Chapter 16 - Page 227 - Flying To America

The sound of the engines was no more than a low-keyed hum coming through the pressurized jet. The crew and passengers began to relax. Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha stood to stretch their legs, pacing up and down the aisle just to work the kinks out of their muscles. Jackie and Simbatu saw what they were doing and did the same.

   After a while, everyone became bored. They began to feel like prisoners on the plane, and they were relieved when Mario landed the plane at an airport outside of Dallas a few hours later. He taxied the plane to the company hangar and parked it. Raymond was waiting by the hangar with the company limousine.

   Rhasha, looking out her window, caught sight of the car. It fascinated her. "Look Jim," she said, "isn't that the most beautiful car you ever saw?" She pointed out the window at the limo.

   "It is pretty, Rhasha," Jim replied, "but there are prettier cars."

   Rhasha shook her head firmly. "I don't think so. That car is almost as long as this plane."

   The limousine was parked on the side opposite the door of the plane. Suddenly remembering the prank Rhasha had played on him at the waterfalls in Africa, when she'd pretended she'd hit her head on a rock and drowned, Jim said to Rhasha, "When Mario turns off the engines, Chuck will open the door. Jackie, Simbatu, and I will be getting the luggage together. When Chuck opens the door, stairs will extend out from the plane."

   Rhasha had been listening attentively to everything Jim said. "Okay," she interrupted, "what do you want me to do?"

   "I want you to take Shanha down the stairs and around the back of the plane."

   "Okay, and then what?"

   "Then," Jim replied, "walk over to the man at the car and say hello."

   "Then what?"