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facing them. It was a fighter jet painted camouflage green. The jet was so close that Hawker could now see the toy figure of the pilot. “How does he do that? He’s not moving. That’s not some kind of helicopter, is it?”
    â€œIt’s a Harrier, a British fighter. It can stop in midair and land like a helicopter, but it’s all jet.”
    â€œThe way he’s stopped like that, it’s like he’s waiting on us.”
    â€œHe is.”
    From the radio transceiver came: “ Securitade, securitade ; warning to twin-engine Trislander, registry unknown. You are about to leave British-controlled airspace of Belize for airspace of Guatemala. Guatemalan airspace is forbidden to aircraft without proper authorization. Do you copy?”
    Into the hand mike the woman replied, “This is Trislander zero-niner-five-niner-niner. We copy. We are a missonary craft of international registry. We are entering Guatemalan airspace unarmed, carrying foodstuff and medicine for the Christian Indians. We will report our intent at Guatemala City.”
    There was a touch of resignation in the British pilot’s voice. “Twin-engine Trislander of international registry, have I made my warning clear? You are about to enter Guatemalan airspace. Please acknowledge.”
    â€œAffirmative. We acknowledge.”
    â€œGood luck to you, then, ma’am,” the voice on the radio replied, and the Harrier lifted suddenly, banked to port, and disappeared with a jet thrust that rocked the twin-engine plane.
    â€œYou handled that well,” said Hawker.
    â€œI handle many things well, James. Please don’t sound so surprised. I have been on my own since I was thirteen years old. My mother died of black-water fever, and I never knew my father. Resourcefulness for most people is something to be exercised on a whim, like a game. But for someone like me it has always been the difference between success and failure, sometimes life and death.” She glanced at him to make sure he was listening. “Does it bother you to have your life depend on the resourcefulness of a woman? Are you that kind of man? Your life does depend on me, you know. In a few minutes I must fly this plane through a series of narrow mountain passes. If there is low cloud cover, I will have to fly by memory only. Not only that, but we must land in a clearing that has no markings of any kind. I must find it, make sure that the government forces of Masagua aren’t waiting in ambush, then land on a field considered far too short for this plane. So you see? Your life does depend on me. Does that make you nervous?”
    Hawker stifled a mock yawn. “I’m terrified,” he said. “Hurry up and find that airfield, lady. I have to take a wizz.”
    â€œA wizz?”
    â€œYes. A wizz is something of mine that even you can’t control, Laurene, dear. I hope.…”

five
    The plane twisted and turned through the narrow mountain passes of Guatemala. Sheer green jungle walls plunged toward them, dipped away, and disappeared, one after another.
    â€œYou can fly this route by memory?” Hawker asked casually, trying to relax in his seat.
    â€œI didn’t say that,” the woman said, managing a smile as she concentrated on the next abrupt turn. “I said that if it was cloudy, I would have to try.”
    â€œI’m glad it’s not cloudy,” Hawker said.
    â€œYes, me too. But the day will come when it will be cloudy. And then I will have to discover just how good my memory is.” The woman pulled back on the wheel, and the plane climbed desperately, narrowly missing a craggy wall of jungle.
    Then they were out of the passes, and Hawker could see a fast clear river below, rushing through the lush tropical growth. The land was wild with bright flowers, gigantic mahogany and guanacaste trees, waterfalls.
    â€œIt looks like paradise,” said Hawker.
    â€œIt is paradise, James. On