes! I suppose so, I hadn’t thought of that. It just wouldn’t do for them to sail whilst we were asleep up here. Perhaps one of the others knows when they are due to leave.”

“No they don’t know, I asked Vittorio before and he didn’t know, he just said soon. You would think that a fleet would normally sail first thing in the morning... on the other hand why wait until morning, one time is as good as any other.”

Helen thought this over for a moment, she had already had some sleep and it was better if Peter was fully rested. “In that case I’ll keep a lookout, you get some sleep and I’ll wake you in an hour or so.” Then with a quick glance in the direction of their sleeping colleagues she added. “I think it would be best if we stood watch until it’s time to leave.”

With a muttered “Yes! ... Okay! ... Keep a good lookout then.” Peter lay back with a relieved smile, pulled his pack under his head and tilted his hat over closed eyes. In only a few short minutes his breathing became deep and steady.

* * *

The three soldiers were bored with this patrolling, none more so than Juan though. At least he had something to do, watching where he was steering. They were dressed in army fatigues and bush hats but with bare feet, their army boots were off as they weren’t really compatible with inflatable boats. What was it the sergeant had said when they drew arms. “Don’t let any fishing boat, canoe, raft or even a swimmer get anywhere near the U.S. ships. Arrest anyone who attempts to and shoot them if they resist.” Well, now they were ‘armed for bear’ as the American saying goes. Juan had been issued with a pistol, in a holster. “Very useful in a small boat, just like a little officer, but don’t let it go to your head. Especially when you pull the trigger.” Very humorous the ‘sarg’ was. Pablo, as he was a poor shot with a rifle, had been given the Uzi. If they had to board a fishing boat he went first. The spray from an Uzi on auto would kill everything in any local fishing boat. That had left Roberto with the KZ2, a Chinese copy of the AK47 assault rifle. It wasn’t as if they were going to start a war, but they each had spare clips of ammunition which were now lying in the bottom of the boat with their boots. “It was enough fire power to protect the U.S. Navy,” the ‘sarg’ had added.

‘I wonder why the hell the U.S. couldn’t protect them selves?’ But nobody had said and Juan wasn’t about to ask. Now they were into the second day of patrolling and all they had done was to warn off that fishing boat yesterday. Just flashing their weapons had been enough to dissuade any protest. It seems as if everyone at the port had subsequently got the message loud and clear. Today every boat coming out of the port had immediately turned south after leaving harbour which meant they’d had no interruptions however small to break the monotony. It was hot, there was absolutely no shade and little movement of air this close to the surface. The only breeze was the little they made by their passage but to make any reasonable breeze meant going fast. A person soon gets fed up with going fast in endless circles over the water. It was now well into siesta time and even the sea appeared to be asleep. Juan closed the throttle, shut off the engine and the boat idling to a stop, began to drift. ‘Oh what would I give for the cool shade of an arcadia tree on the edge of the forest and a cold drink in my hand?’ Which reminded him, they still had some beers left. “Pablo toss me one of those beers will you, I’m drying up in this heat.”

Pablo who had four deep red scratches on his left cheek was absentmindedly touching them. He reached down and pulled a beer from one of the remaining six-packs, then deliberately dropped it in the bottom of the boat to shake it up before doing as he was asked and tossed it to Juan. It spun in the air several times before it was caught. A quick glance at their companion and a delighted grin of anticipation came over both their faces. Roberto, the third man of the trio, was gazing into the water with rapt concentration, watching the fish below them.

“Is that some movement on the shore over there?” Pablo called. Roberto immediately looked up and turned to face the shore, his face now inches from the beer can in Juan’s hand. Juan pulled the ring. The result was quite spectacular, the spray went up his nose, into his eyes, and he recoiled backwards in reflex before toppling over board. Fortunately he was only wearing fatigues, and lazily swam back to the RIB. Even he appreciated the joke as there was a smile on his face. He enjoyed the cool water and splashed the other two who were having a great laugh. No harm was done, and so taking his time he retrieving his bush hat, flipping it into the boat As he hung on to the side for several minutes waiting for the hilarity to die down something caught his eye. A sparkle of the sun reflecting off glass high up on the forest clad face of the mountain. “Look!” he said pointing. “We’re being spied on.” Neither of the others turned to look, they weren’t going to get caught that easily. Besides who was going to be climbing up there in the middle of the day?

