King of the Wilderness

"N777LA received, repeat, keep east of the coastline, contact tower at 126.0 in 5 miles."

Amid the proficient land-air communication, the brightly colored turbine de Havilland Beaver, like a precise falcon, glided smoothly towards its destination along the designated air corridor.

Finally, under the guidance of the Merrill Field tower, Lin Yu’an gracefully landed the massive aircraft on runway 25 in a textbook-perfect descent.

The moment the amphibious floats’ wheels touched the asphalt runway, there was only an almost imperceptible light sound.

He taxied the plane, according to ground guidance, to a more private area, ACE Hangars, the most exclusive private hangar area at Merrill Field.

Lin Yu’an contacted the FBO’s ground service via radio.

"ACE ground, Turbo Beaver N777LA, requesting a heated hangar space for overnight."

"Ground received, we have a spot in a shared hangar near Gate 3. The fee is 250 US dollars per night. Do you need it?"

"Confirmed, I need a spot, thank you."

A ground staff member, wearing a uniform, was already waiting there, guiding him to park the plane precisely in the shared heated hangar, alongside several other private planes.

When the turbine engine was shut down, and the five-bladed propeller slowly stopped spinning with a humming echo, the cockpit fell silent, and only then did Lin Yu’an let out a long breath.

This was his first genuinely meaningful long-distance solo flight mission. The process went more smoothly than he had anticipated, but the intense concentration still consumed a lot of his energy.

Feeling the "clack" sound of the turbine engine cooling down, his heart was filled with unprecedented satisfaction.

The feeling of conquering the sky is indeed addictive!

He tidied up his charts and personal belongings, and got off the plane. A gust of cold, damp air mixed with snowflakes and sea breeze hit him.

It took him nearly ten minutes waiting by the roadside to finally catch a bright yellow Ford Crown Victoria taxi.

This classic American taxi was becoming increasingly rare these days.

"Where to, friend?" The driver was a plump, bearded middle-aged white man whose voice carried an Alaskan accent.

Lin Yu’an got in and gave the address of McKoy Apartment.

The driver grinned, revealing teeth stained yellow by coffee, "Ha? That research center in the southeast? Looks like another love-struck young man coming to surprise his girlfriend."

"There’s no entertainment around there. Only love could bring a young guy all the way to Anchorage in this damned weather."

Lin Yu’an just smiled without explanation, turning his gaze to the window.

The taxi slowly left the airport and merged into the city’s traffic.

The scene outside the window showed Anchorage as Alaska’s largest city, unique and yet filled with contradictions.

The snow on the roadsides was darkened by the passage of cars. Low, utilitarian buildings intermingled with modern commercial buildings of glass facades.

There weren’t many pedestrians, all dressed in thick down jackets or parkas, hurrying along.

In the distance, the Chugach Mountains loomed as a vague, oppressive silhouette under the snowy skies.

"First time in Anchorage?" The driver, clearly a chatterbox, attempted to break the silence in the car.

"No."

"Oh, that’s good. Otherwise, the prices here would shock you."

The driver began his rant: "Did you know that milk and eggs here are thirty percent more expensive than in Seattle! Everything has to be shipped in by plane or boat to this godforsaken place!"

He glanced at Lin Yu’an in the rearview mirror, seeing his distinguished appearance, and added, "Of course, if you’re here to have fun, it’s not too bad."

"In summer, the scenery is like heaven. But now..." he looked at the gray sky outside, "it’s like the trailer for hell."

Lin Yu’an listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two.

His thoughts had already drifted to the apartment building he was about to reach. He wondered how Max was doing now.

About half an hour later, the yellow taxi finally stopped slowly in front of a simply designed apartment building.

This area was far from the hustle and bustle of the city center, backed by the foothills of the Chugach Mountains, the air even seemed a bit fresher.

The meter displayed a red number.

"Fifty-two fifty," the driver said, clearly pleased with the long-distance fare.

Lin Yu’an pulled out three twenty-dollar bills from his wallet and handed them over.

"Keep the change."

The driver took the money, his smile becoming much more genuine, "Ha! You sure are a generous young man! With generosity like yours, I can’t let you down either."

He searched through his clutter, speaking mysteriously, "Even if you wanted change, I don’t have any. Anchorage taxi drivers have a special way of giving change."

Saying this, he pulled out a box from beneath a pile of receipts and candy wrappers, and with a slap, tossed it onto Lin Yu’an’s lap.

Lin Yu’an looked down to see a neatly packaged box labeled "Trojan Magnum."

"Here’s your change." The driver winked at him, with a knowing smirk shared among men.

"Don’t underestimate this. In this frigid, isolated place with little to do, it’s an Anchorage essential."