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‘Let me use Icarus,’ says Rickenbacker. ‘Conditions are ideal, and if there’s a way to be found through those mountains I’ll find it in a fraction of the time it’ll take us to scout by foot or car.’
The colony agrees to his suggestion and Icarus, his motorized hang glider, which until now has remained under wraps aboard the Tyler tow truck, is unloaded, assembled, and refuelled. While Cutter checks the engine, Rickenbacker dons his flying suit, complete with goggles, leather flying helmet, and white silk scarf. Then, with a confident wave to the assembled colonists, he climbs into the fragile machine and takes to the air.
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Using his transceiver he maintains radio contact with Pop Ewell throughout his flight. After only forty minutes in the air, he is able to map a route through the tortuous network of ridges and gullies that is wide enough and safe enough to carry the convoy across the mountains to Highway 78.
