Chapter Ten

Nathan circled Deep River, recognizing the huge for sale sign painted in white on the rusty rooftop of the building. He lowered his altitude and completed a bumpy landing on a dirt strip in front of Windy Rock Pub.

It felt like a ghost town as he jumped from his aircraft. The dry heat released his memory banks. He had forgotten just how oppressive the temperature could soar to in the outback.

Two large ghost gums shadowed a section of the pub, and behind it lay Deep River. Most of the area was in a drought, but he could hear the gushing sound of water assuring him of the possibilities this place had to offer.

As he approached the pub, he slowed to a standstill and noticed large lettering above wide, double-swinging doors: Windy Rock Pub, carved deeply into a piece of dark timber.

He swiped a hand over his brow, the surroundings puzzling him. He swung back to take in the red horizon, which seemed to stretch on forever. A windmill sat to his right, and beside it one solitary gum tree. The name Windy Rock Pub set a grin to his lips. There was no wind, and there certainly wasn’t a rock, large or small, in sight.

With amusement, he swung around and pushed through the doors as he walked in.

The confrontation was intriguing. A huge, stuffed fish sat mounted over a large, stone fireplace. The largest fish he had ever seen. He settled at the iron bark bar and ordered a beer as the dry heat peeled through an open doorway.

He drank his beer and shook his head, unable to tear his gaze away from the fish. The fish, a Murray cod, appeared to be real. He scrutinized it in disbelief. It was a light to dark-green fish, around one meter or more in length, with small eyes and a distinct, concave profile.

“Lookin’ for a place to fish?”

Nathan noticed three men sitting to his left. “You could say that,” he replied.

“Suppose a fella like you thinks he can catch a biggun like the one above the fireplace. Ain’t been one sighted for years.” Uttered sounds passed between the three men, followed by guttural laughter.

He turned to face the men. “That thought is possible,” he remarked.

“Suppose you have come to buy the place as well?” questioned one of the men dressed in a Shearer’s singlet, with red hair and freckles.

“That’s another possibility.” Nathan replied, a grin stretched over his face as he watched one of the men approaching.

“They call me Bluey.”

Nathan stood and shook his outstretched hand. The other two men walked over, standing beside Bluey.

“They call me Stevie.” The second man had dark skin and large, rimmed dark glasses. The third was short, with blonde unruly hair.

“I’m called Rusty. Mar insists on Russell, but all me mates call me Rusty. They say my brain is a little rusted.”

“Nathan, Nathan Alexander. Most people just call me Nathan.”

It caused another round of grunting laughter to explode through the pub. After introductions took place, they sat at the bar.

“This is our publican, Shifty,” Bluey announced.

Nathan reached over the bar to shake hands, noticing his shifty eyes and balding hair.

“Travis Myers,” he corrected.

“I believe you’re interested in selling?”

“Yep, that’s what the sign says, but no takers. Never has been.”

“Yeah, Shifty is busting to join his woman on the Gold Coast. Live in luxury for a while. Eh, Shift?”

“Is that a fact? I may be interested, if the price is right.”

Travis’s eyes widened.

“I would need a manager.”

“Yeah, can arrange that as well and will make the price right for you. Come around, into my office.” Nathan moved on his suggestion and wandered around behind the bar, disappearing into an untidy office. Magazines and newspapers occupied every available seat.

“Sit, sit.” Travis gestured with one hand, the other clearing a chair. Excitement beaded in his eyes. They went over the necessary details.

“You see, I plan to fly tourists to the river. Maybe for weekend trips, day tours, fishing trips...city people love getting out into the open space. I’ll see how it goes. I’ve done a little homework on the place. They say it’s still full of cod and perch.”

“Don’t be expectin’ the big one. He hasn’t been seen for years.”

Nathan chuckled. “There’s such a thing as luck. Ummm…accommodation. What did you say. Six rooms?”

“Yeah, six rooms with their own bathrooms. Although, the place needs a little doin’ up. Want to have a look?”

“That would be a start.” He followed Travis up a staircase, which led from one side of the bar into a large, open hallway with six adjoining doors. They were almost perfect, needing only a little paint and a bit of redecorating.

