Chapter Six
The fast hour for lunch at The Doghouse washad been mostly quiet as MHA’s crew still processed the loss at their base. Ripley had some of her own thinking to do as well…like what the hell was MHA up to? Not that her prime rib dip sandwich had offered any answers.
Then it had been back to Jernstedt and a half-hour flight to Portland International Airport.
A pair of Antonov An-124s had landed at about the same time they did, and for the last few hours the entire MHA helicopter and maintenance crew had been left to mill around while their helicopters and equipment were loaded. Apparently the smokies and other support staff were not included in whatever was coming. Which said even more that this wasn’t just firefighting.
“Damn, but those are big planes.” Ripley didn’t need to t
