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  Terminal Velocity

  Jesse worked to help Robin to an upright position. She flung both arms around his neck and hung on for dear life.

  Everything on the ground started to look bigger by the second. Jesse tried to gauge when they would hit.

  He suddenly realized that something was terribly wrong. Beneath them, instead of seeing the flat plains near the airfield, he saw mountains. The shapes of trees loomed below him, first small and then immense. Jesse braced for the collision.

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  YEARLING BOOKS are designed especially to entertain and enlighten young people. Patricia Reilly Giff, consultant to this series, received her bachelor’s degree from Marymount College and a master’s degree in history from St. John’s University. She holds a Professional Diploma in Reading and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Hofstra University. She was a teacher and reading consultant for many years, and is the author of numerous books for young readers.

  Published by

  Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers

  a division of

  Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

  1540 Broadway

  New York, New York 10036

  Copyright © 1996 by Gary Paulsen

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.

  The trademarks Yearling® and Dell® are registered in the

  U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.

  eISBN: 978-0-307-80400-6

  Interior illustration by Michael David Biegel

  v3.1

  Dear Readers:

  Real adventure is many things—it’s danger and daring and sometimes even a struggle for life or death. From competing in the Iditarod dogsled race across Alaska to sailing the Pacific Ocean, I’ve experienced some of this adventure myself. I try to capture this spirit in my stories, and each time I sit down to write, that challenge is a bit of an adventure in itself.

  You’re all a part of this adventure as well. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of talking with many of you in schools, and this book is the result of hearing firsthand what you want to read about most—power-packed action and excitement.

  You asked for it—so hang on tight while we jump into another thrilling story in my World of Adventure.

  Contents

  Cover

  Other Yearling Books You Will Enjoy

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  CHAPTER 1

  Thirteen-year-old Jesse Rodriguez emptied the contents of the rusty metal dustpan into the trash can and surveyed the room. Earlier the airport’s small parachuting clubhouse had been full of excited students coming back from a training exercise. Now it was quiet. The only ones still here were Jesse and Buck.

  Jesse smiled when he thought of Buck Sellman, the owner of the club and the small, rural airport. Buck was all right. Actually, he was more than all right. He had been airborne in the Vietnam War along with Jesse’s dad. He’d lost his right leg to a land mine on the same mission during which Jesse’s father had lost his life.

  Buck hadn’t let his disability stop him, though. When the tall, lanky ex-sergeant had been discharged, he’d bought an out-of-the-way airfield near Seattle and set up shop teaching people how to fly and skydive. To help pay the bills he’d hired a couple of other pilots and started an air freight transport company on the side.

  Jesse had been coming here almost every day for the past five years, working and learning everything about parachutes and skydiving that Buck would teach him. He already knew more about rigging a chute and jumping than most of Buck’s advanced students, and he lived for the day when he would be old enough to make his first jump.

  The front door swung open, interrupting Jesse’s thoughts. A man wearing an expensive double-breasted suit sauntered in. A pretty girl with long blond hair, who looked about the same age as Jesse, followed him. The man took off his sunglasses and inspected the lobby.

  Jesse leaned the broom against the counter. “Can I help you, mister?”

  The man gave him a bored look. “I doubt it. Isn’t there anyone here besides”—he cleared his throat—“the janitor?”

  Jesse ran his hand through his jet-black hair and frowned. “The janitor?” Then he remembered that the dustpan was still in his other hand. “Oh, you mean me.”

  “Bright kid.” The man sighed and took the girl’s elbow. “Come on, Robin. We’ll come back later, when there’s someone besides the hired help around.”

  “Wait a minute. I’m not—”

  “Is there a problem here?” Buck had been in his office and had heard the whole exchange. He winked at Jesse and then stuck his hand out toward the man. “I’m Buck Sellman, the instructor. Is there something I can do for you?”

  The man reluctantly shook Buck’s hand and then straightened his designer tie. “I’m J. W. Waterford the Fourth. This is my daughter, Robin. I understand that you teach skydiving here?” He didn’t wait for Buck to answer. “My daughter would like to take lessons as soon as possible.”

  The girl glanced over at Jesse, swallowed nervously, and then tightly closed her large blue eyes.

  She doesn’t look like she wants lessons, Jesse thought. I’d say she’s scared stiff at the whole idea.

  Buck scratched under the collar at the back of his orange jumpsuit. “I give lessons, and I’d be happy to teach Robin. The only problem is, according to regulations, a minor has to be sixteen before she can make her first real jump.”

  “I see.” The man raised one eyebrow. “Perhaps you could recommend a club that would take younger members?”

  Buck shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s the rule at every legitimate club. But if you’re still interested in joining, we can teach her everything she’ll need to know to make her first jump. That way, when she’s old enough, she’ll practically be a professional.”

