"CAP151 to tower, over". "CAP151 to tower, over" Mike repeated the call every 15 seconds, in the hope that someone, anyone would answer. Mike had been dispatched from Homestead AFB in southern Florida. He was a Civil Air Patrol pilot, who had several thousand hours in the air. He had been sent out in an effort to look for a missing pleasure boat that was several hours late. Unknown to Mike however, Homestead AFB had been destroyed in the worst storm of the century, Hurricane Andrew. Now Mike was in trouble too, his fuel was getting very critical and his nerves had already past that point.

"CAP151, Does anyone hear me?" Mike tried over and over to raise someone. His instruments were going haywire due to the electrical activity in the storm. By dead reckoning he thought that he was flying west toward the coast. But many a pilot had been killed by "dead" reckoning. Then all the sudden he heard it, faintly at first and then stronger and stronger as his frequency was sought out. "CAP151, this is San Micheals, can you read me, over?" Mike almost ripped the microphone off its holder trying to grab at this string in the night before it too faded away. "San Michaels, this is CAP151, over" responded Mike. "Roger CAP151, this is San Michael’s, we understand that you're in somewhat of a fix, over". "Affirmative San Michael’s, fuel situation critical, my instruments have gone haywire, no idea of present location, over". "Standby CAP151, I'm conversing with our weatherman about your situation, over". Mike was overjoyed, Thank You Lord he prayed and answered the request, "Roger San Michael’s, CAP151 standing by, hey! don't take too long things are kind of hairy up here, over". "Roger CAP151, understand San Michaels out", the voice responded. Time had no end now, Mike knew that he was so low on fuel that he soon would be forced to try and set this bird down somewhere, anywhere. Under normal situations, that would not present a problem, but Mike had already skimmed the surface of the sea looking for that cruiser, when he was doing so his altimeter was reading 50 feet and the waves were hitting the bottom of the aircraft. He could not possibly hope to put his plane down in weather like this. "Where are those guys?" thought Mike.

"CAP151, this is San Michaels, are you still there Mike?" The call shocked him for two reasons, one he wasn't expecting it and was surprised, Secondly he had not given anyone his name, yet they called him by name just now. Mike responded quickly, "Roger, this is CAP151, say how do you guys know my name?, over" "That's not important right now Mike, I think you had better check your fuel gauge" was the response from the mysterious voice. Mike looked down at his fuel gauge and saw the indicator almost on top of the empty mark, he knew he had only minutes of fuel left. "OK, Mike, here's how we're going to handle the situation, we want you to climb to 50,000 feet to get above the storm." Mike interrupted, "I need oxygen for that, and this craft is not equipped with that"

"Never mind Mike, climb!" responded the voice. It was almost as if someone else was flying the plane for the control yoke was pulled back in a climb position but Mike's hands were at the controls. Slowly the craft began its climb, Mike could now see patches of bright clear blue sky above him. But as he climbed higher and higher he knew in the back of his mind that he was using up more and more precious fuel. Also he soon was going to require oxygen, he could already feel himself getting light headed from the lack of it. Now almost 10 miles high Mike again keyed the radio, "San Michaels, this is CAP ah.... CAP... CAP151 steady at 50,000 feet, starting to feel effects of altitude" "OK CAP151" the voice responded seemingly louder than before. "Turn 40 degrees to port, you will see a series of islands about 10 miles away, we want you to steer directly to the center peak, that's the center one do you copy Mike?" asked the voice. Mike had to shake his head in order to think clearly, even at that he was befuddled. "Roger" replied Mike, "center island". Mike looked down to search for the islands but all he saw was the swirling mass of the hurricane. Automatically Mike looked up to check his instruments and when he did, there directly in front of him were the islands, seemingly on the same level as his flight path. Now really groggy from the lack of oxygen Mike wasn't really sure where he was. But being a good officer he followed orders and steered to the center peak. "That's good Mike", came the voice again only this time it seemed like it was right here in the cabin with him. He looked over at the co-pilot's seat, yep it was empty. "We've got you on visual, come straight into the lagoon, turn starboard 20 degrees and set it down, you're safe now".

Mike again followed directions despite the oxygen starvation level of his body. He executed the turn and started the landing procedure. Only one thing was wrong, actually two things. His fuel gauge had long said his fuel was gone but the engines were still running, secondly the altitude gauge was reading 50,000 feet. Oh well thought Mike, I guess with all the bumping around during the storm the electrical system may have malfunctioned. As the plane touched down on the still surface of the lagoon, Mike could feel the tension begin to leave his body. He surrendered to that feeling as the craft slowly drifted towards shore. Strange thought Mike, it still feels like light O2 starvation, oh well...

The rocking of the plane in the gentle ripple of the lagoon woke Mike from his sleep. He wasn't sure how long he had been out of it, but the sun was shinning and there was a light breeze coming trough his side window. The air was warm and humid. Sitting up, he quickly recognized his location, this was a lagoon that he dad used to take him fishing in when he was a boy. This was their secret spot. There were only two things that puzzled him completely. The entrance to this particular lagoon was only 5 feet wide and his wingspan was 47 feet also the length of the lagoon was less than 100 yards and he needed almost a mile of space to either land or take off. Well, dummy how did you get here he thought.

Reaching for the radio he turned it on and was relieved to find that the batteries were still holding their charge. "CAP151 to San Michaels, come in please, over" called Mike. No response he tried again and again. He tried all the channels available, then as he crossed the emergency channel he heard "CAP151, this is JG27, how do you copy me sir, over?" Mike picked up his microphone and answered, "JG27, CAP151 I copy you 5 by 5, my position is..." "Sir, we know your position, if you will look out your port window. What, we want to know sir is how did you get to your position?" Mike looked out his window and saw the white and orange Coast Guard Jolly Green Giant helicopter hovering a short distance away. "You'd never believe me if I told you " replied Mike.

Sometimes things happen for which there is no logical explanation. Sometimes people do things they did not know they were capable of doing. Who knows? Do You?