Page 125 of GAF Factor

“Then why did you say it is?”

“Because I like saying it!” I snapped. “Jesus, do you have to question every fucking thing I say?”

“When you’re in the pilot’s seat? Yes.”

We started down the runway and that eerie feeling slammed home again. I rechecked every single fucking thing. Something wasn’t right, though all the gauges said we were primed for flight. I pulled back on the yoke and took her to the skies. Everything was fine. We were fine.

But my hands were shaking and my gut was telling me to turn the fucking plane around.

“This isn’t right,” I murmured.

“What?”

“It’s not right.”

“What’s not right?”

“This. The whole fucking thing. Something’s wrong.”

Decision made, I decided to circle back to the airport. I steered us left as Max started yelling at me.

“What the fuck are you doing? We’re supposed to be heading home! We can’t just head back to the airport because of your gut!”

“I’m fucking telling you?—”

The plane suddenly jerked hard and an explosion tore through the right side of the plane.

“Engine two is out!” Max shouted. “We gotta land now!”

“No fucking shit,” I retorted.

“Scottie!” FNG shouted, running up front. “The plane’s on fire!”

“I know the plane’s on fire!”

“Landing sometime soon would be good,” Max continued.

“Not to be a pain in the ass,” Thumper said, shoving FNG aside, “but I’d really like to make it home to see my kid. Oh, and Bree. Shit, don’t tell her I forgot about her.”

“Did anyone think to extinguish the fire?” Fox shouted from the back.

“All of you, sit the fuck down!”

“My Funyuns!” Fox yelled. “Help! They’re on fire! They’re burning up!”

“Someone put out the fucking fire!” I shouted.

FNG snorted. “I say let ‘em burn. No one rushed to my aid when my umbrellas were in danger.”

The plane dipped, then the horizon danced all over the fucking gauge. I did my best to level us out, but we were all over the fucking place.

“Mayday, mayday. This is Cessna Three One Zero Six Foxtrot. We have an engine out and are inbound for landing. Our position is five miles south. Please be advised we’ll need emergency services on site. Over.”

“Shit, he’s calling it in,” FNG sighed. “This must be really fucking serious.”

“No shit, asshole,” Thumper snapped, smacking him upside the head.

“Would you all fucking take your seats?” I growled, ready to lose my shit.

---