Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 16

Glistening off the sloping metal roof of the grain elevator in Bowbells a bright morning sun augured well for their flight. The small town of seven hundred souls was as still as a picture postcard. Sandy barked through the open rear window, his head thrust into the stream of warm air.
"So far so good," said Rona.
"Kinda eery isn't it. The stillness and all. A couple of fugitives with a bag of money come into a quiet town, and suddenly cops and swat teams sprout up from nowhere and gun them down."
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Rona.
"Just pretending. That's the way it happens in movies."
"Well just don't go weird on me now."
"Funny you should say that."
"What do you mean funny?"
"Tilly said he thought I was weird too."
"You're not exactly your run of the mill crook."
"But I'm not weird am I?"
"Weird, like in crazy. No. But weird like in different, you sure as hell are, and that's what I love about you."
"I can live with that. When you get to know me better, you'll understand why I'm so different...but here we are, Bowbells International Air Terminal. Total aircraft, one single engine, five passenger Piper Cherokee."
Standing with his head buried in its innards, Ivan Thistlegrow heard the car approaching. He moved away from the aircraft and waved to his young passengers.
"Hi Ivan. We were able to get away sooner than we had expected."
"So I see. And you're still driving the blue rental Dodge."
His remark about their car stunned them. They had used Silky's sports car the last time they had seen him. Obviously the news was out.
"Don't you fret none. I'm not about to start calling the cops. Kinda expected you might even be here last night. Everything's ready to go when you are."
"You know about us?" asked Silky
"I know enough."
"Then why didn't you call the police?" asked Rona.
"What for? And miss out on a chance to fly my machine to the coast. Hell no. If I called them, they would've had this place surrounded by now and that would be it for you kids."
"I suppose you'll be wanting more for the flight now."
"No way. A deal's, a deal."
"How did you find out?"
"They had your picture on TV last night, on the late news. I don't know how you managed to get here without being spotted...but I better stop flapping my gums, and get the show on the road."
They loaded their suitcase and money pouch into the aircraft while Ivan fastened down the engine panels. His attitude to their situation had come as a complete surprise.
"What do you think?" asked Rona.
"We haven't any choice. Seems like he means to help us."
"Watch him real close. I've got a feeling about this guy."
"You and your feelings," said Silky, wishing she hadn't expressed her doubts.
"Just don't let him get you off guard. I'll keep an eye on him too."
Ivan came on board, carrying his map case, an old fashioned parachute bag, and a hang up suit case. Opening the door to the rear washroom, he hung up the suit case, and put the parachute bag under it, beside Silky's suitcase and the money pouch. Without them seeing, he unzipped the pouch and checked the money. His eyes were as big as saucers when he saw the stacks of new Canadian bills. Closing the pouch, he opened the rear compartment door and went forward into the cockpit, putting his maps in the space between the two cabin seats. Looking over his shoulder, he challenged them again.
"So you're not...what was it you told me...Stan Howard, and Doris...whatever, after all?"
"Stan Zylkowski and Rona..." said Silky, correcting him.
"Also known as Silky," said Ivan.
"That's right."
"Well I'll be damned."
"I don't understand," said Silky.
"That's why the registrar at the University of Saskatchewan had no record of you. I'm willing to bet, you've never been to University, or anything like it."
"You checked on us?"
"Called collect...Didn't cost me anything."
"Why'd you do that?"
"Just got a feelin'. You know what it's like with some people. You get feelings and you don't know why..." Ivan decided he better change the subject before they really became suspicious of him.
"Hey! I like that dog of yours. Is it true he buried the money on you?"
"You mean they had that on the news too?"
"Gawd, when I heard that, I laughed so much I almost pissed myself. You couldn't shoot the bitch cuz he might lead you to the money, and if you let him live, he could be used to pin the crime on you. That's what I call being between a rock and a hard place. Soon as I saw your picture, and heard the story, I knew why you couldn't tell me the exact day for departure."
His reaction to their situation was still puzzling them. This was a cagey old fox, with lots of time under his wings. What he was saying, was not necessarily what he was meaning. Rona persisted in trying to learn his motive.
"I still can't understand why you're doing this for us."
Ivan chuckled before replying. "You got any idea how bloody boring it is to be earthbound in a boon-docks place like Bowbells? Taking you kids to LA is the greatest adventure to come my way since flying in Korea. The fact that you're running from the cops, adds spice to the whole thing. What the hell, if we get caught, I just tell 'em you forced me at gun point. Then you get charged with kidnapping at the same time. I wouldn't miss this for anything."
"I'm sure glad you feel this way," said Silky.
"Come on up here and be my co-pilot."
"Do you mind if I go to the can before we take off?" asked Rona.
"Not at all. But don't stay back there too long. I want you strapped in your seat when we take off."
Rona opened the the rear compartment, and Silky went forward and fastened his safety belt as he settled into the right hand seat. Ivan took a card out of his map bag and passed it to Silky.
"Start at the top and read me all those things while I check 'em off."
Twenty minutes later they were off, heading for Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on the North Platte River, the first refuelling stop on their route west. Ivan had planned the trip very carefully so that Air Traffic Control would not be able to track them.
"Aren't you afraid the cops will be able to figure out where we're going when they study your flight plan?" asked Silky.
"Flight plan...You know something about flight plans?"
"A little. One of the foster homes I was in, the guy had his private licence and he used to take me flying with him."
"You can fly?"
"Hell no. I've taken off a few times, but never landed."
"This baby practically does all the work itself. When we get to altitude, I'll just cut in George."
"George?"
"Guess your old man didn't use that expression. It's what we old timers call our auto-pilot. Sure makes flying easy."
"What about the flight plan?"