As they started to drag him back on board, water slopped into the bottom of the boat. “Wait! Hang on a minute we don’t want all this spare ammo getting wet,” called Pablo picking it up. He then put the spare clips into pockets of his sleeveless jacket. By the time they had dragged Roberto back on board the sparkle high up in the forest had disappeared.

‘Well that broke the boredom, now what?’ Juan mused as he crushed the empty beer can before tossing it over the side. They’d each had a beer, so now it was time for a rest. “Pablo you're on first watch, thirty minutes each, I’m last, we’ll get our heads down for a siesta. And don’t you go to sleep whilst on watch.”

* * *

High above them Helen sat cross-legged on the ledge, gazing out over the ships, the blue sea and the sky. Occasionally she raised the binoculars. She was still tired from the walk through the forest but now it was possible to relax. A gentle breeze disturbed the tails of her headscarf tied loosely around her throat to keep the sun off her neck. The sun blazed down on her shoulders, it was deathly quiet in the middle of the day and nothing moved. Even the birds were having a siesta and shortly her eyelids drooped. A shake of the head and a rub over her eyes with her hand only delayed the inevitable. Her eyes closed and her head drooped to her chest. When a person falls asleep the body slowly relaxes and so it was for about a minute she stayed upright. Eventually her leg muscles relaxed, and she fell over. She came awake in an instant to find her self on the ground with a grazed elbow that was already hurting. ‘Stupid woman,’ she muttered to her self, rubbing her elbow, ‘it serves you right, let that be a lesson.’ She picked up the binoculars, and determined not to let that happen again, climbed to her feet and began pacing about. First over to the glider to check it out for the third time, it was beginning to look a little tatty where it had caught on trees and bushes. The joints could do with a little work and the stringers tightening. She moved around and then behind it to pull some bushes aside. Can I make the take off run any longer? Not very easily, but then it doesn’t need to be any longer, we only require a three or four metre run. Next she went over to the edge and had a quick look with the binoculars. ‘No movement! Not a sign of life. Even the patrolling boats are lying stopped in the water, halfway between the destroyers and the shore.’ None of the ships had moved. ‘I wonder why they are pointing in different directions. Everyone is fast asleep enjoying a siesta, everyone that is except me. I have to pace about here to stay awake. I wonder what this evening will bring. It would be nice to finish this in style with a perfect landing on the deck of that aircraft carrier. I’ll bet this would be the strangest aircraft ever to land on that deck. But what is a person supposed to say as they step aboard a ship? ‘Can I come on your ship... can I board your ship’ no it’s much more formal than that. What is it? ... ‘Permission!’ that’s it. ‘Permission to board’. No not quite, it’s something like that. We must do this right, just to show how casual and stylish we Brits are. What does a person say? ... Got it. ‘Permission to come aboard?’ That’s it.’

‘OOPS!’

‘Mustn't forget the sir. Permission to come aboard... sir.’ Yes, that sounds about right.’

Helen was by now walking around talking to her self with a big cheesy grin on her face. Suddenly she stopped as she realised this and looked down at her three sleeping companions. ‘Yes they were still asleep. If they had seen me they would have thought the sun had really gone to my head.’

‘Now what do I do? Have a look at the jungle on one side... then the other side... yes it’s still there and still growing. Well I suppose it is... one can’t actually see it growing.’ Back to the glider. ‘Just think these pieces of bamboo and canvas have brought us all this way, and our very lives will depend on them for one more time. And all the lives of the people in that prison too. If we get caught or killed now they will surely follow us, their lives would be forfeit too. It would be just too much if they were to fail now when they were so nearly safe.’

‘This is rather boring, nothing to do but lookout at this beautiful view, the only thing moving is the sun... slowing falling only to be extinguished by the sea on the horizon out there. I’ve never seen a sunset from this height before. I bet it will be a good one, if only to match the view.’... ‘I think the haze is clearing a little, that point away to the left, what did Peter call it, Punta Negra, what does that mean? Point dark... black, or is it point brown, anyhow it does look dark brown and it is certainly clearer.’

‘Clearer! That’s not a good word.’

‘More distinct! More defined! Well it’s less fuzzy than it was.’

Again the smile played around her mouth as she idled away the time, tossing words about in her head. All that sea out there and then the beer from lunch eventually took its toll. Helen made her way into the edge of the forest for her toilet.

