Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:13:50 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Jason Adonis 28

Jason Adonis
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


28: Putting It Together

Both crews worked like demons following the photo shoot at Whitefish.
Trevor went to Bellingham on weekends to work with Apollo and Brad.  He
would fly from Calgary to Vancouver, B. C. and they would pick him up on
Friday afternoon and deliver him again first thing Monday morning.  Trevor
reported his satisfaction with the creative process in the darkroom, at
least for now he was content to send his personal art to commercial labs or
use digital images.

By the tenth week with everything on schedule, I got my hands on a small
but very fast executive jet and qualified myself to fly it.  I rented a
Cessna Citation X , two huge turbines mounted on the back of a metal tube.
The appointments were very nice and very comfortable.  Trevor and I started
in Calgary (YYC), came to Bellingham (BLI) picking up Brad and Jason, on to
Olympia (TWY) for Bob, stopping in Spokane (GEG) for Margaret and Missoula
(MSO) for Veronica, then to Chicago.  The publisher's people met us at the
Avatat Aviation's Midway (MDW) Airport hanger and our meetings started in
the limos on the way down town.  We were meeting to go over the galley
proofs and make final editorial changes.  Margaret and the publishers staff
had put together an introduction, index and credit pages.  I had some other
business to take care of, mostly with the Northwest Foundation.

Rupert and I managed to convince the publishing company and printers to
meet our schedule.  Since we were paying the shot up front and the
publisher had no financial risk, it only took a few mild threats.  I did
tell the chairman of their board that AUSA could make a two dollar/ share
above current market price offer, for 30 % and control of the company.  He
assured me, we would be ready for launch in early June, after Rupert called
him with assurances that AUSA could afford such an offer and if Jason
suggested it, he was probably prepared do it.  Once they saw the quality of
the graphics and writing, they moved from highly professional to
enthusiastic.

We all stayed at the condo.  Since it is outfitted with only three bedrooms
we all had to share some.  To my surprise Bob and Margaret had obviously
become an item.  I got Trevor, Brad and Herman in my bed.  Sharing is not
necessarily a hardship, I am not implying that.  Both couples were
delighted to be sharing and lets face it, we four man would have been in
the same bed anyway.

We met again with the publishing people and several of the Northwest
Foundation directors, Rupert and W. Stuhec, who it the NWF's manager.  This
was the same publisher that was handling the Public Clocks of Chicago book,
which Apollo had done the photography for, he informed me.

The photo curator at the Art Institute had volunteered or been volunteered,
to supervise a collection of 25 prints, from the 50 in the book, for a
traveling exhibit.  I believe, but it was never confirmed, that the NWF's
legal council Rupert, a patron and director of the Institute, had some
influence.

As we returned west, Apollo was overcome with emotion.  At least that is
how it looked to me.  Saying good buy to Veronica in Missoula did not
appear easy.

During the flight, on the Chicago to Missoula leg, I invited Brad to sit in
the right seat.  Trevor had assisted me the whole way out.  He was thrilled
to do so, I think the boy is getting into the flying mode.  Apollo and
Ronnie kissed passionately on the tarmac to our applause and that of her
taxi driver.  It was hard for them to pry themselves apart.  I know what
that is like.  It is hard for me to leave Eva or when she leaves my
company.  It was hard for Apollo and I to pry ourselves apart, when we all
left Whitefish and we only had one good intimate bout of sex.

"Apollo, would you take my right to Spokane?"

"Sure thing Jason, I just love flying but my only experience is in a 180."

"That's more then I had until today," Brad piped in.

"Just read out the check list and mark off my responses," I said handing
him the chipboard and a pencil.  We were on the taxi way and in the air
before Ronnie's taxi got her to the dorm.

"Captain Jason requests all passengers and crew, `fix your selves to the
sticking place', we are about take off."  Apollo announced.  I chuckled, he
does quote from The Bard frequently, I thought, about as much as I do, come
to think of it.

"Missoula tower, this is x-ray, yankee, X-ray in position on 90."

"X-ray, yankee, X-ray, this is Missoula tower, you are clear for take off."

" X-ray, yankee, X-ray cleared and taking off, thank you tower."  And take
off we did.  We both placed our hands on the throttles and pressed forward,
the aircraft hesitated for a instant as the mighty turbines wound up,
winding to a very high pitch and we began to roll, then run, then sprint,
suddenly leaped into the air, I pulling gently back on the column.  This
thing was not all that large but it could climb like snot.  That's one of
my little sayings.  A big silver pencil with two huge turbines.

