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I 021. I
𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒆
❝ pilot ❞
BORROWING THE HELICOPTER WAS EASY. Getting Piper's dad on board was not.
Piper needed only a few words through Leo's improvised bullhorn to convince the pilot to land on the mountain. The Park Service copter was big enough for medical evacuations or search's because rescue, and when Piper told the very nice ranger pilot lady that it would be a great idea to fly them to the Oakland Airport, she readily agreed.
"No," Piper's dad muttered, as they picked him up off the ground. "Piper, what—there were monsters—there were monsters—"
Ariadne helped hold the man down while Coach Hedge gathered their supplies. Fortunately, Hedge had put his pants and shoes back on, so Piper didn't have to explain the goat legs.
Piper looked heartbroken at the sight of her dad pushed beyond the breaking point, crying like a little boy.
"It'll be okay, Dad," she said, making her voice as soothing as possible. Charmspeaking her own father was the only way. "These people are my friends. We're going to help you. You're safe now."
He blinked, and looked up at helicopter rotors. "Blades. They had a machine with so many blades. They had six arms..."
When they got him to the bay doors, the pilot came over to help. "What's wrong with him?" she asked.
"Smoke inhalation," Jason suggested. "Or heat exhaustion."
"We should get him to a hospital," the pilot said.
"It's okay," Piper said. "The airport is good."
"Yeah, the airport is good," the pilot agreed immediately. Then she frowned, as if uncertain why she'd changed her mind. "Isn't he Tristan McLean, the movie star?"
"No," Piper said. "He only looks like him. Forget it."
"Yeah," the pilot said. "Only looks like him. I—" She blinked, confused. "I forgot what I was saying. Let's get going."
Jason raised his eyebrows at Piper, obviously impressed, but Piper looked miserable.
Finally they got Tristan on board, and the helicopter took off. The pilot kept getting questions over her radio, asking her where she was going, but she ignored them. They veered away from the burning mountain and headed toward the Berkeley Hills.
"Piper." Her dad grasped her hand and held on like he was afraid he'd fall. "It's you? They told me—they told me you would die. They said...horrible things would happen."
