The Captive Missile Chapter 6-Final Chapter!

The Captive Missile

Chapter 6

Natalie spoke up at that moment. We’re going to crash!

Adams remained stone faced as the ground came nearer and nearer, then the plane rose up again, higher and higher in the sky. Soon we were above the clouds. Maybe Adams wasn’t going to crash the plane after all. My hopes were soon dashed when he unbuckled his seat belt and grabbed a pack from behind his seat.

A parachute. He was going to jump!

He quickly strapped it on while Van, Natalie and I watched in disbelief. You’ve got to be kidding, Natalie spat. What are you going to do? Just leave us here while you bail.

That’s the plan, little lady, Adams said as he finished strapping the parachute. He flicked the autopilot then headed to the back of the plane.

I was in handcuffs and couldn’t do much. Van looked ready to throw up. Natalie would have to fly the plane and land it.

Wind whipped through the plane as Adams opened the back hatch. A minute later he jumped.

Go and close the door, Van, Natalie ordered. She moved into the pilot seat. He knew you were a pilot, why would he just leave you here to fly it. I asked. Not that I’m complaining but Adams didn’t look dumb enough to forget a small detail like that.

He didn’t, Natalie said a moment later. He rigged this so I can’t fly it. He’s locked out the controls and the landing gear won’t come down.

Van had closed the hatch and sat back down. He was white as a sheet. What was that last bit? He said.

You don’t want to know. I said.

You can’t land this plane? That’s just great.

I have an idea. She said, through gritted teeth. She banked the plane and we headed north again. She dropped altitude below the clouds and the snow was visible on the ground below. Remember, on our way up here I mentioned Tabor’s pass?

I nodded.

We might be able to land without landing gear. It’ll be a rough landing but I think we can do it.

But once we’re down how do we contact anyone to rescue us? I asked.

Haven’t got that far yet. Do you want to live or not? I’ll get us down alive first then we can worry about that. Anyway, they’ll be waiting for us in Iqaluit. When we don’t arrive on schedule, they’ll come looking for us, don’t worry.

We circled lower and lower. Tabor’s pass wasn’t too far away now. I thought I could see it in the distance.

A little lower, Natalie murmured. The pass came into view closer and closer. I recognized the area as close to where we crashed the other plane only yesterday.

There’s the plane, Van said, pointing to the north. Sure enough, the plane was visible against the bright snow. A minute later we touched down, the plane jolted and slid on the hard-packed snow. Natalie fought to bring it under control. The plane skidded and flipped over. My head cracked against the ceiling and I blacked out.

I heard my name from what seemed a far distance. Justin. Justin. Are you awake? It was Van. I slowly came to. My wrists were still in the handcuffs and my arms were sore. I had landed upside down on them. My left arm felt numb while my right was in pain. I think I broke my arm; I said.

Feeling groggy. I tried to move to sit up. Van had cut my seatbelt, and I tried to move around but the handcuffs were hindering my progress. With Van’s help I finally sat up. I was cold. The window was smashed.

Where are we? We crashed didn’t we?

Yes, Natalie’s gone for help. She’ll be back soon.

I tried to rest but my arm was throbbing. I wish I could get these handcuffs off, I muttered.

I tried to cut them with these, Van said pulling a wire cutter off the ground. There was a toolbox in the back. I used these to cut the seatbelts.

Soon Natalie returned and reported that she reached the other plane and was able to get a message to Northlands about what had happened.

Apparently what was jamming the signal yesterday was no longer being used. I spoke with Hannigan and he’s mounting an investigation.

We have to stop Adams and Meager, I remarked. How close are we to the shoreline and the cave?

I saw the snow was disturbed not far from here. That must be where Adams landed. The cave is not far.

With van and Natalie’s help they dragged me out of the plane. I was able to walk but my arm was still throbbing.

With both Natalie and Van using the wire cutters, they had managed to break the handcuffs off me. Natalie also found a first aid kit and was able to set my arm and put a sling on it.

We need to stop Adams and Meager; I said when she was done. I started walking in a southerly direction.

No, Justin it’s too dangerous, Natalie warned.

Don’t—Van said.

I turned and continued walking. The crest of the hill and the cave were indeed not far. I had to stop Adams before he left with the missile.

Van followed me while Natalie stayed with the plane to wait for the rescuers. Together we crested the hill and looked at the shoreline below. It was a mess of snow and rock, where the explosion had ripped apart the front of the cave. Just enough room to hide a missile.

There didn’t seem to be anyone around. Adams couldn’t have gotten back here and moved the missile already, could he?

Suddenly I heard voices from around the mouth of the cave. The voices seemed to be arguing. Van and I crept closer.

You told me the boat would be here by 1 pm, I heard Adams say. Where is it?

It’s coming, sir, the suave, oily voice of Lars Meager. There are many patrols in Baffin Bay. It is a long way from Greenland to Baffin Island. He will be here soon.

My eyes scanned the water and could see no boats approaching. Maybe they were caught by the RCMP. Adams would have seen that the RCMP was on the wrong trail, however. But now that Hannigan has been alerted to Adams deception, he longer had the upper hand. The RCMP should be converging on this spot now. I only hoped they would be here first before Meager’s men arrived.

The men were silent for a moment. Then Adams spoke up. They’re on to us, he said calmly. That Macdonald kid and his friends got a message to Northlands. They must have survived the crash.

You told me they would be killed, Meager said. This is your fault.

Nothing we can do about it now. We need to leave now—wait. I have another idea.

