CHAPTER 16

Lake Rotorua, New Zealand

 

“This is not typical.” The instructor in his blue flight suit stood under the covered porch of the cabin. It was a constant rain. On any other day, the porch would have had an unobstructed view of the crystal blue waters of Lake Rotorua. The volcanic mountains that surrounded the lake framed the view like the Grand Tetons.

A class of only three flight students sat in their chairs holding on their laps the three-ring binders of flight instructions. Their faces did not reflect a wealth of experience.

“So who do we have here? It’s a nice class size. We can learn much from each other.” He was right. They always wanted more students but three and the instructor fit perfectly into the aircraft. “We have one from Darwin?”

A man of thirty looked up from his seat leaned up against the post of the porch.

“You are training for a hunting guide service.”

“That’s right,” he said with a smile, his Australian accent thick.

“And one from Sydney?”

“Yes, sir.” This kid seemed barely old enough to drive. He looked no more than fifteen, but in reality, he had logged the most flight hours.

“And a young lady.”

She nodded, clearly determined to be silent and quiet.

“You are training to fly for one of the oil companies?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, welcome to the Lake. You will learn that our bird drags like hell and is unforgiving. If you sneeze on a landing or takeoff, you will flip head over heel until you are sausage.”

He paused for a second.

“But the float plane can take you to places no one else can go, and no one will ever know you are there.”