Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 17

Silky reached out for the auto-pilot switch and turned it off. The wing of the small plane dipped and began making a graceful starboard arc. He turned the controls in the opposite direction and returned to his original heading. Smiling at Rona, he pushed the controls forward gently and the plane began picking up speed. Smoothly he pulled back and again the craft was level.
"Nothing to this flying business."
"Where'd you learn to do that?" asked Rona.
"I watched Ivan using the auto-pilot, and when I was a kid, I had a rich foster father who had his own plane. He used to let me fly it, but I wasn't with him long enough to learn how to land it."
"Too bad. That seems to be the part of the lesson we're gonna need."
"Look in Ivan's map case, and see if there is a pre-landing check list."
Rona flicked through the papers and found the plastic covered card Silky had used to read off the pre-flight checks. On the back of the card were the power settings for the engine, landing speed, and downwind checks.
"This what you want?"
"Yeah. That's it...What do you think we should do now?"
"You're the pilot. I haven't got a clue."
"We've still got about a third of a tank of fuel. From what Ivan said, that should keep us going for another couple of hours. I'd sure like to get away from that godforsaken desert down there. Are you willing to risk it?"
"Have I denied you anything so far?" asked Rona, smiling.
"Then you be the navigator. Look in that map case again and see if Ivan has plotted a course for us."
Again she sorted out the many charts and found one with a pencil line drawn on it. It was the map of north western Nebraska.
"This looks like it," unfolding the chart which covered her lap.
He selected auto-pilot and studied the chart with Rona.
"Look at that. The sonofabitch planned to dump us there, over Alliance, and take the money."
"And he hasn't extended his course any further than that."
"Look, I got an idea," said Silky.
"Don't you always."
"If we can get down safely at Scottsbluff, we'll refuel and continue on our way."
"And if we don't make it?"
"Either way, our problems are solved."
"I don't know about you," said Rona, "But I think before we go into a bigger place, you better do some practising. That ground down there looks pretty flat."
"Yeah, and if we wait too long, we're going to start getting into even rougher territory. If you're willing, I'm willing."
"Give it your best shot Captain."
He put the air plane back on manual control and began his descent. Gently he turned starboard, dropping the nose of the plane, losing altitude gradually. What appeared smooth from 7000 feet, now showed many small wind holes in a tortured surface. Rona read out the check list while Silky carried out her instructions.
"This has a tricycle landing gear," said Silky.
"What's that mean?"
"It means, that unless I screw up by stalling it, we stand a good chance of making it."
"Thanks a lot. I feel much better now."
"Hang on to Sandy when we hit. I sure as hell don't want him doing a number on us."
She put her fingers under Sandy's collar, and held firmly. Silky completed his approach, pulling back the throttle to 75 knots.
"Well this is it. Hold on sweety."
The air plane began to float over the rough terrain. Silky felt the juices in his arms begin to wane, and his head throbbed.
"Put it down...Down Silky. You're too high," shouted Rona.
"I can't... Jeezus, help me."
Rona pushed the stick forward and the nose dropped suddenly, followed by a crashing sound against the bottom of the aircraft. Silky reached for the throttle and jammed it forward, and the engine roared as he pulled back on the stick and their Cherokee was in the air again.
"Thank God for throttles."
"What the hell happened to you?"
"Now I remember why my father never let me land."
"Why was that?"
"He said I had little or no depth perception."
"What's that mean?"
"I can't tell where the ground is when it comes to landing."
"Oh great...Now he tells me."
"But you could do it Rona."
"Me...are you kidding?"
"No. I mean it. Change places with me and I'll show you what to do."
"What did I ever do before you came into my life?"
They exchanged seats and Silky explained about the throttle. Rona managed to bank the plane without losing too much altitude. He then had her fly straight and level for awhile.
"Well that's it for your crash course in flying."
"Must you use that word?"
"I'm counting on you sweety. Me and Sandy are in your hands."
"You know all this hyping isn't making it any easier for me."
"Start your descent, and remember keep it smooth. No jerky corrections at the last minute."
"Okay...I think I'm ready."
Her approach was flawless, the small plane descended smoothly. At five hundred feet off the desert, she pointed the nose gently downward and held the throttle. Slowly she came closer and closer, then suddenly there was the rattle of the wheels racing across the rugged terrain. She pulled back on the throttle and applied the brakes.
"Yahoo!...I did it. We did it. I landed a plane...Me. Wow."
Silky grabbed her and kissed her.
"You sure did...What a woman. What a goddamn fine woman."
"And it wasn't such a bad landing was it?"
"It was a terrific landing. Sweety you are a constant wonder to me."
"Let's go outside. I want to stand on the ground."
Outside, the temperature was in the high nineties. The air was clean and fresh. Surrounding the flat ground were distant high lands. Only the sound of the wind could be heard. As far as they were concerned, they could've just landed on the moon. Silky hugged Rona again, and they both laughed as they watched Sandy digging in the hard desert floor.
"Well what do you think? Should we try to fly this thing to the coast?"
"I'm game, as long as you let me do the landings."
"Let's study those charts and select our route."
"You do that Silky, while I dirty us some money."
"You what?"
"We want to refuel at Scottsbluff, I think I should do some aging of our loot, or we're gonna be in trouble when it comes to paying for our gas." She took a handful of the robbery bills and poured water on them, then rubbed them into the powdery earth Sandy had dug up. While she was involved in aging the currency, Silky had unfolded some of the charts under the shade of the wing. They spent about an hour in the desert heat, preparing for the rest of their trip.
