Page 6 of Lost In Kakadu

He squinted at her. “Whatnow?”

“Nothing.” Abigail huffed.

Dave’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Hello back there, folks. Now the lady’s done her piece, I’d like to point out some beautiful scenery. Below us is the heart of Kakadu, the East Alligator River, so named by a nineteenth-century explorer who mistook our crocodiles for alligators. I’ll bring the plane down for a closer look. It’s usually an excellent place for spotting wildlife.”

The plane’s nose dropped, and Abigail peered over Spencer’s shoulder, trying to see out the small window.

“It’s our lucky day, folks,” Dave’s slow drawl oozed from the speakers again. “Those of you on the left-hand side can see we’ve spooked a herd of wild brumbies. Look at them beauties run.”

“Ooh, where?” Toni jumped from her seat. Abigail glared at her as the girl craned over her shoulder to peer out the window.

“Toni, get back to your seat,” Dave barked.

“But I love horses, and I missed them!”

“Return to your seat. I’ll turn around so you can see them out your window. We’re ahead of schedule, anyway.”

Abigail groaned but refrained from commenting. She shook her head at Toni and mouthed, ‘Sit down’.

Seated again, Toni pushed her nose against the window.

The plane leaned over, and Abigail peered out Madonna’s window. The sky disappeared, revealing nothing but dense treetops. Green vegetation flashed by.

Christ! The plane’s barely fifty metres from the ground.

The cabin shuddered, and she dug her fingernails into her chair.

Suddenly, the engines stalled. For a long moment, the whistling wind was the only noise.

The engines sparked again, and when the plane lurched forward, Abigail was thrown against her seat. She let out the breath she’d been holding. “What the hell was that?”

“I’m sure it was nothing.” Spencer patted her hand.

Dave’s microphone crackled. “Sorry about that folks, but no need to worry. This little baby is built for saving lives, not losing them.”

The plane’s wings flew parallel to the ground again, skimming over the treetops. Abigail remained rigid with her fingers gripping the arm of the chair.

She couldn’t make them let go.

The plane tilted into another turn, and the sky disappeared from Madonna’s window again. Moments into the steady arc, the engines coughed, and the plane bucked.

Abigail’s stomach lurched. Spencer’s grip tightened painfully on her hand.

Christ! We’re in trouble.

The right propeller carved into a giant gum tree. Toni screamed as her side of the plane was cloaked in an explosion of leaves.

“Brace yourselves! We’re going to crash!” Dave’s shrill voice was panic driven.

The plane ricocheted off trees. Tearing metal squealed in her ears.

Charlie prayed.

Oh God! I’m going to die!

I am going to die!

Bending forward, she wrapped her arms around her calves and squeezed tight. As she studied her four-hundred-dollar shoes, the plane hit.

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