As the altimeter goes through 1000, I quickly rig the hose and hand pump to transfer fuel to the main tank, then drag the hand pump forward , already pumping like mad, and sit down, pumping with one hand as I try to start an engine with the other. Please hold out, batteries... God, we're low... I pump as fast as I can... the water gets closer... the starter laboriously turns the #2 prop... come on, baby...
#2 catches, and roars into life!! I ram the throttle forward, full climb prop, and stomp right rudder , hauling back on the yoke just as the prop tips start picking up spray. Jesus. Holding her flat just over the waves (good thing the sea is calm!), I start #1, and resume pumping.
I set the AP to hold the heading and keep her climbing slowly, with power settings as low as I can have them and still climb. I have no idea how long I can make this fuel last, and I've already used a lot just to get back up. Meanwhile, being lost, I have to get some altitude, so I can better look for the islands.
I level off at 4,000 and throttle way back. Still no VOR, still no voice contact. where the hell am I? I take a guess at my drift. Probably north... otherwise I would've seen some of the Line Islands chain by now... I steer slightly south, finally finish transferring the fuel, and just sit thinking for a while. I'm still trembling from the shock of being awoken from that dream... the dream!! The whole fuel thing- that was weird. But I must've just heard the fuel sloshing while asleep, that's all. And the crab with the GPS? Heh, just wishful thinking.Sure would be nice to have it, now... I know I left the handheld back home, wanting to do this the hard way. I took it out of my flight bag, and- or did I...? I lean over and grab the bag; to my surprise, there's my little portable GPS!! Thank you, little crab!!
I power it up, not feeling so macho now, and discover I have indeed drifted north: I'm also still short, longitude-wise. I steer to follow the line, noting that I've got over 200 miles to go. I ease throttles and props back a little more... groundspeed is pretty good, so maybe the fuel will hold out.
Now I just have to track the GPS course and try to stay awake. I'm just drifting off again, when I hear a call from my ground crew, waiting at Cassidy.
"Good to hear your voice, Boss... any idea where you are?"
I explain sheepishly about the GPS. I hear laughter in my headphones, then I'm advised to get over myself and just get my butt on the ground safe.
He tells me I sound terrible. He's right.
"Remember the checklist, Boss...we'll be waiting for you."
Finally, blessedly, the island comes into view. A deep, shuddering sigh escapes me.
"Airport in sight... which runway, guys?"
Good thing the weather's decent... wind is light. In a daze, I make my way down to the runway. I've never seen a more beautiful airport...
Oddly enough, my landing is better than usual. Time is 13:40 by my clock; about 33 hours from takeoff. Damn, I'm tired!!
I taxi over to the ramp.... the crew storms the plane... somebody grabs me and helps me down the steps... they're yelling and back-slapping and hustling me towards theterminal...I want to debrief, but nobody wants to hear it. "Let's get to work", the mechanic says in the distance; they're going to look over the plane. Now I enter the darkness of a room. Somebody says: "Get some shuteye, Boss... we'll talk later".
Something rushes out of the darkness and softly smacks me in the face. It's a pillow. I distantly feel hands lifting my legs into the cot.
I sleep.
As you may have guessed, I did actually ditch, but when crash detection put me back up a few miles back, I decided to cheat. Made the story more interesting, anyway... but I promise I won't do it again... ;D
Next: Christmas Islands to Nauru!
Ramos
