Flight To Pandemonium Read online

  After breakfast Judy asked Mac to fetch a pot of water from the creek to wash the odd assortment of dishware. He volunteered to wash or dry if she would join him.

  The medical folks remained aloof, so Mac asked, “Craig and Andrew always as hostile as they were last night? Did you see how Craig instantly bristled when the Captain announced he was in charge?”

  Judy was remarkably forthcoming, “They both have very thin skin. We all spend way too much time tiptoeing around them and giving them distance. Maureen is a friend and easy to work with, so I let her deal with them. The medical staff and especially the nurses were welcomed by our native patients. Craig has been received with far less enthusiasm. He has an abrupt and demeaning manner when asking personal questions. Maureen confided that Craig is like an antiwar throwback still fighting authority. He suspects a conspiracy behind every suggestion. But Maureen managed a rapport with them, so we got along, more or less.

  “I’m giving you fair warning; step lightly around them. They show strange emotional behavior whenever they feel diminished. The two despise being subordinated or confined to outdated values as they perceive them.”

  Mac replied, “I’ll pass your warning on to the Captain.”

  “My turn for a few questions?”

  “That was the deal.”

  “Were you part of the planning for this great escape?”

  “Not a bit. I just got lucky and jumped aboard.”

  “So you don’t know much about the company we’re keeping.”

  “Almost nothing. Jack and Tony were gold miners is about all I know.”

  “Didn’t think you did. This is a strange collection of people.”

  “Yup. There are some characters, alright.”

  “Honestly, Mac, I see trouble coming. We face vastly different personalities among us and more than one who thrive on dominating things. I have personal reasons to say so.”

  “My opinion is that strong personalities take action when life is threatened. So we naturally collected together. There’s no room for passive victims among us. We’re on our own for sure.”

  “But I depend on trusted people when my life looks threatened.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by Tlingit dragging a full hind-half of a partially dressed moose, which he dropped near the fire. He departed without saying a word.

  Jack said, “Damn strong fella, that guy… and we do need him.” Unsheathing his hunting knife, he and Tony began butchering. They would all dine on the wild side their first day.

  After breakfast and the appointed time to move the Otter, Ted walked around directing people and giving instructions. Finally satisfied, he stood back and bellowed, “On three... ready…lift… heave!” In a minute the Otter was resettled.

  The nose gear had warped during landing and its flat tire now caused the airplane to list forward. Ted measured and directed Tony, Jack and Mac to dig furrows in the gravel just behind each landing wheel accommodating them to level the Otter.

  Everyone pushed again. The Otter settled gently into the furrows level and stable. What first seemed like a difficult task proved to be simple with a plan and cooperation. Everyone cheered except Craig and Andrew. The airline ladies rewarded Ted with hugs.

  Craig interrupted the upbeat moment. “Captain, how about that promise you made last night? We’re all gathered here, so let’s elect a committee to lead and organize us.”

  “Is this essential? Should we elect a committee right now?” the Captain asked.

  “You betcha,” said Craig, emphatically. “I want to have a say in things before they’re cast in stone.”

  Silence followed. All eyes focused on the Captain as he acknowledged another challenge to his leadership. “All right then… let’s gather on the tarp.”

  Jack spoke immediately, “Electing a committee is definitely not what we should be doing, so let’s make this short. What’s this all about anyway?”

  Sister Helena quietly interjected, “Let’s start with a prayer.” She joined hands with the women on either side and they in turn picked up their neighbor’s hand. Hands spread each way around the circle, some eagerly, some with reluctance, until it reached Ted and the miners in one direction, then Craig and Andrew in the other. They all refused to budge or hold hands. “Dear Father in Heaven, we ask Your blessing for this meeting, that we may patiently listen and willingly participate. Please help us with our deliberations, bring understanding and compassion for one another, and gracious acceptance of our difficult decisions. Deliver us into Your Hands for our eternal salvation, we ask in Your Blessed Name, Amen.”

  Mac was stunned. Another rebuke! And now she put her intentions clearly in context for all to understand...‘acceptance of our difficult decisions.’ The message was one of deliberate manipulation guised as sincerity. A meeting to make decisions by committee certainly wasn’t Mac’s intention. The Captain’s leadership was working well as far as he was concerned. But before he could speak, Jack interrupted red faced and indignant.

  “We’re the people who put this together and as far as I’m concerned, the Captain’s still in charge. We damned sight don’t need no committees wasting our time.”

  Craig said, “Fine, then that’s how you can vote.”

  Ted shouted a reply, “There’s not gonna be any vote. We put this junket together and you blokes came along for the ride. So if you’re not happy with us, start walkin’ back to Talkeetna! They’ll love you there!”

  “Now you’re talking, said Greg. Turning to Jane, “Let’s get outta here.”

  Instantly, Jane replied, “Where are you going, boo? I’m staying here!”

  Sister Terry said, “I’m sorry there’s so much anger. Sister was praying for patience, so what harm can possibly come from listening to one another a few minutes.”

  Sister Helena interjected, “How many want to hold a meeting, raise your hand?”

