Flight into Darkness (Flight Trilogy, Book 2) (28 page)

“Later impregnated by the divine sperm of Zeus, Io gave birth to a daughter, Keroessa (Chrysoceras: Chryso-gold; ceras-horn). When Keroessa was born, she carried the scars of her mother’s transformation: there were two projections on both sides of her forehead, like horns. It was because of her golden hair and the little horns on her forehead that the mythical nymphs along the river named her Keroessa. In Greek mythology, Keroessa later bore a son to Poseidon. This son, in time, became the founder of Byzantium and named the Golden Horn (Chrysoceras) after his mother, Keroessa (Chrysoceras). The freak must have figured he was an albino because of his grandmother, the white cow.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Keri said.

“Look. It’s right here in the poem,

I
curse
my
likeness
,
filled
with
spite
.

“Must have been something in the gene pool. The last, little tidbit is that Byzas was the founder of Byzantium (later named Constantinople, and then Istanbul). So there we have it—full circle.”

“Sounds like Rex and Zeus could have been matched up in a past life,” Keri said.

“Keri,” Ryan said, “don’t rule it out so fast.”

She laughed.

“Dude, Zeus couldn’t hold a candle to me in my younger days.”

“So let me see if I got this right,” Ryan said. “This lunatic thinks he, in past lives, sealed the two golden gates as Mehmet and Suleyman and, in his current life, was attempting to take out the Golden Gate Bridge, all for the same reason?”

“Sounds crazy, I know, but, like I said, this guy was
one
messed up dude. When I got inside his head, I figure he considered all three golden gates to be a mockery to someone he loved. For him, Mehmet and Suleyman did what they did for the same reason—not what was told in history.”

“Wow. Wow. Wow,” Keri said.

“Yeah, the dude was definitely trippin’,” Rex said.

“Rex, I must say, I’m impressed,” Ryan said. “I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did.”

“Thanks, Dude. I’ve got your back. I’m sure you would have done the same for me.”

Keri stood up and hugged Rex. “Thank you.”

“Wow. A hug and a thank you from my ex,” Rex said. “Looks like my work is done here.” They all chuckled.

“So, what are your plans?” Ryan said. “Think you’ll go back to the airline?”

“Not so sure the company will want me back.”

“That’s crazy talk. I’ll bet they will give you full back pay and a hero’s welcome. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made you Chief Pilot.”

“Dude. Get real. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from them once this hits the news.”

Keri’s cell phone rang. She reached for it, but Ryan said, “Let me get that.” He flipped it open. “Hello.”

“Are you watching?” the voice said.

Ryan looked to Keri and Rex and said, “It’s Chuck Smith.” They both smiled. “Watching what?”

“The news. The story broke tonight.”

“Which channel?”

“All of them. Just turn your TV on.”

“Chuck says the story is out. All over the news.”

Rex jumped up and flipped on the TV. The FOX News Channel came on. “We got it,” Ryan told Chuck. “I’ll talk to you later.” Ryan flipped his cell closed.

While the reporter summarized the events of Ryan’s flight, photos of Ryan in his uniform—a much younger Ryan—flashed on the screen.

“Dude, you’re a hero,” Rex said. “But look at that mug shot. Must’ve been taken ten years ago.”

“Has to be older than that. That was taken back when I first made captain.”

The reporter transitioned to the tragedy of Rex’s flight. After a few well-spoken words, remembering those that died and the loss that many suffered, the reporter told of the miraculous survival of Captain Rex Dean.

After a brief mention of Emily’s death, the reporter followed with how Rex Dean had heroically saved the lives of Ryan’s wife and two children. Photos of Rex in his uniform, smiling big, filled the screen.

“Looks like you got your job back if you want it,” Ryan said.

“How ‘bout you? You going back?”

“I’m done.” Ryan looked at Keri. “We still haven’t decided what’s next, but I’m hangin’ it up.”

“Dude, I don’t blame you. Things have changed a lot since we first started. To be honest, I’m not so sure what I’ll do. Maybe I’ll write a book, get a movie deal, make millions, and then go surf my life away.”

“Yeah, and with that new enhanced two syllable vocabulary of yours, you might even be able to write something other than a children’s book.”

“Funny,” Rex said sarcastically. “I’ll be sure to save you a part in the movie.”

“Rex, you must be starving. Can I fix you a plate of spaghetti now?” Keri said.

“That would be awesome.”

CHAPTER 40

After a plate of spaghetti, Rex headed back to Dana Point to explain his disappearance and real identity to his girlfriend. David and Martha were asleep, and Ryan and Keri were preparing for bed.

“That was pretty amazing,” Ryan said after rinsing the toothpaste from his mouth.

“Yeah, a lot to take in. But for the first time, I feel like it is over; a big load off my mind.”

“I’m so happy for Rex. Do you think he will continue flying?”

“Depends if he gets his movie deal or not.”

“No, seriously.”

“I’m more interested in what’s next for us. With you not flying, we’re going to have to come up with some way to pay the bills.”

“If we sell the house, we should clear almost $50,000 in equity, maybe more. The housing market is booming right now. And maybe I can sell my story, or at least get a few networks to pay me for an appearance. Who knows, Oprah might be interested.”

“Whatever we decide, we need to be sure that David has the best possible education.” Keri slipped out of her clothes and into a nightgown. Ryan caught a glimpse. Even after all the years, he still felt the spark. For the first time in several years, the uncertainty of the future didn’t stress him, as it once did. He had Keri, and that was all that mattered.

“I agree.” Ryan flipped off the bathroom light and followed Keri into the bedroom. A cool breeze from an open window stirred the air. They climbed into bed.