  Mr. Waterford folded his arms. “I don’t know.…”

  Buck smiled and showed them to the door. “Don’t let me pressure you. Go home and think about it. If Robin decides to join, her age group meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at two o’clock all through the summer.”

  He closed the door behind the Waterfords and turned to Jesse. “Well, what did you think?”

  “Why ask me?” Jesse tried not to laugh. “I’m just the hired help.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” Buck playfully punched his young friend on the shoulder. “I don’t remember ever saying this job paid anything.” The tall man walked down the corridor toward the practice hangar, the limp from his prosthetic leg barely noticeable. He looked over his shoulder. “Are you coming? I could sure use some help packing parachutes.”

  Jesse stored the broom and dustpan in a narro
w closet and called after his friend, “Does this mean I’m being promoted from janitor?”

  “Shut up and get in here,” Buck said with a laugh.

  CHAPTER 2

  “So to review: There are an endless number of ways to exit an airplane, but there is only one right way. At the jumpmaster’s command, put your feet on the step. Then grasp the wing strut and pull yourself forward to a crouched position, remembering to lean well to the front. On the signal, jump backward, away from the plane, and spread out into an arch. Your body should be arched from head to toe.…”

  Buck’s voice droned on, but Jesse’s attention was elsewhere. He was watching a girl with a blond ponytail approaching the edge of the training field.

  Jesse moved through the small group of students to meet her. “So you decided to come after all?”

  Robin shrugged. “I guess that depends on how you look at it. Let’s just say it was decided for me. Sorry I’m late.”

  “That’s okay. Buck usually takes the new people on a tour and lets them ask questions before he signs them up anyway.”

  Buck finished his lecture, dismissed the class, and walked over. “Hi, Robin. Glad you could make it.” He looked at his watch. “Jesse, I’ve got an important shipment due in about now. Would you do me a favor and show Robin around the place? I’ll be back just as soon as I look at the invoices.”

  “Sure,” Jesse said. “I’ll take her over to the hangar and let her check out the planes.”

  Robin unzipped the canvas handbag she was carrying and took out a thirty-five-millimeter camera. “Would you mind if I took some pictures? Photography is my hobby and I could get some incredible pictures here.”

  Jesse shrugged. “I guess not.” He led the way across the field to a large arch-shaped metal building.

  Robin used her zoom lens to take a picture of a small passenger plane that had just landed on the runway. She continued to snap pictures as the passengers disembarked. Two well-dressed men and a woman, all Hispanic, hurried down the steps. Through her lens Robin saw the pilot following. He was talking in a loud voice to one of the men and gesturing wildly. He looked in Robin’s direction and quickly ushered the passengers inside a nearby building.

  “Here’s where we keep the planes the jumpers use most often,” Jesse said, continuing the tour. He opened the door of the hangar, moved to the first plane, and touched the wing strut. “Buck’s using this one to give a special demonstration on Saturday. If you’re interested you could probably get a lot of good pictures from the landing zone.”

  Robin walked around the plane. “Do you ever go up? In one of these small planes, I mean?”

  “Every chance I get. Buck lets me spot the jumpers and check their gear before they hop and pop. It’s good experience.”

  “Hop and pop?” Robin looked confused.

  “You know. Step out of the airplane and pull the rip cord.”

  “Oh.” Robin snapped a picture of Jesse standing in front of the plane. “You really like the idea of all this, don’t you?”

  “What? Skydiving? You bet. Someday I’m going to be the best there is.” Jesse blushed. “I guess that sounds a lot like bragging.”

  “No. At least you know what you want. I do too.” She held up the camera. “But nobody cares. My father decides what he thinks will be good for me, and right now it’s conquering my fear of heights.”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about, Robin. Buck won’t take you up in a plane until you’re ready.”

  “That’ll be never in my case.”

  “Don’t be so sure. When we get through with you, you might just change your mind and become a skydiving freak like the rest of us crazies.”

  “What’s going on in here?” A deep, rough voice echoed across the hangar.

  Jesse waited while an angry-looking young man in a pilot’s jumpsuit made his way over to them.

  “Nothing’s going on, Pete. Buck asked me to show one of his new students around. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “What’s with the camera?” The man glared at Robin.

  She recognized him as the pilot of the plane she had just photographed.

  “It’s no big deal, Pete. She just likes to take pictures.” Jesse took her arm. “Come on, Robin. I’ll show you the training hangar.”

  She followed him out the door and across a well-worn dirt trail to another building. “Who was that guy?”