  Immediately eight hands went up. Then reluctantly, Judy raised hers, but Greg didn’t. Leaving camp had been his desire from the first moment of arrival. Jane gave him a swift elbow to the ribs; he glowered, but finally raised his hand.

  “Hah! Ten, that’s a majority!” bellowed Craig.

  Mac said quietly, “Not so fast, there are twenty of us.”

  Craig replied, “Your man isn’t here and didn’t vote. It’s ten to nine!” Tlingit had not been seen since he brought in the moose.

  “What kinda nonsense is this?” said Ted.

  The Captain, who was silent during the exchange, finally spoke up. “This has been a horrible beginning for living in harmony. I’m willing to listen but as I am the expected representative of the company, I’m not conceding anything, just listening.”

  Immediately, Ted stood up and said, “Well I’m not listening to bullshit,” and walked off. Jack and Tony looked at one another. Jack jerked his head sideways, and they both got up and followed Ted.

  “Look at those tyrants,” said Craig angrily waving his hand toward the departing men. “I’m so pissed, I can barely speak.” In fact, his voice quivered and his hands shook while he looked in the direction of the Captain. “Unlike you, I’ll speak for myself. Do you really expect me to subordinate myself to you? I’m just along for the ride… is that what you want? Our director ordered us to come on this flight. But from now on, that is the last time I’ll do anything because you say so. You don’t have dominion over me.”

  “Only our Lord has dominion over mortals,” interrupted Sister Helena.

  “Sister, don’t start that again,” said Craig. “You’re trying to get me riled up.”

  “Not at all, Craig,” replied Sister Helena calmly. “That happened long, long ago. Settle down.” Mac wondered if Sister Helena now realized that Craig’s irrepressible antagonism was weakening her strategy.

  Craig ignored her an
d continued, spitting with agitation. “You’ve all heard what’s been happening in the world, same as I have. We’re all in this together and I’ll not step back two hundred years and become your minion. We’ll all vote and we’ll decide matters together or you’ll have a revolt on your hands. I promise you that, because I’ll lead it.”

  The Captain said, “I said I’d listen, but I won’t respond to threats.”

  “But I will,” said Pappy quietly, “I’m upset as well, but I’m trying to control my temper. I agree with Cap; this has been an appalling start to things. I’ll say from the outset, so there’s no further misunderstanding… I don’t believe I have dominion over anyone. As a man…” and glancing sideways, “or woman, you all have uninhibited free will and your freedom.

  “But here’s how I see things very differently from you. Starting from the beginning, because I was the one who organized this little junket and know firsthand how it all came down… I found myself stranded in Nome and together with these others.” nodding toward Ted, Tony, and Jack. “We put together this flight to beat sure death once that bug arrived in town. So we called your hotel and offered you a free ride to flee town ‘cause we thought it’d be a grand idea to have medical folks with us. All you needed to do was show up. I don’t know how it was presented to you and I don’t care ‘cause you all scrambled on board once you saw the airplane and that mob.

  “You made your decision and none of us twisted your arm. If you want to go back to Talkeetna and that mission, that’s understandable. Sorry we couldn’t land where we intended, but that was fate. So here’s the deal. It’s our bus, our gear and our camp. You can stay and help, and in turn, we’ll try to help all of you just as we planned. But this camp won’t become a commune… ever. If you have suggestions, great… we’ll all discuss it. This is a tribe with one chief, and only one, the Captain.

  “So here’s the capper, boys and girls,” he said now raising his voice for everyone to hear. “Each morning, you all have a personal choice to make. Do I stay another day… or not. If you don’t like the way the Captain’s leadin’ things, you can pick up your personal gear, but none of ours, and leave. In or out. Doesn’t that satisfy your free will?”

  Craig was neither convinced nor cowed, and stood up to continue his harangue. “That’s not dominion? I’ll tell you what I think. I think this little junket of yours was a hijacking! All that maneuvering was just to avoid detection after your crimes. That guard knew you were up to something, and that’s why you wouldn’t stop for that man. You bastards stole this airplane, and slaughtered a bystander doing so! That plane doesn’t belong to you any more than anyone else here. You’re not corporate agents; you’re corporate thieves! Your criminal conduct has forfeited any claim to be in charge. So now it all reverts to the people where it belongs. I’ll not listen to your condescending arrogance any more than I would listen to any other corporate thief…”

  In the background, Mac watched the miners gather gear laid out for breakfast and stow it in the airplane. Ted approached, whispered in the Captain’s ear, handed him a key and slipped a gun in the Captain’s pocket.

  Wow! We’re rolling downhill fast, thought Mac, transfixed.

  Craig ignored the men and continued stoking the conflagration. “You’re not masters of any of this and it’s become our duty to impeach you as criminals.” He turned to everyone assembled proclaiming, “I think we should convene our committee and decide what should be done with…”

  Jack bellowed in his deep booming voice, startling everyone, “Captain, I’ve heard enough of this horseshit! It’s time to throw this jerk outta camp right now! And I’m the man to do it! This guy is a pus bucket of trouble!” Jack, Tony, and Ted stepped forward in a threatening manner and any one of them was more than a physical match for Craig’s slender build. Violence threatened the air.

