Desolation Boulevard

13: The Rescue

I lay on the bed while the man radios in to make my rescue a guarantee. "Yes, we have him here. Yes", the man says. "So good news, you are going to be rescued.", he reports. Then, the first man says something in Nepali. The other man translates it as, "Beware for the paparazzi and the press. It will be on extreme levels." "Ok, I will", I shoot back. Then the man translates it back to Nepali. " The rescue team will airlift you back to America", the man tells me. "Well, I don't get air sick. I am a pilot so that isn't nescessary", I say. "Well, okay.", he shoots. "Can I get some water and food? My throat is dry." "Sure." Then, the first man stops what he is doing on a table, gets some food from a box, and gets me a drink. "Thanks", I say. I eat my food and finish my drink. I get tired and take a nap in the hut. When I wake up, the helicopter is arriving, blowing pieces of the hut. A medic, even though I am in great...good...decent condition, comes into the hut and puts me on a strecher. "Well, nice knowing you", I say to both men. " Nice to know you too. Coming from the both of us." Then, the other man says something. "What did he say this time," I say. "Oh, he is just talking gibberish this time." "This time he does." Then, the medics rush me into the helicopter. The pilot starts the helicopter and we lift off. I feel drowzy from the nap ealier and fall back asleep. When I wake up, fully rested, the pilot of the helicopter is passed out under the dashboard and who knows where are the medics. It is a helicopter so... Anyway, I pay attention instanly and say, "History isn't doomed to repeat itself. Or Doc, if you are still alive, please come." I push off my strecher and drag myself toward the cockpit. Once I put my hands on the controls, engine failure comes over the engine. "Oh no you don't," I say and try to fiddle with the ignition. I try but can not turn it on. I bang my hands on the control panel and doubt myself. For some reason though, it turns on. I sit up straight and take full control of the controls. I look out and we are losing altitude. I pull back on the controls and it gets going again. "Phew", I say relived and I continue with the pilot knocked out under the dashboard.