"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 043 - The Mystery Of The Aztec Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

As they drove along the road towards the terminal, Joe exclaimed, "Isn't that your plane, Dad, way over on that last runway?"

"Yes, it is. I guess Jack will taxi up. We're a little early."

The detective let the boys out, since he had an early appointment. He said goodbye and called after them, "I hope to see you soon with the mystery solved!"

The three young travellers walked through the administration building and out to the area where private planes taxied up to take on passengers. The Hardy plane was still at the far end of the runway. Suddenly it began to move, but instead of taxying towards the boys, it gathered speed, rolled down the runway and in a few moments was airborne.

"Say, what's going on here?" Frank asked. "Jack Wayne wouldn't take off without us!"

"You bet he wouldn't!" Joe cried excitedly. "Something sure is going on! Our plane has been hijacked!"




- 5 -

The Tattoo



"WHAT do you mean your plane's been hijacked?" Chet Morton asked unbelievingly.

"Just that!" Joe answered.

"I'm afraid he's right," Frank added, starting to run towards the administration building. "We must talk to the control tower right away!"

The report from the tower was even more disturbing. Jack Wayne himself was at the controls and had asked for immediate clearance. Frank quickly told his story, and the dispatcher said he would do all he could to bring back the Hardy plane.

The boys paced anxiously while awaiting word. Presently they were informed that there was no response to calls to the aircraft.

"Must be a hijacking," the tower dispatcher said. "I'll report this to the Federal Aviation Authority."

Frank and Joe told the dispatcher that they would get in touch with the police, then do some investigating at the field to see what they could learn. Their sleuthing revealed little that they did not already know.

Several mechanics had seen Jack Wayne and even spotted him getting into the Hardy plane. They had not observed anyone going aboard with him, but they had noticed a stranger talking to him on the field.

"What did this stranger look like?" Frank asked one of the mechanics.

"I can't tell you much. He was rather short and dark. To tell you the truth, he was too far away for me to make out any details. I sure am sorry to hear what happened and hope you get your plane back soon." The man returned to his work on the landing gear of a jet airliner.

As the boys walked away, Joe said, "I'll bet that stranger is connected with our mystery - he might even be the one we chased away from the Moore house and forced Jack to get clearance for a take-off."

"Let's go to the tower and find out what's happening," Frank suggested.

The dispatcher greeted the boys with a worried look. "There's no trace of your plane, fellows. All the big airports have been notified. They haven't been in contact with your plane."

Because the dispatcher was extremely busy, the three boys went back to the waiting-room to discuss the unexpected situation.