After we cleared the gild paths and leveled off, I told the passengers to
breath easy and stand at ease.  "Apollo I took the liberty of inviting the
Sanders to have dinner with us in Spokane, I hope you don't mind."

"Mind no, not in the least, Jonas will be absolutely thrilled but you know
from now on he will be expecting to fly with us."

"Yes, I think demanding is probably more like it, and in your seat too,
I'll bet.  I think it can be arranged before our summer is over."

"You know his parents think we spoil him and Shelley"

"Correct we do, but then what are "Dutch Uncles" for anyway, if not to
spoil our adopted nieces and nephews?  Now don't start with the you do to
much stuff Apollo, we have already covered that ground."  Well in this case
I am Dutch, that gets me something, yes.

"I wouldn't think of it Jason but we do need to think a bit about the
Sanders' and Abitsford's points of view.  Between the two of us we are
changing the lives of those children and their families and those changes
are likely to be profound."

"I realize that, I don't mean to sound flippant.  You and I are very
special people Apollo.  We are special because we have `the power'.  We
didn't ask for it but we have it.  When we touch peoples lives we leave a
mark or a piece of ourselves.  They are never the same afterwards.  We are
special because we both realize this and we take seriously, the
responsibility that those effects must be positive or beneficial, if at all
possible."

"I don't know about this special thing, this power Jason."

"You are just being modest, don't be, be hard on the issue and easy on the
people, isn't that your advice?"

"Well something like that, yes.  I guess what you are saying, by focusing
on the issue, problem, question or task, instead of the personalities, we
leave a message or lesson with others."

"Yes partly but also we are natural out front leaders, we lead by example.
We lead by pulling, by showing the way.  We each in our own way, put our
selves on the line for what we believe is fair, right and honorable."  This
conversation went on for some time only being interrupted to land in
Spokane.  Apollo was not quite comfortable with my analysis.  I am correct
and deadly accurate.  His discomfort appeared to arise only from the
possibility that, his ego may overpower his good judgment, now that this
"power" has been articulated or exposed.  Beyond that, I all but told him I
knew Jonas was his boy and intimated my younger brother Drew, was my boy.
What disturbed him, I think, was my suggestion, that it was this mysterious
power that dictated these relationships, almost as if we were fated.
Apollo does not believe in fait.  I don't either but could not think of a
better term at the time.

Jonas was beside himself with excitement as Bob showed him the cockpit,
placing the boy in the right seat and putting the captain's hat on his
head.  The remainder of us were all fussing over his baby sister.  At the
restaurant, Apollo showed the Sanders the galley proofs of the book.  Jenny
was just blown away, she and Simon were filled with praise and admiration.
I think a good measure of pride too.  Jonas gave the most poignant moment,
which Apollo was able to capture on film.  He reached out and gently,
lovingly touched Shelley's face on one of the pictures, with a tear forming
in is his little eyes.  He was so touched by the beauty of the memory.
That's when I knew this was not just a good piece of art, it was an
emotionally powerful piece of art.  I looked over at Apollo, he realized it
too.  This would do everything we had hoped and one hell of a lot more, for
deaf kids right around the world.

"Apollo, you have given the greatest gift of all, your power is now in
Jonas' and Shelley's images.  They will touch millions."  I whispered.  All
he could do was nod and try not to tear himself.

"Simon, I don't quite know what to say," Apollo was saying.

"You and the others have already said it in your book.  Jenny and I have
had long talks with the Abitsford's, when they see the proofs, I know they
will be as supportive as we are."

"But this will totally disrupt your families."

"Sure it will, but we knew that was always a possibility.  Parents always
want to shelter and protect, but that like anything else, must be managed,
balanced.  It is the yin and yang of the world.  We can not stop them from
growing up.  Jonas knows he will never be able to hear, since he has never
had experiences with sound, he does not miss it at all.  He knows he is
viewed as different, from most other people, who can hear.  He realizes
with Apollo and the others that difference just does not exist, as it does
not exist in his family.  So you are family.

You are as important to him as Jenny, Jewel and I.  Emotionally he is 10
but intellectually 12 or 14.  He has blossomed in the past year so much.
He so desperately wants to be like Apollo and Brad, he would work at it
24/7 if he didn't need to sleep."

"We don't want to brake your family."

"We know that.  Jenny and I realize he has a special gift.  We are not sure
exactly what that gift is but the boy has a personality and talent which is
extraverted and communication oriented.  He needs you, Apollo and others to
grow and learn, just what that talent is."

"I guess we all have a little brother and you just extended your family
beyond your wildest imagination."

"Yes, something like that.

