My Throne

Posted this in the writers group,thought some might like to read it.

Flying in New Guinea in the 1960 as a Lay Missionary was fairly primative. Colin had already frightened me half to death on my first flight,so was very weary of him. He had pretended to faint, when we were going through the pass,in the mountains,on a misty morning. I always refused to sit in the front with him,these were small two seater planes that carried cargo into the mission stations,plus a few passengers sometimes.
Colin laughed at me always when I would climb into the back among the cargo.Today he said he was too full.
“So Kathy in the front with you”as he opened the door.
“No never “I replied as I looked in the back,it was very full of cargo and in the corner was a toilet system.
“I’ll sit on that thanks “ I said as I climbed into the back.
“You cant ride on that all the way,its too hard” he replied.
“Better then you scaring me half to death,will be fine.”
Laughing Colin closed the door and climbed up in the cockpit.He turned around and just shook his head,bursting out laughing as he started the plane.Then taking off down the strip ,into the air we flew.Colin was really a very good pilot,because these strips were just grass and often not the best.Many a time we had to get the animals off the strip before the plane could land.
The station we were going to was only twenty minutes by plane,so my bum wasn’t too numb as we came over the strip.Colin did all the necessary things then said
“Well hang on Kathy to your throne, we be landing soon,i’ll try to make it a soft one.”and laughed as he turned into the strip.Looking out the window I could see the natives lined up along the strip.it was always a big thing when the plane came in.Then we started to go down, the ground getting closer and closer.
I felt the nose wheel hit the ground then the plane seemed to just lift up from the back.
The tail flipped up we did a summersault,things started flying around in side the plane,all the cargo everywhere.I shot up in the air,I remember seeing Colin laying over the controls then this dreadful pain.The plane and everything was quite.My head hurt,I could hear voices,feel movement around me.I felt as if I had a very heavy weight on my shoulders.I could not move even though I knew I had to get out,something was stopping me.Then I could feel a breeze around me people moving things.My mind seemed to clear,and Colins voice among the other voices seemed clearer asking “
You ok Kathy,Kathy,answer me”.
“Yes I think I am ok” I said,but it didn’t sound like my voice,why?
”God were am I, am I dead, Oh Colin?”.
“NO Not Dead, just Crowned with your lovely throne”.he laughed.