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Serie de e-books de Azure
Índice
1. 2. 3.
Introducción Evolución hacia el cloud: Poder de elección
algunas cosas cambian,
otras siguen igual
4. 5. 6.
Migración de los datos Optimización de Gestionar los costes será
al cloud aplicaciones para el cloud parte de tu trabajo
7. 8. 9.
Aprovecha lo que Amplía tus horizontes IA en el trabajo
ya sabes
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 3
manual para DBA
1.
Introducción
Como administrador de bases de datos
En esencia, las
(DBA), sabes lo difícil que puede llegar
a ser mantener las bases de datos competencias que
empresariales en plena actividad cuando necesitas para gestionar
aumenta la demanda de rendimiento
y el volumen de los datos. La migración y manipular los datos
al cloud además hará que tu papel en la seguirán siendo las
empresa sea más visible, aun cuando las
tareas de mantenimiento tradicionales
mismas. Sin embargo,
se automaticen. Ahora es el momento verás cómo se
de prepararse para migrar tus datos al
cloud para que puedas maximizar las
reducen las tareas
ventajas de reducir los costes, aumentar de mantenimiento,
la escalabilidad, reducir la infraestructura
administración y
y aprovechar las oportunidades para
modernizar tus aplicaciones a fin de aplicación de revisiones
que puedas centrarte menos en las en pro de una mayor
operaciones cotidianas y más en las
tareas de valor añadido. optimización y
experimentación,
así como de una
arquitectura de datos
de alto nivel.
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 4
manual para DBA
Cuando tus bases de datos estén en el • Aprendes a administrar los gastos para
cloud, dedicarás menos tiempo a las tareas que puedas optimizar y justificar los
de mantenimiento rutinarias y aportarás costes de uso mensuales (en lugar de
más valor a la empresa si haces lo siguiente: utilizar ciclos de actualización de entre
tres y cinco años).
• Aprovechas las capacidades de bases
de datos en el cloud como el ajuste • Modernizas las aplicaciones de
automático continuo basado en IA y la alta SQL Server existentes a escala.
disponibilidad integrada para mantener
el máximo rendimiento y durabilidad; • Amplías tus horizontes con actividades
servicio de hiperescala; detección de valor añadido que den impulso
inteligente de amenazas y evaluación a tu carrera, como el big data, la IA,
de vulnerabilidades proactiva. Aprendes a el machine learning y el desarrollo
migrar los datos al cloud con herramientas de aplicaciones.
que te ayudarán a aprender los procesos
básicos, así como las rutas más fáciles. En Microsoft, nos comprometemos a
proporcionarte servicios de datos basados
• Aumentas tus conocimientos sobre las en el cloud que te hagan la vida más fácil,
bases de datos y profundizas en otros amplíen tus competencias y te permitan
formatos y plataformas, lo que te permitirá convertirte en el "héroe de los datos" de
diseñar el ecosistema de bases de datos tu organización. Para ejercer tus funciones
idóneo para tu organización. como DBA en el cloud, debes adaptar tus
competencias, pero la recompensa puede
ser enorme.
• Utilizas herramientas automatizadas que
agilizan y aceleran la modernización de las
aplicaciones. Obtén más información sobre los
cinco pasos que hemos mencionado
• Refactorizas las aplicaciones para y los recursos que te permitirán
aprovechar una arquitectura flexible llevarlos a cabo con éxito.
y nativa del cloud que permite que
el almacenamiento crezca en función
de las necesidades y se adapte a los
requisitos cambiantes.
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 5
manual para DBA
2.
Evolución Veamos qué diferencias existen entre
las bases de datos on-premises y los
algunas cosas
frecuente, que consiste en crear informes
y visualizaciones a partir de una base de
cambian, otras
datos de SQL Server. El ejemplo del entorno
on-premises conlleva mucho más trabajo
de gestión y podría estar más limitado
siguen igual en lo que se refiere a las tecnologías
que incorpora. En el ejemplo del cloud,
tienes menos infraestructura de la que
preocuparte y puedes utilizar unos servicios
más avanzados con mucha más facilidad, ya
que forman parte de la misma plataforma.
