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“Bowanis deeyass,” he said with a lopsided grin, his Chuck Yeager drawl and butchered Portuguese grating on her ears “Sorry for not keeping you up to date,and didn’t want to disturb you” He winked at the copilot, a thickset Brazilian whose over iron The copilot smirked as his eyes roved over Francesca’s body Francesca felt like a mother who had come upon two mischievous boys about to play a prank

“What’s our timetable?” she said in a businesslike manner

“Waall, we’re over Venezuela We should be in Mias while we refuel and should be in New York about three hours after that”

Francesca’s scientific eye was drawn to the screens on the instrument panel The copilot noticed her interest and couldn’t resist the chance to impress a beautiful woman

“This plane is so sa teeth

“Don’t let Carlos blow smoke up your flue,” the pilot said “That’s the EFIS, the electronic flight instrues we used to use”

“Thank you,” Francesca said politely She pointed to another gauge “Is that a compass?” she said

“Sie

“Then why does it indicate we’re going almost due north?” she said with a furrowed brow “Shouldn’t we be heading in a more westerly direction toward Miami?”

The lances “You’re quite observant, senhora,” the Texan said “Absolutely right But in the air a straight line isn’t always the fastest way between two points Has to do with the curvature of the earth Like when you fly from the US to Europe the shortest way is up and around in a big curve We’ve also got to deal with Cuban airspace Don’t want to get ol’ Fidel all haired up”

The quick wink and sain

Francesca nodded appreciatively “Thank you for your tiet back to your work”

“No bother, ma’am Any time”

Francesca was fu as she took her seat Fools! Did they think she was an idiot? The curvature of the earth indeed!

“Everything’s okay, like I said?” Phillipo asked, looking up fro