* * *

It was time to sail at last. To get away from this hot airless bay and out to sea where the destroyer belonged. The bos’n went for’ard with his seven pound sledge-hammer to knock the retainer off the anchor chain. Ahead of them between the ship and the land drifted one of those RIB’s that had been buzzing around. He called to them and waved them away then walked back to the anchor chain. Clang! Then a heave with a bar by one of the seaman and the retainer came clear leaving the weight of the chain on the winch. He heard the buzz of the inflatable as it started and moved off. After a quick look around the bos’n raised his arm to the bridge. The ships propellers started turning shortly after, edging the ship slowly forward as the winch gathered in the slack on the anchor chain.

The bos’n walked to the very bow and looked over watching the chain come cleanly in through the hawse. Another seaman pointed a sea water hose down the hawse hole to ensure the chain was clean, no problem out here but in some places it would have been covered in mud. The ship edged forward slowly until the chain was ‘straight up and down’ at which point he raised his arm once again. He could just make out the anchor when it came clear of the seabed as the propellers stopped and the ship drifted. Next the anchor came clear of the water with nothing fouling it, no rope, no seaweed, again he raised his arm to the bridge. The ship, free of the land now, started to increase speed. It would only take a short while to snug the anchor in, replace the retainer and then the foredeck would be ready for sea again.

* * *

Helen didn’t take long with her toilet and as she regained the clearing she heard it: a clang of metal on metal from a long way off. She picked up the binoculars from beside Peter and made her way to the edge of the rock. Looking first at the carrier... no movement, and then at the destroyers. Several people were on the front part of the nearest, and also on the front of the other one.

‘What does that mean, apart from the end of siesta time? It means my girl that they are about to lift the anchor, and that means they are going to sail... Probably.’

She walked over and pushed her toe into Peter’s ribs, “Peter... Peter, come on wake up, I think they are about to sail, there’s some movement on the front deck of those destroyers.”

“Fore! The foredeck you mean.” He said sleepily and before the full implication sank in to his conscious. Then jumping up quickly he grabbed the binoculars out of her hand and took a quick glance at the destroyers, then a longer look at the carrier and another glance at the patrolling boats which were stationary. “You’re right of course they’re going to get under weigh. Wake the others will you, we will have to fly now and take a chance.”

Helen was already shaking Vitorio and his companion it then took only a moment to explain what was happening. “We think the ships are about to leave so we’ll have to take off straight away. We’re going to try and reach the carrier, if we can’t then we’ll land on one of the destroyers, but we must go quickly before they sail too far. You two should be okay to watch, and then you can report back... If we don’t make it then it’s all up to you and your friends.”

They quickly climbed into their harness then after handing the back packs and their treasured machete to Vitorio, Peter walked to the edge and took a last look at the ships. “They’re definitely getting under weigh, and those patrolling boats have started moving slowly as well... I think it’s time, lets get hitched on and go.” They lifted the glider out from the trees and hooked on. Peter explained to Helen the wind was very light so they would not be getting any lift at the edge, they were likely to start sinking straight away. “Don’t be afraid though, we are bound to make one of the ships.”

“Afraid.” she said indignantly, “I’ve launched into pitch blackness. I’ve been attacked by a dog. Swizzled-around like ice in a drink. I’ve been bitten and scratched. I’ve landed in bushes, in a pond and generally been messed about in the dark. Now when it’s daylight and we can see what we are doing you have the temerity to say don’t be afraid.”

“Ouch! Sorry, sorry, I only meant... well you know what I meant... are you ready? I reckon we take six strides and then a dive forward. One two and go, okay?”

Helen gave him a nod and a grin. “You’re right of course, being able to see the drop right before you makes it quite scary.”

“Six strides – ready. One, Two, Go!” He called and they started the run.

* * *

All three men watched the anchor come clear of the water, looking on with interest, as the destroyer got under weigh. It looked large from here on the water line just fifty meters off, filling all of their vision. When you looked up into the bright sky above the ship you could even see the heat haze coming out of the funnel, though there was very little discernible smoke because of the modern gas turbine engines.

“Can we go back to Sao Agusta now Juan,” Pablo asked.

“I don’t know what we are supposed to do, the ‘sarg’ didn’t say... Let’s escort them out, we’ll ride shotgun until we pass the carrier. El Presidante is still aboard that ship so we should put on a bit of a show and let him see how keen we are. Eh!”

“Damn! Does that mean we have to tidy up and put our boots on?”

“Si! Unless you want El Presidante to see you looking like that.”

