IT WAS A perfect day for flying. Emisha Lee sat in the cockpit of her hand-built hybrid between balloon and propeller airplane, the Air Rider. The Air Rider was built from the body and wings of a propeller plane. There was a balloon suspended in the air above it, making the aircraft look like distorted blimp. It was currently flying above a barren desert. The desert stretched to a mountain range. The mountain range went on over the horizon and across half of the globe. Emisha sighed. Those gray, desolate things reminded her of her husband, Ron, who was stuck in a prison concealed somewhere in the mountain range. Emisha had been planning a rescue attempt for the past month and didn't want it to fail now. It couldn't fail. Wouldn't fail. She thought of the last time she saw him, when he was saying goodbye and boarding the cargo plane. It was delivering antiques. Antiques made good profit. She had been left alone with her daughter, Gwen. Gwen fought much and often with Emisha. If only Gwen and I wouldn't fight as much...
Gwen stepped into the cockpit, breaking Emisha's chain of thought. She stood there, groggy eyes and pink pajamas.
"'Morning," she said. Gwen handed her mother a cup of coffee and slumped in the co-pilot's seat. She sipped her own mug and studied the scenery for a moment.
"Nice weather, cap'n."
"Lovely, isn't it?" replied Emisha.
"How long will it take to get to dad?" asked Gwen.
"How am I supposed to know?" Emisha responded with a question of her own.
"Well, you're the cap'n of the plane, for one thing. Or are you so...inapt that you can't even read a map and find out how long it'll take us?"
"Yes, I am the pilot of this plane, and therefore I have authority. Now get out of here so I can concentrate!" Emisha was losing whatever patience she had in her.
"How can you possibly concentrate with one eye poked out? You can't even twist around to press a button with that scar. It slides all the way across your face and down your back like a filthy worm. You look hideous, mother. How could dad love you? Your face was warped by-"
"I said, 'Get out of here!'" Emisha almost yelled.
"'Kay, take it easy, mom," Gwen mumbled, "Watch out for those birds ahead." She turned and trundled out of the cockpit. Emisha heard her flop down on her mattress. Emisha fumed for a minute, then all anger evaporated, and she concentrated on her daughter's words. What birds? Emisha scanned the open sky. Small shapes soared high above the ground. Are those airplanes? They can't be. How...Why...? Realization hit her. They're watching for me. Of course they thought I would rescue Ron. Why didn't I think of that? Stupid, stupid Emisha. Gwen was right, I am not apt enough to read a map, let alone think.
"Gwen, we have unexpected company. Come down here!"
"Who? The birds?" retorted Gwen.
"In fact, yes. Your bird friends are about to shoot us down. Now come and help me down here!"
The first rocket shot past the Air Raider.

---***---

Kira Vandenbaum looked up from her book. She closed her eyes for a moment. Then Emisha and Gwen are hit, and they go down...the Dartmouth airplane pilots presume they are dead, and mother and daughter proceed to rescue Ron. Deep breathing, in and out. Finally, it was her stomach that made her move. She got up and fixed herself a sandwich in the kitchen. Wish my mom was here to make lunch for me, thought Kira.

*********************A Brief Description Of******************
**Ms.Vandenbaum's Goodbye To Her Daughter As She Leaves For A** ****************Week And A Half Long Business Trip.**********

"There's a week's food in the fridge." -Ms. V.
"I know, mom." -Kira
"Don't forget to go to bed." -Ms. V.
"I won't, I'm not trying to stay up." -Kira
(Sound of clothes rustling as mother hugs daughter.)
"I love you, Kira. Goodbye." -Ms. V.
"Bye. Love you to, mom." -Kira
(Door shuts and red Toyota pulls out of driveway.)

---


Kira picked the sandwich up and started walking to her bedroom. She was halfway there when a loud thump reached her ears. Kira thought that her mother had forgotten something, she had only left about 20 minutes ago. Then the voices came. Voices. Kira opened the front door and promptly fainted onto the threshold. Bread and ham slapped into startled faces.