Margaret and Herman left us.  They would drive to Calgary through Columbia
Falls visiting Shelley with the proofs.  The remainder of us headed for
Bellingham.  Jonas was disappointed that he could not come along but we
assured him next time we came it would be to take both him and Shelley on a
grand tour.  I promised to send him a flight simulator for his computer, so
he would be ready, "to take my right on the next flight".

Apollo was keeping his eye on the cockpit radar as we crossed the Cascades.
West of the Mountains the cloud deck was thick and blanketed everywhere,
from Portland to Vancouver, BC.  Ah, that wonderful west coast rain, liquid
sunshine.  I was in contact with ATC, it sounded like quite a buildup at
SeaTack.  They were routing us around several towering nimbus cells and out
over the water.  The air was a bit bouncy but not to bad at our altitude,
it would get quite rough when we got to close to one of the rain cells.

The radar indicated a number a aircraft ahead and at much lower altitudes,
as we passed over SeaTack's air space.  "I hope your instrument rating is
current," Apollo quipped.

"Yes, as a mater of fact I just re-qualified for this aircraft last month,
does that make you feel safer?"

"No, I don't mind when I can see ahead but this flying blind is a little
unsettling, regardless of qualifications."

"Just think of it as taking pictures in a fog or driving a snowmobile up a
mountain in whiteout conditions."

"Ya but, we just can't slow down or get off to check the trail, now can
we."

"Sure we can, we can cut our airspeed by 2/3's and still keep above stall
but that won't be necessary, I don't think.  Just keep you eye on the radar
and verify my compass headings and other instruments. "

"Ah, Jason what is that bright spot on the radar?"

"That is a very good question, Apollo.  It looks like another aircraft on
our heading and at about our altitude."  The sweep comes around again and
the dot has moved.

"I think we are closing on him wouldn't you say?"

"ATC this is X-ray, Yankee, X-ray."

"go ahead, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray"

"ATC, are their other aircraft in our immediate vicinity?"

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, I don't have an indication of any other traffic in
your immediate area."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, our cockpit radar show a strong echo, 5 miles
dead ahead and closing fast."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, What is your exact position."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray is 48 degrees, 24 minutes, 32.5 seconds north
and 122 degrees, 22 minutes and 40 seconds west at 11,000 feet, bearing 320
degrees, airspeed 375 knots, over."

"Jason we are now two miles from that blip and still closing fast."  I held
up his hand to cut him off.

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, ATC please climb to 20,000 feet immediately, repeat
climb to 20.000 feet immediately."  I pulled back on the column and pressed
the throttles forward, which is really up increasing our airspeed to 420
knots at a climb angel of 20 degrees.

Apollo announced on the intercom "fasten your belts now."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray now leveling off at 20, 000 feet..."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, ATC, what does your radar show now and how is your
fuel?"

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray shows no radar activity except for thunder
storms, we have 2 hours and 10 minutes of fuel at current rate."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, ATC, turn to heading 110 degrees, hold altitude and
reduce your airspeed to 220 knots."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, new heading 110 degrees, at 220 knots, holding
at 20,000 feet."  ATC was now checking with the other aircraft in the area.
Each controller looks after a specific bit of airspace.  That space may
have several aircraft in it.  He was trying to find out who was not in the
position he was supposed to be in.  Obviously by separating us from the
craft we were so rapidly overtaking his radar should clearly identify the
mystery plane.  I could hear the other pilots checking in, mostly
commercial and one Fedex cargo.  All seemed to be accounted for.

Now that we have changed course, we could no longer see the mystery plane
on our scope.

"What the hell is going on Jason?"

"Not sure buddy but I think we just avoided a mid air incident that will
qualify as a near miss from a report point of view.  Just keep focused on
your job, we can and I assure you we will, obsess about this once on the
ground."

"Look to the south, two blips very close together and moving very fast."

"Military I'll bet, who ever that was is either way out of position or had
not checked in with ATC.  I doubt that the commercial boys who called in
were badly out of place and that fellow did not identify himself."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, Bellingham Tower,"

"Go ahead Bellingham Tower, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, I want to bring you in on 210, turn left to 30 and
descend to 10, 000 ...."  The tower brought us right down on runway 210
just like it was bright sun and daytime.  We popped out of the clouds at
about 450 feet to see the runway lights in the mist and fog about three
quarters of a mile ahead.  We were right on the center line.  I set the
bird on the tarmac, just as gently as if we had been riding in the Hummer
and taxied up to the flight service hanger.

"What the hell were you guys doing up front," Trevor inquired as only
Trevor can.  Brad looked rather pale and Bob was visibly up set.

"Avoiding a mid air impact, Apollo and I thought you boys need some
excitement but not that kind."

