A Yankee Flier Over Berlin

8/10/2019 A Yankee Flier Over Berlin

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A YANKEE FLIER OVER BERLIN by AL AVERY

Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers : : New York, Copyright, 1944, by

CONTENTS

I !GG"D G#ING

II $C%I#N

III !'(

I) (C#!%ING *I((I#N

) IDD"N D#*"()I PI(#N"

)II "(C$P"

)III +'IG%

I %$PP"D (PY

I *!(%$NG

II -"# #!

III (PY !N%

CHAPTER I

RUGGED GOING

%he Co..an/ing Colonel stare/ at the big .ap with its re/ ribbons .arking air trails to an/ 0ro. targets e was spottin

the e2a3t point where his %hir/ +ighter group woul/ hae to turn ba3k an/ leae the big +ortresses an/ 'iberators to go i

alone into the 3on3entrate/ /e0enses o0 Ger.any

5eather #00i3er *iller looke/ glu.ly at the .ap as Colonel olt pla3e/ his 0inger on a spot

6781 3lou/ oer station si2 (tation si2 was a 'u0twa00e 0ighter 0iel/

The colonel scowled and shook his head. Are the big boys going out?

6Yes, sir Con/itions oer target are ery goo/ 5eather grinne/ when he sai/ it

65e won;t get .u3h o0 a wha3k at the range 0ighters that 3oul/ a33o.pany the big 0ellows all the way to ?erlin %he way things were going he .ight no

es3orting at all within a 0ew weeks is %hir/ +ighter Co..an/ .ight be on s3outing /uty

65e;ll see what 3an be /one about it, he sai/ as he turne/ away

%he 3olonel walke/ out o0 the high>3eilinge/ roo. whi3h was burie/ un/er thirty 0eet o0 steel rein0or3e/ 3on3rete e 3a.

up out o0 the buil/ing into a /rab night $ raw win/ stabbe/ at hi., an/ sent light 3lou/s s3u//ing a3ross the 0a3e o0 the.oon #erhea/, a night 0ighter growle/ its way through the lonely sky %he 3ountry sprea/ aroun/ the base was 0lat with

only a 0ew hills to break the sa.eness

#ut on the /ispersal area Colonel olt 3oul/ see guar/s wat3hing the sha/owy 0or.s o0 the %hun/erbolts $ @eep 3a.e3hugging up a .u//y street an/ turne/ o00 towar/ the .ess barra3ks $t one>0ie in the .orning the base looke/ pea3e0u

enough (heltere/ by /arkness, its .u/ ruts an/ hal0>0inishe/ buil/ings were so0tene/ by the gloo. (till s3owling, the

3olonel stro/e away


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(eeral hours later, in a tunnel>shape/ hut with a 3orrugate/ iron roo0 an/ a 3e.ent 0loor, two 0liers sat near a woo/ stoe

(tan 5ilson was poking woo/ into the stoe

6I won/er i0 anyone eer kept one o0 these ga/gets burning all night, he sai/ sourly

6(ure, an; Atis against the rules, 'ieutenant #;*alley sai/ an/ grinne/

6I;. beginning to think $llison showe/ goo/ sense in running out on us an/ @oining a bo.ber out0it, (tan growle/ 6e

we are sitting up all night keeping this stoe poke/ 0ull o0 woo/

6%hat big bu., #;*alley snorte/ 6#nly to/ay he sai/ that he;s liin; in a pala3e with a sure>enough butler to buttle

#;*alley shook his hea/ sa/ly 6%he spalpeen says that butler 3an sure bake a 0oine pie

6#n top o0 that we get to 0ly %hun/erbolts 0or the 0un o0 it (tan @abbe/ a slab o0 woo/ into the stoe an/ sla..e/ the /

65e;e @est been hain; ba/ lu3k, #;*alley sai/ 6I 3an stan/ a Nissen hut @est to be 0lyin; one o; the. babies 5e;ll .ee

up with plenty o;


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#;*alley yawne/ again an/ eye/ his 3ot 6I0 you insist on keepin; the 0ire goin;, I;ll 3at3h .e a 3ouple o; winks o; sleep

6I;ll keep the @oint war., (tan agree/

#;*alley went oer to his 3ot e ki3ke/ o00 his shoes an/ 3rawle/ un/er the blankets 0ully /resse/

%he .inutes /ragge/ away an/ (tan no//e/ besi/e the stoe $n hour passe/ an/ he rouse/ hi.sel0 to poke in .ore woo

e /oBe/ o00 again an/ was rouse/ by an or/erly .aking the roun/s 3alling the 3rews %he stoe was 3ol/ an/ he 0u.ble

with sti00 0ingers as he lighte/ it again 5hen it was 3herry re/ in spots, #;*alley poke/ his tousle/ hea/ out 0ro. un/erblanket (tan knew he ha/ been lying there waiting 0or the stoe to get hot

%hey /ashe/ water oer their 0a3es an/ hurrie/ out into the raw .orning (tan glan3e/ at his wat3h It was 0our o;3lo3k%hey walke/ to the brie0ing roo. where they @oine/ a 3row/ o0 pilots who were seate/ on ben3hes staring at a s=uare o0

transparent tal3 pinne/ oer a wall .ap e/ lines showe/ the route o0 the +orts an/ 'ibs (oon a sleepy buBB o0

3onersation 0ille/ the air $s the pilots talke/, they wat3he/ the little group o0 o00i3ers gathere/ be0ore the .ap

(u//enly the #l/ *an, Colonel olt, turne/ an/ 0a3e/ the. %here was an i..e/iate hush

6$ lot o0 people think we @ust go along with the bo.bers to 3at3h a bit o0 0resh air an/ to keep 0ro. going stale %his .ispro.ise/ to be our 3han3e to 3ra3k the ene.y, but un0ortunately, 5eather reports 3lou/s up to our return point %he #l/

*an stare/ unwinkingly at his .en e rea/ the /isappoint.ent in their 0a3es 65e are hoping that 0or on3e 5eather will

wrong

%his brought a 0ew grins an/ a snort or two 0ro. the pilots %he #l/ *an went on talking

6You are to 0ly 0or.ation as planne/ %his will be stri3tly a tea. @ob

%here will be no 0ree>lan3e hunting !n/erstan/

"eryone looke/ glu. #;*alley s3owle/ It was not his nature to like stri3t rules e ha/ learne/ what he knew in the /

o0 the ?attle o0 ?ritain an/ later in the (outh Pa3i0i3 an/ then oer $0ri3a an/ Italy #;*alley always ha/ been a rip>roar0ighter who a33epte/ battle against any o//s I0 trouble /i/ not 3o.e his way, he went looking 0or it

(tan won/ere/ i0 that last warning was not ai.e/ at #;*alley an/ hi.sel0 $ll o0 the other 0liers were traine/ to this sort

0ighting (tan an/ #;*alley were the only ol/ hea/s in the 0light

#;*alley an/ (tan .ar3he/ out with the others an/ 3li.be/ into heay 0lying suits %he %hun/erbolts were high 0liers an

worke/ best at twenty>three thousan/ 0eet or .ore %hat .eant heay e=uip.ent with o2ygen an/ all o0 the other trappinin3lu/ing heate/ un/ergar.ents

%he pilots wa//le/ out to their planes an/ 3li.be/ up Groun/ 3rews .oe/ ba3k %hey ha/ seri3e/ an/ 3he3ke/ the

0ighters an/ now their Pratt an/ 5hitney twin bank ra/ial engines were turning oer s.oothly "2hausts 0lare/ blue 0la.

whi3h sent waering sha/ows a3ross the wet 3e.ent o0 the apron +light #00i3er *i3kle was running about like an ol/ he

with a s3attere/ broo/ o0 3hi3ks

(tan glan3e/ /own the wet an/ glea.ing runway $n $l/is la.p winke/ /own towar/ the sha/ow bar (tan ease/ hi.selba3k against the sho3k pa/ e glan3e/ at his te.perature gauge an/ a3ross his instru.ent boar/ %he throb o0 his Pratt a

5hitney engine hinte/ at power, though it was rolling oer s.oothly an/ e00ortlessly (tan re.e.bere/ other nights .an

.onths past when he ha/ sat in a urri3ane waiting 0or the 0lash o0 the la.p an/ the or/er 0ro. the tower to go up throug

the blin/ alley between the barrage balloon 3ables to wage une=ual war against ina/ing Ger.ans %hings ha/ 3hange/ asin3e then Now he was a part o0 the "ighth $ir +or3e o0 the !nite/ (tates $r.y an/ was 0ighting 0or his own 3ountry as

as ?ritain

6e/ +light, 3he3k your te.peratures %hat was the oi3e o0 +light 'ea/er (i. throate/ roar $ /ark 0or. hurtle/ /own the runway an/ li0te/ like a 0lash $nother ship

/arte/ away, an/ then another (tan sla..e/ his hat3h 3oer shut an/ opene/ up his throttle e @a..e/ /own har/ on brake an/ the %hun/erbolt swept aroun/ (he poise/ an instant, then kni0e/ /own the slippery runway (tan hoike/ her ta

with a blast o0 prop pressure an/ hoppe/ her o00 e went roaring out oer a .obile 0loo/light an/ up into the /ark sky 0o

the ren/eBous with e/ +light


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igh aboe the 3hannel, the ships o0 his 0light tu3ke/ in an/ 3ir3le/ (oon they pi3ke/ up the 0light o0 'iberators an/

+ortresses $t twenty>0ie thousan/ 0eet the big bo.bers le0t broa/ apor trails behin/ the. (tan looke/ /own upon the

killers 0ro. his per3h in the sky Dawn was breaking an/ the s3ene was no longer /rab

e/ +light was 3oering the 0lank o0 (e3on/ igh (=ua/ron (tan 3oul/ 3learly see %hir/ 'ow (=ua/ron an/ +irst 'ea/

(=ua/ron "a3h s=ua/ron was 3o.pose/ o0 a 0irst 0light o0 three bo.bers an/ a se3on/ 0light o0 three bo.bers (tan grine knew e2a3tly where his pal *ar3h $llison was 0lying e was in le0t>han/ slot, se3on/ 0light, (e3on/ igh (=ua/ron

hottest spot in a bo.ber 0or.ation

(tan ease/ oer a bit an/ shook #;*alley o00 his wing (i. was waggling his wings, or/ering the boys to sprea/ out an/

set 0or inter3eption e/ +light sprea/ out but staye/ in position like a 0ootball tea. .oing into 0or.ation 0or a s3reen p

%he bo.bers roare/ on towar/ Ger.any, keeping tight 0or.ation so as to be able to lay out a /ea/ly 3ross 0ire 0ro. their0i0ty>3aliber guns "a3h +ort an/ ea3h 'ib was a bristling pillbo2 with nose guns, waist guns, belly guns, an/ ball turret g

(tan won/ere/ i0 he woul/ not be 0lying one o0 the big 0ellows ery soon

"erything went o00 s.oothly an/ a33or/ing to plan, e23ept that 0or on3e 5eather ha/ .isse/ a bet $s the 0light neare/ t

point oer Ger.any where the %hun/erbolts were to turn ba3k, a 3ol/ win/ washe/ the sky 3lear o0 3lou/s an/ a 3ol/ sun

shone upon the rai/ers

6In the goo/ aul/ su..erti.e (tan hear/ #;*alley hu..ing

6(hut up, #;*alley, (i. grate/

(u//enly 0lak began to blosso. out 0ro. the 3ountrysi/e below It blosso.e/ in the sky oer the bo.bers an/ in the .i/

o0 e/ +light %hun/erbolts /u3ke/ an/ /ippe/ but went roaring on

Down below, the bo.ber boys were s3anning the skies

In his +ort, $llison /rawle/ oer the inter3o., 6Pilot to naigator

6Go ahea/, pilot

6"erybo/y set

6Naigator to pilot, hot stu00 3o.ing up

6ight waist gunner to pilot, sir 19;s at eleen o;3lo3k %hey;re a0ter the 0light ahea/

6ear gunner oger, sir +lo3k o0 +o3ke>5ul0s at si2 o;3lo3k Co.ing in on our tail

6I say, ol/ .an, /on;t get it3hy 0ingers No a..o to waste $llison;s oi3e was 3al. an/ unru00le/

#;*alley;s oi3e broke in oer (tan;s hea/set 6ey, sure an; we ought to go /own an; bust that up

6(tay where you are, #;*alley, (i. snappe/ 65e hae plenty o0 *e;s 3o.ing in at twele o;3lo3k

(tan ha/ been so busy wat3hing the bo.bers he ha/ not 3he3ke/ his own part o0 the sky $ glan3e showe/ hi. (i. was3orre3t $ 0light o0 so.e twenty *e 0ighters were /iing an/ 3ir3ling aboe

6Eeep the. up there, (i. or/ere/ 6?ut stay in your slot You happen to be outnu.bere/ an/ you also happen to hae t

@ob o0 seeing that those *e;s stay up there away 0ro. the bo.bers

e/ +light kni0e/ along through the thin air, rea/y to s.ash any *e /aring to go /own the 3hute upon the bo.bers

6Co.e on /own an/ 0ight, ye spalpeens #;*alley was yelling

(tan saw that the +orts an/ 'ibs were sla..ing lea/ at the +o3ke>5ul0s in a blaBe that riale/ a +ourth o0 panty 0lak was blosso.ing all oer the sky It e2plo/e/ in pretty pink bursts an/ that was why the boys gae it su3

0an3y na.e


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65e hae to go in, (i. or/ere/ gri.ly

Go in! OMalley bellowed. Why not gie the birds a scare anyway?

65e;ll Boo. up an/ s3atter the., (i. sai/ 6?ut any .an who stays to put on a show will hae to walk ba3k

(tan ease/ oer an/ ki3ke/ on a bit .ore power %he Ger.ans ha/ the atta3k route well 3harte/ %hey knew @ust how 0ar

%hun/erbolts woul/ be able to penetrate 5ith a burst o0 spee/ (tan went up an/ oer "ery %hun/erbolt /i/ the sa.e, b

#;*alley beat the. all to it e roare/ oer (tan;s hea/, al.ost ripping away his hat3h 3oer

%he *e;s /u3ke/ gra3e0ully an/ s3attere/ %hey loope/ an/ /ie/ 0or it (tan saw at on3e the 3hase was hopeless %he


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65e hae lots o0 ti.e on our han/s 5e;ll barge oer an/ hae $llison tell us what happene/ e;ll be ba3k a0ter a bit

#;*alley gae (tan a suspi3ious look 6You;re not thinkin; o; askin; 0er one o; the. 3rates 0ull o; guns

6No, (tan answere/ 6I0 I /i/, I /oubt that they;/ take .e I;e been a 0ighter pilot too long

6%hey took $llison, #;*alley sai/

6$llison is a natural 0or bo.bers, he has no neres an/ he 3an han/le a 3rew (tan got to his 0eet 6+inish your pie an/ wbe on our way

CHAPTER II

ACTION

(tan an/ #;*alley 0oun/ $llison in his 3o.0ortable =uarters, an ol/ "nglish .ansion set on a little hill It stoo/ in the .i

o0 well>kept groun/s $s they /roe up in their borrowe/ @eep, #;*alley s3owle/ at the house

6$ blinking 3astle, he sai/ in .o3k 3o3kney ?ritish%hey parke/ the @eep an/ went insi/e %he boys were gathere/ aroun/ an open 0ire lounging in easy 3hairs $llison .oe

out o0 a hu//le an/ 3rosse/ the roo.

65el3o.e, you wall0lowers, he sai/ with a big s.ile

6(ure, an; yer a /isgra3e to the both o0 us, lollin; in the lap o; lu2ury, #;*alley answere/ with a big grin

6ow was it (tan aske/

6)ery rugge/, $llison a/.itte/ 6(it /own while I or/er a pie 0or #;*alley

%he boys seate/ the.seles an/ $llison /es3ribe/ the .ission e loa/e/ his pipe an/ sat staring into the 0ire

6Not .u3h like pushing a (pit0ire or a %hun/erbolt You @ust plow along through the .u3k an/ hope the boys will bat /oall o0 the 0ighters 3o.ing at you 0ro. eery angle

6ow .any /i/ you get #;*alley aske/

6(i2 0or sure, $llison answere/ 6%he real 0un starte/ when we hea/e/ 0or ho.e 5e ha/ been plowing through 0lak as t

as a swar. o0 bees but we ha/ been lu3ky %wo o0 our 0light went /own 0la.ing an/ we saw the boys bail out I thought w

were slipping through pretty ni3ely when an *e winge/ us with an e2plosie 3annon shell $0ter that we got hit plenty 5

pi3ke/ up a shell whi3h went o00 insi/e our outboar/ engine It starte/ rolling s.oke but no 0la.es %hen a shell s.asheinter3o. syste. an/ 3o..uni3ations went /ea/ $llison bit /own har/ on his pipe

6*ust hae been tough, (tan sai/

65e 3oul/n;t hol/ our altitu/e 5e lost about a thousan/ 0eet a .inute an/ nothing the 3opilot an/ I 3oul/ /o woul/ hol/

up

6(ure, an; you /i/ a goo/ @ob o0 it gettin; in, #;*alley praise/

65hen I 3oul/n;t talk to the 3rew I turne/ the 3ontrols oer to the 3opilot an/ went a0t I got to the top turret .an an/ tol/hi. to get the gunners together in the ra/io 3o.part.ent I 0igure/ we;/ s.a3k right /own into the 3hannel $llison0ingere/ his pipe an/ stare/ into the 0ire

6I went ba3k to the 3opilot an/ we 0ought her hea/ (he sagge/ in oer the 3oast an/ 3a.e right on ho.e, s.oking like a

tor3h $s we 3a.e in, we 0oun/ we ha/ a belly lan/ing on our han/s, so we ski//e/ her in Poor #l/ (al is a .ess right n

6$nybo/y hurt (tan aske/


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6?o.bar/ier got a pie3e o0 0lak in his leg %he tail gunner ha/ his greenhouse blown into his 0a3e an/ is in the hospital I

0orgot to say we /u.pe/ our guns an/ eerything else we 3oul/ pry loose I guess that sae/ us $llison leane/ ba3k 65

you 0ellows going to shi0t oer %his is the real thing

6(itting /u3k stu00, #;*alley snorte/ 6You @est sit there an; take it

You neer 0ire/ a gun on the whole trip

6No, $llison a/.itte/ 6?ut we bagge/ si2


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6%hanks, Colonel, (tan sai/ 6Now we;ll run along an/ get busy

6+irst you 3o.e with .e an/ we;ll 0igure out how .u3h tank 3apa3ity you;ll nee/ an/ how .any .en will go along %h

3olonel got to his 0eet

6I0 you /on;t .in/, sir, we;/ like to hae you sponsor the i/ea 5e inten/e/ to take it up with 'ieutenant (i.


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6I;. turning in 5e;ll get a 3all along about 0our in the .orning, (tan sai/ 6(ee you boys oer at the rest roo. %hat;s

where we shoot the breeBe

6(ee you at .i/night when we get up to poke woo/ into that stoe, #;*alley 3ontra/i3te/

65e;ll keep the 0ire going 5e;re not sleepy, (plinters sai/ %hey were both /isappointe/ that the ol/ hea/s /i/ not want

go into a gab0est

(tan an/ #;*alley turne/ in %hey ha/ learne/ to get as .u3h sleep as possible %he two repla3e.ents kept the 0ire goingthey ha/ pro.ise/, an/ the boys /i/ not waken until they were 3alle/ at three>0i0ty the ne2t .orning ?ugs an/ (plinters gotten a little sleep %hey were up instantly an/ eager to trail along an/ see what was going to happen

6Ye;ll soon learn to sleep when ye get a 3han3e, #;*alley sai/

%hey sloshe/ a3ross to the operations roo. an/ @oine/ their 0light *aps were rea/y an/ Colonel olt was stan/ing with

0ellow o00i3ers %he roo. was 0ille/ with a buBB o0 talk (o.ething was up an/ the boys knew it (tan an/ #;*alley sat i

the se3on/ row with ?ugs an/ (plinters besi/e the. (tan turne/ to the boys

65hen you leae here you are not to talk to anyone about the operations planne/, not een to other o00i3ers, he warne/

6%here .ust be so.ething up, ?ugs sai/ 65e;ll keep .u.

65hen we get ba3k we;ll gie you the story, (tan pro.ise/

Colonel olt began speaking, an/ the talking stoppe/ 6*en, we are going to try a /i00erent approa3h 5eather says we;lhae 3lear going is pointer .oe/ along a re/ ribbon 6%he bo.ber ob@e3tie is a 0ighter station an/ a plant near uls

#r/inarily we;/ turn ba3k @ust beyon/ $ntwerp %o/ay we;ll hae a 0light along whi3h will 3arry enough e2tra gasoline t

a// two>hun/re/>twenty .iles in range I;ll spot those ships 0or you an/ it will be the @ob o0 those 3arrying the regulation

one>hun/re/>ninety gallons to prote3t the spe3ials until they /rop their e2tra tanks

%he pilots who were to be long>range 0ighters grinne/ happily the others looke/ their /isappoint.ent %he 3olonel went giing the /etails

6%he long>range ships will /eploy an/ go in un/er the lea/ership o0 'ieutenant 5ilson e will hae /etaile/ easion

or/ers

%he boys listene/ to the rest o0 the brie0ing i.patiently (tan staye/ a0ter the others le0t Colonel olt went oer the plan

hi., then (tan hurrie/ out to get his group together (i.


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#ne by one the %hun/erbolts slippe/ into the raw .orning /arkness (tan ease/ his ship o00 the groun/ an/ up into the sk

e /roppe/ into pla3e in (i.;s 0light along with #;*alley %hey were separate/ by one ship %he %hun/erbolts 3arrying

e2tra weight were spotte/ so they 3oul/ be 3oere/ by the others

(oon they pi3ke/ up the +orts an/ 'ibs an/ were hea/e/ a3ross the 3hannel towar/ +lushing Day broke an/ they 3oul/ s

the bo.bers below the. %he air was 3lear an/ 3ol/ but there were .any s3attere/ banks o0 3lou/s all aroun/ (tan kept eyes open %o/ay he was not wat3hing the beauty o0 the bo.ber 0or.ation, he was 3he3king on his own 0light o0 0ighters

(i. was hol/ing his ships in per0e3t 0or.ation %hey roare/ along with (tan an/ his boys using gasoline 0ro. their resertanks so that they 3oul/ get ri/ o0 the. as soon as possible

%heir 0irst a3tion 3a.e near the 3oast $ 0light o0 +o3ke>5ul0 19;s broke out o0 a big 3lou/ an/ roare/ in on the.

6?reak 0or a3tion Coer spe3ials (i. 3alle/

%he 0or.ation o0 %hun/erbolts broke up an/ the 0ight was on $s usual the


11/54

$nother thing that worrie/ hi. was that he /i/ not know how .u3h gasoline he ha/ use/ out o0 his resere be0ore he ki3

his tanks loose e was 0light lea/er o0 the group hea/e/ 0or uls I0 he went on with his 0light an/ there was .u3h

/og0ighting, going an/ 3o.ing, he .ight not get ho.e (i.;s oi3e 3a.e in

65ilson, sorry I 3oul/n;t han/le all three


12/54

s.oke swirle/ away an/ there was the +ort without any tail at all, only gaping holes where the ru//er an/ the high tail ha

been %he +ort sagge/ oer an/ went into a terrible /ie #ne a0ter another 3hutes blosso.e/ out until (tan ha/ 3ounte/ s

%hat was the nu.ber alie in the +ort, the others were /ea/

(tan lai/ oer an/ .a/e a sweep, /u3king in an/ out o0 the 0lak %he thousan/>poun/ 0ighter in oer a long /istan3e is not like slippi

along in a gli/er I0 there were any up>/ra0ts, the %hun/erbolt pai/ no attention to the. (he sli3e/ on through an/ (tan to nose her /own to keep her 0ro. 0alling like a ro3k

%he sea 3a.e up to .eet hi. an/ he began @u/ging the spot where he woul/ take his bath in the i3y water (u//enly he h

the roar o0 plane .otors an/ looke/ up an/ ba3k $ +ort was nosing /own towar/ hi. (tan s=uinte/ to see i0 he 3oul/ 3a

the .arkings e 3oul/ not .ake the. out, but he knew the ship was a bo.ber returning 0ro. uls

%here was no ti.e 0or 0urther looking %he %hun/erbolt hit an/ hit har/, as though she ha/ sla..e/ into a stone wall (h

slewe/ aroun/, @erke/ an/ bobbe/, sla..ing (tan ba3k against his sho3k pa/ e pal.e/ the hat3h 3oer open an/ ki3keloose 0ro. his belt an/ 3hute harness In a .o.ent he was leaping into the water an/ the %hun/erbolt was swirling /own

the sea (he li0te/ one wing as she sli/ 0ro. sight, as though saluting hi.

6%ough lu3k, ol/ girl, (tan sai/ e got a .outh0ul o0 salt water an/ began sputtering

%he +ort was low oer the sea now an/ (tan saw that it was shot up a bit %hen he saw the na.e painte/ on its 0uselage I

was %he *onkey;s Paw, the +ort $llison ha/ taken oer 0or the rai/ e wae/, an/ the +ort /ippe/ her wings (he wentroaring on towar/ the thin bla3k line whi3h was the 3oast

%hat .eant res3ue unless the high waes battere/ hi. an/ pulle/ hi. un/er be0ore a boat lo3ate/ hi. e was struggling

stay a0loat on the rough sea when a (pit0ire began 3ir3ling oerhea/ %he (pit /roppe/ /own lower an/ lower It woe ba

an/ 0orth an/ 0inally it /ie/ towar/ hi. (tan wae/ so.e .ore

%he (pit staye/ with (tan until an orange>snoute/ spee/boat appeare/ oer the 0oa.>ri..e/ horiBon %he boat 3a.e roa

towar/ hi., gui/e/ by the (pit (tan grinne/ eagerly Ni3e tea.work $llison ha/ ra/ioe/, the (pit0ire pilot ha/ pi3ke/ uthe .essage, an/ he ha/ been res3ue/

%he spee/boat pulle/ alongsi/e an/ strong han/s 3aught hol/ o0 (tan

6!p you 3o.e, .e hearty, a sea.an shoute/

(tan was so 3hille/ he ha/ to hang on to the ar. o0 the sailor to keep his knees 0ro. bu3kling

6$ bit 3hilly, eh a young o00i3er aske/ 6Co.e along 5e;ll wrap you in a new0angle/ blanket your !n3le (a. @ust

0urnishe/ us


13/54

6It wasn;t e2a3tly a %urkish bath, (tan a/.itte/

6I;ll ra/io in 0or an a.bulan3e, the o00i3er sai/ as he helpe/ (tan wiggle out o0 his soggy 3lothes an/ into the ele3tri3ally

heate/ blanket

6No a.bulan3e, (tan sai/ 6I;ll 3at3h a ri/e oer to .y base with so.eone

6%he a.bulan3e is the 0astest way, the o00i3er sai/

6%hey;/ take .e to a hospital, an/ that;s the last pla3e I want to see


14/54

(tan .a/e his report, then hea/e/ 0or his hut to 3hange into an unwrinkle/ uni0or. %here was no one in the hut, but his

things an/ the belongings o0 #;*alley ha/ been neatly sta3ke/ (tan s3owle/

6%hey gather a .an;s stu00 up in a hurry aroun/ here, he .uttere/

e put his own things ba3k an/ /i/ the sa.e with #;*alley;s %here woul/ be no rush about .aking #;*alley out a /ea

.an Getting into his uni0or. he hea/e/ 0or the .ess e was su//enly ery hungry

5alking into the little /ining roo. he halte/ an/ his .outh /roppe/ open $t a table, with 0our youngsters listening open.outhe/ to his talk, sat #;*alley e looke/ up an/ 0or a .o.ent hel/ a big pie3e o0 steak poise/ on his 0ork %hen heshoe/ the steak into his .outh an/ wae/ a big han/

(tan 3rosse/ the roo. an/ seate/ hi.sel0 %here was no war. greeting

#;*alley swallowe/ his steak an/ grinne/ at his pal

6Ye;re a bit late, but in ti.e 0or the pie 3ourse

6I took a bath on the way ba3k, (tan sai/

6%hat spalpeenH6

6Now, now, (tan 3ut in 6No na.es na.e/

6I sai/ a spalpeen let you /own, #;*alley growle/

6$n/ what happene/ to you

#;*alley grinne/ 6*e #h, I ha/ the boys tu3k an e2tra si2ty gallons o; gas aboar/ %he 3olonel sai/ we was to han/le

0i2ing the tanks, so I 0i2e/ .ine like that

6You /roppe/ out o0 sight at uls in a hurry, (tan sai/

6I ran out o0 a..unition, an/ hain; a spot o0 e2tra gas, I /i/ a bit o; sight>seein;, #;*alley e2plaine/ 6$n; /i/ I get aneye0ul

%he 0our youngsters sighe/ an/ got to their 0eet It was ti.e 0or the. to shoe o00

6(ee you when I got ti.e to tell you how I 3hase/ a NaBi bir/.an right /own on a ?ritish lan/ing strip, #;*alley 3alle/

a0ter the.

6You;e been stringing the ki/s along, (tan sai/6I gae the. only a bir/;s>eye iew o; the li0e o; the great #;*alley %he Irish.an leane/ ba3k an/ sureye/ the platter

where the steak ha/ been 6Now @est a wee bit o0 apple pie an; I;ll hae the e/ge taken o00 .e hunger

e or/ere/ a whole pie (tan or/ere/ a steak an/ 3o00ee $s soon as the or/ers were pla3e/ be0ore the., #;*alley leane/0orwar/

6(ure, an; I saw the strangest sight to/ay, he began 6I woul/n;t hae beliee/ it i0 I ha/n;t seen it

What was it?

6I was 0littin; along oer the tops o; trees an; the spires o; kirks when I Boo. out oer a woo/e/ slope with a big 3leare/ 0

in the .i//le o; the woo/s %here on that 0iel/ was at least seenty


15/54

It was 3lear that #;*alley was in /ea/ earnest (tan beliee/ #;*alley ha/ seen the planes e also beliee/ there was s

tri3k the Ger.ans ha/ worke/ out to hi/e their 0ighter 0iel/s an/ to prote3t the.

65e;ll hae another look, #;*alley sai/ 6I hae the pla3e spotte/

6?eing able to get 0ighters out o0 sight so =ui3kly woul/ a33ount 0or our not being able to kno3k out their 0ighter 0iel/s,

sai/ 65e;ll hae to gie this so.e thought

6It ought to get us spe3ial /uty, #;*alley sai/

6I;ll bet you slippe/ insi/e their warning syste. an/ 3aught the. 0lat>0oote/ ?ut there .ust be so.e way they get parke

planes .oe/ so 0ast

65e;ll be the b;ys to 0in/ that out, #;*alley answere/

6I /oubt i0 we eer .ake anybo/y swallow your story, (tan sai/

CHAPTER IV

SCOUTING MISSION

(tan an/ #;*alley ha/ a isitor that night $llison /roe oer to see the. 'ooking aroun/ the Nissen hut, he grinne/

broa/ly6(ure, an; I;ll 3all the butler, #;*alley sai/ 6e @ust steppe/ into the /rawin; roo.

6(it /own, pal (tan .otione/ towar/ one o0 the 3ots

6o.ey spot you hae here, $llison obsere/

6ow /i/ it go to/ay (tan aske/

6You 0ellows /i/ a swell @ob, but why only si2 0ighters $llison;s s.ile ha/ 0a/e/

6%he brass hats knew I was goin; along, #;*alley replie/

6#ne o0 those little e2peri.ents, (tan e2plaine/ gri.ly

6Pretty e2pensie try, I;/ say, $llison answere/

6#;*alley spotte/ a big 0ighter base all e=uippe/ with anishing planes (tan got to the point he wante/ to /is3uss at on

6%here .ust be /oBens o0 the., but we hae neer been able to spot any o0 the. to kno3k the. out %hose *e;s an/ +5

@ust sprout out o0 the groun/ as we go along $llison 0rowne/ an/ shook his hea/ 6I0 we 3oul/ spot the 0iel/s, we 3oul/sen/ out separate .issions ahea/ o0 a rai/ an/ kno3k o00 those 0iel/s

6#;*alley says they snap the planes out o0 sight in less than a .inute e slippe/ in oer one o0 the., 3ir3le/, an/ when

3a.e ba3k there wasn;t a plane in sight

6I 0igure there were at least seenty planes parke/ when I poppe/ in oer the 0iel/ 5hen I 3a.e ba3k oer they were gon

#;*alley shook his hea/

6%hink anyone woul/ beliee su3h a yarn (tan aske/

6"ery bo.ber pilot an/ 3rew .e.ber woul/ beliee it, $llison sai/ gri.ly 65hy /on;t you report it an/ ask 0or a 3hato 3he3k up

6I;e alrea/y gone oer the hea/ o0 (i.


16/54

6%he. nighthawks #;*alley showe/ his s3orn by 0rowning saagely

6+lyin; bo23ars

6%hey haul a lot o0 %N% an/ they get through, to their targets, but there;ll be a lot o0 stu00 0or the pre3ision sights o0 the +

an/ 'ibs, (tan sai/ 6You noti3e when they want i.portant targets like lo3ks or sub pens or 3are0ully pla3e/ 0a3tories th

sen/ you boys to get the.

6I know, ol/ .an, $llison sai/ with a grin 6?ut I;/ like to .ake the ?erlin run

65ith those hi//en 0ighter 0iel/s out o0 the way you 3oul/ go in an/ out alone, (tan pointe/ out 6%he way it is now, the

keep sen/ing up 0ighters all along the route

6I hae to run 0or it, $llison sai/ 6Pilots .eeting

$0ter he ha/ gone (tan an/ #;*alley hea/e/ 0or Colonel olt;s o00i3e ?ugs an/ (plinters 3a.e in @ust as they were lea

%hey were both highly e23ite/ %hey ha/ been assigne/ to a3tie /uty (tan s.ile/ at the. but he was thinking that they

taking the pla3es o0 the .en who ha/ been in his 0light

%he boys were waiting 0or the 3olonel when (i.


17/54

$0ter a bit #;*alley 3a.e oer e ha/ noti3e/ that (tan an/ (i. were laughing oer so.ething an/ he /i/ not know wh

to .ake o0 it

6(it /own, (tan greete/ hi. 6ae a pie on .e

6(ure, an; I;ll /o that, #;*alley sai/ e sat /own an/ waite/ to hear what he 3oul/

(tan an/ (i. laughe/ an/ talke/ an/ 0inally #;*alley @oine/ in It was 3lear that the boys ha/ burie/ the hat3het, so he s

no reason 0or being gru.py ?esi/es, the 3ook ha/ @ust .a/e so.e blueberry pies an/ they were e2tra tasty

$0ter .ess (tan got a 3all 0ro. Colonel olt an/ hurrie/ o00, leaing #;*alley an/ (i. together %he 3olonel ha/ two

o00i3ers with hi. when (tan went in to see hi.

6General 5ar/ an/ *a@or Eulp, the 3olonel sai/ 6%his is 'ieutenant 5ilson

%he .en shook han/s an/ all sat /own %he 3olonel passe/ seeral papers a3ross to (tan

6You are on spe3ial /etail You;ll be e=uippe/ with P>F1 ships an/ hae a 0light o0 three General 5ar/ suggests you /o a

o0 rhubarb rai/ing

Thank you$ sir. These *+s are the new long,range &ighters?

6%hey hae the sa.e range as the 'ibs an/ +orts %he 3olonel s.ile/ 6?ut we hae only a 0ew o0 the. 'ater, perhaps,

we;ll hae a great .any

6Che3k 3are0ully on lo3ation an/ 3onstru3tion o0 0iel/s "a3h ship has a 3a.era to re3or/ the /etails o0 any 0iel/s you lo3

General 5ar/ spoke in a %e2as /rawl

6Don;t trust the 3a.eras entirely Get /own low an/ see all you 3an, the .a@or a//e/

6%he thir/ pilot, who is he (tan aske/

6Di/ you hae a .an in .in/ Colonel olt aske/

6Yes, sir

6I shoul/ hae 3onsulte/ you, but I alrea/y hae pro.ise/ a .an the @ob

65ho is he (tan aske/, trying not to show his /isappoint.ent

6'ieutenant F1 ships with the sa.e range as the +orts

6(ure, an; we;ll 0ly to ?erlin, #;*alley sai/

6You better be thinking about lo3ating that air0iel/, (tan answere/

6%here was a general at the .eeting I @ust le0t

6$s long as he won;t be askin; to go along, it;s all right, #;*alley sai/

6Now let;s get so.e shut>eye (tan got to his 0eet

In the operations roo. the ne2t .orning, their papers were rea/y an/ they hea/e/ out on the 0iel/ where three big *ustastoo/ rea/y an/ war.e/ up %hey were powerhouses with wi3ke/ ar.a.ent an/ plenty o0 wingsprea/ In a//ition to win

guns, they ha/ bo.b ra3ks whi3h were 0itte/ with e2tra gasoline tanks


18/54

6(ure, an; they;re one>.an bo.bers, #;*alley 3rowe/

6%hey weren;t built 0or he/ge>hopping, but the .a@or sai/ they 3oul/ /o about 0our hun/re/ .iles per hour on the treetop

leel, (tan e2plaine/

(i. whistle/ 65ait until the "ighth gets a 0lo3k o0 these, he sai/

6You plot the 3ourse, #;*alley, (tan sai/ 65e;ll stay in 3lose until we start /own oer Ger.any, then we;ll keep within

striking /istan3e to 3oer ea3h other 5e;re 3a.era e=uippe/ but we hae to use our eyes, too

%he boys 3li.be/ up an/ got settle/ Control gae (tan 3learan3e an/ he 3alle/ to his 0light

6hubarb ai/, 3he3k te.peratures (i., take o00 0irst en/eBous at twenty thousan/

(tan leane/ ba3k an/ 3he3ke/ his instru.ents e wat3he/ (i. sli/e away an/ shoot skywar/ %he F1;s were plenty 0ast#;*alley went o00 ne2t an/ was in the air al.ost at on3e (tan ki3ke/ his throttle open an/ roare/ a0ter his pals %he *us

hoppe/ o00 as though she weighe/ only a 0ew poun/s instea/ o0 three tons or .ore

%he three P>F1;s slippe/ into 3lose 0or.ation an/ hea/e/ out a3ross the 3hannel %he /ay was a goo/ one 0or re3onnaissa

be3ause there were .any banks o0 3lou/s at high leel with a ery high 3eiling (tan kept his eyes open 0or ene.y

inter3eptors e hal0 hope/ a 0ew *e;s woul/ spot the. so that they 3oul/ try out the new ships No 0ighters were seen uthey rea3he/ the .outh o0 the hine

?elow the. they 3oul/ see otter/a. an/ beyon/, Gorin3he. #;*alley was wagging his wings, signaling to go /own

0ighters they spotte/, three in nu.ber, /i/ not try to inter3ept the.

(tan signale/ ba3k an/ they all peele/ o00 %he P>F1 went /own s.oothly but with a swi0t rush that set (tan ba3k against

sho3k pa/ e ha/ to ease on a bit .ore power to stay with #;*alley who was trying his ship out

$t 0ie thousan/ 0eet they 0lattene/ out a =uarter .ile apart an/ stalle/ in towar/ a line o0 trees an/ a win/.ill #;*alley

brushe/ the sails o0 the .ill as he swept oer it %hey were 3lose to the groun/ now, 0lipping along like 3otton /usters on%e2as plantation #;*alley was hugging the groun/, popping oer trees an/ sli/ing between buil/ings (tan saw the whit

0a3es o0 people as they looke/ up *ost o0 the. wae/ to the ship with the !nite/ (tates insignia %hey were Dut3h 0ar.

%he three ships he/ge>hoppe/ on oer the low 3ountry #;*alley hel/ a spee/ that .a/e the groun/ blur an/ waer It al

.a/e /o/ging power lines an/ .issing 3hur3h steeples e23iting business (tan rake/ a pennant o00 the top o0 a buil/ingwithout seeing the buil/ing at all $0ter that he 3alle/ to #;*alley

"ey$ you. Get u' a bit!6(ure, an; the s3enery is 0oine /own here, #;*alley 3alle/ ba3k ?ut he /i/ take a little .ore altitu/e

%hey roare/ in oer Ger.any an/ hea/e/ 0or uls %wi3e they were blaste/ by .a3hine guns, but they were 0lying so low

Ger.an /ete3tor syste. ha/ not spotte/ the. %hey were put /own as *os=uito bo.bers out hunting lo3o.oties an/ tr

65e;re 3o.ing in now, #;*alley 3alle/

e ha/ swung wi/e o0 uls an/ was hea/e/ 0or so.e low hills Eni0ing oer the the nearest hill, with their bellies s3rapin

the tops o0 a row o0 trees, the three P>F1;s nose/ into a little alley

(u//enly (tan saw the air0iel/ #;*alley ha/ spotte/ In a snap guess he pla3e/ the nu.ber o0 planes line/ up at one

hun/re/ %hey were in a long row at the base o0 a hill unways le/ out to a wi/e 0light strip

6(tra0e the. he shoute/

%he or/er was not ne3essary #;*alley an/ (i. were going straight /own the line o0 planes, their guns blasting 0la.e anlea/ %he target was so narrow that (tan ha/ to stall an/ slip a bit to /rop behin/ in or/er to get a shot at the line

%he *ustangs went oer so 0ast the Ger.ans /i/ not hae ti.e to 0ire a shot at the. Not a plane .oe/, e23ept those wh

blew up or burst into 0la.es un/er the withering 0ire 0ro. the Yank guns !p the P>F1;s went an/ oer the ri/ge %hey w

roaring along at su3h a pa3e that it took a long Boo. an/ bank to get line/ up 0or a return trip

5hen they 3a.e ba3k oer, the Ger.ans were rea/y 0or the. (.oke .akers were billowing thi3k haBe oer the s3ene aeery i.aginable sort o0 gun was sla..ing lea/ an/ steel into the sky %he air aboe the 0iel/ was thi3k with 0la.ing .u

#;*alley was out in 0ront with (i. 3lose o00 his port wing e went into the .u3k low /own (tan 3a.e in a bit behin/ h

pals


19/54

'ooking /own into the 0la.ing .uBBles o0 the guns (tan stare/ har/ %here wasn;t a plane in sight Not een the burnin

ships or those blaste/ to bits 3oul/ be seen %here was nothing but the green slope o0 the hill an/ the s.ooth runways lea/

to the 0light strip

65ell, what /o you know he .uttere/

$t that instant the .u3k enelope/ hi. along with the pall o0 s.oke 0ro. the e/ges o0 the 0iel/ F1(i.;s ship shot upwar/ an/ a wing swirle/ away like a /ark strip o0 paper torn 0ro. a wall %hen the P>F1 nose/ into the

groun/ an/ e2plo/e/ Col/ sweat broke out all oer (tan;s bo/y as he pulle/ his ship oer an/ up

$t 0ie thousan/ 0eet up an/ well away 0ro. the hot spot, (tan took sto3k e trie/ to 3all #;*alley an/ 0oun/ his ra/io w

shot out 'ooking through his spattere/ hat3h 3oer, he saw that his port wing ha/ three gaping holes in it ?ut the engin

was singing sweetly is 0irst thought was to lo3ate #;*alley, but he ha/ another when he spotte/ three +o3ke>5ul0 0ighroaring in on his tail

65e;ll see what you hae to o00er, sister, he sai/ so0tly as he ki3ke/ the *ustang wi/e open an/ lai/ her oer

%he big ship respon/e/ with a surge o0 power that yanke/ her into the sky an/ oer in a per0e3t roll be0ore (tan 3oul/ /e3

what was going on 'eeling o00, (tan looke/ 0or the +5;s %hey ha/ .isse/ hi. by a wi/e .argin (tan grinne/

6You /on;t nee/ a pilot, la/y, he sai/

Co.ing oer he trie/ a burst on one o0 the +5;s It was a long shot, but the F1 roare/ an/ bu3ke/ !p ahea/ the +5 wobble/ an/ /ie/ %he other two went up 0or altitu/e (tan went too %he P>F1 was a high>altitu/e la/y an/ woul/ /o better up where she ha/ rare air an/ plenty o0 spa3e

(tan ease/ away 0ro. the +5;s an/ /i/ not 3hallenge the. %hey 3ir3le/, taking a goo/ look at this new type o0 0ighter %

ha/ learne/ 0ro. sa/ e2perien3e that any new Yank ship .ight proe to be /ea/ly %he +orts ha/ taught the. that

(tan was well up now where he 3oul/ look /own on the 0light strip below e saw nothing o0 #;*alley but he /i/ see tw

wre3ke/ planes at the 0ar e/ge o0 the 0iel/ away 0ro. the hill Nosing /own (tan /ie/ towar/ the 0iel/ %he two +5;s /

a0ter hi., but he soon ease/ away 0ro. the.

(weeping in a 0ew yar/s aboe the runway, (tan lai/ oer @ust a little e 3he3ke/ the wre3ks an/ saw that one o0 the. w

(i.;s ship %he other was an +5 0ighter .inus one wing %he Ger.ans behin/ their hi//en batteries opene/ up with a

saage burst o0 0ire (tan went straight towar/ the hill, 0lying low to keep out o0 the 0lak $s he shot up o00 the runway he

stare/ har/ at the hillsi/e ahea/, then blinke/ his eyes

6(o, he sai/ so0tly 6(o that;s the way it is

e went up an/ oer the hill, spiraling into the sky in a 3li.b steeper than any ship ha/ eer 3arrie/ hi. %he +5;s ha/ b@oine/ by 0ie *e 11;s, but the F1 3oul/ trael, whi

toppe/ 0our hun/re/ .iles per hour by a wi/e .argin

e was roaring along with no opposition in sight an/ a 3lear sky aroun/ hi. when he su//enly spotte/ a plane in his .ir

It was oerhauling hi. rapi/ly (u//enly (tan grinne/ e ease/ ba3k on the throttle an/ waggle/ his wings as #;*alley

roare/ oer hi. Pi3king up spee/, he /roppe/ in besi/e his pal an/ signale/ that his ra/io was /ea/ %hey roare/ on ho.wing to wing

CHAPTER V

HIDDEN DROMES

(tan sat at Colonel olt;s /esk along with #;*alley It ha/ taken the. @ust twenty .inutes to get 0ro. the operations roo

to the 3olonel;s o00i3e olt ha/ 3alle/ in *a@or Eulp o0 the photography wing an/ General 5ar/ 0ro. the 3o..an/ sta0


20/54

65hen I 3a.e in to 3he3k the wre3ke/ planes, (tan sai/, 6I was able to see how they /o it %hey hae a s3reen on tra3ks

is 3oere/ oer with brush an/ leaes an/ looks 0ro. any angle, e23ept s=uarely in 0ront, like the si/e o0 the hill %hey @u

roll it out an/ it 3oers the planes

6You wre3ke/ =uite a 0ew o0 the. on the groun/ the general aske/

65e .ust hae s.ashe/ at least hal0 o0 the., (tan answere/ 6?ut the part that intereste/ .e .ost was the un/ergroun/

hangars %he s3reen is only a te.porary 3a.ou0lage %he planes are snappe/ ba3k into the un/ergroun/ hangar I say we about hal0 o0 the., be3ause the wre3ke/ ones were still out un/er the s3reen %he others ha/ been pulle/ ba3k

65e 3an bo.b those hangars out, the 3olonel sai/

6I /on;t think so, (tan sai/ 6I @u/ge there;s a 0ull 0orty 0eet o0 earth oer the. as a roo0, an/ I suppose there;s at least te

0eet o0 3on3rete un/er that

6%hat woul/ .ake the. sa0e ae any any i/eas 0or han/ling the.

General 5ar/ bent 0orwar/ eagerly

6Yes, (tan replie/ 65e 3oul/ skip>bo.b the.

6(kip>bo.b *a@or Eulp aske/

6?oun3e our bo.bs right into the open en/ o0 the hangar, (tan sai/, grinning

6It .ight work, Colonel olt sai/

6%he P>F1;s 3arry bo.bs, an/ I;. sure the boys 3oul/ rig the. so that we 3oul/ 0ly at the right angle to boun3e the. intohangars I0 we went a3ross on3e, they;/ hae the ships pulle/ ba3k in an/ we;/ get .ost o0 the.

65e;ll try it, the general sai/ 65ilson, you will hae 3harge o0 the 0light

6It will be tough going 5e lost


21/54

6It 3an be /one on lan/, too #ur boys 3an rig a /elaye/ 0use an/ we 3an roll the eggs right ba3k into the nests, (tan

e2plaine/

65e;ll hae 0un, #;*alley 3hu3kle/ 6In no ti.e at all we;ll be oer ?erlin

During the ne2t week, s3outing 0lights 0ro. the "ighth $ir +or3e 0iel/ an/ 0ro. other 0iel/s near by were .a/e on a patte

'ong>range P>F1;s an/ swi0t *os=uito bo.bers went out %hey sear3he/ a wi/e ban/ o0 ene.y territory an/ .a/e .any

photographs "ery lan/ing strip, een though it appeare/ to be only an e.ergen3y runway, was 3he3ke/ an/ photograph%hen the boys were 3alle/ in %he 0iel/s ha/ been spotte/ an/ their un/ergroun/ hangars lo3ate/ It was ti.e to strike

(tan an/ #;*alley sat in the operations roo. looking at a big .ap Colonel olt stoo/ be0ore the .ap with his sta00 %h

.en leane/ 0orwar/ eagerly +or seeral /ays they ha/ been pra3ti3ing a new type o0 bo.bing with 0ighters, a skip .etho

%he 3olonel pointe/ to the .ap

6%here are .any 0lights going out at /aylight #urs is @ust one o0 the., but we hae been assigne/ to /estroy the largest othe 0ighter bases near ?erlin You all know the ta3ti3s %here will be thirty planes in your 0light %his is a tea.work @ob

pause/ an/ looke/ oer the eager 0a3es be0ore hi.

%he .en began to breathe easier as the 3olonel went on %hey knew what they were up against %here woul/ be a long 0li

/uring whi3h they woul/ aoi/ 0ights in the air %hen there woul/ be a su//en atta3k to be stage/ @ust at /awn %hat atta3

woul/ be rugge/ going an/ a lot o0 the. woul/ neer 3o.e ba3k

5hen the brie0ing was oer, they 3row/e/ out o0 the roo. an/ into the .ess 0or hot 3o00ee an/ san/wi3hes %here was littalking %his was the hour o0 tension 5eather still ha/ to 3o.e through with reports an/ the .en ha/ learne/ that 5eathe

o0ten let the. /own ?eing let /own a0ter getting keye/ up 0or a /angerous .ission was worse than going out

?ut 5eather /i/ not let the. /own %hey got their 3learan3e without /elay an/ hea/e/ 0or the rea/y roo. "agerly they

s3ra.ble/ into their out0its, then barge/ out into the night (tan an/ #;*alley walke/ si/e by si/e

65e 0ly the tail slot, (tan sai/ 6%hat .eans so.e hot going

6;%is as goo/ as any, #;*alley answere/ as he hea/e/ 0or his plane

6(ee you at break0ast

'ike huge night bir/s the P>F1;s took o00 an/ hea/e/ east (tan wat3he/ the 0lare o0 their e2hausts as they 0la.e/ /own thrunways an/ li0te/ into the /ark sky

6#;*alley rea/y, 5ilson stan/ by

(tan a/@uste/ hi.sel0 an/ 3he3ke/ his instru.ents e ease/ /own against the sho3k pa/ an/ waite/ #;*alley went kni

away an/ he wheele/ in behin/ oiking the P>F1;s tail he sent her o00 an/ up

ui3kly the big 0ighters, ea3h with a bo.b loa/ tu3ke/ in where or/inarily e2tra tanks woul/ nestle, 3lose/ into 0or.atio

%he 0light lea/er, Colonel 5ell.an hel/ the. in tight 0or.ation

$s they roare/ along (tan thought ba3k oer the past 0ew /ays e ha/ been o00ere/ the 0light lea/er;s @ob but ha/ turne/

/own 5hen 5ell.an got ba3k he woul/ be ranke/ up a not3h an/ shoe/ into a @ob where he 3oul/ 0ly only o33asionall$lrea/y his re3or/ an/ his rating kept hi. at base .ost o0 the ti.e (tan grinne/ e /i/ not want anything out o0 the wa

a 3han3e to 0ly in a3tion

%hey .oe/ a3ross the 3hannel, high up in the 3ol/ sky oaring towar/ ?erlin in arrow>straight 0light, they sli/ oer the

Netherlan/s %here were to be no roun/about easie ta3ti3s tonight, not with bo.bs in the pla3e o0 e2tra gasoline

(tan 3he3ke/ his instru.ent panel an/ his 3lo3ks %hey .ust be oer Ger.any now %he 3ountry below was bla3ke/>outentirely %here was no 0lak an/ no lights below Darkness still 0ille/ the worl/, but /awn was not 0ar away

$ buBBer signal in his hea/set tol/ (tan it was ti.e to settle /own 0or low 0lying 'ight ha/ begun to show in the east Do

went the *ustangs, an/ as the /awn began to lighten the low 3ountry below, they roare/ a3ross the Ger.an 3ountrysi/e

Now they were greete/ by a 0ew bursts o0 0ire, but no heay 0lak 3a.e at the. ?e3ause they were he/ge>hopping at a te

spee/, the Ger.an warning syste.s were not spotting the. in ti.e to allow gunners to get set

6%a3ti3al 0or.ation, e/ +light Colonel 5ell.an broke the silen3e with that 3risp or/er


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%he *ustangs sprea/ out an/ .a/e a 3ir3ling sweep %hey ha/ been hea/e/ straight 0or ?erlin an/ woul/ be spotte/ as a

nuisan3e rai/ group o0 *os=uito bo.bers No 0ighters woul/ try to inter3ept the. %he ?erlin /e0en/ers woul/ /epen/ u

0lak, as 0ighters were useless against the 0ast *os=uitoes ?y swinging sharply east the *ustangs woul/ hit the 0ighter

hangars

%he light was goo/ as the boys roare/ along at treetop leel an/ spotte/ the lan/.arks they ha/ been brie0e/ to e2pe3t %0lew in per0e3t 0or.ation (tan was 0lying the tail slot along with #;*alley %hey were in a .opping>up position

(tan saw the runways 0lash into sight, then he saw the lea/ *ustangs go in with their wheels al.ost tou3hing the runway

se3on/ later there were .any 0lashes o0 0la.e an/ rolling 3lou/s o0 /ust $t the sa.e .o.ent the earth began to erupt 0ir

an/ s.oke an/ steel %he se3on/ wae o0 *ustangs /isappeare/ into the in0erno (tan saw two o0 the. blow up, then go

boun3ing an/ tu.bling along the groun/ %hat was all he ha/ ti.e to see 5ith his han/ on the bo.b release he went in

%he s.oke an/ the 0iring was so intense (tan 3oul/ .ake out little e @u/ge/ his /istan3e an/ release/ his bo.bs when 3aught a gli.pse o0 a yawning tunnel ahea/ e saw #;*alley 3ut his loa/ loose #;*alley was wing to wing with hi.

%hen the Irish.an;s *ustang stu3k her nose into the groun/ an/ went en/ oer en/ /own the 0iel/ like a wre3ke/ kite (

pulle/ up har/ an/ as his P>F1 li0te/, he 0elt so.ething hit her It was as though he ha/ sla..e/ into a stone wall (he

staggere/, let /own one wing, then nose/ oer (tan 0elt the groun/ slap her an/ hear/ the ripping an/ tearing o0 .etal asso.ething e2plo/e/ al.ost in his 0a3e $ blin/ing 0lash o0 light stabbe/ at his eyeballs an/ blin/e/ hi.

%he *ustang rolle/ oer an/ oer, her stur/y 0uselage re0using to 3ru.ple (tan;s one thought was o0 0ire e pawe/ asi/

what was le0t o0 his hat3h 3oer an/ heae/ hi.sel0 upwar/ an/ out (taggering 0ree o0 the wre3kage, he 0oun/ hi.sel0

enelope/ in a 3hoking pall o0 s.oke #00 to his le0t, a heay e2plosion shook the groun/ Dirt an/ sti3ks an/ bits o0 .etpeppere/ hi. an/ the s.oke surge/ away be0ore the 3on3ussion o0 the e2plosion (tan staggere/ ba3k an/ as he /i/ so, 0

sol/iers leape/ at hi. out o0 the s.oke

#ne o0 the .en lunge/ at (tan 0ro. the si/e an/ two 0ro. the rear e 0elt a soli/ i.pa3t on the ba3k o0 his hea/ an/ 0elt

hi.sel0 slu.ping 0orwar/, then eerything went bla3k

CHAPTER VI

PRISONER

(tan opene/ his eyes an/ 0oun/ hi.sel0 in a big roo. with stone walls an/ high win/ows (un was strea.ing in through

o0 the win/ows an/ glea.e/ upon piles o0 straw littering the 0loor $ /oBen Yank air.en an/ seeral $+ .en sat on th

straw (tan li0te/ his han/ to the ba3k o0 his hea/ an/ groane/ $n $+ .an near hi. sai/:

6$ bit o0 a tough rap Can I get you so.e water It;s all we;e seen so 0ar in the way o0 re0resh.ents

Thanks$ %tan said. -ut where a ?

6$ o e was /ragge/ in with you Prentiss got to his 0eet 6I;ll go tell hi. you;re awake

6%hanks (tan heae/ hi.sel0 to a sitting position an/ looke/ aroun/ (eeral o0 the boys no//e/ to hi. but none o0 th

got up $ll o0 the. were strangers to (tan, .en 0ro. 0lights he ha/ not worke/ with

#;*alley 3a.e in 0ro. a narrow hallway an/ hurrie/ a3ross the roo. 5hen he saw that (tan was sitting up, a /ark s3ow

his 0a3e turne/ into a grin

6(ure, an; I;e been yellin; at the. Erauts, tryin; to get the. to sen/ a Do3 in to 0i2 you up %hey @est laughe/ at .e


23/54

dont need a doctor. "ow did the raid go?