He examined the condition of the ceilings, the flooring, and the staircase as he returned to the bar area. It was perfect, he thought, as he and wandered past the bar and out through the double sliding doors that led to a veranda. Travis followed.

When he stepped out, the gushing sounds of water wrenched on his memory bank. It was as though he’d just stepped into an oasis as a cooling feeling overcame him. “This river has to be one of the best in New South Wales. What a beauty.”

The river flowed from somewhere underground and fed the green hills on the opposite side. Directly in front of him, green grass lay over the sloping bank. It was the perfect place to rest on a hot summer’s afternoon. It was an incredible feature, considering the escarpment in front of the Pub.

He wished Catherine were beside him to share his experience, his dream. He prayed that one day she would. He made his way back inside, noticing it was stifling.

“Isn’t the air working?” he inquired, looking at the unit on the wall above him.

“Yeah, it’s working. Just, we don’t use it except on a Friday night or weekend. This place comes alive then. Everyone from all the properties come here. It’s the only place around. We have a little happy hour and a local band.”

Nathan digested the information and predicted excellent prospects.

“Is that a fact?” This hotel was what he hoped to find.

He joined Travis in his office once again to discuss the options. After half an hour, he drew out his check book and left a deposit with inspections to take place as soon as possible.

Later on in the day, he moved his aircraft to one side of the Pub for the night. Thoughts of building a hangar and a proper landing strip were also on his list of renovations and additions.

When he settled in his room, he called Catherine.

“Hello?”

Exhilaration ripped through her heart, causing it to flutter the moment she heard his voice. Although he was only two hours west, flight time, it felt as though he was a thousand miles away. She wanted to be beside him and couldn’t believe that after one day apart, she was missing him.

“Tell me about this Windy Rock purchase? I’ve been waiting all day.”

“I have just left a deposit of goodwill to buy Windy Rock Pub. Although, I have to get the final details and inspections, I’m sure everything will go according to plan.”

“You mean to say you’ve bought a Pub out in the middle of nowhere? Why do you want to buy such a place? Especially one so far out there...in the sticks...in the outback?”

“I was thinking of taking weekend tours out here, joy flights, fishing trips perhaps. There’s still a lot of fish in this river. You should see it. This place has great potential, great atmosphere, and you would love the river.”

She sensed the excitement in his voice. “I’m happy for you, but joy flights?”

“Yeah. I’ve got my commercial license, so I should put it to use. I can’t wait to bring you out here.”

No siree. She wanted to say it but didn’t. She wouldn’t even contemplate the possibility of flying out there, but perhaps driving was a possibility. The thought of endless red plains, flat terrain, and oppressive heat still didn’t help convince her she’d ever contemplate going into the outback.

“The river is exactly how I remembered it.”

“Are you at your father’s?”

“How did you know about the old property...That’s right, I explained it to Pete? I did tell you a little of where I was brought up. Remember, on the farm? I’m staying at the pub. At least I will get a meal for the night.” He chuckled. The property needs a little attention as well as the pub. A few carpenters, plumbers, painters, and the like will be able to take care of that.”

“What do you think of the name ‘Deep River Tavern’? It has so many possibilities.”

“Sounds nice.”

“They have five of those wrought iron hanging things…lanterns, dangling from the ceiling in the Pub. One light fixture alone has ten artificial candles, all run by a generator.”

“Catherine, I pictured you here with me, overlooking this river.”

“You don’t even know if I like the country, Nathan?”

“I beg your pardon? That house you live in has a country feel. It has that country atmosphere. Not to mention, that very enticing bedroom of yours.”

“You’re mad.” She drew in a breath, grinning from ear to ear. He was right, of course. She had always loved the freedom that space provided, well for the last few months that she could remember.

“Is everything running okay there?”

“Yes, smooth sailing.” She wanted to say more. Wanted to say get your butt back here, I need your arms around me. I feel like half of me is missing, going to end up in a heap…the works, but she managed to control at least a part of it.

A sickening loneliness had been creeping up the entire day. Her concentration, if you could call it that, was almost nonexistent.

“I have to have a better look around tomorrow and go to the property. It’s a couple of kilometers south of here. If I have time, I might leave late tomorrow. If I finish early, I will.”

“That would be nice,” she whispered holding back her desperate urge to blurt out she missed him. “Have a safe flight.”

