Across the Blue by the Blue (retail) (epub) Across

Author:the Blue (retail) (epub) Across [Across, the Blue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2018-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Professor Steed spun the Steed IV’s propeller, and the engine roared to life. The smell of burning engine oil mixed with the pungent scent of sand and sea blew toward Bella on the salty breeze.

She lifted her eyes to the blue sky. Please, Lord, watch over James and keep his airplane working properly. Help him stay alert and know how to meet each challenge he’ll face. Most of all, please keep him safe, and bring him back to us.

Professor Steed jogged toward Bella and the others, out of the airplane’s path. He turned and lifted his hand. James responded with a quick wave, then focused straight ahead and rumbled off across the open field toward the Channel.

“There he goes!” the professor shouted.

Bella gripped Sylvia’s hand, her gaze fastened on James. The airplane picked up speed, rose for a second, and then hit the ground and bounced along for a few yards. A silent plea rose from Bella’s heart. Come on, James! You can do it!

When he was only about seventy yards from the edge of the cliff, the airplane finally rose into the air.

Bella beamed a smile at Sylvia. “Isn’t he amazing?”

“Yes, it’s all such a wonder!” Her sister’s eyes glowed with a happy light, and they squeezed hands again.

James soared high, straight past the cliffs, but when he flew over the open water, his wings dipped and the plane swayed.

Bella gasped and dropped her sister’s hand. She stepped toward the professor. “What’s happening? He looks so unsteady.”

“He’s fighting the wind currents. They’re much stronger as they rush up the cliffs, and more unstable over water. He should level out soon.” But the professor’s brow creased as he watched James battle the rough winds.

An anxious feeling swirled through Bella. It was dangerous flying over the ocean, but she’d seen James fly at Green Meadow many times. Surely he was up to this new challenge. But it wasn’t only James’s flying skills that would be tested today. His airplane had to perform well in these more challenging conditions, or he would never be able to make his flight across the Channel.

Her interviews with the French pilots, Louis Blériot and Charles de Lambert, rose in her mind. They had both mentioned the challenges they knew they would face flying from France to England. Her father had encouraged Wilbur Wright to make the flight, but Wright had turned him down, saying he did not want to risk losing the only airplane he had with him in Europe.

Did James have the experience needed to make that dangerous crossing? What if, in spite of his best efforts, something happened to him?

Bella swallowed hard and tried to banish that frightening thought. Nothing would happen to James. That was why he took all the test flights, to make sure he and his airplane were ready.

James banked to the left, slowly turning north. Another draft of wind hit him, making his airplane dip and tilt in a crazy pattern.

Bella’s stomach plunged, and she could almost feel his struggle to stabilize his airplane and bring it safely around.

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