The Last Pilot: A Novel by Benjamin Johncock Read Free Book Online

finger punched down on the microphone transmission key. I know because, my God, I can see it; I’m there in the B-29 cockpit too. So I start shouting, Don’t drop him! but he can’t hear me and he starts the countdown, ten through one, which everyone on the loop hears, including Chuck, who starts yelling, Don’t drop me! Don’t drop me! and Jim and Kit and the others are yelling Don’t drop him! and I start screaming Don’t drop him! until I’m hoarse and crying and the countdown finishes and he reaches over to the handle and releases the plane, and … that’s when I wake up screaming.
    Christ, Pancho said.
    What you tell Chuck? Grace said.
    That I had a bad dream.
    You tell him about it?
    I can’t. It don’t feel right. Like I’d be damaging his confidence. And if I do that, it might affect the flight. Just thinking it feels wrong; like letting the thought in is enough to … I tell him, one of the kids had a fall, or got hit by a car; something like that.
    She drank her bottle down.
    That’s why I didn’t want my name on that damn airplane, she said, wiping her lips. Ain’t nothing glamorous about it.
    Grace nodded. On the radio, Ridley said, let’s go.
    They listened as the B-29, with the X-1 mated beneath it, rolled down the runway, took off and began to climb.
    It’s a beautiful day, Grace said.
    Yes it is, Glennis said.
    The women sat and drank and the sun beat down on the bar.
    Harrison’s voice; Pancho looked at Grace. He was taking off in a Shooting Star, flying chase with Kit Murray. Pancho poured herself a scotch. From the mothership, they heard four minutes called, then two minutes, then Ridley’s voice again, to Yeager, waiting in the plane below.

    You all set, Chuck?
    Hell, yeah, I’m tired of waitin; let’s drop this crate.

    Countdown numbers tumbled from the radio. Pancho turned up the volume. The X-1 was dropped. They stared into their drinks and listened. Yeager lit the four rocket chambers and climbed, steep, up. His voice on the radio was faint, that West Virginian drawl.

    Had a mild buffet […] jus the usual instability.

    The X-1 reached point nine-six Mach.

    Say Ridley, make a note here […] elevator effectiveness regained.

    The Mach needle moved to point nine-eight, fluctuated, then went off the scale. Pancho heard a sudden, hard crack; sharp and loud enough to ripple the beer in the bottles and rattle the frames on the wall.

    Say Ridley, make another note, will ya? There’s something wrong with this ol Machometer … it’s gone kinda screwy on me.

    If it is, Chuck, we’ll fix it. Personally, I think you’re seeing things.
    Well, guess I am, Jack, an I’m about to punch a hole in the sky.
    They heard Yeager chuckle to himself. Glennis smiled. Pancho slammed her hands down on the bar.
    Yeager! she said. That miserable sonofabitch! Just the usual instability? Man doesn’t have a nerve in his goddamn body!
    Glennis laughed, Grace squeezed her hand and Pancho made martinis to celebrate.
     
    The desert cooled, night fell. Yeager claimed his free steak dinner at Pancho’s.
    Got you a present, Harrison said, handing him a brown paper package tied with string.
    Thanks, he said, pulling at the string. Inside was a raw carrot, a pair of glasses and an old length of rope.
    All cowboys use rope, Harrison said. You can use that to tie yourself to the horse.
    Tricky seein things in the dark, Ridley said. Jackrabbit holes, corral gates …
    Why, thanks a whole lot, Yeager said. One thing about you guys, you’re real sincere.
    He stuck the carrot in his mouth, put on the glasses and swung the rope around his head.
    The men laughed. Pancho came over.
    How’s the Lone Ranger? she said.
    All right, all right, Glennis said. Time to give the fastest man in the world some peace.
    There was cheering.
    Don’t feel right, Pancho said, not celebrating properly.
    Orders are orders, Ridley said.
    This is the most historic flight since the goddamn Wright Brothers and the air force wants