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Calgary was only a transfer center, a stop on their journey. Trains and busses would take the people further east. But this was also to change. As we landed, the word came down that we had flown our last flight to this city as the area had become endangered, itself. Its airport would soon be needed for the city's own evacuation. It didn't make much sense to dump people where they wouldn't be safe, but we didn't have the fuel to go further.
"They'll be safe for a while," said Harry. "The others on the coast need us far more."
Before we left, a decision had been handed down to divert all available long-range aircraft to more distant destinations. For us, this meant flying to Hawaii. We were refueled one last time, and sent to Victoria enroute to Honolulu. Because fuel was already scarce at the capital, we were fueled up for the entire trip. The tower cautioned us that much of Victoria is on fire, "but the airport is still safe, and boys, flying to Honolulu will compensate for that, lucky you," the man at the tower remarked.
"What do you think that 'lucky' is supposed to mean?" asked Harry.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Victoria couldn't be worse!"
"Worse than it was at Abbotsford? Not likely!" said Ken.
When saying good-bye to Calgary, possibly forever, I felt the urge to get my captain's hat out and put it on, as if it were to salute the great city of Canada's oil patch that was, like Vancouver, destined to become a ghost town. Harry looked at me and shook his head. He must have thought I was crazy.
"Let's do a better job this time," he said after we were back at 30,000 feet. He never explained what he thought we had done wrong in the first place, nor did I feel like probing for it. So we left it at that. I think the strain was getting the better of us all. Considering everything that had happened, it was a marvel we were able to cope at all.
As we crossed the Rocky Mountains Jennie came to mind. I remarked to Harry that she had been most helpful throughout our trips.
"Why don't you go down to her," answered Ken. "Go, and spend a little time with your friend. The way you've been looking out for her ever since she came on board, I would say...."
"She's his best friend's wife," interrupted Harry.
I nodded to Ken, and left the flight deck. Harry was at the controls anyway.
I found Jennie at the lower First Class cabin. She was searching the lockers for food. She had some coffee brewing. Fortunately she hadn't noticed me. Tears stood in her eyes. These were hard times for all of us.
Uncertain as to what I should do or say, I leaned against the wall of the aircraft and was content just to watch her.
My thoughts went back to the time when Frank first introduced me to her in his camper on the summit of Milner Pass. Her face seemed to sparkle with a rare inner joy. I was captivated by it. I had been in love with her from this first moment on. She impressed me as someone quite special, although I could never really define what made me feel that way. I thought it was her eyes, perhaps, or her voice. Her voice was lovely and clear. She spoke with a vitality that was hard to ignore, and a smile that was had to forget. I will never forget her gesture when she invited me to stay for lunch. There was something profoundly gentle and inviting about her.
After lunch at the camper we talked and then went for a short hike together. When we returned it was tea time. I was given the privilege of viewing their photography work. Jennie's work consisted mostly of studies of people - at work, on the farm, hiking, playing, attending school, and riding the bus. Those pictures portrayed a rare sense of humanity and a humor that never degrades its subjects, but shows a deep compassion.
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