* * * *

Nathan took off from Deep River moments before a crack of lightning flashed across the sky, as though marking its territory with colors of fiery red and orange. He’d checked the weather report, and it stated clear skies all the way to the coast.

The turbulence had increased, but he knew the outback thermals would be rough. To the west, a dark cloud bank was building. To the east, visibility was perfect—as clear and bright as Catherine’s eyes.

In flight for half an hour, twilight enclosed, and he noticed a haze of brown filling a distinct band in the sky.

Lightning cracked across the sky in whiplash fashion. Seconds before he was going to put in a call to obtain confirmation of the weather, the tail end of the aircraft whipped up as a bolt of lightning dug its forks into the metal.

Shaken by the explosion, Nathan realized the control panel was flashing in protest against the direct hit. His hands gripped the control column with firm pressure, and the aircraft began to descend, shuddering at a level of around 1,000 feet A.G.L. (above ground level).

Nathan peered below. Nothing but mountains densely populated the thick vegetation of gum trees, absent of a safe place to bring her down.

Thousands of bullets similar to machine gun fire hammered at the windshield, sending his nerves on high alert. The sound was deafening as it filled the windshield with a dark brown substance, and then it changed to red before sinking to the color of black.

“What in the bloody hell?”

His visibility was reduced to nil.

The aircraft lost altitude. Clutching at the control column, he automatically went into emergency landing mode, which was drummed into him by Bob, his flying instructor. He began emergency landing checks.

Lower nose and trim aircraft to maximum glide speed. Wheels down and set first stage of flaps. Continue to scan for the optimum landing area, as well as maintaining a safe buffer above stalling speed.

Nathan was about to carry out emergency check four when he noticed the wheels had not lowered and the flaps failed to extend. He sucked in a labored breath.

This pointed to one major cause. He had suffered a loss of electrics due to the lightning strike. Check four would have been to transmit a Mayday call to all stations.

He cursed under his breath and reached for the hydraulic hand jack. Nothing. He hadn’t touched it since he bought the aircraft, and he guessed it hadn’t been properly maintained. It wasn’t working.

He directed his attention to survival mode. Okay, no wheels and no landing flaps. He raised the nose again to reduce the reeves per minute by gently pulling back on the control column and simultaneously reducing the throttle. Knowing that to pull back too far could lead to the aircraft dropping too much speed and stalling.

As if by a miracle, a window of opportunity opened, and a small hole of visibility appeared.

“Well, Bob. This one’s for you, mate. I always said you were the best flight instructor a guy could have had. You never know. I might be joining you up there soon.”

Panic ripped through his veins as his life flashed before him, a life without Catherine, a life of not seeing his father that one last time, of not seeing the woman of his dreams. If he was going to die, he wanted Catherine’s name on his lips. If he had the chance to hold her for that one last time, he’d never let her go, ever. He wanted to take the memory with him, cling to her pureness, cling to the girl he once knew.

He pictured her beautiful, haunting eyes, pictured her smile, and it worried him sick that he might not be around to help her out. Christ, who in the hell would look after her. He wasn’t about to die, not just yet. He couldn’t. He had to give this his best shot, not only for himself but also for Catherine.

“Catherine. I love you, baby.”

His mind flew through a mental list: no radio, no backup fuel pump, and no gyro instruments. Again scanning his primary instruments, his altimeter looked okay.

At least he could monitor his altitude even though the gyro instruments had now gone limp and useless. Worrying that he may lose cruising power at any stage, he quickly reverted his focus to port side to a clearing in a tree-lined valley huddled against the rugged mountain ranges. It was his only chance.

With a quick roll of the wings, he lined the Piper straight toward the clearing. Closing the throttle and lowering the nose, he began to drop dramatically. The tops of the trees drew closer, and he clutched harder on the control column, his feet glued to the rudder pedals.

The aircraft bellied onto the plateau, bouncing as it slid. The sound of metal creaking and being ripped apart echoed off the mountains. Nathan clung to the control column in a desperate attempt to try to bring the aircraft to a standstill. Branches shattered the perspex windows as the aircraft tore between the trees, snapping the wings clean off moments before the fuselage slammed up against a gum tree. Debris flew into the air, striking the surrounding trees before a shroud of dust settled over the area.

