Chapter Sixteen
The small plane taxied to a stop in front of a sheet-metal building that appeared to be a hangar. Claudia smiled at Sam and gave his hand a little squeeze. He smiled back, even though shed had a deathgrip on that hand from the time theyd taken off. Before, shed been wishing that air travel could recapture a little bit of the romance of its earlier days. After the ninety-minute flight in this fragile, one-engine machine shed had enough of the romance of flying to last her for quite a while. The air was a lot bumpier in a small plane, and while it might fly at a lower altitude than a big jet, the ground below still seemed very far away.
Sam reached forward to pat the pilots shoulder. Thanks, Carl, he said. I really appreciate you coming to get us.
Carl half-turned