Antes
Orígenes de
datos en el cloud
Aplicaciones
Orígenes de datos
on-premises
SQL Server 2017 SQL Server 2017 SQL Server 2017 Power BI
SQL Server Integration (DW) Analysis Services Report Server
Services
Otros orígenes
de datos
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 6
manual para DBA
Después
Azure SQL Azure Data Azure Synapse Azure Analysis Services Power BI
Database Factory Analytics
Instancia administrada
de Azure SQL
SQL Server en
máquinas virtuales Servicio en el cloud de
puerta de enlace
Puerta de enlace de
Orígenes de datos datos on-premises
on-premises
SQL Server
Otros orígenes
de datos
3.
Poder de
elección
Es posible que, con los exigentes requisitos Por ejemplo, descubrirás que, cada vez
de mantenimiento que entraña la más, las bases de datos relacionales y no
tecnología on-premises, tus posibilidades relacionales se consideran complementarias
de ganar experiencia con diferentes y te familiarizarás con estos dos tipos de
tipos de bases de datos se hayan visto bases de datos. A continuación, se incluye
muy limitadas. Sin embargo, con toda un breve resumen de las tecnologías de
probabilidad, tu empresa esperará que bases de datos en el cloud que están
domines un amplio abanico de bases de disponibles en Azure y las áreas para las
datos y características relacionadas en el que resultan más idóneas.
cloud. La buena noticia es que, en el cloud,
la simplificación de las operaciones te deja
más tiempo para ampliar tus competencias.
Gestión de pedidos
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 8
manual para DBA
Servicios de Azure SQL (Azure SQL Azure SQL Data Azure Cosmos DB
datos de Azure Database, instancia Warehouse
administrada de Azure SQL,
SQL Server en Azure Virtual
Machines)
Azure Database for MariaDB
Azure Database for MySQL
Azure Database for
PostgreSQL
Oracle en Azure Virtual
Machines
Migrar los datos al cloud reduce la carga opciones de bases de datos que están
que genera la gran cantidad de tareas disponibles en el cloud, lo que te permitirá
de mantenimiento de los entornos on- aportar valor a la empresa y mejorar tu
premises y brinda oportunidades únicas carrera profesional.
para crear una organización basada en
Obtén más información acerca
los datos. Merece la pena que dediques
de la variedad de los servicios de
algo de tiempo a conocer el abanico de
datos en el cloud de Azure.
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 9
manual para DBA
4.
Migración de A la hora de llevar a cabo la migración, los
DBA suelen ser responsables de ayudar a
cloud
podrás aprovechar herramientas y recursos
prediseñados para simplificar este proceso.
De A Herramientas
De A Herramientas
5.
Optimización de aplicaciones
para el cloud
Una migración mediante "lift-and-shift" La refactorización también te permite
como SQL en Azure Virtual Machines puede optimizar tu aplicación para el cloud,
llevarte al cloud rápidamente, pero si quieres reduciendo así los costes. Azure
sacar el máximo provecho de tu inversión y SQL Database sin servidor escala
experiencia en el cloud, querrás refactorizar tu automáticamente la informática en función
aplicación para Azure SQL Database o instancia de la demanda y las facturas de la carga de
administrada de Azure SQL. trabajo por la potencia de cálculo utilizada
por segundo. Sin servidor también detiene
La arquitectura nativa del cloud de Azure SQL automáticamente las bases de datos
Database Hyperscale permite realizar copias durante períodos inactivos cuando solo
de seguridad casi instantáneas y restauraciones se factura el almacenamiento y reanuda
rápidas de bases de datos en cuestión de automáticamente las bases de datos
minutos, con independencia del tamaño cuando se reanuda la actividad.
de la operación de datos. Una base de datos
de Hyperscale admite hasta 100 TB de datos Azure SQL facilita el proceso de refactoriz
y proporciona un alto rendimiento, además ación de la aplicación. Las herramientas
de un escalado rápido para adaptarse a los automatizadas optimizan y aceleran
requisitos de carga de trabajo. El escalado es las iniciativas de modernización de
transparente para la aplicación. La conectividad, las aplicaciones y las aplicaciones
el procesamiento de consultas, etc. funcionan de SQL Server existentes se pueden
como cualquier otra base de datos de Azure modernizar a escala con las instancias
SQL Database. administradas de Azure SQL.
