Page 38 (2/2)

I let her liainst my side and support her with an arm around her shoulder for the takeoff

“There’s a storine, not looking at me this time “Do you want to divert?”

I tighten my arm around Cas “How bad?”

“We should be able to make it if the current weather prediction holds”

It takes a second to make up my mind “Go for it”

“If it gets worse, on’t have a choice but to divert to Polokwane”

I acknowledge with silence but pray the weather will play in our favor Every etting caught There won’t be any deals for Cas Not any longer She’s chosen sides, as per o nohether it’s up or down, I’ her with me

Peeling back her eyelid, I check the pupil The black is dilated, but not overly so Ithat’s pressed between us to make sure she’s comfortable

A good hour into the flight, we hit the thunderstor cuts open the sky and raindrops the size of four-carat diamonds pelt the windscreen A thin trickle of water runs underneath the glass onto the dash The pilot tears paper towels froainst the windscreen to stop the leak

For the first time in my life, I fear in spades Not forThe plane rattles as lightning crashes on the left I see the flash three seconds before I hear the sound That means it’s close

I don’t bother the pilot with less questions His knuckles are white fro the yoke I let hi the storm while I rub a hand over Cas’s arm I take her hand inIt bothers me, even if I know it’s a side-effect of the tranquilizer

I’ her On the other, I feel better not sub abducted to a different country and a place she doesn’t know

The plane drops as it hits an air pocket, startling hts The aircraft hits a second pocket, the drop significant enough to make my stomach climb intoagainst the ceiling Another few h the cluster of clouds and hit a clear night sky