| The Salt Lake City Concert (Opus II) For NaNo 2009, The second volume in the "Grand Organ Mysteries" fiction series.
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Created: 10:08pm on 10-16-2009
Modified: 12:01am on 11-19-2009 | |
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Entry #676646, added on 11-18-09 @ 1:38 am EST.
[Entry Access Restriction] None.
Title:
Chapter 6
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On final approach into the Salt Lake International Airport, Captain Stearns was dead-center on the approach glide path. Cameron was removing himself to be seated with Josiah Young for final touchdown and roll-out. Young would be home for dinner. Cameron and Carroll Stearns would be well received, fed, and accommodated at the spacious, sprawling ranch Young called “the homestead”.
“Mr. Young, Dr. Blair has instituted a couple of security measures for us here in Salt lake. He is concerned for your safety, as well as the security of the document you bring to Temple Square. I hope this will not be a bother to you, Sir. But, I'm afraid it is quite necessary.”
“Not to worry, Cameron. We discussed these measures prior to my leaving Pipe Dreams. They will be fine. So will I, incidentally. This isn't my first rodeo with Dr. Blair, you know. He can surely be a thorn in my saddle at times. But, he usually turns out to be right, too. I don't mind. I just hate having a fuss being made over me—by anyone.”
“We will be on the ground in five minutes, gentlemen. Please prepare for landing.” The voice of Captain Stearns coming through the cabin intercom was a reassuring touch. He was a consummate professional. Dr. Blair had been very lucky to have gotten him as his Aeronautical Chief. It was a sweet job, but Stearns provided many more services than merely piloting the worlds most advanced private aircraft. Time after time, Carroll Stearns had proven himself an irreplaceable member of the Grand Organ team. Everyone who knew him liked and respected him.
The landing was flawless, as usual, as the pilot of Pipe Dreams I left the main runway and began the taxi to the General Aviation Terminal. This slow process was very important to all airline passengers. It was specifically designed many years ago to allow the passengers to re-orient themselves from a “travel” mode to a “back-to-living” mode when Air transport was brand new. Safety also required a maximum 5mph taxiway speed.
“Mr. Young, your foreman will meet us at the General Aviation Terminal, Sir. I was asked to transmit that message to you. Is everything alright, Josiah?” Josiah Young suddenly looked concerned. This message seemed to upset him more than just a little.
“How do I speak with Captain Stearns, Cameron? I need to speak with him right away.”
“We're on the ground, so it's okay for you to get up. You can speak with him in the cabin—if you wish. Or you can use this phone on the wall here to speak with him.”
Young arose from his seat. “No, I believe it would be better if I spoke with the Captain personally. I will only be a moment, if that is alright, Cameron."
“That will be fine, Mr. Young. I'll just wait here for you.”
Josiah Young headed for the front cabin of the LearJet in a hurry; a concerned hurry at that. Cameron sat back in the executive chair and closed his eyes. He certainly hoped there was no problem for Mr. Young at this point in the trip! He really hoped this did not bode poorly for the transfer of the Bach manuscript in the hold. They had to publicly convey the manuscript, in Mr. Young's care, into and through downtown Salt Lake all the way to Temple Square before they would have security assistance from the folks at the Tabernacle. There had been a lot of discussion about this very matter. Dr. Blair had finally concluded that “less is more in this case”, so they were naked until the group and manuscript arrived at Temple square and the Visitor's Center. Up in the cockpit, Josiah was having a very clipped, quick conversation with Captain Stearns.
“Yes, Josiah. Is everything alright?”
“I'm not sure, Carroll. Are you sure that the message you gave me was the message you received? That my foreman would be meeting us at the General Aviation Terminal?”
“I'm absolutely certain that was the message I received, Josiah. Here, you can read it for yourself.”
The LearJet had an incoming message data center on board, and could print any message that was available to the pilots. Young took the strip of paper from the pilot, his hands shaking slightly. He read it, concentrating on the paper while reading the short message over and over.
“I think we have a problem, Captain.”
“What problem is that, Josiah?”
“Well, I've read the message several times. I understand what it says. But I don't understand why it was sent.”
“Perhaps the foreman was just letting us know that he would meet us at the plane, Josiah. I don't see a problem with that. What do you see that I don't?
“Captain Stearns, I don't have a foreman at my ranch.”
Stearns looked at Josiah Young incredulously.
“So, what do you think we should take from this message?
”
Josiah considered his thoughts for a moment. They were on final approach to Salt Lake International Airport. There was nothing they could do.
“I have no idea, Captain. All I can tell you is that I do not have a ranch foreman.”
“Okay. You go back and buckle up. I'll see if I can come up with a solution to this problem. But, Josiah?”
“Yes?”
“Please stay on board until I can escort you into the terminal, alright?”
“Surely. I don't think there's anything to worry about, Captain Stearns. But I will do as you ask.”
“Okay, thanks.” Walking back to his seat, the Utah rancher sat down and buckled into his seat. Cameron watched him with focused interest.