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 13
manual para DBA
6.
Gestionar los
costes será parte
de tu trabajo
En el mundo on-premises, es muy de datos almacenados, etc. La cifra que va
posible que solo encuentres problemas a aparecer en la factura mensual dependerá
relacionados con el coste de la base directamente de cómo configures los
de datos cuando entren en juego los servicios de bases de datos.
ciclos de actualización. Una vez que el
hardware está implementado, hay pocos Esto no solo te permite ajustar más los
gastos incrementales relacionados con costes a las necesidades reales, sino que
la implementación y la ejecución de las también te brinda más oportunidades para
bases de datos. demostrar el valor que le proporcionas a
la empresa. Para ello, sin embargo, tienes
En el cloud, esto es completamente que conocer los modelos de facturación
distinto. Aquí, se paga en función de lo que disponibles y aprender a optimizar los
realmente se usa. Dependiendo del servicio, costes. Estas son algunas sugerencias
los costes pueden variar según el número y recursos para que empieces a moverte
de horas que se ejecuta la base de datos, por el mundo de Azure SQL.
el tipo de procesador utilizado, la cantidad
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 14
manual para DBA
Azure SQL
7.
Aprovecha lo Como en el cloud los aspectos diarios
relacionados con el mantenimiento y la
disponibilidad de las bases de datos se
que ya sabes gestionan de forma automática, algunas
de las competencias que tradicionalmente
eran indispensables en los DBA ahora
son menos importantes, mientras que
otras pasan a ser esenciales. Sin embargo,
migrar al cloud no significa que tengas que
desechar todo lo que ya sabes. En algunos
casos, podrás aplicar tus conocimientos
directamente en el cloud, mientras que en
otros tendrás que aprender nuevas técnicas.
A continuación, te mostramos una práctica
lista de comprobación con los cambios más
comunes.
Administración de copias
de seguridad
Mantenimiento de
infraestructuras
Seguridad de la infraestructura
Movimiento de datos
Optimización de costes
El tiempo que no tienes que invertir en SQL Database, podrás realizar la migración
tareas relacionadas con la infraestructura al cloud utilizando la versión de SQL Server
puedes utilizarlo para profundizar en las que empleas actualmente en el entorno on-
competencias que te serán más útiles. Por premises. Por tanto, tus conocimientos sobre
ejemplo, el ajuste del rendimiento es algo la administración de datos y las consultas
que seguirá siendo igual de importante SQL seguirán siendo activos importantes.
o incluso más cuando llegue la factura
mensual y los integrantes de la cadena de En el caso de los DBA de código abierto,
mando vayan viendo lo que has conseguido. Azure Database for MySQL, Azure
Tus conocimientos y tu experiencia en la Database for MariaDB y Azure Database
transferencia de datos te sitúan en una for PostgreSQL les ofrecen un entorno
posición perfecta para adoptar un papel de programación que ya conocen con
estratégico en calidad de asesor durante la las ventajas de un servicio administrado.
migración y en fases posteriores. Tu mayor En el caso de las migraciones de Oracle
valor reside en conocer los mecanismos y a Azure SQL Database, gracias al paquete
pormenores de las bases de datos, así como de extensión de Oracle, podrás seguir
sus características y configuración en el utilizando las características de Oracle
entorno de ejecución. con las que estás familiarizado.
Si simplemente migras las bases de datos Por último, si utilizas una base de datos no
de SQL Server a una o varias instancias relacional, Azure Cosmos DB proporciona
de Azure Virtual Machine, podrás utilizar una amplia gama de API que te permiten
todas las competencias que ya tienes. Este utilizar el lenguaje y el esquema que mejor
escenario reproduce exactamente lo que conoces, con opciones para:
hacías en el entorno on-premises, por lo que
• .NET • SQL
podrás realizar las mismas tareas del mismo
modo que lo has hecho siempre, solo que
• Java • MongoDB
ahora a través de Azure.