“It would be nice to sell this house,” Keri said. “I really don’t want anything to remind me, or the kids, of that night.”

“Definitely. That was a nightmare we all want to forget.”

“Speaking of nightmares, I’m thankful yours has not returned.”

“Yeah, I’ve been sleeping a lot better.”

Keri put her hand on his bare chest and kissed him. “I’m so happy, and I love you so much. I think our dark days are behind us for now.”

“I certainly hope so.” Ryan took her hand in his and stroked it softly. “As Rex was talking tonight, I had mini-flashbacks of things from my dream.”

“Like what?”

“For example, in my dream—the last one I had—do you remember me telling you that Rex was the pilot?”

“Yeah, you said it was the first time you could put a name to one of the pilots in your dream.”

“In that dream, he took the emergency rope down and dove out of the window, just like he and I both did—except, not in mid flight.”

“It makes you wonder if it was prophetic in ways.”

“Yeah. And then there was the time when the copilot looks at me and says, ‘Freedom is found in hope. You must not forget that. Everyone is depending on you. If you don’t find the answers, we will all die. It’s up to you. Everything is up to you. You must find freedom! Time is running out!’”

“You never told me about
that
.”

“There were a few things Rex said tonight that made certain phrases from the dream pop into my mind with unusual clarity. In the dream, I remember Rex saying, ‘Act, don’t think! Everything you need is here. You’ll find the answers in the here. Don’t let your fear blind you, get busy!’”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not sure, but I know I heard Rex say something tonight about fear blinding him. I think it was when he found Emily. Maybe my dream was some sort of subliminal warning of things to come. Perhaps my subconscious was trying to communicate with my mind.”

“I didn’t know we could dream like that.”

“The one thing I can’t figure out is the book the copilot in my dream was reading. I remember the copilot say, ‘it’s inspiring’. Then he marked his place with a two-dollar bill, of all things.”

“If he marked his place in the book, it meant he was obviously not finished reading the story. Maybe that has something to do with our future. Oh! I know! It must be the story of our life. The two-dollar bill represents the two of us, and since he marked his place in the novel, he was trying to tell you that there is more to our story. And look at us now. We are all safe, and our life is beginning a new chapter—hopefully one filled with happy days.” She kissed him again.

“I think you are right, or at least I’m going to have faith that you are right.”

“Did this book have a title, or should we make up our own. Maybe something like
Forever
Happy
or
Too
Good
To
Be
True
.”

“Now that you mention it, I do remember one word on the cover of the book:
Freedom
.”

“I’ve got it!
Finding
Freedom
.”

“Or how about,
Flight
to
Freedom
?”

“That’s even better. Fantastic! We will ‘mount up with wings like eagles’, like it says in the Bible, and soar off into a new chapter of our lives.”

Having lived through the darkest days in his life, Ryan saw the future through new eyes. The things he once feared no longer shackled him to the demons of anxiety, worry, and fear. His faith was new and strong. He had a renewed sense of hope. The darkness had lifted.

The old adage he often heard his mother call upon when hope seemed to have taken wings and flown away popped into his head, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Again, she had been right.

He and Keri held each other and kissed, rekindling the fires of passion. The love he had for Keri had grown deeper than he had thought humanly possible. He had never loved her more than he did at that moment.

He whispered a prayer of thanks to God for what he had been forced to endure, for it was in those dark hours that he was given new eyes, a new heart, and a renewed faith.

He and Keri were now ready to embark on their
Flight
to
Freedom
.

THE END

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Times of personal darkness (discouragement, disappointment, sickness, and loss) come in many shades from gray to black: a flat tire, chipped tooth, rebellious child, job loss, financial hardship, marital conflict, natural disaster, family dispute, divorce, act of violence, unfaithful or abusive spouse, health problems, abusive parent, death of a loved one, physical or mental handicap, painful terminal disease, and many, many more examples.

It’s one thing when dark episodes in our life are the result of the painful consequences of our own foolish mistakes, but it is quite a different thing when people who love God—who are serving Him faithfully—are ambushed by extremely difficult, dark times. When that happens, it is easy to question whether God really cares or not.

Flight
into
Darkness
was inspired by one man who, in my opinion, experienced three of the darkest days humanly imaginable. Staring at the dark road ahead, he quickly surrendered, trusted, and moved on faith, even though he didn’t understand or know how things would turn out. It is a story of love, trust, faith, and obedience. That man’s name was Abraham.

Abraham and Isaac:
God
said
, "
Abraham
!"

"
Yes
?"
answered
Abraham
. "
I'm
listening
."

He
said
, "
Take
your
dear
son
Isaac
whom
you
love
and
go
to
the
land
of
Moriah
.
Sacrifice
him
there
as
a
burnt
offering
on
one
of
the
mountains
that
I'll
point
out
to
you
."

Abraham
got
up
early
in
the
morning
and
saddled
his
donkey
.
He
took
two
of
his
young
servants
and
his
son
Isaac
.
He
had
split
wood
for
the
burnt
offering
.
He
set
out
for
the
place
God
had
directed
him
.

On
the
third
day
he
looked
up
and
saw
the
place
in
the
distance
.
Abraham
told
his
two
young
servants
, "
Stay
here
with
the
donkey
.
The
boy
and
I
are
going
over
there
to
worship
;
then
we'll
come
back
to
you
."

Abraham
took
the
wood
for
the
burnt
offering
and
gave
it
to
Isaac
his
son
to
carry
.
He
carried
the
flint
and
the
knife
.
The
two
of
them
went
off
together
.

Isaac
said
to
Abraham
his
father
, "
Father
?"