Chapter 7 Out on the Airfield

The biting wind blew across the airfield. It was as strong as ever

and it drove the falling snow ahead of it.

As he drove to runway one seven, left, Mel was shaking with

cold although it was warm in his car. Was he shaking just because

of the cold, he wondered, or was it also because of his memories?

The pain in his foot helped to remind him of something that

had happened 16 years before, when Mel had been a pilot during

the Korean War.

One day he had had a strange feeling, the knowledge that

something terrible was going to happen. Next day his plane was

shot down into the sea. It was sinking fast and his foot was

trapped. He had saved his own life by cutting at his foot with a

knife. After a long time in hospital he was able to walk, but he

would never be able to fly a plane again.

The strange feeling that he had had before that experience

was with him again now.

Only two of Lincoln International's runways, one seven, right,

and two five, were in use now. One seven, left, was being cleared

and would soon be back in use. The longest and widest of the

five runways was three zero, which was blocked by the Aéreo-

Mexican plane.

Since the storm began, men had been working on the

runways. They had to work quickly and carefully, as more than

4 inches of dry snow on the ground was dangerous for a large

plane. Mel wished that the public could see the way these men

worked, and the great machines they used.

When he reached the men, one of them called to him; 'Why

don't you join us, Mr Bakersfeld? Have a ride on a snowplough!'

Mel smiled. 'Thanks. I will.'

He climbed in beside the driver of one of the machines. He

knew the man. Usually he worked as a clerk.

'How are you, Will?' Mel asked.

'Fine. A bit tired.'

'Everyone's tired. All I can say is, it can't go on for ever.'

'I like this work,' Will told him. 'It makes a change from

working in the office.'

Mel understood his feeling. He too needed to get out of his

office sometimes, and stand on the lonely airfield in the wind and

snow. That was where he always went when he needed to think

hard about something important. He had plenty to think about

tonight. The airport's future, and his own.

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