Part 8 (2/2)
Rick told hiht ahead”
The boys did so, and Rick explained the fine points of the Sky Wagon to Nast while he worked to check every possible point of sabotage He liked talking about the plane It was so to be proud of And Nast was an interested listener who apparently knew so about planes
After the check up, they rolled the plane outside and Rick warel Manotok arrived with a truck Rick iot out, curious to see what Angel had found Scotty was already looking it over, with Nast an interested spectator Rick introduced hiood condition?”
”Very good The man said it had been overhauled recently, and I believe hiood condition and there are two spares”
The truck was a typical Army vehicle with double rear wheels, both front and rear drive, and a winch on the front The el had apparently done well
Nast asked, ”Going to use both the truck and the plane? Or will you leave the plane at Baguio?”
”We're not sure,” Rick said ”Depends on whether we find a landing place at Bontoc Have you been there?”
”A few times There are no decent fields But you could land on the road It's black top, and there are feer lines or phone lines I think you can do it”
”Glad to hear that,” Rick said, relieved To Scotty and Angel he said, ”We can go on back to the hotel and load the truck We'll have to check the plane engine before take-off, anyway”
”Think the plane will be safe?” Scotty asked
”Sure We'll put it in the hangar and lock the door I notice the airport guards go by pretty often, and besides, the plane has been all right so far”
”I guess you're right,” Scotty agreed ”But let's put the alarm out, anyway”
The alarm was a very loud horn wired into a circuit which caused it to go off if the plane was so much as touched Rick set it, then locked the door of the plane Re the key from the lock activated the circuit
Then they closed and locked the hangar door The plane would be all right
Nast was talking to Angel Manotok in Tagalog Angel was replying, but not very enthusiastically
Rick spoke up ”You speak the local language pretty well, Mr Nast”
”Have to,” Nast said cheerfully ”The Filipino falish, often as not Well, good hunting Perhaps we'll uio”
The boys shook hands ”Good luck to you Hope your shi+p are often late The airport there is closed in half the tiot into the truck with Angel and he drove out to theabout?” Scotty asked
Angel took his ti to Baguio I think he was ”
”Was his Tagalog good?” Rick asked
”Yes Very good”