Chapter 10 - sea plane

Time slowed down for Lois. She felt like she was running through a quagmire of glue – her legs seemed like they were barely moving. Her heart didn't seem like it was still beating, though she knew if it was, it had to be near arrhythmia. Yet, despite the slow-motion effect life around her had taken, Lois found herself hurtling over the deck toward the sea plane.

"RICHARD!"

Richard lay helpless beneath the falling hulk. His last resort to cover his face with his arms in a futile gesture. Lois pumped her arms, pleading with whatever God there was watching from above, that someone would help Richard.

But as she closed distance on her stricken fiancé, she suddenly skidded to a halt. Mouth hanging open, Lois gaped at the sight before her. Little Jason – her beautiful, fragile…special boy – stood before her, holding the entire craft up and over his head. He was heaving – terrified beyond comprehension, yet his little arms barely wavered under the bulk of the pontoon. The plane creaked in protest, but steadied in the boy's grip.

Richard paused, still covering his head with his arms, wondering when the death blow would land. Lois fell at his side, clutching him under the arms and heaving him from under the plane. When he looked up, Richard saw his son, holding the plane off the ground – the brace that had been holding the plane up had fallen by the wayside.

Lois could hear her heart beating so loudly she thought it might burst from her chest. Richard sat in front of her, gasping for air and staring in beleaguered astonishment at Jason. After he was sure his father was out of danger, Jason let the plane fall ungracefully to the ground with a loud crash. He backed away from the air craft, never taking his now-enormous eyes off his parents.