full of passengers’ faces, Aunty Viv’s goat Wilhemina , a ride-on airport vacuum cleaner and an unusual belt buckle. He liked unusual shapes.
‘Remember, the plane was late leaving.’ Christopher shut his sketch pad. ‘Perhaps the cleaners didn’t finish?’
Twisting around, Amy peered down the plane. Too many crew . She couldn’t see anything except navy shoulders.
‘Lost it.’ Balloon Arms was fussing with her bag. The padded shoulders of her baggy tracksuit were silver, like alfoil. They crinkled.’ My lucky charm. Unless I hold it on landing, we’ll crash.’
The map page slipped off her lap. Christopher picked it up, noticing some black crosses she’d added.
‘Thanks. Just working out my route. If I ever get there.’
At that moment, the plane dipped . The FASTEN SEAT BELTS sign flashed.
Christopher found the lucky key charm with the rainbow tag on the floor.’ Why is this lucky?’
‘Just is. I rub it every time I want to eat something.’
‘Does food appear like magic?’ Amy clicked her seat belt. During landing , there was nothing you could do to help the pilot.
‘No. I’m on a diet you see,’ said the Balloon Lady. ‘My lucky charm padlocks my ‘frig.’
Although Balloon Arms had a big rucksack up the front with the hanging suit-bags, there wasn’t room for a frig.
Fat or thin, you could still be blown up. Some pieces might be bigger that’s all, thought Christopher.
Amy tried to calm her down. ‘ The aircrew are trained for emergencies,’ she said reassuringly. ‘ Click on your seat belt.’ She helped the woman stretch her seat -belt across her tummy. It was a tight fit.
‘But this is an emergency.’ said Balloon Arms. ‘There’s a lot of water out there.’
She was right. ‘Land safely. Land safely, ‘ Amy chanted in her head. She imagined the cockpit which the twins had visited last flight. She pictured instruments flashing. She pictured the pilot landing the plane safely.
The FASTEN SEAT BELT sign was still flashing. Christopher clicked on his belt.
Hurriedly the aircrew sat and strapped on their own seat belts. There was a thud as the wheels came down.
Then the plane came down very fast. Amy’s tummy zoomed down too. Bump! Bump! Thud!
Christopher closed his eyes tightly. Amy hoped he wasn’t having a scary movie replay behind his eyelids. ‘Gold Scam’ had had some frightening bits .
Bump! Thud.
When they touched the runway, everyone cheered. Passengers clapped as the plane skimmed safely , and stopped.
‘Please stay in your seats.’ came the captain’s voice.
Bill checked on them. ‘Okay?’
‘So was it a bomb?’ asked Amy. ‘ It ticked and it felt like ..’
Bill interrupted. ‘... a radio-clock, bound with tape. But our airline had been warned about a terrorist threat. So we couldn’t take any chances. False alarm, luckily. Just a present. Left behind by a businessman when he got out in Sydney. Usually the cleaners would have checked, but it was a direct flight.’
‘A bomb for a present?’ Amy muttered. ‘ A goodbye present? Cool.’
Bill helped them down the mobile corridor which clipped onto the plane. It was like walking inside a giant finger.
Flash! A photographer took a shot of Rugby Top. ‘Welcome home Big Jon. Will you be playing in next week’s game in Auckland?’
Big Jon gave a nod. “Just having four days off.’
‘Is he THAT famous?’ asked Christopher as the rugby player hurried to avoid the crowds.
‘Big Jon? His real name’s Jon Bigge. Got four tries in his last International match in South Africa. Everyone talks about rugby here.’ Bill shepherded the twins through the barrier, showing their passports and forms. ‘Playing in an Auckland special match next week. Tickets have sold out. Has thousands of fans.’
‘Likes fishing too,’ muttered Christopher.
‘Sorry for the delay to Flight Sex. The baggage doors on the aircraft stuck. The engineers are working on them,’ said a microphone voice. The New Zealand accent said ‘sex’ instead of ‘six’.
The baggage carousel went around with a grinding noise. It was empty, just a rubbery belt which went around endlessly. People stood waiting, like zombies. How could the feeling change so fast from danger to boredom? Everything seemed so ordinary now. Amy yawned.
Suddenly the first bag fell with a plop onto the moving belt. Then a big bag of golf clubs straddled the moving belt.
‘Great cartoons,’ Christopher noticed the pictures on the club head-covers on the bag.
Passengers took their bags quickly. The second time the carousel came around, the golf clubs had gone.
The Balloon Armed Lady fussed about her rucksack. Something had leaked out from a side, zipped pocket. A stain was growing.
‘My rucksack. Are you sure it wasn’t touched?’ she checked with Bill.
‘Perhaps an aerosol can or a deodorant?’ suggested Bill. ‘They leak or explode under pressure. Shouldn’t have got through security.’’
While the Balloon-Armed Lady repacked, Christopher glanced at his watch. 1 am. Theirs was the only plane.
Bill helped them grab their luggage and took them to the EXIT.
Their worried parents were waiting outside. Dad gave them a big hug . Mum checked their bags. ‘ We heard about the bomb-scare.’
Christopher looked through the glass at the grey plane. Security staff were checking all over it. ‘Flying is usually fun, but...’ said Christopher thoughtfully. ‘Let’s not tell Aunty Viv about this.’
Amy nodded. Aunty Viv might never leave them alone at the airport again. Then they’d never be UMs again.
‘Don’t worry. Unless you break your leg and have to be flown out by helicopter,’ added Dad. ‘You’ll be walking the Milford Track with us for the next four days.’
Christopher loved the idea of flight-seeing in a helicopter. But it’d be better without a broken leg!
Chapter 2
Tracking and Tramping
’Don’t step back!’ warned