* * *

Helen was again on the left, Peter to her right, she held the cross-bar with her right hand and the upright with her left, her head was down so as to be able to see where she was putting her feet as they started to run. She counted off the paces in her head. ‘One, two, three, four, five!’ she took a sixth stride but was unable to count it as her heart came into her mouth when she actually saw the rock of the ledge disappear beneath her feet. ‘God! This is much scarier than a night take off.’ But she very quickly recovered after realising they were flying and soon got her feet in the foot loop before glancing at Peter. He had his feet up in the loop and was already concentrating on getting the maximum distance forward for the least sink rate of the glider. Helen looked down again and realised they were all ready out over the sea where she could clearly see the ships ahead and below them. ‘But did they have enough height to land on one, preferably the carrier? Yes! Either of the destroyers would be okay. She saw the white froth around their sterns as they got under weigh, just as long as they didn’t accelerate too quickly, but they also had to turn around.’ She estimated a line of site to the carrier. ‘If the sight line went higher then they wouldn’t make it, but if it went lower all would be clear and they stood a chance.’... “What do you think Peter? The carrier, are we going to make it?”

Peter had eyes only for the carrier, his peripheral vision saw the destroyers start moving and even the white arrowheads of the small boats, but he was concentrating on getting the best out of the glider, heading in a straight line for the aircraft carriers deck. He also had been trying to estimate their sink rate and was coming to the conclusion that they would end up about a hundred meters or so short.

“No! We’re not going to make the carrier unfortunately, but I want to get as near to it as possible. That way we will be as far away from those RIB’s as we can. If we ditch, any one of the ships can launch a boat or even a helicopter to pick us up. The destroyers have to come up the channel and pass the carrier. I’ll try to land on the foredeck of the leading destroyer that way, if we misjudge it, we may have a second chance with the second one.”

Helen had arrived at the same conclusion, they just didn’t have enough height or lift to reach the carrier and there were no thermals further out to give them extra lift. It had to be one of the other ships. She turned to look at them as they completed their turn and formed a line one behind the other. It was then she noticed another ship just coming out from Porto Agusta.

“Peter there's another ship a fourth one coming out, it’s a grey transport, there's lots of room to land on that one, there's even a helicopter deck on the back and it’s empty.”

Peter snapped his head around, saw it and immediately realised that it was too far away. “Sorry babe! We’re just too early for that one. Before it gets to us we will be in the water. Pity we didn’t know about it sooner though that would have been an easy landing.” He turned his attention back to the lead destroyer. Then noticed that it was being escorted by one of the little RIB’s which fortunately was on the other side of it. ‘Now you guys in the boat just stay there and keep looking at that nice big destroyer. Close your eyes for a few more minutes don’t look up here. We’re doing okay, that destroyer is just going to come sliding along underneath us. Then we can dive down and land by stalling onto their foredeck. The speed of the ship will help as we will both be going in the same direction when we touch down, we may even get away with just a few minor bruises... It’s looking good.’ Peter was beginning to get more excited.

They were still quite high up, closing the destroyer from its right (starboard) side. Helen was keeping a close eye on the small escorting inflatable when she saw one of the men raise his arm and point straight at her. This generated some excitement amongst the other two soldiers as they all looked at them for a moment. Her hart stopped. ‘Are they going to ignore us?’ Then the inflatable picked up speed and turned. “The men in the RIB they’ve seen us Peter, they’re turning to come behind the ship and over to this side, what do you think they’ll do?”

* * *

The destroyer now in the main channel was beginning to increase speed, the bow wave was increasing and the RIB had to move away to avoid bouncing in the wash. It was then that Pablo noticed something in the sky beyond the ship. “Look! Up there, above the ships bow, what is it.”

Roberto saw it next. “It’s a small plane... No! It’s one of those hang-glider things, and it’s coming towards the ship. Perhaps they are going to bomb the ship... Do you want me to shoot it down?” He asked reaching for the KZ2.

In some panic Juan reached forward and put a restraining hand on his rifle. “Wait, don’t shoot over the ship. I’ll take us around the other side; it will give you a clearer shot.” As he didn’t fancy going in front of the ship, he opened the throttle before turning in a wide circle and went around crossing the ships wake. They were soon moving fast and as they bounced out from under the stern he turned to come up the side of the destroyer still going very fast. “Now! Okay! Now you can shoot them... What are you waiting for?”

“Slow down you mad bugger, I can’t aim when we are bouncing around like this.”