“Is everything alright, Mr. Young?”
“Oh, yes, Cameron. Everything is just fine.”
“Good. We should be on the ground shortly.”
“Yes. I think we may be delayed just a bit getting to the terminal. Captain Stearns has asked us to wait until he can escort us from the plane into the terminal.”
“Really? Do you know why?”
“No, not really. I can't say that I do.”
Cameron smiled. He knew that Captain Stearns would be extra careful with this special guest and his cargo. “That's just Captain Stearns being careful, Mr. Young. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.”
“I'm sure that's it, Cameron.”
The LearJet's wheels slowly rolled down the tarmac. It would be about five minutes, if everything went according to plan, before the hatch door would open and they would be able to deplane. The plan was that the special detail from the Tabernacle would meet them inside the General Aviation terminal. Their highly skilled security team would take possession of the Bach manuscript, for safe delivery to the Visitor's Center. Cameron looked out the window by his seat. He could see an old beat up farm truck rolling slowly towards the general aviation parking spot he knew had been assigned to Pipe Dreams I. Behind the truck, a large black Chevy Suburban was rolling towards them. That must be the security team. Cameron unbuckled his seat belt.
“I see the security guys coming toward us. I'll go to see if I can help Captain Stearns shut everything down, alright?”
“That will be fine, Cameron.” Cameron went forward into the cockpit, and sat in the co-pilot's seat.
“It looks like his ranch has sent someone for Mr. Young. The Tabernacle Security Team is right behind them. They are coming up on our port side right now. It looks like everything's going to work out fine, Captain Stearns.”
“Buckle up, Cameron.”
“But we'r....”
“Buckle up, Cameron.” Stearns was staring at the young man with a look Cameron had seen before. He immediately buckled up his safety harness. Captain Stearns continued rolling the airplane past the assigned parking slot, down the terminal taxiway.
“What is it? What's wrong?”
“That truck is not from Mr. Young's ranch, Cameron. The Tabernacle security team arrived 30 minutes ago. That suburban is not them. It looks like someone else wants to welcome us to Salt Lake City. I don't think I care too much for that.”
“Oh, man! What are we going to do?”
“We are going to taxi to a private hanger, where the real Security Team is waiting for us. I've already notified them of our visitors. Just remain calm, and help me get us into the hanger, alright?”
“Sure, no problem.”
The sleek executive jet slowly proceeded down the taxiway, announcing merely by its presence that someone important was in the area. Landing and positional lights showing her in all her glorious majesty, Pipe Dreams I strolled down the taxiway toward the private hangars like the Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade.
It became obvious that the truck and Suburban were becoming aware of the situation. First the suburban sped up, passing the farm truck in the procession. The truck began belching smoke from the exhaust pipe, accelerating to keep pace. As it became apparent they were going to some place other than the assigned parking slot, the two vehicles worked to get closer to the LearJet. They fanned out onto either side of the jet.
Flashlights from in front of them began waving the airplane toward one particular hangar. The white halogen beans were insolently demanding in their brightness, encircling the jet in light, seeming to pull it towards their holders like a tractor beam from a Science Fiction movie
.
“There they are, Cameron. Guide to them just like any other ground guide. Alright?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Cameron interpreted the ground signals perfectly, guiding Pipe Dreams I expertly into the private hangar. As the wheels stopped rolling, lights from all over the hangar began shining, one row at a time. Within only a couple of minutes, the interior of the hangar was completely illuminated, showing three flat black Suburbans, emergency lights flashing, facing the front of the plane from three different directions. Captain Stearns finalized the landing and shutdown procedures, and powered down the twin jet engines. He looked at Cameron.
“You stay right here, buckled in. I'll tell Josiah to stay put until I come back for the two of you. Understand me, Cameron?”
“Yes, Sir. What should I do?”
“If you see the first bit of trouble, I want you to raise the hatch from here, and secure the plane for flight. If it becomes necessary, I will ask you to put the engines into full reverse, and back the plane from the hangar—but only on my signal. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Captain Stearns.”
“Oh, and before you move the plane?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Activate the emergency beacon. We'll be in some serious trouble, and we will need help. Alright?”
“Alright. I will.”
The veteran pilot rose from his seat, and slowly walked to the main door of the plane. “Hang on just a couple of minutes, Josiah. I want to make sure we have the help we need before we get into the terminal. I'll be right back.”
“Okay, Carroll. Whatever you say.”
Breaking the seal, Captain Stearns lowered the hatchway stairs by remote from the fuselage of the plane. He slowly allowed the main door of the LearJet to slide in, and to his right. He stepped onto the stairs, and slowly, cautiously stepped to the ground.
“Welcome to Salt Lake City, Captain Stearns.”
The sound somehow came from behind him. As he turned to his left to see the speaker, he felt a sharp pain in his head. The last thing he remembered before hitting the ground, hard, was the one word he could bring to his quickly blackening mind:
“Damn!” |
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