• Node.js • Gremlin
Además, si tienes que decidirte por la ruta
SQL o la ruta NoSQL, también puedes
• Python • Cassandra
maximizar las competencias y herramientas
existentes con Azure. En el mundo relacional,
si eliges la Instancia administrada de Azure • Xamarin • Table
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 17
manual para DBA
8.
Amplía tus
horizontes
Gestionar las bases de datos en el cloud te
brinda una oportunidad sin precedentes
para que centres tus esfuerzos en
proporcionar más valor a la empresa en
lugar de en tareas de mantenimiento
y actividades de break-fix rutinarias. Estas
son algunas áreas que te interesa explorar.
Desarrollo de aplicaciones
Big data
Desarrollo de aplicaciones:la infraestructura
En vista de que la información tiene una
de las bases de datos no tiene mucho que
importancia cada vez más crítica en el éxito
ver con el rendimiento de la aplicación,
de las empresas, gracias a los servicios
pero la arquitectura y la optimización de las
de datos en el cloud, puedes convertirte
bases de datos, sí. Dado que ya no necesitas
en un experto en todo lo que tiene que
dedicar tanto tiempo a mantener todo
ver con los datos y centrarte en el amplio
a punto, puedes trabajar más estrechamente
mundo de la información, con una visión
con los equipos de desarrollo de aplicaciones
estratégica de la arquitectura.
para seleccionar, implementar y optimizar las
soluciones de bases de datos adecuadas para
Solución relevante: Azure Data Lake
diferentes casos de uso.
elimina la complejidad que entraña ingerir
y almacenar los datos a la vez que agiliza
Solución relevante: utiliza la inteligencia
la obtención y ejecución de la información
integrada para ajustar automáticamente el
con análisis interactivos, en streaming
rendimiento en función de los patrones de
y por lotes.
uso. Además, Common Data Service (CDS)
para aplicaciones te permite almacenar y
administrar de forma segura la información
que utilizan las aplicaciones empresariales.
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 18
manual para DBA
9.
IA en el trabajo
Las tecnologías de IA y machine learning Servicios cognitivos: utiliza algoritmos
siempre encabezan las listas de las inteligentes para ver, oír, contar, entender
principales tendencias tecnológicas y, e interpretar las necesidades del usuario
como DBA, una vez que los datos estén utilizando mecanismos de comunicación
en el cloud, te será más fácil que nunca naturales.
navegar por ellos. A continuación te
mostramos algunos mecanismos para que Bots: proporciona a los usuarios nuevos
te familiarices con la inteligencia artificial métodos para que puedan interactuar
a través de los servicios de Azure. de forma natural con los datos creando,
implementando y administrando bots
Machine learning: Azure Machine Learning inteligentes.
Studio es un potente y sencillo entorno de
Consulta una guía rápida
creación que utiliza la técnica de arrastrar
sobre machine learning para
y colocar, que está basado en la Web y que
profesionales tecnológicos.
no requiere programación. También puedes
utilizar R junto con Azure SQL Database
para casos de uso de machine learning.
Guía esencial sobre los datos del cloud: 20
manual para DBA
Empezar a
trabajar con los
datos en el cloud Crea una base de datos administrada
en el cloud con tu cuenta gratuita
de Azure.
Comenzar gratis
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cual». La información y las opiniones expresadas en este documento, incluidas las direcciones URL
y otras referencias a sitios web de Internet, están sujetas a cambios sin previo aviso. Tú asumes el
riesgo de utilizarlo. Este documento no proporciona ningún derecho legal sobre ninguna propiedad
intelectual de ningún producto de Microsoft. Puedes copiar y usar este documento para uso interno
como material de consulta.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Nerve enough
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.