* * * *

Catherine spent more time on the accounts. By late afternoon, she let out a deep sigh and rubbed her fingers over her temple. Standing, she walked out through the hangar and gazed at the sky, stretching her stiff limbs. She should have heard something from Nathan by now. Her concern grew just as she spotted dark, looming clouds, which threatened any flight into Port Macquarie. She dashed back to the office and tuned into the weather forecast. Those clouds were set heavy and to the west.

The report came over. “Strong, southerly winds with an evening storm.” That was for Port Macquarie. What about Deep River? Anxiety fed her with mounting concern. She faxed a request for the weather.

Goose bumps pricked her skin as she read the reply. Storms brewing over the ranges inland from Port Macquarie. Hail and warnings of severe electrical storms forecasted between Tamworth and Deep River. A severity in the warning stated two storms were heading for a direct collision.

Surely Nathan wouldn’t leave under those conditions. She attempted to call him on his mobile. It stated out of range, not in a mobile service area, or switched off. She tried to get him on his radio. It was dead. Human nature took over, and she thought of the worst possible scenario.

Piercing sounds of the telephone made her jump. She snatched it from the wall.

“Hello?”

“Is this Macquarie Airways?”

“Yes...yes, it is.”

“This is Air Services Australia. Are you in charge?”

“Yes...I’m Catherine...Berg. How can I help you?”

“We have noted an aircraft, Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot. Mister Nathan Alexander hasn’t cancelled his SAR, Search and Rescue time. Has Mister Alexander landed in Port Macquarie and forgotten to call in?”

Catherine’s breathing became quick and shallow. Shock tried its best to unbalance what little equilibrium she held. She managed to say, “No,” but it came out as an inaudible squeak, and she quickly rephrased.

“He hasn’t returned, and I haven’t heard anything,” she stammered. Shards of light shot through her mind, and her chest grew heavy. Was fate returning to give her another jab at loss? Uncontrollable trembling seized her body.

“We’ve rung Deep River, Windy Rock pub. He left according to his flight plan, at three o’clock, so they say.”

I can’t believe it. I will not believe it. I’m not hearing what I think I am.

“We’re sending our first Search and Rescue team out now, as we speak. The rugged terrain between Port Macquarie and Deep River will make it impossible to search when nightfall arrives. We’ll keep you updated. Where can we reach you after hours?”

She gave them her mobile number.

“What’s your relationship to Mister Alexander?”

“We are…we are partners in Airways. He’s also my…my.” She felt like saying lover or my man but didn’t. “Boyfriend,” she added.

“Thank you, Miss Berg.”

“Catherine. Call me Catherine.”

“As I said, as soon as we locate him, you will be the first to know.”

A numbing texture spiraled through her body, bringing with it the stark reality that Nathan might have suffered the same terrible fate as her father.

Sliding onto a chair close by had been a good choice. Her mind continued doing a complete circuit for the umpteenth time. She punched Pete’s number into the phone and realized she had forgotten to disconnect her last call. One more attempt, and she was connected.

“Pete, Nathan is missing, and his aircraft has disappeared. They say the last contact they had with him was when he took off from Deep River. That was about three. It’s now six, and he hasn’t arrived,” she blurted. “I want to take Juliet up and look for him.”

“What? You can’t do that.”

“What’s stopping me? I still have my license. Remember, I renewed everything with a complete medical before Dad died.”

“Cat, be realistic. For starters, you don’t remember how to fly, and there’s a bloody storm on its way.”

“Well...well, I’ll have to. I am sure something will return the moment I climb into the cockpit. It just has to...besides, I have been over and over the procedures during the last few months. I don’t think any pilot in their right mind would have done all the study or even tackled the theory that I have.”

The words “in their right mind” repeated. She bit on her lip. Just because her memory was missing, didn’t mean her mind wasn’t intact. “I can’t leave Nathan stranded, injured, or even dead out there...I can’t sit around and do nothing,” she shrieked.

“We’ll talk about it when I get there. You wait until I get there, okay. Give me ten minutes.” The phone went dead.

