her head, waving her finger over the image on the screen. âSee here? Between the top and bottom surfaces there is virtually no change in density. No cracks. No holes. No gaps or bubbles. Nothing.â
âSo we havenât progressed much,â said Dr. Cooper.
âWe may have fallen back a little. We donât even know what the Stone is made of.â
âBut you said it was basalt,â said Lila.
Dr. Henderson shot a glance at the gas-powered core drill lying next to the planeâs wheel strut, the drill bit burned and blunted. âWhile you were setting out the sensors, I tried to drill out a core sample. The drill didnât even make a scratch. If Iâm going to be scientific and objective here, I have to admit I donât know what this thing is or what itâs made of. I only know itâs indestructible.â
âDo you still think itâs man-made?â Dr. Cooper asked.
Jennifer Henderson sniffed a derisive little laugh.âIâm wondering what the builder used for a chisel. Even though he, or it, or they, left marks, I sure canât.â
Lila turned her back to a cold breeze that had just kicked up. âHis Excellency isnât going to like this.â
âJust for my information,â said Dr. Henderson, ânow that we have the airplane, canât we just fly out of the country from here?â
Dr. Cooper looked across the vast, tabletop surface toward the distant horizon, barely visible beyond the Stoneâs sharp edge. âYes, we can. Iâm just not sure how far we can go on the fuel we have left.â
âFar enough to get out of Togwana would be fine with me.â
âBut the question is, where can we go? If any of the neighboring countries help us escape, Nkromo would brand them as enemies. Iâm not sure theyâd want that.â
âWell,â said Lila, âat least weâre safe up here.â
As if in response to her words, a disturbing quiver came up through the soles of their shoes.
âI knew it,â Dr. Henderson moaned.
The Stone was quaking, all right. Dr. Hendersonâs computer almost slid off its little stand before she grabbed it. The airplane began to rock, its wings dipping and jiggling. From deep below and all around, there was a deep rumble, like continuous thunder, as a gust of wind whipped across the Stone, kicking up tiny ice pellets that stung their faces.
Dr. Henderson was already throwing her gear into the plane. âLetâs go, letâs go!â
Dr. Cooper looked to the east and saw a curtain of snow, ice, and boiling clouds coming their way. âFair weatherâs over. Weâd better get off this thing!â
Lila looked the direction her father was looking and saw the storm approaching. Even so, she insisted, âBut weâre safe here, really!â
Dr. Cooper just tugged her toward the plane.âJay, unchock the wheels!â
Dr. Henderson started running away and he grabbed her.
âIâve got to get the blaster!â she yelled over the rumble and the wind. âAnd the drill, and all those sensorsââ
âWhat about the airplane? â Dr. Cooper yelled back. âIf it gets damaged, weâll never get down!â
The Stone lurched like a bucking horse. The airplane actually skipped backward several feet, and the Coopers tumbled to the ground. The wind began to whip at them angrily.
Dr. Henderson didnât need any more convincing. With a cry of fear, she struggled to her feet, jerked the door open, and clambered inside.
Jay and Lila jumped in the back, Dr. Cooper in the front. The plane was still dancing and sidestepping along the quivering ground as Dr. Cooper rattled off the checklist, his hands flying from lever to button to gauge to switch. âFuel tanks both, electrical off, breakers in, prop on maximum, carb heat cold . . .â
He twisted the starter switch and the engine came to life, the prop spinning into a
Pierre V. Comtois, Charlie Krank, Nick Nacario