Language: English
NERVE ENOUGH
By Richard Howells Watkins
“I’ll make that first jump; I’ve got to!” he cried, springing to his feet
and thumping a quick fist on the parachute packs. “You can’t trust
this fellow, and if he bungles it, we’re gone!”
“I’ll not bungle it,” retorted Burt Minster stubbornly. “And as for
nerve, I’ve more nerve than he has language, which is some.”
Jim Tyler slumped wearily against the side wall of the shack and
waited for the argument to subside.
“I stand ready to prove you a liar in any way you want to pick,”
Del O’Connell declared heatedly.
Burt Minster did not answer at once. His face reddened at the
challenge, but his eyes, as they dwelt upon the parachutes, were
merely thoughtful. Jim Tyler plunged into the lull.
“Since none of us has ever gone over, perhaps we’d better
rehearse a jump this evening, before we try it on the crowd,” he
suggested, in the hope that action would halt dissension.
But Burt Minster had by no means given up the controversy. He
had merely been planning.
“This Jenkins who is running the fair intimated to-day that he
might raise the ante if we pulled something particularly spectacular
the first day,” he said slowly. “And we need the money, if we’re ever
to get back where we started. Well, I have a scheme that’ll settle this
nerve question once and for all, and give us a big lift toward buying
another plane as well.”
“Out with it, then,” snapped Del O’Connell. “I’m willin’ already.”
Burt Minster laid a hand on the parachute packs.
“We have two of them, and we planned that the jumper should
wear both, as is customary. Well, instead of that, we’ll both jump, you
and I, at the same time.”
“And what would that prove?” snorted Del.
“I’m not through yet,” Burt rebuked him. “We’ll announce the thing
as a race to earth, the man landing first winning. You see, you don’t
have to pull the rip-cord that opens the parachute the minute you
leave the ship. You can fall free—an army expert fell almost two
thousand feet before he opened his ’chute—”
Del O’Connell’s eyes glinted.
“’Tis not a bad idea at all,” he admitted, and looked upon Burt
Minster with less rancor. “I like it fine.”
“Wait a minute,” interposed Jim Tyler. “You mean you’ll both jump,
and let yourselves fall a quarter of a mile or more? Why, that’s the
craziest—”
“And the man who pulls his rip-cord last wins, for he’ll land first,”
Del O’Connell explained. “As good a test of nerve as ever I heard
of.”
“Well, you can fly yourselves, then, for I’ll not have a hand in it,”
Jim Tyler announced firmly. “It isn’t necessary for you two to kill
yourselves to prove you’re fools. I’ll believe it now.”
His statement made no impression on his partners. This was no
sudden quarrel. Each, feeling guilty, was consequently touchy, and
doggedly set on doing his utmost to retrieve their misfortunes. And
from this attitude it was only a short step, in the ragged state of their
nerves, to an open conflict over the issue of courage—or any other
issue about which they could contend.
“Well, Jim,” said Burt Minster at last, as Tyler continued to stand
his ground unswervingly, “there’s another plane here at the fair, you
know. That fellow will take us both up if you won’t.”
Jim Tyler gave in at that, for he saw that his opposition to the plan
was only making them more eager to try it. Secretly he nursed the
hope that next day would bring them back to rational behavior.
But the opening hour of the fair found them still fixed in their resolve
to carry on perhaps the strangest duel of nerve that had ever been
devised. The three partners kept apart, since talk only led to
acrimony, and each at his post of observation watched the crowds
gathering.
They came in battered tin automobiles, and they came on foot,
and they came in ancient horse-drawn vehicles, from Baychester
County and from the county across the Baychester River which
flowed past the Fair Grounds. Jim Tyler’s airworn but still airworthy
Burgess training-plane was the center of a milling mob, for
Baychester was not so sophisticated as some of its neighbors, and a
flying machine was still an object of doubt and an object of awe. The
ropes about it strained under the pressure of the curious, and the
voices of the guards who reinforced the ropes grew hoarse and
querulous. And word of the race to the ground through the thin air
spread through the murmuring crowds.
The time of the flight came.