Plato, Apollo's father, who I had not met yet, pulled up to the hanger as
we unloaded our luggage.  I was immediately on the phone to the tower and
then ATC.

It was now quite late and raining.  We decided to get some sleep and meet
for breakfast at our hotel, Apollo would drive Bob to Olympia in the
morning, Brad had classes to attend, Trevor and I would fly back to
Calgary.  ...................  "Apollo what the hell are you boys up to
now?"

"Come on Sam, we have been good, in fact we have not rescued any damsels in
distress or little boys for months now."

"Weren't you in the right seat of CF-XYX last night?"

"Well yes and Jason Adonis was the captain but..."

"The FAA and DEA boys are all over me, so I'm all over you."

"I'm just a bit confused, Sam. "

"Look, that plane you almost hit last night was a DC3 loaded with drugs.
The DEA boys were trying to follow it but lost them in the storm.  When you
reported almost hitting it, the FAA people got very up set with the DEA,
for not including them in the plan.  That lack of communication almost
caused a crash.  Adonis filed a rather scathing report and so did the
controller.  The DEA scrambled two USAF 16's to escort the DC3 to a safe
landing, unfortunately in Victoria, BC.  The Canadians are unhappy, well
pissed off is more like it, that a drug loaded aircraft was chased into
Canada without letting them know it was coming, until the F16's were
already in Canadian airspace.  That's when the DEA got the CF-18's from
Comax to take over.  NORAD will sort that out but the diplomats and RCMP
are a little more than upset.  Since 9-11 the Canadians have been
complaining about US paranoia that tramples on Canadian sovereignty, and
you know, they are right."

"But Sam, I still don't understand the bureau's involvement."

"I can't tell you about that but this time the cock up was the DEA's and
they are just pointing fingers at everyone else, in an attempt to deflect
the shit from their heads.  The FAA will not let this go easily, nor should
they.  I have a desire to protect my witnesses and civilians from DEA
bureaucratic bullshit, that's why I called you.  The DEA will just have to
take their political and diplomatic lumps on this one.  If the DEA so much
as phones, you let me know ASAP.  My director just wanted to know how come
you three seem to be in the middle of so many things, that's all."

"Just lucky," Brad blurted out, Sam groaned.

"By the way Sam, I have a new client in Vancouver, Washington ..."

"Oh God, just when I thought my life was getting simpler you hooked up with
Dr. Derek, I suppose Jason has hired him too.  I think I'll look at early
retirement ... Derek has been getting me into trouble since we were in
grade school.  Right, let me talk to Adonis for a minute."

"Agent Snipe how nice to hear your voice."

"You young people are going to be the death of me ... I'm not angry it's
more like being a worried parent, something I thought I finished when my
children left home.  You seem to attract trouble like rogue diamond
merchants and that dynamic duo of Brad and Apollo cults and rescues.  I do
need to ask if you want to add anything to your "near miss" report, did you
see the aircraft or its lights?"

"No just the radar contact, I think my account of what happened was about
as complete as I could make it, I don't think they had any lights on."

"It is quite detailed, I have one more question for you two, can you hear
Apollo?"  How did he know Apollo and I had our heads close enough to share
the ear piece? 'Yes."

"You noticed the blip Apollo just after you descended from 15 thousand to
10 thousand, is that correct?"

"Yes, we both answered."

"Why didn't you notice it sooner your radar has a fair reach?"

"We came down at a relatively shallow angle and with the storms around the
other aircraft was obscured in the storm echo.  Now if that plane was
changing altitude at about the same time and given the limitations of our
instrument..."

"Ok, I think that explains it well enough for us non technical types.
Those DEA boys are paranoid and when they saw your CF registration wanted
to make some kind of conspiracy out of it, the F16's couldn't get the DC3
down on the US side.  They were hopping that I had some influence with you
not to file the report.  I told them I did not have that kind of stroke and
even if I did I wouldn't use it.  You and the controller did the right
thing by following the rules.  Public safety is the most important thing
here, not some DEA's arrest record.  I also told them they were dam lucky
that Margaret Trend, `a crack reporter', had stayed in Spokane and was not
on board at the time.  That put the fear of public opinion into them.  This
fellow will be lucky if they reassign him to Antarctica.  You were in a
Citation X and not "Apollo's Golden Chariot, right?"  We all laughed, I
guess Snipe read Margaret's accounts of our skiing adventure.  "By the way
Apollo, how is the book coming and how are my VSA's?"

"First class Sam, you should have a signed copy by mid June."

Inter agency rivalry is alive and well, so CYA must be the word of the day,
I thought.