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“So far so good,” Gunderson answered, “but this unit burns through batteries like a kid with a video game Did they by chance load any spare batteries on board?”

Pilston, as crouched between the pilot’s and copilot’s seat, rooted around in a pair of paper bags but came up empty “Sorry, Chuck,” she said, “no luck”

“What did we get?” he asked

Pilston did a quick inventory “Some MREs, two thermoses of what I assume is coffee, some Hershey bars and M&M’s, bottled water, maps, and some mouthwash”

“What about towels and soap?”

Pilston dug around in the bottos “Yep”

“Gannon’s pretty good about that,” Gunderson said, yawning

Michaels stared at the speed indicator “We have five on,” she said “Tracy and I got soht Why don’t you clean up a little and try to get soet close”

“Think you can fill the copilot’s duties?” he asked Pilston

“I received my private pilot’s certificate last year,” Pilston told him “I don’t have many hours, but I think I’m qualified to watch the needles quiver”

Gunderson nodded wearily “Off the controls,” he said

As soon as he was sure Michaels had the plane, he stood up, slid out of his seat, and slid past Pilston, who quickly climbed into the pilot’s station The Antonov could be flown froht seat, so there was no reason for Michaels to move across the cockpit Once Pilston was situated, she turned around to Gunderson

“There’s a cot that folds out of the wall,” she said, “and a toilet that basically du to eat first?”

“No, ladies,” Gunderson said “Just wake me if you need me”

Then he walked back to the cot, removed his shirt and crumpled it up as a pillow, stretched out and was asleep within minutes The Antonov droned north for the rendezvous