“Now boys, be sure and give us a good treat,” Jenkins, a stout,
harassed, badge-encrusted gentleman instructed, as he bustled up
to the shack wherein the partners had come together again.
“You’ll get it,” returned Burt Minster grimly.
“Two of them,” promised Del O’Connell, buckling the harness of
his ’chute about him, and taking a final glance at the dangling rip-
cord and the ring attached to it.
“I’ll make it worth your while,” the official declared, and dashed
away.
At the plane the three men waited, while space for a takeoff in the
infield was cleared of spectators. Jim Tyler warmed up his motor,
and then, throttling down, left the cockpit and confronted his
partners.
“If you’re set on going through with this fool thing I suppose I’ll
have to stand by,” he said briefly. “Where are you jumping from—
wing or cockpit?”
“Since we’re not pulling the rip-cords at once we might as well
jump from the cockpit,” said O’Connell. “You can signal to us better
from there and it will look more spectacular.”
“That suits me,” replied Burt Minster curtly.
“I won’t be able to get this bus up over six or seven thousand feet
with the weight of three men in her,” Jim calculated. “Suppose we
make it five thousand, to be sure?”
“A mile is plenty, since it’s going to be a sprint,” Del O’Connell
said, with a chuckle. “Though of course,” he added, looking sideways
at Minster, “one of us may not do much sprinting.”
“Speak for yourself,” growled the other man. “You’ll probably
starve to death before you get to the ground.”
“Remember, when I turn and put up five fingers, get ready,” Tyler
broke in hastily. “And when I nod, jump! One from each side. And
jump hard, so you’ll clear the tail.”
“Right,” assented Del O’Connell eagerly, and Burt Minster nodded
agreement.
The infield was clear at last. With a final glance at the fastenings
of their harness and the rip-cords that would release the parachutes,
the two men silently climbed into the rear cockpit. They wedged
themselves into the narrow seat. Then both turned automatically and
studied the direction and force of the wind, as revealed by the
whipping flags on the grandstand.
Jim Tyler gave the ship the throttle. Bouncing and lurching, it
charged into the wind, the propeller flickering as it cut the air and
flung it back upon the tense faces of pilot and ’chute jumpers. Far
across the infield the plane raced. Finally the wings took the burden
from the rubber-tired wheels. The ship, with a final jolt, parted
company with the ground, hung poised above the grass, and began
its upward climb.
Though it was an old story to them, the two men in the rear
cockpit looked downward, each upon his side, and the plane climbed
in great circles above the fair ground below. The green of the
countryside prevailed, but the brown of the oval racetrack cut
through it, and just outside this ellipse was a speckled band of many
indistinguishable colors that is the indication of people in masses.
Beyond that, behind the cigar-box grandstand, stretched a tightly
packed section of black and gray-black, where the automobiles of
the crowd were parked. Booths and buildings, gay with bunting,
displayed their tiny square outlines in regular patterns around the
ground.
And then, as the plane rose higher, the fair grounds contracted
until they were a mere detail of the landscape below—the great
green and brown squares and oblongs, with larger irregular patches
of woodland, interspersed here and there by tracts of well-watered
pasture land, of a lush green. Across it all, as if dividing all the world
into two parts, ran the almost straight course of the Baychester river.
Del O’Connell and Burt Minster at just the same time turned their
attention from the earth to the back of Jim Tyler’s head. They were
approaching their mark and both sensed it, although there was no
altimeter in their compartment.
The motor labored on, and both men thrust feet out straight, and
moved shoulders tentatively, as if to drive away any incipient
stiffness that might hinder action in that one swift leap into space.
Both were entirely at home in the air, as seamen are at home on the
water, but neither had ever gone out, deserting their craft for the
impalpable element in which it swam.
Suddenly Jim Tyler turned a grim face toward the rear cockpit and
raised his left hand, with fingers outstretched. Five thousand! For an
instant little Del O’Connell and big Burt Minster turned and looked at
each other. Determination was imprinted in the lines of both
countenances, and together they squirmed to their feet in that
cramped compartment, standing full in the buffeting stream of air
flung back by the whirling propeller. Del O’Connell, with an agile
twist, got one foot up on the rim of the cockpit and gripped the edge
with both his hands. His head turned forward, and his eyes fixed
themselves on the stern face of the pilot.