The inflatable suddenly slowed and settled in the water as Roberto stood up and took aim at the hang-glider now almost directly over his head. It was a difficult position to fire from, bouncing in the boat and leaning well back, he managed to fire off a first short burst.

* * *

The captain of the carrier, who also commanded the group of ships, along with the commander of the marines were talking to the President. They had been discussing the out come of the joint exercise and were now in the process of concluding their hospitality by seeing him off the ship. The fact that he was using his own helicopter to leave was a benefit but unfortunately it didn’t allow the captain to rush his guest. It was during this discussion that his conversation trailed of as he noticed a distinct lack of attention of some of his officers. He looked over with some annoyance only to see that they were all gazing in one direction he also turned and looked. “What is that thing coming towards us?”

“Sir! I think it is one of those micro-lights or hang-gliders. It appears to be trying for one of the destroyers. I doubt he will be able to reach us though, not enough height.”

“Not us! But he will make the lead destroyer, the Boise. I think there are two people on the glider,” added a second officer.

Without turning or adjusting his gaze the captain ordered. “Get a marine up here with a rifle.” He didn’t see a lieutenant run to a door in the island, but then he didn’t need to, when he gave an order it was carried out.

“You're not going to shoot them are you sir.” This comment came from the commander of the marines and his concern for one of his men at any subsequent enquiry.

“Relax Commander Joyce, just covering my ass... and yours too.”

Throughout all this the president had said nothing, He too was puzzled. No one in his country had a hang-glider else he would have been informed. But when the officer had said there were two people, a light came on in his head. ‘It may be those two escaped terrorists from the prison that Noberto had told him about. That’s why they hadn’t been able to catch them but where did they get the glider from?’ He started thinking quickly.

“I think you should be very careful captain, it would be best to shoot them down. We have terrorists operating in my country. Why only a month ago they broke in to the armoury of the army and stole some explosive, if they made them into bombs and dropped one... Well! I would not like to be held responsible. You are still a guest in my country but I give you permission to fire on them to protect your ships.”

“Thank you Mr President, I don’t think that will be necessary, they could hardly carry a bomb on that glider. Binoculars somebody. Quickly please.” Just then the lieutenant who had gone for a marine, returned. With great presence of mind he had brought a pair of binoculars with him. “Two armed marines on the way sir.” He reported as he reluctantly handed over the binoculars to his captain.

The president was watching carefully, when he saw one of his patrolling boats appear around the stern of the destroyer. ‘Shoot them... quickly, before they can do some damage.’ Before guiltily looked around in case he had said it out loud. He stepped to one side to see better and at the same time unconsciously touched the pistol holster on his belt. “Ah! I see there will be no need to trouble you captain, my men will protect your ships and shoot them down,” he commented. His face breaking into a smile, as they all heard the report from small arms fire.

* * *

They were rapidly approaching the destroyer now as Peter pulled back on the control bar to increase speed and cross in front of the ship. “I don’t know what those soldiers will do but I’m not staying on this side to find out. We’ll fly over to the other side and try to use the ship as a shield. I doubt that they would dare to shoot at us this near the U.S. Navy.”

The glider wasn’t quick enough and they were still about a hundred meters short of the ship when the inflatable came into view around the stern. It was travelling fast and came along the side of the ship when one soldier stood up, pointing a rifle at them. They were directly above the RIB when Helen heard firing and felt the draft of a bullet. The glider gave a lurch and two holes appeared in the ‘sail’. At the same time Peter yelled in astonished disbelief. “I’ve been hit... They shot me... In the shoulder... Are you okay? ... Can you take over? You fly for a moment.”

Helen was already holding the control bar and kept it steady as they flew high over the bow of the ship and out of sight of those in the RIB. She quickly banked to the right and saw, between the ships superstructure, the inflatable turn away in a circle to once again come around the stern of the destroyer. She was so busy watching the ship, the inflatable and flying the glider that she had no time to worry about Peter who was desperately holding his right shoulder and grimacing in pain.

* * *

The captain of the destroyer U.S.S. Boise was sitting comfortably in his bridge chair. Everything was fine with the day, he was at peace with the world and they were at last leaving this hot stuffy bay before heading out to sea and then back home to his family. Okay! So they were being buzzed by one of those RIB’s, but that would soon stop as they left it behind when they exited the channel. The inflatable appeared to have crossed over to the starboard side when he distinctly heard firing. “What the hells going on? What’s all that noise about?”

