Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Horror of the Heights
Icircledmyhomefieldonceortwicejusttowarmherup,andthenwithawavetoPerkinsandtheothers,Iflattenedoutmyplanesandputheronherhighest.SheskimmedlikeaswallowdownwindforeightortenmilesuntilIturnedhernoseupalittleandshebegantoclimbinagreatspiralforthecloud-bankaboveme.It’sall-importanttoriseslowlyandadaptyourselftothepressureasyougo.
"Itwasaclose,warmdayforanEnglishSeptember,andtherewasthehushandheavinessofimpendingrain.Nowandthentherecamesuddenpuffsofwindfromthesouth-west—oneofthemsogustyandunexpectedthatitcaughtmenappingandturnedmehalf-roundforaninstant.Irememberthetimewhengustsandwhirlsandair-pocketsusedtobethingsofdanger—beforewelearnedtoputanovermasteringpowerintoourengines.JustasIreachedthecloud-banks,withthealtimetermarkingthreethousand,downcametherain.Myword,howitpoured!Itdrummeduponmywingsandlashedagainstmyface,blurringmyglassessothatIcouldhardlysee.Igotdownontoalowspeed,foritwaspainfultotravelagainstit.AsIgothigheritbecamehail,andIhadtoturntailtoit.Oneofmycylinderswasoutofaction—adirtyplug,Ishouldimagine,butstillIwasrisingsteadilywithplentyofpower.Afterabitthetroublepassed,whateveritwas,andIheardthefull,deep-throatedpurr—thetensingingasone.That’swherethebeautyofourmodernsilencerscomesin.Wecanatlastcontrolourenginesbyear.