Burt, a little slower, slung a foot over his side of the machine, and
with one hand fumbled for the ripcord and dangling ring at the end of
it. Tyler nodded.
Del O’Connell, with a quick spring, brought his other foot up out of
the cockpit and, clinging with his hands, crouched on the edge of the
fuselage. His legs bent more sharply for the leap that would carry
him far out into space.
But just then the eyes of Jim Tyler caught a sudden flash of white
from the pack on Del’s back. The next instant the great silken
parachute whipped out of its confining envelop. Del’s rip-cord had
fouled on something inside the cockpit, and his eager jump to the rim
had jerked it.
The great spread of cloth billowed open instantly and whisked
backward in the grip of the wind. For just an instant Del, entirely
unconscious of what had occurred, held his place on the fuselage.
Then, like a stone from a catapult, he was whipped off his feet and
flung toward the tail of the racing plane.
The open parachute swept into the tail assembly. The
tremendous force of the wind ripped it from skirt to vent as it caught.
Shroud lines parted like threads. Then the silken cloth wrapped itself
about elevators, and several of the shrouds that did not snap
became entangled over the point of the balance of the rudder.
O’Connell’s whirling body struck the tail of the machine. Then it
swept past, dropping out into space. But the remaining shroud lines
were securely held by the rudder. O’Connell’s fall was checked by a
bone-jarring jerk. His body dangled below the tail of the plane,
swaying in the rush of the wind.
The plane wavered in the air, its flying speed dropping fast under
the resistance of the silken cloth whipping backward from the tail
assembly, and the drag of the man’s body swinging behind. Jim Tyler
opened the throttle full, and thrust the stick forward for a steep glide.
The elevators responded. They had been unhurt by the lashing
parachute. The nose of the plane turned earthward; its speed
increased.
The sudden catastrophe had come before Burt Minster had gone
over the side. He drew back in the cockpit and stared over at the
figure of Del O’Connell, dragging behind the plane by the precarious
strength of a few unsevered shroud lines. As he watched, he caught
sight of the white face of his partner, and saw that O’Connell, dazed
by the suddenness of the accident and his whip-like snap from the
cockpit, was just coming to a realization of what had occurred.
Jim Tyler turned and stared backward, too, and then the eyes of
Jim and Burt met. Speech was impossible in the fury of the motor’s
roar, but their eyes appealed to each other for help—for some way
out. The plane was diving sharply earthward; to check that dive
meant losing control of the ship; not to check it meant to crash at
terrific speed into the ground. There was no way of getting O’Connell
back into the ship; that was utterly impossible.
That communion of eyes lasted but a brief second; then both men
turned despairingly to the doomed man trailing behind the plunging
plane. They, too, were doomed in that headlong dash, but somehow
their plight seemed as nothing compared to his.
O’Connell had not lost his senses. They perceived that with both
hands he was fumbling, working at his right hip. Even as they
watched, his hand went to his left side in the same peculiar
movement. Then they comprehended.
O’Connell was unbuckling his harness. Already he had unclasped
the snap buckles that fastened the heavy webbing straps about his
thighs; now but one more buckle remained—the one across his
chest. He did not look toward the plane; his whole attention was
absorbed in his task, exceedingly difficult in that lashing wind,
dangling there in space at the end of the cords. But in an instant he
would no longer be dangling. The ship would be saved—at a price.
Jim Tyler watched, paralyzed by the horrible fascination of the
thing. In another instant O’Connell would have cast himself off from
the plane—and from life. His dry throat framed at last an inarticulate
sound of protest at the sight of that sacrifice. The wind swept it away
unheard.
Burt Minster, too, was watching. The breast buckle came apart.
Del O’Connell was free of the harness. He hung there by his hands,
and his face turned briefly toward them. A strained, twisted grin was
on it.