"No problem. I didn't file one. In conditions like this, we can stay VFR, below their radar horizon, and no one knows what direction we're heading. Leave it to me."
When Rona had finished in the back, she brought the money pouch forward and place it under her seat. About a half hour into the flight she and Sandy fell asleep, lulled by the monotonous drone of the engine.
Silky studied the face of their new found friend, who wore a continuous grin, as though he knew something they did not.
"You said you were in Korea."
"Sure was. Flew a rescue chopper. Picked up our jet jockeys when they were shot down. Flying at tree level, dodging the Commie snipers sure stirred up the old stomach acid."
"Ever get hurt?"
"Once I had to ditch my machine. A rocket knocked out one of the rotors. Took a little skin off my arm when I crashed. A back-up buddy of mine hauled me outa there before the gooks got me."
"How old are you Ivan?"
"Sixty next birthday."
"And still looking for excitement."
"Why not? You only come this way once, you might as well go all the way."
"You get us to LA, and I'm gonna double your fee."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to. Fair is fair. You could've turned us in."
"What's the sense in doing that. I'm just as anxious as you are to see how this all turns out."
"What all did they say on the news?"
"They gave a description and showed pictures. You were in uniform. They said your girl was wanted for assault. Claimed you were armed and dangerous. Then they told the details of the robbery. I couldn't believe that part about the dog hiding the money."
"In a way, we were lucky Sayer and the Mounties came to the farm. Sandy recognized the Captain and I guess he must've made some connection between him and the money."
"And they call 'em dumb animals."
"Sure glad you agreed to let us take him."
"Look at them back there, sleeping. Couple of innocents."
"You're some guy Ivan."
"So are you kid. That takes lotsa guts to do what you did."
"Well it's done now. Like you said, I'd like to know how it all ends."
Ivan looked back again at the peaceful passengers sleeping.
"You oughta go back there yourself and log a few zees."
"How about you? I can steer this thing if you want to take a break."
"Naw. I'm okay. Never sleep in an air plane."
"Why's that?"
"If anything's gonna happen, I want to see it."
"You're putting me on."
"No I mean it. I think that's what Korea did for me."
"Well in that case, if you don't mind, I'll take you up on your offer. I could use a few winks."
"Good. And if I need you, I'll wake you."
As he moved to one of the seats in the passenger compartment he thought about what Rona had said. But what could happen up here? And besides, she had said she would keep an eye on him too, and look at her. She was right out of it.
Stretching beneath the aircraft was the interior plain of the central United States, with its sparsely populated territory. Silky had complete confidence in the flying ability of Ivan Thistlegrow, and soon was fast asleep.
An hour later, confirming his navigation, Ivan pinpointed his position slightly north of Alliance, Nebraska. Everything was going as he had planned. Alliance was a small community of 8000, and a good place to hide out until the search for the payroll robber cooled. The surrounding area was also rugged enough to test Silky's survival skills if somehow he was able to land the plane. The sand hill region was a virtual desert.
Looking back he saw that all his passengers were sleeping soundly. He leaned forward and took the plane off auto-pilot, and pulling back on the control stick, began to climb. The changing sound of the engine startled Silky, and he sat up abruptly.
"No problem." said Ivan. "Just giving us a little more altitude while I go to the can. You can come up here and keep an eye on things if you want."
"Yeah...Okay," said Silky, still groggy from his short nap.
"Shouldn't be any trouble. I've put it back on auto-pilot."
"That's fine Ivan. Go and do what you've got to do. I'll look after things."
Silky slipped into Ivan's seat and grabbed the controls.
"No need to do that. It'll fly itself. Just keep a sharp eye out for other aircraft."
"You got it Captain," he said smiling confidently.
Ivan passed Rona, who was slumped over, undisturbed by the change of altitude. Sandy's stubby tail wiggled a couple of times when Ivan touched him. In the washroom he opened his canvas parachute bag and took out the old fashioned harness and chest pack. Awkwardly he strapped the rig on himself and snapped the parachute into its clips in front. Returning quietly to the main cabin, he carefully put his hand on the money pouch under Rona's seat. Suddenly Sandy startled everyone with a fierce bark. Rona sat up quickly and took hold of the money pouch Ivan was trying to tear away from her.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Ivan pulled the bag away from her, and her seatbelt prevented her from grabbing it again.
"This is where I get off."
Silky was reluctant to leave the controls. He couldn't believe what was happening.
"You can't do that. We'll crash without you. If you want more money, we'll give you an equal share. Jeezus, don't do this Ivan."
"No need to take less when I can have it all. Hope you kids make it. Have a good day."
Pushing open the side door of the cabin, he fell backwards, the money bag firmly held in his arms. Silky looked back through the side window and saw the white canopy open.
"Goddamn it...All that work for nothin'. Jeezus there's no justice in this friggin world."
Rona managed to shut the door and fasten it. Coming forward, she sat next to Silky.
"That's what you think."
"He took the whole ball of wax."
Rona began to laugh.
"I'd love to see the expression on his face when he opens the pouch and finds only your shorts and army things."
"My what?"
"When I told him I was going to the toilet, I switched everything. I put your things in the pouch, and the money in your suitcase. Then I brought the pouch to my seat so that he would think I wanted to protect it. That's why I made like I was going to fight him for it. I didn't want him to open it to check the inside."
Silky was speechless. What kind of woman was she.
"Show me...Go on show me. I don't believe it."
She was still laughing as she went to the back and brought his suitcase forward. Opening it carefully, she showed him the money.
"What a woman...What a goddamn fine woman."
Rona leaned over and kissed him.
"Thank you darling. That's one of the nicest things you've ever said to me...Now there's just one more thing I'd like to know. How are you going to land this thing?"

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