The following minutes were devastating. Possibility after possibility scampered through her brain, and then backtracked at least a dozen times. Crashed, landed in a hurry, injured, bleeding to death, the list went on. Glancing at her hands, she noticed they shook, and for the life of her, she couldn’t stop the insidious trembling. At one time, she even blamed herself for Nathan’s disappearance. It was her mistake. If she hadn’t been so stubborn and went with him, perhaps none of this would have happened.

Pete rushed in, acting in response to her sudden decision.

“You can’t search for him now. It’s near dark, and that storm doesn’t look good. I’m sure he will turn up by morning. They’ll have the SAR out. I want you to stay with Margaret and me for the night.” He pleaded with her. It was some time before he convinced her to wait the night out.

“All right. I’ll take off early in the morning, at first light, if we haven’t heard anything.”

“The SAR are excellent. They’ll find him. We’ll hear something by morning.”

“We have enough time to go over a few things when I get to your house.”

Pete nodded as though disbelieving what was about to happen. “I thought Kevin over at Bay had it all wrapped up.”

“I just want to be extra sure. He said I was fine, that I had the theory under wrap, but I haven’t...I haven’t been able to do a flight.”

“What makes you so sure you can do one alone?”

Catherine stilled and looked Pete in the eyes. “If the SAR don’t find him, I will. I have to, Pete. I don’t have a choice.”

“Why can’t you wait? Please, Cat.”

“No...he’s a part of my past, the beginning of a future. I’ve lost enough, and I won’t lose Nathan. Not now, not ever.” He was going to be family, the only family she would have.

“Okay, don’t go getting all hyper on me. I worry about you just like your father did.”

She rolled her lips inwards. “I know you do, and thanks.” She kissed him on the cheek.

Catherine moved her car into one of the hangars then accompanied Pete to his car.

“It’s my fault, Pete. If I went with him…it’s the same as Dad.”

“Hang on a minute. You can’t blame yourself, because Nathan has disappeared.

He’s an excellent pilot. Knowing Nathan, he’s probably landed somewhere to avoid the storm. It’s not your fault.”

Catherine continued to check her mobile phone while Pete insisted on going over the basics of flying one last time. Even though she’d heard it so many times before, a vague awareness overcame her. A feeling of knowing how to fly fled through her veins. It kept niggling at her, telling her that she’d have no problems at all in getting an aircraft into the sky.

During tea, she kept staring at her mobile phone, hoping and praying it would ring to let her know Nathan was safe.

“Margaret, I’m sorry to put you both through so much trouble.”

“Don’t be silly, sweetie. We are almost family. In my time, families stuck together.”

Catherine helped Margaret with the dishes, while Pete watched the news. Just as she turned, she saw the headlines flash across the screen.

“A light aircraft is missing on its route from Deep River to Port Macquarie. Forecasts of lightning storms were not available until after the pilot took off from Deep River at three this afternoon. The pilot is believed to be Mister Nathan Alexander, a criminal lawyer from Sydney and one of the new owners of Macquarie Airways.”

Fear thundered through Catherine’s body, and her stomach churned with nausea.

“There’s been no word, and it’s eight thirty.” Catherine’s high-pitched tone revealed her struggle.

“Come on, sweetie,” gestured Margaret. “Sit down, and have a drink.”

“Pete, change that blinking channel. Catherine needs another drink.”

“You need something to take the edge off your nerves.”

“Just orange juice. Thanks, Pete.”

Feeling overloaded not only with Nathan’s disappearance, but also with the toll of her failing memory, exhaustion set in.

* * * *

The sound of her mobile phone rang through the silence, forcing her to jerk upright. Her hand struck the sofa in a blind attempt to find her phone. Snatching it up, she blurted, “Catherine speaking.”

“Catherine, we are sorry, but there has been no sighting of Mister Alexander or his aircraft. His emergency beacon hasn’t been located. It may have been destroyed. We are continuing with the search.”

Destroyed...destroyed. “Thank you,” she replied, feeling helpless, her fingers having difficulty to find end to disconnect from the call.

“Well? Any news?”

She glanced through the dim morning light filtering through a window. Margaret approached.

“There’s no sign of him or his aircraft. What’s the time, Margaret?”

“It’s barely five in the morning, love.”

