Part 15 (2/2)

Nestled in the mountains on the bank of a river was the town of Bontoc, a srass houses Rick saw that the dirt road had changed to a black top

”I' to look for a place to land”

Scotty nodded ”Good idea”

Rick waited until the toas directly below, then he sized up the terrain and began to lose altitude in a tight spiral It was in situations like this that the Sky Wagon's flaps came in handy He pulled the control down and the s an to lose speed

When he was five hundred feet over the town he flew parallel with the road, searching for wires and other hazards There ires, but they entered the town from the south, then branched west, toward Banaue To the north there were no wires, nor any other hazards he could see And the road looked level He picked a stretch at the edge of the little tohere the houses were far apart They were priether in bundles He hoped his prop ouldn't blow theo”

The ave hiot into position, and started in Scotty leaned forward, eyes peeled for obstructions

There was excitement in the town below People in Western clothes and in scant breechcloths or tight skirts of Igorots were running into the open to see asa little, afraid the people would clutter up the strip of road he had chosen He put the Sky Wagon doith no sign of a buetting near, outstripping their elders in haste to see the plane, Rick cut the engine

Two Igorot boys, perhaps fourteen years old, were the first to reach the plane as the three cliorots had the chopped-off bowl haircut, and they wore breechcloths and nothing else They stared at the plane, wide-eyed, then one said soel Manotok grinned Rick asked, ”Did you understand?”

”Yes I speak Igorot”

Scotty said, ”They probably were talking about the great sky bird That right, Angel?”

Angel's grin broadened ”Not exactly The English equivalent would be slang What he said corresponded to 'Hey, bud, get a load of the real snazzy four-place job And dig that retractable landing gear!'”

The boy who had spoken looked at Angel with suspicion ”You no Igorot,”

he accused

Angel chuckled ”You no Englishhed ”Okay, Mac My na holes there for pay See ot over their amazement It was obvious that the boys were more than fourteen years old Their short stature and unlined faces were deceptive

”How old are you, Pilipil?” Rick asked

”Eighteen”

Rick wanted to know more about the boy who had worked as a laborer at the American Air Force Base at Clark Field, but there was no time because the rest of the crowd had arrived The boys found the with obvious excitement and interest

A Filipino as obviously soh the crowd He was dressed in a business suit, co for such a pri a cigar with one hand and carrying a cane with the other He hung the cane over the wrist on the cigar hand and held out the other

”I am the district road commission Leocadio de los Santos, at your service Mr Lazada informed me by letter that I was to place my entire resources at your disposal You are Mr Brant, Mr Scott, and Dr

Briotti?”

”Dr Briotti is not with us,” Rick replied ”This is Mr Manotok”

”Ah Delighted Please come to my office so we may talk quietly”