forward, just above the curve of the ship’s skin, until they were halfway or more to the bow.
“Best do it now,” Noriko said. “Hear the engine? We will not get another pass; I have to land.”
Doc didn’t dare open the gullwing door. He’d be fighting rotor wash and affecting the rotorkite’s flight characteristics. He kicked the window out instead. He leaned out.
Five paces below was the skin of the liftship; the rotorkite’s window, still in its frame, hit it and began bouncing down its curving slope. “A little closer, Noriko.”
The rotorkite’s talk-box popped. Gaby’s voice: “Is anyone there?”
While Noriko slowly brought the rotorkite down, Doc leaned out further, drew out his clasp-knife, and pulled it open. He’d need to use it to anchor himself against falling, then cut his way through the skin. He pulled on a pair of gloves; liftship skeletons were made of steel, uncoated for reasons of weight, their crews wearing heavy uniforms and gloves as protection.
Noriko finally felt steady enough to thumb the button on the talk-box. “I’m here, Gaby. With Doc.”
“Don’t let him get anywhere near Duncan. Duncan’s his son—”
Doc grimaced and leaped free. He hit the rubber-cloth surface of the liftship and bounced, rolling down the slope. On his second impact, he managed to drive the knife into the ship’s
“Best do it now,” Noriko said. “Hear the engine? We will not get another pass; I have to land.”
Doc didn’t dare open the gullwing door. He’d be fighting rotor wash and affecting the rotorkite’s flight characteristics. He kicked the window out instead. He leaned out.
Five paces below was the skin of the liftship; the rotorkite’s window, still in its frame, hit it and began bouncing down its curving slope. “A little closer, Noriko.”
The rotorkite’s talk-box popped. Gaby’s voice: “Is anyone there?”
While Noriko slowly brought the rotorkite down, Doc leaned out further, drew out his clasp-knife, and pulled it open. He’d need to use it to anchor himself against falling, then cut his way through the skin. He pulled on a pair of gloves; liftship skeletons were made of steel, uncoated for reasons of weight, their crews wearing heavy uniforms and gloves as protection.
Noriko finally felt steady enough to thumb the button on the talk-box. “I’m here, Gaby. With Doc.”
“Don’t let him get anywhere near Duncan. Duncan’s his son—”
Doc grimaced and leaped free. He hit the rubber-cloth surface of the liftship and bounced, rolling down the slope. On his second impact, he managed to drive the knife into the ship’s