Chapters 17 and 18 Summary

In Chapter 17, Rick is nervous as he and Lon wait to take off in the hang glider, but he says they should try for a thermal. Lon tells Rick to point his thumb down if he needs to land. Only Lon has a parachute, but one will do for both of them. Besides, Lon has never had to use one. Finally, they take off, and Rick has to stop himself from grabbing the control bar, which Lon had warned him not to touch. Once Rick positions himself, though, he finally feels what it's like to fly.

The fliers finally find a thermal over Lizard Rock, one of the Standing Rocks. They rush upwards. Rick can see the whole Maze. At fourteen thousand feet, they come out, drop down, and find another thermal. Finally they land. That night, Lon tells Josh on...