In November of 2008, nearly a year after our last writing project, our group finally held another round. This time, led by my brother, we engaged in a "spontaneous combustion" round. Basically, he announced the round and then we had a short time to write a small story and submit it. This was quite fun, and it was nice to not have the whole process drawn out over several weeks. At the time I was interested in Amelia Earhart and wondered what had happened to her when she and her navigator disappeared in July of 1937. I whipped up this tiny story in one day, and fully intended to return to it at a later time. (Which I did, and I'll share that with you in a later post.) In my mind this was just the beginning of a larger story, and served only to whet the reader's appetite. 

(You can read about the second part of this story here.)

Amelia's New Plan
by Rusty Keele

The steely click of the hand gun pointed at her back caused Amelia to think of Miami.  It had been one of those heart warming events, where she felt like she was on top of the world, and nothing could drag her down.  There, with Fred by her side, Amelia stood on the ribbon-clad stands and announced her plans to the world.

The crowd had clapped vigorously as she thanked her sponsors, and she had paused before giving her big announcement:  "President Roosevelt, citizens of the United States and people of Miami... I come before you today to announce my intention to fly around the world."  Cheers erupted from the crowd below her, when they finally died down she stooped and continued speaking into the multitude of microphones:  "My navigator Mr. Noonan," she indicated Fred with a sweep of her arm, "and I will this time attempt to circumnavigate the globe from West to East.  We departed Oakland, California, a few days ago in our Lockheed L-10 Electra , and will be continuing on from here to South America, Africa, the Orient, the Pacific and finally back home to California.  I would ask for your faith and prayers to accompany us so that we might make this great nation proud once more.  Thank you."

As the band began to play she raised both hands in a hearty wave and basked in the warmth of sunshine and national affection.

*** 

Now, here on her knees, with her hands behind her head, she felt as if that day was only a dream.  In the weeks since leaving Miami she had flown thousands of miles, and met hundreds of amazing people. 

She glanced sideways at Fred - also on his knees - and saw the perspiration glisten on his temple.  Singapore was hot and humid, but the dire situation in which they found themselves now was a thousand times worse than the perpetual stickiness.  Beyond Fred lay the airport clerk, whose name she couldn't remember, on his stomach and surrounded by a growing pool of blood.

Her captor was yelling at her in Japanese.  From his short, curt tone she assumed he was insulting her.

"I'm sorry... I don't know what you want!"

He switched to a broken and forced English, "You are spy!  You work for Mr. Roosevelt!  You bring dishonor to the Emperor and to your own country.  For this you both must die."  He raised his gun to the back of her head.

The little bell hanging above the door tinkled as someone entered the office.  All three of the room's occupants turned their faces to the unlucky intruder.  It was the man from the oil company - Mr. Howey. 

"Yes, I was just coming to see what all the..."

As soon as he saw the gun swivel in his direction he started backwards with such force that he stumbled and fell.  The Japanese spy fired once but hit only the door.

That was enough of a distraction - Fred spun his legs around and swept the spy off his feet.  The gun tumbled towards the door.  As Fred tried to wrestle the spy to the floor Amelia immediately jumped for the gun - but she wasn't quick enough.  The spy grabbed her by the wrist and slammed her to the floor.  With her breath gone he back handed Amelia across the right side of her face, further stunning her.  As she crumpled to the floor in blinding pain a mechanic's wrench found its way to the back of the spy's skull.  He crashed awkwardly to the floor.  Amelia squinted up into Fred's face as he wiped the perspiration away with the back of his sleeve, and threw the wrench on the floor.

In helping Mr. Howey to his feet they had been warned that other Japanese spies may be on the airport premises.  They quickly gathered their gear and ran across the tarmac to the L-10 Electra.  There was no time wasted in getting the plane started and rolling to the runway.  It was only after they were safely in the air and on their way to Bandung that Amelia finally spoke.  Holding the damp cloth over her right eye she stared at Fred, then said "I think it's time we take up President Roosevelt's offer.  It's time to do something more than sight seeing on this trip."

Fred glanced quickly at her, then returned his gaze to their flight path.  He said nothing, only clenched his jaw and nodded over the roar of the engines.

The End

This story copyright © 2008 by Rusty Keele.  All rights reserved.