A pain shot through Jim Tyler’s shoulder; it was a blow from Burt
Minster’s heavy fist. The big man was squatting on top of the
fuselage.
“Right turn!”
His voice blared in the pilot’s ear, audible even above the thunder
of the motor. Jim obeyed automatically. The plane swerved sharply
to the right.
As the machine swung around, O’Connell’s body whipped
sidewise, no longer directly behind and below the tail. In that instant
Burt Minster leaped out into the air, all the strength of his powerful
muscles concentrated in the thrust of his legs. His body, its
momentum aided by the rush of air, shot through space. He crashed
like a plunging bull into the lean, small body of Del O’Connell.
The two men dropped together as the long arms of Burt wrapped
themselves about his partner.
The plane disappeared instantly from their view; they plunged
downward in a free drop, locked together, face to face. Air was all
about them; the thunder of the machine died away in their ears.
Beneath, the countryside was slowly expanding, opening up before
them like a magically blossoming flower.
“R-r-r-r-rip-cord!” roared Burt Minster. His own arms tightened
their clutch on Del O’Connell until the little man’s breath was
squeezed out of his chest. But even before Burt had spoken the
quick right hand of Del was wriggling downward, between Burt’s
shoulder and his own, toward the release ring. He found it. He
pulled.
Burt Minster’s breath followed Del O’Connell’s out of his body as
an iron band tightened across his breast; his thighs were squeezed
as if a boa had wrapped his constricting merciless folds about them.
Del felt a repetition of that shock that had hurled him from the
fuselage.
Burt emitted a sound, half expiration, half grunt. His parachute
had opened.
It spread above them like a shield. The country below ceased its
eerie expansion. Burt Minster’s grip about Del O’Connell’s chest
relaxed slightly, and the smaller man breathed again—deep, lung-
distending mouthfuls of sweet air. There was no longer any rush of
wind or roar of motor; nothing but a gentle, lulling sway from side to
side under that great canopy of silk.
Burt Minster spoke first.
“These things are supposed to handle up to four hundred pounds,
so I guess we’re all right,” he remarked, with an effort at a casual
tone.
Del blinked.
“If you’ll loosen up on those arms of yours, I’ll be able to get a grip
myself,” he answered. They adjusted their positions, and Del took
some of his weight from his hands by fastening his belt about Burt’s
harness. They continued to drift downward. The sudden cessation of
hubbub and speed made this gentle movement dreamlike.
Del O’Connell cleared his throat—and cleared it again. Finally he
muttered:
“That stuff about nerve, Burt—I’m a liar of the first water. Nerve?
You’re nothing else.”
“I saw what you were doing, yourself,” mumbled Burt Minster,
equally shamefaced and uncomfortable. “That certainly took guts,
Del.”
“I’m glad to be out of that mess,” said Del fervently. “Look! Here
comes Jim!”
Jim it was, and he was not above but below them. He was
climbing fast, and it was plain to see that he had complete control of
the ship. As they craned their necks toward the ascending plane he
banked sharply, and went circling under them, waving his hand
toward the tail. Nothing but a few tatters of silk and several shroud
lines trailed from the control surfaces of the tail assembly. Jim had
dived his encumbrance into ribbons.
With the plane whistling around them, they were wafted
downward almost directly over the fair grounds. A gentle wind was
drifting them toward it, for Jim had calculated well before signaling
for the jump. The earth was coming upward now with greater speed,
as their horizon drew in upon them. No longer could they survey half
the county.
Legs dangling, they waited. Past the eastern end of the racetrack
they drifted, and then, suddenly, the ground thudded up against their
feet, and down they went in a heap together. The parachute slipped
sideways, and lay billowing on the ground.
“We finished together, Del. It’s a dead heat,” said Burt Minster,
climbing to his feet and lifting the smaller man with him.
“Dead enough,” answered Del O’Connell emphatically. “But I’ve a
hunch this last little stunt has broken our run of bad luck, Burt. See!
Here comes Jenkins on the run, and I’m crashed if he hasn’t got his
checkbook in his hand!”
THE END
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