Echelon1

EchelonA novel by Timothy Geigner

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Echelon2

Ch. 1

Mathew King could feel the sweat on his fingers as he typed. This whole ordealwould soon be over, one way or another, and he could only hope it worked out his way.Everything in the airplane cabin was soaked in sunlight from the windows. He leaned inclose so he could see the screen on his laptop, resting on the food tray. Next to him awoma

n who couldn‟t have been more than twenty

-five was bouncing an infant on oneknee while simultaneously trying to screw the nipple onto a formula bottle. The infant

batted at the bottle, unwilling to open her mouth. “Come on, darling. Just a little moreand you‟ll be ready for your nap. Just a little more. Here comes the choo

choo train...”

Echelon3King tried to ignore them as best he could. His fingers continued to fly over thekeyboard. Beside him, the infant gurgled and belched, then finally seemed to beplacated. He was certain that would change the moment the engines roared for takeoff,but for the moment it was obligingly quiet.He continued to work, trying to find out if and how they were gong to come afterhim. Regardless, his life was effectively over. His wife, the kids, they would all have toleave Virginia immediately. But him first, of course. Like the stewardess had saidduring their preflight instructions, you had to save yourself before you could help anyoneelse.If they only knew.Even now he was surprised by how at ease everyone was. It might not be as badas before the terrorist attacks, but still, flight attendants were chatting idly with oneanother, and King had even seen the pilot flirting with one of the passengers before theflight had gotten underway. It all struck him as very unprofessional, and unsecure.Probably the crew did that type of thing to stay fresh. Even pilots must have to stretchtheir legs once in a while. But he was certain that if the crew had any idea who he was,or who was after him, they too would have sweat dripping down their skin.With a lurch that shook his laptop, the airplane began to taxi backwards. Thewoman beside him was shifting around, and instinctively King turned to look at her. Shehad put the baby back onto her lap and was looking out the window. The baby stared upat him with that half curious, half astonished look that infants got.