EPISODE SEVEN

A PRIVATE PLANE

The travelers stayed at the airport for several hours, so many that they got bored and fell asleep in the chairs. Alexis had her head in Lionel's lap, Ben was asleep in the chair next to Lionel with Stephanie resting her head on Ben's shoulder, and Matthew was using the empty chair next to him as a pillow.

Finally, at four in the morning, a man came and woke them up. "I heard from the restaurant manager that your goods had been stolen and you needed to catch a plane," he said. "I am Ricardo Valenzuela. I have a solution to your problem, you guys. Follow me."

The sleepyheads followed Ricardo into a back room where he showed them a fine-looking small white airplane. "I'd been meaning to give this airplane away for free," he said, "and I thought--"

"We'll take it!" Ben exclaimed, suddenly wide awake. "And I'll pilot it!"

"You will?" Lionel and Alexis and Stephanie and Matthew asked simultaneously, as if they thought Ben was much too young.

"Sure," said Ben. "My dad's an aviator, and he taught me all about flying planes. It had always been my dream, too. Thank you, Ricardo!"

"You're welcome. And it has a whole bunch of clothes for both men and women and adolescent boys and girls and food and drinks in it. I'd totally prepared the plane to give it away."

"Thank you so much, sir," said Lionel. "You have no idea how much we appreciate it."

"We'll leave for El Salvador tonight," Ben said.

"Hold it," said Ricardo. "You ought to finish up your sleep so you don't fall asleep in the plane and get in an accident. Fly it in the morning."

Ben agreed. He and the others went to lie back down and go to sleep.

Stephanie leaned her head against his chest for a minute. "Man, I didn't know you had the skill of aviation," she said softly. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you, Ben?"

Ben held her close. "Yes, I am," he said.

"I love surprises," Stephanie said, smiling. "I'd always hoped for an impetuous guy who was full of surprises. Thanks for bringing him to me." She and Ben kissed.

TO FOLLOW...

The plane takes off toward El Salvador but crashes in an Amazon jungle instead. An Amazon princess takes a liking to Ben and wants to offer Stephanie as a sacrifice. Will Ben manage to save her? Read the next episode of THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED.