Heather loved the freedom of soaring high above land and sea. She learned how to hang-glide her boyfriend.

Initially, she was scared to death. first time he took her up, she hung for dear life. But by the end of flight, she was hooked. Half a year later, bought her own hang-glider.

Almost every weekend, she to Torrey Pines and leaped off the cliff. could soar to La Jolla in less than minutes. She liked to fly over the town. would wave at kids pointing and looking up her, and they would shout and wave back .

One day she was returning to the launch when she noticed a red hawk rapidly approaching . It briefly disappeared. Then she heard its claws the wing’s fabric. It flew off. But the thing she knew, it was flying straight at . She turned out of its way, but it at her again. She was scared.

She had evade its attacks four times before she was to land safely. Even after she landed, it overhead, as if daring her to fly again. did I do to you, she wondered.

As drove home, she found out that she had lucky. The radio news reported that in Australia, hang-glider had been attacked by not one, but , eagles.

Maybe it was something in the air, thought.