“Sir! Starboard lookout. That inflatable, they appear to be firing into the air.”

“God damn! What do they expect us to do? Fire a salute!”

“Sir! Flag deck. The hang-glider that we saw coming out earlier, it’s directly above us. I think they are firing at it from the inflatable.”

‘A hang-glider directly above us. What is he trying to do? ... Where is he going to land? ... The helicopter deck aft! Damn! This is going to delay them, and it’s going to cause me a whole lot of paper work if they try for political asylum.’ The captain’s mood had changed completely now, this had really upset his day. “Get someone aft to the helicopter deck in case they try to land on. Flag deck. Keep me informed.”

* * *

“You missed you daft bugger, it was as big as a barn door and you missed.” shouted Juan, as he started to turn the boat.

“I didn’t. I hit ‘em. Go back to the other side and I’ll splash them all over the sea”.

Pablo, who had little to do, was shielding his eyes from the sun and had been able to see the two flyers distinctly. “I know those two buggers. She’s the one that did this to my face.”

Again a roar came from the outboard engine as the man opened the throttle. The boat rose immediately onto the plane and arced away from the ship. Pablo picked up his Uzi and twisting the straps around his arm to tighten the grip, exclaimed. “I’ll show you how it’s done; I’ll cut them in half with this.”

This time the boat drove very close in under the stern and continued out in a wide turn, not expecting the glider to turn back over the ship so quickly. Roberto was already standing and had to turn further around. Pablo was kneeling and taking aim with the Uzi when they hit the ships wake and the RIB became airborne. Roberto fell backwards on top of Pablo as both guns went off together in short bursts.

* * *

Helen tried to estimate when the RIB would come around the stern so that she could fly back to the other side of the ship and thus keep it between them. Unfortunately she misjudged it, was a little late, and still had some meters to go when she saw it appear around the stern. The soldier was already standing and soon had his rifle pointed at them when she saw the small boat hit the wake from the destroyer. She heard the rapid fire of five or six shots but they were not hit and once again they swept over the destroyer. With all this manoeuvring they had lost some height but as they crossed over the destroyer she distinctly felt a slight up draught of air which lifted the glider.

* * *

The burst of fire from the KZ2 sprayed the ships side and superstructure, putting a hole in the glass on the port side of the ships bridge. But the main damage though came from Pablo’s Uzi which tore holes in the starboard inflatable tube of their own boat and in addition putt several holes in the rigid part of the hull. Water immediately started pouring in. The sudden catastrophic deflation of one side tube threw the occupants over that way as the boat started to capsize.

* * *

On the bridge of the Boise there was a crash on the port bridge wing, glass breaking and the noise of more firing as the bullets from the KZ2 hit the side of the ship.

The captain reacted quickly. “Damn! They’re firing at us now, anyone hurt? ... Give a blast on the horn somebody... Flag deck, is anyone hurt up there?”

This was answered by one of the officers reaching across to the button for the horn.

* * *

Roberto had practically sat on Pablo, pushing the wind from his lungs before tumbling them both over the side. He let go of his rifle. Pablo, who had the straps of the Uzi wound around his arm to tighten his grip and steady his aim, had no chance. Pitched over the deflated side of the RIB, without air in his lungs, with pockets full of spare ammunition clips, and the Uzi still entangled around his arms, his boots filled with water and he went down. Struggling in desperation he could not disentangle the Uzi and quickly sank to the bottom of the clear blue water. Juan kicked of his boots and let his pistol fall clear as he felt his first command slowly sink beneath him. 

* * *

“Back again!” Peter yelled. “Go back over the ship.” Thinking to fool the soldiers in the RIB and collect some more lift from that up draught.

Helen pushed the bar out to the right and, banking to the left, flew back, once more over the destroyer. Then, whilst they was busy searching for a sign of the inflatable, the destroyer sounded its horn. Like a wounded animal in pain, a deep booming sound that was designed to carry for miles. The glider was only twenty metres away almost directly above it. Helen didn’t so much as hear it but felt the sound waves hitting her stomach. Instinctively she looked for the source of the sound and saw some figures on the front of the superstructure looking up at them. In an attempt to stop them sounding their horn again she took her left hand off the control bar and put a finger in her ear, then waved her hand side ways shouting. “Please! Don’t do that again.”

Peter meanwhile had been looking around for the inflatable. “The RIB, it’s stopped, I think it’s sinking, and the other one is way back with the other destroyer. I don’t think we will be having any more problems with them.”