They were quiet again then Adams voice spoke up. “This is Adams, he said. You must call off the RCMP from Mirror Bay Inlet. I am in possession of the Informant and have it trained on the Northlands facility. If you do not comply I will set off the missile and it will hit its intended target.

The boat is here, Meager said. I glanced out on the water and didn’t see the boat until it was entering the cove. Van and I were concealed behind a mound of snow and rock. Meager and Adams went out to meet it.

While they two men were boarding the ship, we made our move. Slipping down the slope to the cave, we quickly went inside. The missile was not too far from the entrance. We had to hurry. Adams and Meager would be back soon—and there was nowhere to hide in the cave.

During my study of the missile for science class I had memorized the guidance system controls. All I had to do was disable the control and get back out before Meager and Adams returned.

Time was against us. Suddenly the controls looked different from what I remembered. Did the design change? Or was I just nervous.

What’s wrong, Justin? Van asked. I wish I could help you, but when we were doing our science projects frankly I wasn’t paying that much attention.

I lifted the guidance panel and saw the controls. Now they looked familiar. I knew what I had to do. Not harm the system, just disengage it.

I found the controls I wanted and changed the settings to OFF.

Justin, I think they’re coming back. Let’s go.

Done, come on.

We made our way to the exit of the cave.

It was too late. Meager saw us first and motioned to Adams. You! He roared bounding up the hill towards us. What are you doing here?

What’s it look like? We’re foiling your plans. I said smugly. It’s over, Adams. The RCMP—real RCMP—is on its way.

Step away from the missile, he said. We’re taking it now. The real RCMP won’t get here in time.

He might be right, so I had to stall him as long as I could. But what could I do. I couldn’t fight anyone with my arm like this. Van might be able to take Meager, but both Meager and Adams? Adams might be a criminal but he was a trained RCMP officer nonetheless. I willed Hannigan and his men to get here and soon.

I heard the sound of a helicopter and was ecstatic. The cavalry was here! But my hopes were soon dashed. As the men were moving the missile out of the cave, Meager turned to Adams. My men are here—finally. We’ll fly north into the Arctic Circle. Our landing spot in Siberia is waiting.

Good. Adams remarked. He turned to me. See we’ll outsmart the RCMP after all. They’re coming by boat and we’re leaving by helicopter.

I gritted my teeth in frustration. Of course they wouldn’t go by boat, with everyone patrolling the Baffin Bay, they wouldn’t get away. If only I could get to the radio and warn Northlands before the helicopter reached Siberia.

The missile would be lost forever once it was in Russia.

Tie them up, Adams roared to the two men once the missile was out of the cave. A winch was lowered from the helicopter and Meager attached it, then the helicopter lowered to the ground the pick up its passengers.

Van and I were roughly tied together, my arm was throbbing again. Adams didn’t seem to care.

Soon the helicopter was gone. We’ll freeze before they find us, Van said, pulling at his ropes.

No, we won’t, I said calmly which infuriated Van. How do you know?

Northlands should be tracking the helicopter. It won’t make it out of Canada. Isn’t that right, I said in a louder voice?

Copy that, Mr. Macdonald. A voice from the radio. Mr. Hannigan.

We heard everything. We’ll have Adams in custody soon. My men have been dispatched to apprehend the helicopter and to rescue you and your two friends.

Two hours later seated in the hospital in Iqaluit, surrounded by Van and Natalie and the police officers and Hannigan. I gave a full report of what had happened. Adams fingerprints were found on my phone. It was he who snuck into the barracks and called Meager on my phone. My little investigation and learning of Meager’s name only helped his cause when I let slip the name.

I would like to formally apologize, Hannigan remarked. Adams had me fooled. I was suspicious of you but couldn’t prove anything. He helped convince me you were guilty. He was good, I’ll give him that.

He was good, but I can’t believe he forgot about the radio, Natalie spoke up.

Yeah, I managed to turn it on when he wasn’t looking. I only hoped someone was listening on the other end, I related. I was only hoping they would recognize Adams voice but when he said where they were headed that was a bonus.

Well, he’s been apprehended, Hannigan said and the missile has been recovered. It’s no worse for wear for its ordeal in the cave.

How it was stolen in the first place, Van wondered. The cleaner was framed. By Adams?

Yes, Adams using his RCMP influence allowed the terrorists to gain access to the facility. They were only meant as a distraction. He betrayed them to make himself look good and throw any suspicion off himself then he and Meager blew up the cave with the officers in it to make it look like the missile had been taken out over Baffin Bay but really it was put in the cave with Meager, which I learned when I overheard Adams last night.

Adams met Meager years before in Moscow. Meager came to Adams with the idea of stealing the missile and Adams being stationed in Nunavut was in a perfect position to be security liaison to Hannigan at Northlands.

Hannigan shook his head. I can’t believe I worked with Adams for years and he betrayed us all. But thanks to Justin and his friends Van and Natalie the missile has been recovered and the tests will continue

Natalie looked a little glum at this news. But not here in Nunavut, Hannigan went on. We have permission to do the tests in Siberia.

Natalie was happy at this news. My parents live in Inuvik and will be ecstatic about this news, she said.

I was glad everything worked out but was sad to see the end of another mystery. One would soon come along when I would investigate the SECRET OF THE STONE IDOL.

You’re all invited to the first test, Hannigan said. Think you can make the trip to Siberia.

Sure, Van said, but can it be in the summer? I’ve had enough northern winters to last me a lifetime!

**the end**

Finished Saturday January 28, 2012 @ 10:15 pm