LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter 1

      Full Alert

      In flight, Amy found the hidden package.

      ‘Gold Scam ‘, had finished an hour ago. After the in-flight movie, Amy had curled sideways on the seat. A brother alongside was better than a stranger. She could spread out a bit. She flung her leg across Christopher’s arm.

      A little bump. The plane seemed to drop. She was almost asleep, when she slipped! Her seat belt wasn’t clipped, so Amy finished on the floor between the seats! That’s how she discovered the package. Her hand hit ‘something’ , jammed underneath her seat.

      A hard shape. Perhaps pushed through by the passenger in the seat behind? It felt like a clock radio or an I-audio. Amy’d seen them in the Duty Free. The latest sound toy. But this had thick tape around. Or so it felt. Too dark to see on the floor between seats. And there was a carpet bump in the gap beneath. The package was just too big to pull through from Amy’s side.

      Amy listened. A passenger snoring? Or was the parcel ticking?

      Most passengers were snoozing. Narrow spotlights shone over those still reading. But the thin light beams didn’t reach the floor.

      Was the parcel just ordinary? Passengers often stuffed bags under the seat in front of them. Especially when a child-passenger was half-price , full-price adults felt it was okay to push bags into the child’s space.

      ‘Christopher!’ she hissed. Her brother just muttered in his sleep. His headphones were still clamped on. She poked him. He turned over and giggled in his dream.

      The parcel was wedged tightly. So Amy kneeled on her seat. She peered over to find out who was sitting behind her. Nobody! The seat was empty! So whose luggage was it?

      In the half-light, Amy felt a flight attendant brush past. And another! Who or what needed extra blankets and pillows? Perhaps the old man at the back was sick? Maybe that pregnant woman was having her baby early?

      Amy watched closely. It was shadowy at the back and she couldn’t see clearly. This was weird. Attendants seemed to be stacking the pillows on the inside of the plane!

      The FASTEN SEATBELTS sign had come on. The plane dropped again and then came up. The attendants were walking downhill and then uphill, if you could say that in a plane.

      Christopher!’ She nudged her brother. He just turned over again, smiling.

      Christopher had dreams like full- length movies.

      ‘Excuse me, ‘ Amy asked as the attendants came hurrying back. ‘What’s wrong?’

      ‘Nothing for you to worry about, dear,’ said the shorter attendant with the perfect nails. ‘Go back to sleep. We’re not in Christchurch yet. Another hour.’

      Amy hated being called’ dear’.

      ‘Excuse me, there’s something under my seat,’ Amy started explaining, but the high heels tapped away. Dealing with that parcel might not wait until Christchurch. Unaccompanied luggage was very suspicious.

      Their parents were meeting the plane. Mum and Dad had a eco-photo job in the South Island. They were filming an old explorer walking the Milford Track. Four days of hiking. ‘A working holiday ,’ Dad said. ‘Work for us and a walking holiday for you.’ Aunty Viv had booked them on the Sydney-Christchurch flight. But she never flew with them. Tonight, Aunty Viv might be right about her fear of planes crashing or blowing up.

      Twisting around, Amy watched the flight attendants. More pillows! And a couple of blankets! Behind their perfect make-up, they looked worried. Their pencil-thin navy skirts made them take small steps. But this time, they were hurrying. And a male attendant was following them down the aisle.

      Most of the cabin was dark, with window shutters pulled down. Amy ripped off Christopher’s earphones.’ Wake up. That’s Bill going down the aisle now too!’

      Christopher yawned. ‘ Are you having nightmares again?’

      ‘No. This is real . And I’ve found something hidden under my seat.’

      At that news, Christopher woke up

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