“Thank god!” she replied. “I’m going to fly back over the destroyer and see if we can catch that up current of air again, how are you holding up?”

“Do that, if we can ride the up draught we may be able to take stock of things, don’t worry about me. I can’t use my arm and my shoulder hurts like hell, but I’ll live. You’re doing fine though.”

For the fourth time they turned to cross over the destroyer, but by this time the ship was further ahead and so as they crossed over the hot fumes from the funnel engulfed them. The warm rising gasses gave them an unexpected lift but unfortunately they couldn’t stay in it for long as they could hardly breathe. A moment later they were both coughing and spluttering, when on emerging through the haze of fumes they saw the carrier. In the last few minutes they had been so busy criss-crossing over the destroyer, looking for the small boat and trying to avoid being shot they hadn’t noticed the carrier which had swung in the current and an on shore breeze so that its stern was now presented to them, much nearer and almost inviting them to land.

“The carrier!” Shouted Peter. “The carrier, go for it, the current must have swung it around to us. We’ve got enough height from the rising air off the destroyer.”

* * *

On the U.S.S. Boise the flag deck reported to the bridge. “Sir! Flag deck, no one was hurt, that inflatable has shot itself and is sinking. The hang-glider is still criss-crossing above us and a woman just shouted down. ‘Please, don’t do that again,’ very polite she was sir. I think she was referring to sounding the horn. There appears to be a man with her who looks to have been shot and is wounded... Now I think they are heading for the carrier, sir.”

* * *

The Captain of the carrier heard the firing whilst still cringing at the jibe from his guest about protecting his ships. Through the binoculars he could see no effect on the glider from the shooting as it swooped over to the other side of the Boise. ‘First round to those on the glider and now they are dodging back again.’ His sympathies were now with those two people on the glider who were being shot at, as long as they didn’t try and damage any of his ships. Not that there was anything he could do about it at the moment. Again he heard small arms fire, and once again the glider survived. ‘Put down on the destroyer, quickly, land anywhere, else you are bound to get hit in the end.’ He thought as once again he saw the glider turn over the funnel of the U.S.S. Boise then back again. ‘They are gaining height each time they go over her.’

‘Now where’s that RIB? ... Ah! ... There it is just astern of the Boise.’

Adjusting the binoculars brought the sinking RIB into focus. Turning to the President he could hardly suppress a grin as he commented. “It appears your boat has been torpedoed Mr President. It has capsized and is sinking; the men are in the water. Commander Joyce I think we will be having visitors soon... where is that marine?” Quickly the situation went through his mind. ‘I hope to god the Boise didn’t shoot up that RIB. Now what next? There are men in the water, and could be in trouble.’ He thought for a further moment. “Commander Joyce, have a word with U.S.S. Billings, tell them to notify that other RIB there are men in the water... port side.”

* * *

Helen eased the control bar over gently and headed directly for the carrier. She could see some officers on the deck staring at them and two men running towards the stern with rifles. ‘Oh! Please god! Don’t start shooting again, we only want to land,’ she thought before adding to Peter. “I hope they ask questions before they start shooting, because that is where we are going to land, like it or not.”

Peter was watching carefully as they approached the stern. “You're Okay! We have enough height. Keep it steady, we’re going to make it nicely. Ready to get your feet down?” Then as they crossed the stern of the deck called out. “Feet down now... push forward and flair... hold it... great!”

They were down and after a few steps came to a stop, ten meters from the stern and about half way towards the group of officers. As Sir Winston Churchill once said. “There is nothing so exhilarating as to be shot at and missed.” That in conjunction with the flying and the successful landing, made Helen ecstatic. She was on a high with the adrenaline rush, had a smile as big as a chocolate factory and just as disarming. First she unhooked from the glider and bounced forward. Then in a loud clear voice pronounced. “Permission to come aboard... Sir.” And gave a snappy salute. The two marines stopped in surprise, their rifles pointing at the deck and then turned as one to look at the officers gathered near the helicopter.

It was a different story with Peter who had been shot. He was in agony and having difficulty getting unhooked. Helen, suddenly releasing that he wasn’t with her looked round Then ran back to him and unhooked his harness as Peters legs folded up under him. He collapsed in a heap, his shirt bright red around his arm and left shoulder.

She knelt there on the deck with Peter’s head cradled in her lap. “A doctor,” she shouted. “Some one get a doctor, they shot him.”