"How are you doing with the money?"
"I've made about five thousand usable bills. That should be more than enough to take us to LA."
"Why not do more?"
"Not necessary. We shouldn't have too much trouble passing the loot in Mexico. I just did what I hope will be enough for here. We could have some problems getting them to take Canadian money. And if we try to change it at a bank, They may have the serial numbers."
"I won't show them the money until after we are refuelled. Then if they bitch, that's their tough luck. Maybe we can even find some guy who will change some of it for us."
"That's pretty chancy. We sure as hell don't want to attract too much attention to ourselves."
"Well as Ivan would say, let's get this show on the road."
Silky started the engine, and soon the oil pressures were up and he turned the plane into the wind.
"What a team. I fly 'em and you land 'em."
He pushed the throttle forward, and released the brake. Soon the Cherokee was racing along the bumpy surface, then suddenly it felt smooth as the ground appeared to fall away from them.
"That's my man," said Rona holding the map on her lap.
"So where do we go?"
"That way," she said, pointing south west. "Over there in those hills. See that river? That should be the North Platte River. Up stream is Scottsbluff."
"Can you believe this?" asked Silky.
"Kinda scary if you ask me."
"Over half a million bucks, our own plane, a beautiful woman as my navigator, and my faithful mutt Sandy. If I'm dreaming, please don't wake me."
"No dream darling, it's all coming true."
On the horizon they saw the buildings of Scottsbluff, a city of fifteen thousand, that seemed like a huge metropolis after the terrain they had just experienced. As they came closer, Silky spotted the small airfield Ivan had told him about. He got out of his seat and Rona took control.
"Look at that. It's a real runway. If you could keep it on the ground back there, this should be a real snap."
"What do you mean 'if'?"
"Just don't start getting too cocky. The wind can do strange things when you're trying to land."
"Enough of this. Hang on to Sandy. I'm gonna start going down."
Silky was amazed at how quickly she picked up this new skill. Gracefully she banked the Cherokee, descending slowly, at the same time. About five miles off the end of the runway, she eased off on the throttle and continued the approach angle. At about 100 feet off the end of the runway, she pointed the nose down, then eased it up a little and made a perfect three point landing, no bumps, no dips, just a perfect landing.
"Holy gawd almighty. That was terrific," said Silky.
"Sure was. Who said flying was for the birds. I love it."
She taxied to the tarmac in front of the small hangar and turned the plane facing the runway, in case they had to make a quick getaway.
"Let's go and see if these guys will sell us some gas."
A young man in his late teens was the only person at the airport. Wearing coveralls, he came out to meet the visitors.
"Hi. Somethin' I can do for you folks?"
"Fill us up, if you don't mind," said Silky.
"Cash or credit card?"
"Cash."
"Good. We've had problems lately with credit cards."
"Oh. How's that?"
"We've had guys come in here with stolen credit cards, and when dad sends in the form, he finds out they've been cancelled."
"Your dad runs this place?"
"Me and dad. Ron Bolt and Son. I'm Jerry Bolt."
"Hi Jerry. Go ahead and fill it up."
"You got it."
Silky and Rona went into the small hangar. Beside a counter was a coke machine.
"You got any change?"
"Not a penny."
"Hold on for a second." Silky ran outdoors. "Hey Jerry, you got any change for your machine?"
The kid reached into his pocket and pulled out two quarters.
"Thanks... I'll straighten up with you after."
Drinking their cokes they watched the young man filling their tanks.
"Do you know what I was thinking?" asked Rona.
"What's that?"
"I wonder if Ivan made it."
"He wanted adventure. If he made it, he's got a lot of explaining to do, about his plane and all. And if he didn't make it, he went down thinking he had the money, and put it over on a couple of dumb Canadians."
Jerry returned to the hangar. He made out a bill and passed it to Silky.
"A hundred and twenty dollars?" asked Silky.
"That's right."
"Canadian?"
"Canadian?" asked Jerry.
"That's all I got. Just Canadian dollars."
"Jeez...I don't know. We never get Canadian money much."
"Look, the difference in the value of a Canadian dollar and an American dollar is about thirty percent now."
"I don't know what it is."
"Believe me it is. So we take your bill of a hundred and twenty dollars and we add thirty percent. That makes it...let me see...One hundred and fifty six dollars. How be it, I give you a hundred and sixty dollars, and that covers the cokes too?"
"Well if that's all you've got is Canadian. I guess we can take it to the bank."
"Of course . That's how it's done. You or your dad take it to the bank and change it into American money. And I've allowed you more than the current rate of exchange, so you are further ahead in the long run."
"Okay...I'll do it. What the hell, I own the business too."
"In fact Jerry, if you would be willing to exchange more money for us so that we won't run into any more problems, We'll even give you as much as forty percent exchange," suggested Rona.
"Forty percent! Wow. That would be great."
"You got much American cash here?" asked Silky.
"Over five hundred in the safe. We get it from the folks who belong to the flying club. I can exchange five hundred American...is that okay?"
"Five hundred American's gonna cost us...let me see, seven hundred Canadian. How's that for earning your keep."
Jerry opened the safe and began counting out the bills. Rona took out a roll of Canadian bills to make the exchange.
"Here you are folks. I sure appreciate you comin' in here like this. Dad's gonna be really surprised."
"I'm sure he will," said Silky. "Have a good day."

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