  Immediately the Captain rose. “All of you sit down, this instant!” Jack, Tony and Mac reluctantly sat, but Craig remained standing. Whereupon, Andrew rose and whispered in Craig’s ear, “Watch out. Captain has a gun.”

  Nevertheless, Craig remained defiant, “So… it’s a gun, is it. Where’s my free will now, you criminal bastards.”

  The Captain shouted, “Sit down and shut up, or so help me I’ll let them have at you!” The threat was convincing. Craig complied, sitting next to Andrew.

  The Captain didn’t brandish the gun, but remained standing. Turning, he said, “Sister Terry, is this the ‘no harm can come of it’ you had in mind? Do you know this man? Is he sick or neurotic?” She looked down, saying nothing.

  “Sister Terry, please answer me. I’m about to expel this man for threatening us. However, I’m looking for mitigating reasons why I shouldn’t, just to be certain. Does he take medication? Is there some good reason to overlook his threatening behavior?”

  Sister Helena replied for her, “Most certainly, Captain! His threats were merely words, not deeds. There is no real cause to expel him for a few injudicious remarks. It’s not the first time he’s gotten so emotional, but no physical violence has ever followed such a… temper tantrum.”

  “Temper tantrum…” said Craig angrily. “Sister, is that your judgment of me after my years of dedication to see justice done, for my commitment to native people. I expected something more supportive from you than… ‘temper tantrum’.”

  Sister Terry, silent and still, broke into quiet sobs.

  Craig jumped up shouting defiantly, “I’ll make my own choice to leave, as I decide to do so, and not under the threat of criminals. What if I refuse and oust you instead? Do I get shot… or just thrashed by your corporate bullies?”

  Mac wondered whether Craig was really leaving or escalating his belligerent conduct. Others knew Craig better, however. Maureen rose and tightly closed her arms around him, offering expressions of farewell. Andrew, in particular, held him for some time, whispering into his ear. Mac heard it all but tried not to feel sympathetic. He wanted the man thrown out.

  The Captain turned to Ted and said, “Please, round up a packet of food.”

  “Cap?” asked Ted in surprise.

  “Please, do as I ask.” Ted returned in a few minutes with a few packets of ration crackers, but nothing else. “He’ll need water,” insisted the Captain.

  “Cap, we have only one bottle left for the lot of us.”

  “Please get it. He has a long walk.”

  Ted handed the Captain the bottle of water, then continued the confrontation, “If we let this troublemaker just walk away, then we’d better watch our backs from now on.”

  “So what would you have me do, instead? Think about that when your blood cools down!”

  When the farewells were completed, Craig shouldered his pack and moved to the edge of camp. The Captain caught up, handed him the supplies and said, “If you’ve decided to leave, then a course west following the river clear to the railroad tracks should be your best bet. Talkeetna will lie to the south along the tracks. But, beware… if I see you back here ever again, I’ll have to assume the worst. Do you understand?”

  “Go to hell, thief.” Craig spat at his feet.

  As Craig resolutely strode down the old airstrip, the Captain stared after him wondering what could have been done to avoid the outrage. Short of violence or his own capitulation, he could think of nothing. He wondered if he were really qualified for the leadership endorsed by those who thought they knew him.

  When the Captain turned toward camp, he paused, noticing that the group was divided into three factions. Inside of a single hour, the mood deteriorated from celebrating success to bitter accusations shouted at one another.

  The Captain never aired his own reasons for holding the group together. He wanted the benefit of multitalented people. He needed individuals with a broader range of experience than just the airline business. Medical backgrounds added necessary skills given the biolog
ical nature of the calamity. This morning, however, his plan for their deliverance suffered a setback.

  Now he needed to reassure his shattered group and unify factions. His first confrontation would no doubt come from those who thought he had overreacted, particularly the nuns. Then he would face those who feared reprisal.

  Returning to camp, sullen stares and stern faces met him. For better or worse, there was only one thing to do. “Everyone, please,” pointing to the tarp, “once more, let’s gather together even though you are upset.”

  Andrew and Jack lagged behind. All gathered around, but remained standing. Tlingit hadn’t been seen.

  “I’m finding beginning again as difficult as you must find listening to me. Despite what’s happened, I want to assure you that I think our most important duty is to stay together. I’m not about to make a speech to try to change anyone’s mind; there’s too much smoldering under the surface. I think we should all rein in our anger.” Pausing, he looked at each face in turn.

  “Let’s try again tomorrow morning by calmly discussing those things that matter to each of us. So there’s no deception intended in my words. I’m not proposing any turnabout, just a renewed attempt to reconcile our differences and remain together.

  “Until then, we have some serious housekeeping matters to deal with and I ask your cooperation. If more of you are considering leaving, please postpone that decision until after tomorrow’s gathering. Then, if that is your decision, we’ll try to assist you. To avoid further conflict, those of you who are still angry with me, please turn to Judy for direction and your needs. Is that fair? Okay, those with me, please gather round.”

  “Captain,” said Sister Helena, “please allow me to offer a prayer of reconciliation… Dear God in Heaven…”