A fighter jet—something most villagers had only ever seen on television—was spinning out of the sky in a sickening spiral. It was clearly out of control. As it barreled toward the ground, the deafening roar rattled eardrums and made skulls buzz.
People in the village stared at the jet dropping lower and lower—so close they could almost make out the pilot’s face inside the canopy. Everyone held their breath. No one understood why the pilot hadn’t ejected like they’d seen on TV. Maybe he was afraid of hitting a house… or a person.
Village Chief Cao stood frozen like a stunned fool. He didn’t even think to run. The fighter was about to slam straight into the newly harvested cornfield. Just as it looked inevitable, the jet suddenly slowed—almost as if an invisible hand had caught it. The air
