Anorok

The Tarmac Bump

They had been descending forever through a heavy, endless blanket of charcoal-grey soup when the small twin-engine charter plane suddenly burst free. The jagged, pine-covered ridges of the Canadian Shield rushed upward to meet them, and the aircraft slammed violently against the asphalt runway with a bone-jarring thud. Gethin gasped, grabbing the armrest with white-knuckled intensity, while Carys squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath until the screech of the reversing propellers signaled their touchdown. Above the roaring engines, Gethin could hear young Eira stifling a squeak of fright in the back seat. Welcome to Elliot Lake, Gethin thought grimly, swallowing his terror.