Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

preparations.”
    They both heard the crunch of gravel from the driveway, and car doors slammed.
    â€œShit!” Teddy said. “You’re going to have to stall them for me; give me as much time as you can.” He kissed her and ran out the back door as the doorbell rang. As he ran, he looked up at the overcast, which was nearly down to rooftop level at Irene’s house. This was going to be tougher than he had thought. He headed down the hill at breakneck speed.

    I rene Foster opened the door, wearing an apron. “Well hello, all of you, what a nice surprise! I was just making a crab salad; can you stay for lunch?”
    â€œI’m afraid not, Irene,” Thomas said, stepping into the house. “Where’s Harold?”
    â€œHe’s just getting out of the shower. Why don’t you all have a seat; he’ll be out as soon as he’s dressed.” She showed them all into the living room, but nobody sat down.
    â€œWe really need to see him right now, Irene,” Holly said.
    â€œGoodness, what’s the rush? Can I get anybody some iced tea?”
    From outside somewhere came a loud buzzing noise.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Stone asked.
    â€œChain saw,” Irene replied smoothly. “They’re clearing out some trees in the ravine below the old guest house.”
    â€œThere aren’t any trees in that ravine, and that’s not a chain saw,” Holly said, and she started running.

59
    T eddy sat in the front seat of the two-seater ultralight aircraft, his case strapped into the rear seat. A map image appeared on the Garmin portable GPS he had fixed to the frame ahead of him. He tapped in the identifier for Nevis airport and pressed the “Direct To” button. A line appeared on the map; all he had to do was to follow that. He pushed the throttle forward for takeoff, and the engine died. He hadn’t had time to warm it up properly.
    â€œShit!” he practically screamed. He pulled the choke out halfway and pressed the starter button, hoping to God he wasn’t flooding it. The engine began turning over again, but more weakly than the first time; the battery was a small one.
    â€œTeddy!” he heard Thomas yell from up the hill somewhere. “Teddy!”
    The engine caught and roared to life. Teddy pushed the throttle slowly forward, letting the rpms build, trying not to let it die again. Finally, it was wide open. Teddy took the knife from his belt and turned to cut the light rope that was all that was holding the little aircraft back.

    H olly rounded the corner of the old guesthouse ahead of Thomas and Stone, clawing at the pistol stuck in the belt of her jeans. “Teddy!” she yelled. “It’s Holly Barker! Don’t do anything stupid!” She came to a sliding halt and fell on her ass. Teddy Fay was sitting in what looked like a large bird, made of aluminum and cloth, and he was reaching behind him with a knife. The noise from the propeller was deafening. Holly got to one knee and aimed carefully at Teddy’s upper body. “Don’t do it, Teddy!” she yelled and began squeezing the trigger.
    Teddy cut whatever was holding the little airplane back, and, finally freed of its tether, it shot down the hill, as Holly fired, missing him.

    T eddy concentrated on keeping the ultralight airplane in the concrete spillway, which was all the runway he had. The little craft gained speed, and as the end of the spillway rushed at him, he pulled back slightly on the stick, clearing the rough ground, but still headed downhill, picking up airspeed. He heard another gunshot, this one a little different-sounding. Two of them were shooting at him. It was now or never.
    Teddy pulled firmly back on the stick, and the ultralight started to climb toward the thick clouds above him.

    H olly braced herself against the corner of the house and sighted carefully. This time he was hers. She squeezed off the round, then, suddenly, the ultralight disappeared.
    Teddy felt a blow on his right calf as the ultralight entered the clouds, but he couldn’t let that distract him. He was going to have his hands full, keeping the wings level with no visual references. All he had was a compass, mounted at eye level, and it was moving, signaling a turn to the south. He corrected gently to his right, and the wind through the rigging began to sing louder. He was in a descent, and he yanked back on the stick.

    T here!” Thomas