Catherine noticed concern hinging on her words. “I have to go. I want to go home and have a shower. Can you ask Pete to meet me at Airways at six? I’m flying out,” she stated with determination, glancing at Margaret.

“Could you ring a taxi, please?”

Tommy had explained what she went through after she identified her father’s body. She wasn’t about to sit around and mope to wait for a phone call explaining that Nathan was…just…just like her father. Not this time. Not any time, not ever. She needed to do something. She had the ability. She just had to find the fortitude and lot’s of it.

As soon as she arrived at Airways, she lodged a flight plan and faxed for a weather report. It would take fifty-five minutes to Tamworth, then another hour to Deep River.

“Well, this is an early start, Cat.”

Catherine glanced up. “Ali. I thought I heard a car. What are you doing here?”

“Well, I came to see you...Pete rang me.” They moved into the office. Ali walked up to Catherine and stood at arm’s length.

“Are you sure you’re up to this...I mean, well, you haven’t been flying for a while.”

Catherine let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t see what all the fuss is about. I still have my license.”

“License or not, Cat. I think someone should go with you.”

Catherine shook her head. “No. I don’t want to put you or any other person’s life in jeopardy. I won’t take that responsibility.”

“Mike will be back from Sydney at around nine. Why don’t you wait for him? He could fly you out.”

“It may be too late by then. I can’t wait. Nathan might be hurt.”

“Mike and I could always go out later. Check to see if you’re okay.”

“I can’t stop anyone from doing that.”

“Are you going out to Deep River first?”

“Yes.”

“Well, keep an eye out for us in the air.”

Catherine stopped packing her emergency bag and looked up.

“Listen, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but what difference will it make if you’re in the air as well. The Search and Rescue will be about...well, that’s what they said, anyhow. If my aircraft is going to crash, it will. Don’t you think if you see me make a straight path for the ground, it’s not going to affect the rest of your life? There wouldn’t be a thing you could do to prevent it. I would feel a lot happier if you stayed here on the ground and kept an eye on things.”

Ali shook her head. “When are you due back?”

Catherine didn’t tell her she wasn’t coming back until she found Nathan. “I’m not sure. I might even stay at his little venture out there. After all, it does have rooms. I need to find him.”

Ali put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s just that we care about you, Cat. If anything happened to you, I’d be devastated.”

“All I know is that Nathan is a part in my life. I love him, and he plays a part in that memory of mine. I feel it. I sense it. I have all these weird feelings of hurt, of knowing him, but I don’t know how or what caused them. I want to know him forever. I want to remember what we had.”

“Just take extra special care, eh?”

“You know I will.” She continued packing.,

“Well, seeing as you are here, do you mind helping me get Juliet from the hangar? Pete should be here soon. He’ll go over it one last time.”

“Cat.”

Catherine looked up. “Hi, Pete. Thanks for coming in this morning so early.”

“You damn well knew I’d be here. You don’t have to thank me. Ali, how have you been?”

“Hi, Pete. Well, thanks.”

“You’re just in time to give us a hand to move my Juliet out.”

Pete nodded, but there was no disguising his doubt.

“It’ll be okay, Pete.”

“Yeah. I know it will. I just worry. I think I worry on your Dad’s behalf.” He let out a breathless chuckle.

“Well, quit worrying. I’ve put in a flight plan. I’m leaving at seven, heading to Deep River. If I’m not successful, I’ll backtrack at once and take a good look around. I need you to run a pre-flight check while I make sure I have the necessary emergency equipment.”

Pete went over the aircraft, detail for detail.

Catherine returned with a handful of WACs (World Aeronautical charts) and an emergency bag, which overflowed with paraphernalia. She noticed Ali talking to Pete.

“You be careful, now. Don’t take any chances that you don’t have to. Remember all that terrain, and remember to check your altitude. Your Dad always used to tell you that.”

“Thanks, Pete, for being so understanding,” she said as she opened the luggage compartment on the side of the aircraft and tossed the bag into it. Then, she double-checked everything.

“I feel as though the memory is there. I won’t know until it happens. As I dozed in and out of sleep last night, I dreamt of flying. Now, all I need to do is put it into action.”

“Cat, are you sure about this? Why don’t you wait until the SAR teams go out?”