  “That was Peter Reeves. He’s one of the pilots. I don’t know what got into him. He’s usually friendlier.” Jesse pushed open the door and stepped inside. “This is the training hangar. Buck has done his best to simulate everything about jumping in here. See that harness?” He pointed to some webbing hanging from the high ceiling. “You can practice body position and free-fall technique while pretending to be falling through the air.”

  “Falling?” Robin groaned. “If you only knew how much I hate that word.”

  CHAPTER 3

  “Okay, Robin, when I tap your leg, arch your body and jump backward. When you hit the mattress, remember to bend your knees.” Buck stood in the doorway of a make-believe wooden airplane, encouraging his new student. “That was a great landing. You’re looking like a pro. Move on to the next station.”

  Robin stood up and stepped off the mattress. The next station was the simulated free fall. Jesse was helping a redheaded boy step out of the harness.

  “You’re next, Robin.”

  “I still don’t think I’m ready for this one yet, Jesse.” Robin chewed nervously on the inside of her lip and looked up at the pulley near the top of the hangar.

  “Whatever you say. Pete’s giving a talk on the static line over in that corner. Maybe you’d like to catch the end of it?”

  Robin nodded and walked across the room. Pete seemed to have completely forgotten the incident in the hangar on Tuesday. He flashed Robin a brilliant smile and explained in detail that the static line was designed to pull the cord for first-time jumpers in case they were jittery and forgot what they were supposed to be doing.

  When the lecture was over, Pete sat down in the empty chair beside her. “I want to apologize for my behavior the other day, young lady. I had just come off a long flight and was pretty short on rest. I hope there’s no hard feelings.”

  “No problem, Mr. Reeves.” Robin stood. “I understand.”

  “By the way, have you developed those pictures yet?”

  “What?” Robin looked puzzled.

  “You know. The pictures you took of the planes and the airfield. I was just wondering how they came out.”

  “Oh, those. No, I’m afraid I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

  “Well, I hope they turn out.” The young pilot gave her a polite nod and moved down the corridor to the office area.

  “Is he still giving you a bad time?” Jesse had seen the two talking and inched over. “If he is, all I have to do is say the word to Buck and—”

  Robin shook her head. “He was apologizing. Turns out he had just finished a long flight that day and he was tired and cranky.” She twisted the end of her ponytail. “Is it okay if I use the phone? I need to call the chauffeur to come and pick me up.”

  “Why don’t you let Buck and me take you home? We’re about finished up here, and besides, we have to go to town anyway to pick up some supplies.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. Let’s go get your stuff from the locker, and by the time we get back, Buck will be ready to leave.”

  Robin started down the hall. “Does everyone get this kind of special treatment here at the club? Or am I just lucky?”

  Jesse could feel his face getting hot. He was glad it was dark in the corridor. “We try to keep all our customers happy.”

  Robin laughed and stepped into the locker room.

  She stopped. Her locker was standing open and the contents of her canvas shoulder bag had been dumped on the floor, along with the remnants of her broken padlock.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Oh
no! Look at my camera.” Robin dropped to her knees and picked up some of the black pieces of the shattered zoom lens.

  Jesse examined the locker. “Someone just busted in. Was anything taken?”

  “No, I don’t think so. It’s just my camera—”

  “Don’t worry,” Jesse said soothingly. “Buck will straighten it all out tomorrow. The club can take some of their dues money and buy you a new camera.” Robin sat down on the floor and stared at the pile of broken equipment. “I wonder.…” She opened the back of the camera.

  The film was gone.

  Robin’s mind whirled. Only one person had been interested in her pictures—Pete Reeves.

  “Jesse, I don’t think this was an accident.” She showed him the empty camera. “Whoever did this was after something.”

  “That’s crazy. Who would want your film? You hardly know anybody at the club.”

  Robin quickly scooped the pile of broken pieces into her handbag. “I could be wrong, Jesse. But Pete was awfully interested in whether or not I had developed those pictures I took of him on the runway a couple of days ago.”

  Jesse rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Now that you mention it, he did seem kind of upset about your having a camera that day.”

  “I have an idea.” Robin grabbed his arm. “Is there any way we can check on Pete’s flight schedule on Tuesday? If we knew where he went and who his passengers were, maybe we’d know why he didn’t want his picture taken.”

  “It’ll be a snap to check the logbook for his assignment. But I can tell you right now that there weren’t any passengers. Pete flies transport. He doesn’t carry people.”

  Robin stared at him. “But I saw them getting off the plane. Two men and a woman.”

  “Are you sure? Maybe it was a couple of flight inspectors or some of the safety crew. There are always strange people coming and going out here.”

  Robin shook her head. “They were passengers. I could tell by the way they were dressed. That has to be the answer. Pete was carrying some people he didn’t want us to know about. So he busted up my camera and took the film to make sure we couldn’t identify them.”