Catherine shook her head. “No...I can’t, Pete. I have to go. I really do. I know you think it’s madness, but...I can’t let anything happen to Nathan. I mean, if he’s still alive, he may be hurt. There’s just no time to waste. Besides, they didn’t find him yesterday. What makes you think they will find him today?”

Pete shook his head. “You haven’t been flying since your accident. What about your three touch and goes?”

“Well, no one will know, will they? As far as you’re concerned, you’ve just witnessed my three touch and goes.” She looked closer at him and giggled before turning to Ali.

“I know it’s a requirement before you take on any passengers. In an emergency, it may be different, since it’s a lifesaving procedure,” Pete stated.

Catherine looked up at Pete, noticing his face drawn. “Don’t worry, Pete. I’ll do them at Deep River.”

“Is that a promise?”

“A promise.” Her lips slipped into a tight line before she added, “I won’t give up until I find him.”

“You’ll do well. Just concentrate.”

“See you later, Pete. Ali.”

“Take care, girl. You come from a special breed. You can do it. Just remember you were taught by the best: your father.”

She kissed Pete lightly on the cheek, then Ali gave her a cuddle.

Ali looked overly concerned.

“Hey, it’s okay. I do know how to fly, you know. It’s not as though I’m jumping in there not knowing a thing.”

“Just watch the thermals, Cat. They can be a little dicey around the mountains,” Pete stated.

Catherine nodded and drew in a deep breath as she climbed into the cockpit. That very moment drew raw panic. Her nervous system gave her a double dose of uneasiness. What if she didn’t remember it at all? What if something failed? Her body trembled. She had to talk herself into allowing her mind to discard all negative thoughts, to slow down and remember what Kevin had taught her.

“Get a grip,” she scolded. Get it together. She watched alarmingly at the rapid rate her fingers were shaking. Trying to force every ounce of fiber in her being to settle was difficult, but she knew she had to get through this. She just had to. Nathan’s life was at stake, and she wasn’t about to let him down—or lose him.

She didn’t want her onlookers knowing she was suffering and tried to hide her escalating fear.

Pete stood with his arms crossed, examining the aircraft as it moved forward. Ali stood next to him. They appeared as though they didn’t have any faith in her whatsoever.

Catherine tuned her radio to one, one, eight, decimal six, then adjusted her headset over her ears and pulled the microphone closer to her mouth.

“All stations Port Macquarie. Juliet, Echo, Delta, Archer is taxiing out of Port Macquarie for departure to Deep River, via Tamworth runway twenty-one.” Doubt slipped quickly into alarm as she fought for control.

It felt like minutes had passed. Piece by piece, information unfolded as she remembered what to do. Kevin had taught her well. In automation, everything moved to the forefront of her mind.

After giving everyone a wave and a forced smile, she taxied toward the runway, stopping to do a run up.

“Juliet, Echo, Delta, requesting backtrack for runway two, one.” Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to steady her hands. She knew she would never be more prepared than she was at that moment. She manoeuvred her aircraft down the airstrip then turned, centering it on the piano keys. Her mouth went dry, she licked at her lips, her body shook violently, and she battled to fight back tears.

Now, she was alone, truly alone.

Focusing on Nathan, on her purpose rather than on her own feelings, helped settle her nerves until it was time. Her hand hesitated and shook uncontrollably as she rested it on the throttle. This was the last chance at her future. A necessity in life, something she had to do no matter what.

She pushed the throttle forward and reached a safe ground speed. Her knuckles grew whiter with each passing second as she clung to the control column. The aircraft lifted. She held her breath. Her flesh pricked, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention, inducing her to suck in quick gasps of oxygen. It was a struggle to maintain control until she summoned slow, deep breaths, and some normality in breathing returned. She could feel her blood pumping through her veins, pounding in her ears as the aircraft reached 1,000 feet and climbing.

A lump formed in her throat, and she gazed around. It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen. Leaving the ocean behind, she headed west over the mountains.

Fifteen nautical miles into flight, she put in a call.

“Brisbane Centre. Juliet, Echo, Delta, request.”

“Juliet, Echo, Delta, this is Brisbane Centre. Go ahead.”

“Brisbane Centre, Juliet, Echo, Delta, Archer departed Port Macquarie at zero, seven, zero, zero. Tracking to Deep River, via Tamworth. Climbing to 8,500 feet. Request Clearance.”

“Juliet, Echo, Delta. Brisbane Centre. Climb to 8,500 feet. Contact Tamworth tower, one, one, nine, decimal four.”

She amazed herself. It was as though she had never been away, never lost her memory. Her eyes misted as every minute detail moved into place. Kevin, the instructor at Bay Wings, had said that flying would fall back into place, that it was only a matter of conquering her fears, overcoming something that was all in her mind.

Managing to tap into some control, her nerves settled. It was as though she’d done this so many times before. She licked her lips, knowing she had—although the memory wasn’t there.

She now understood the driving force behind her passion, behind her father’s passion. The freedom of flying, the open space, the magical surge of knowing she was in control lifted her spirits. Now, she knew why birds loved flying in formation. Seeing the world from a different perspective made her feel as though she wanted to keep flying, forever.

She watched the clouds, the masses of particles float around her, the heavens that speared on forever, and knew that this was her home. It had been her home for such a long time—since she was fifteen—and she owed it all to her father. Her body loosened, and she felt at ease.

Fifty-five minutes from Port Macquarie, she would be passing Tamworth, and within the hour, she would touch down at Deep River, past the Warrumbungle Mountain Ranges.

She turned on the radio, thinking soft music would settle her nerves. In fact, it had the opposite effect, making matters worse. Somewhere Over the Rainbow blasted out. Hastily, she flicked the switch off. Her eyes welled with tears.

There were no rainbows here. The blue sky consisted of small dots of white clouds. Somewhere. I know I will find you, Nathan. I just know I will. I can’t survive without you. I love you too much. Her chest tightened, suffocating her lungs.

There had to be a reason Nathan’s emergency locater transmitter had failed. The SAR hadn’t picked up a thing. She contacted Tamworth as she flew over and continued on her flight path to Deep River.

Her stomach knotted, and she forced back wave after wave of emotion. If she let herself go now, she would be a bungling, teary-eyed mess. That she couldn’t afford. Not alone, up here, so distant from everyone and everything.

Half an hour on the other side of Tamworth, white clouds continued to dot the blue sky forming a backdrop to eerie mountains. They loomed up from unknown territory, conveying a chill to race up her backbone.

Flying alone in unfamiliar territory was a challenge and definitely a time for composure. She recalled reading one of her father’s training manuals after he had died. Mistakes made are paid for dearly. Mistakes are met with dire consequences. Her jaw clamped tight, her stomach rode on her chest as she fought against self-doubt, her breath quick and shallow. A stinging sensation built up around her nostrils, but she wouldn’t let a tear drop. Not now. She couldn’t.

She closed her eyes. Images of her father flashed before her mind. A small voice erupted, as though calling to her through the white, whispery clouds, jolting her to open her eyes.

Distressingly, she had lost altitude, and she was closer to those mountains than she realized. The voice called her back to her training days with her father seated beside her.

“You can do it, Catherine. Pull up. Pull up. You have it in your blood. If anyone can, you can. Just do what you have been trained to do, and you will succeed.”

As the voice faded, she gained altitude and her eyes moistened. She’d remembered her father’s words. A chill grated over her bones.

She wished Nathan were beside her, instead of down there, somewhere in a deep gorge, surrounded by snakes, spiders, maybe man-eating animals. She shuddered at the thought, which set her fretfulness at maximum speed.

Why did he consider buying a place out as far as this? Stupid, stupid male!

It was difficult to demand complete concentration, and she began to address herself. You lose it now, and they will be sending out another search party. Not for Nathan alone, but also for yourself. Is that what you want?

She reached for her bottled water sitting in a cooler bag on the seat beside her and gulped. Her bloodshot gaze followed the line of the desolate mountains surrounding her. Bringing the aircraft to 2,000 feet may be an impossible task. Scanning the area was difficult. Her view consisted of deep valleys and forested ridges among what appeared to be a jungle. He could be anywhere down there, and she didn’t know in what direction.

Knowing she wasn’t far from Deep River, she prepared herself. She doubted it had a proper landing strip. Bringing the aircraft down on some godforsaken piece of dirt, grass, or whatever it was, in the middle of nowhere, was going to be a mighty challenge.