6%he boys say we blew Ae. o00 the .ap I talke/ with a 3ouple o0 'ib boys @ust brought in 5e 3leare/ the path to ?erlin

#;*alley grinne/ eagerly 6I;. gla/ ye;re 0eelin; 0oine now 5e hae to get out o; this hole

(tan looke/ up at the high, barre/ win/ows 6Yes, we /o, he sai/, .ore to en3ourage #;*alley than be3ause he ha/ any

hopes %hey were /eep in the heart o0 Ger.any an/ soon woul/ be in a 3losely guar/e/ prison 3a.p

6%hey;re takin; us to another prison in a 0ew .inutes %he guar/ says we get to eat be0ore we;re lo3ke/ up again 5e habe =uestione/ by the Gestapo #;*alley leere/ angrily

6You .ean Ger.an Intelligen3e, (tan 3orre3te/

6$ll the sa.e i..ler runs Ae. both, #;*alley answere/

%hey were interrupte/ by a shout 0ro. the hallway $ burly Ger.an o00i3er sta.pe/ into the roo. an/ stoo/ looking at th

.en

6Get to your 0eet he yelle/

%he .en slowly rose an/ stare/ at the o00i3er e glare/ at the., his eyes .oing oer the. slowly

6You shoul/ be treate/ as swine, you bo.b 3ities an/ kill non>3o.batants Der +uehrer /oes not like this, he snarle/

65e are only 0ollowing the e2a.ple you set at 5arsaw an/ otter/a., a ?ritish .a@or sai/ as he steppe/ oer an/ 0a3e/

Ger.an 65e are prisoners o0 war an/ you;ll treat us as su3h, .y 0ine 0ellow

(tan .oe/ 0orwar/ =ui3kly %he $+ .a@or stoo/ with his 0eet plante/ well apart, 0a3ing the Ger.an %he Ger.an lasout su//enly with a knotte/ 0ist %he .a@or swaye/ a bit an/ /u3ke/ the blow e starte/ a right 3ross 0or the Ger.an;s @

but (tan /ie/ in an/ pinne/ his ar.s

6(wine Dog the Ger.an bellowe/ 6You will pay 0or this

6%ake it easy Eno3king his blo3k o00 won;t help you any, (tan sai/ as he release/ the .a@or;s ar.s 6%here ought to be

better ways

6I;. sorry, the .a@or sai/ sti00ly

%he Ger.an glare/ aroun/ hi. e pu00e/ out his 3hest an/ stru3k a sti00 pose

6You are to be .oe/ to other =uarters $nyone trying any sneaking business will be shot Is /ot 3lear

6It;s 3lear Get on with the .oing, (tan sai/ 3risply

6You better be a0ter 0ee/in; us, #;*alley broke in

%he o00i3er blew a whistle an/ a s=ua/ o0 sol/iers 0ile/ in %he .en line/ up an/ the o00i3er began splitting the prisoners into s.all groups e sent si2 .en away with the guar/s an/ whistle/ 0or another s=ua/

6%hey .ust think we;re tough, (tan sai/ an/ grinne/

?e0ore (tan an/ #;*alley were sent out, a young lieutenant entere/ an/ spoke to the o00i3er in 3harge e 0a3e/ the

re.aining .en

6'ieutenants 5ilson an/ #;*alley are wante/ at on3e 0or =uestioning e glare/ about hi.

(tan an/ #;*alley steppe/ 0orwar/

6Co.e with .e, the young lieutenant snappe/

65hat No s=ua/ with 0i2e/ bayonets (tan aske/ an/ grinne/

%he lieutenant s.ile/ 65here we are going there will be no nee/ 0or an ar.e/ guar/ e walke/ away with (tan an/

#;*alley besi/e hi. #;*alley kept a sharp eye open 0or a 3han3e to es3ape (tan was a0rai/ i0 they passe/ an open /oo#;*alley woul/ bolt through it

%hey entere/ a long hallway an/ were .ar3he/ to its 0ar en/ where they entere/ a s.all roo. %here was a table an/ a 0e

3hairs

6You .ay as well sit /own, the lieutenant sai/


24/54

6You al.ost talk !nite/ (tates, (tan obsere/

6I shoul/ I spent ten years in Pittsburgh, the lieutenant e2plaine/

6ow /i/ you 3o.e to get oer here in Ger.any (tan aske/

6During those years I was working 0or the greater Ger.any, the o00i3er answere/ sti00ly 6eil itler e /i/ an about>0

as pre3isely as though he ha/ been on para/e be0ore itler an/ .ar3he/ out o0 the roo.

6Don;t tell the. anything, (tan sai/

6(ure, an; the Gestapo has .y li0e history written /own anyway, #;*alley sai/ 6I think we;re in ?erlin an/ I;/ be a0ter

likin; it i0 I 3oul/ get loose

65e;ll be wat3he/ ery 3lose at 0irst 5e;ll hae to wait, (tan warne/

%wo o00i3ers, a .a@or an/ a 3olonel, a33o.panie/ by the young lieutenant, entere/ %he ranking o00i3ers seate/ the.selethe table the lieutenant stoo/ be0ore (tan an/ #;*alley

6You are a part o0 the "ighth $ir +or3e he aske/

6Yes, (tan answere/

6Do you know how .any 0ighters an/ bo.bers your 0or3e has

6No, (tan answere/

6ow .any o0 the new type o0 0ighters /o you hae %he sort you were 0lying when shot /own

6I;e hear/ so.e o0 the boys say a 3ouple o0 thousan/, (tan answere/

e was .erely reporting a bit o0 .ess ru.or he ha/ hear/ the /ay be0ore

%he lieutenant s3owle/ an/ spoke in Ger.an to his superiors $0ter that the =uestions 3a.e 0ast, but neither #;*alley no

(tan o00ere/ any 0urther 3o..ent %hey answere/ si.ply yes or no or re0use/ to answer at all +inally the senior o00i3er g

up in /isgust an/ sta.pe/ out

6You are 0ools, the lieutenant snappe/

65oul/ you talk i0 we 3aught you (tan aske/ pleasantly

6#0 3ourse not, but we are a superior ra3e Now you will be gien 3o.0ortable =uarters an/ 0oo/ 5e obsere the rules o0

war e turne/ about an/ .otione/ 0or the. to 0ollow

%he boys were 0e/ soup an/ 0ish with a sli3e o0 brea/ an/ a brown li=ui/ whi3h passe/ as 3o00ee #;*alley gru.ble/ a lo

but he ate eerything set be0ore hi.

6I0 this is what the Genea treaty sai/ 3apture/ o00i3ers were to eat, I;. a spalpeen, #;*alley .uttere/ as he .ar3he/ a

with (tan to their =uarters

%hey 0oun/ the.seles =uartere/ in an ol/ stone house whi3h ha/ at one ti.e been a resi/en3e %here was a high wall arit with .any guar/s pa3ing ba3k an/ 0orth an/ two sear3hlights lo3ate/ on plat0or.s whi3h were also o33upie/ by a .a3h

gun an/ its 3rew ?ut there was a yar/ an/ a 0ew trees an/ shrubs

6Not as ba/ as a prison 3a.p, (tan sai/

6Not ery goo/, #;*alley sai/ as he stoo/ looking up at one o0 the .a3hine>gun nests

%he boys were taken to a roo. on the groun/ 0loor where they .et seeral other 0ellows 0ro. the "ighth %hey ha/ beenlo3ate/ at the 3a.p 0or seeral .onths an/ were eager to hear news 0ro. "nglan/

(tan an/ #;*alley talke/ with the. 0or a while, answering their =uestions #ne o0 the boys, a bo.bar/ier 0ro. a +ort,e2plaine/ the workings o0 the 3a.p

6%hey 3hange us aroun/ =uite a bit New .en 3o.e an/ so.e o0 the ol/ hea/s go I 0igure they /o that to nip any es3ape

atte.pts in the bu/ e laughe/ sourly 6I neer hear/ o0 anybo/y getting away 0ro. one o0 these 3a.ps

$nother 3hap /ri0te/ in an/ seate/ hi.sel0 e was a lank ?ritisher with a .op o0 bla3k hair


25/54

6I hear you hail 0ro. the 0ighter strip near Diss

6%hat was our out0it, (tan sai/

6I @ust got a new roo..ate who says he;s a Yank who was statione/ at Diss, the ?ritisher grinne/ 6e got shot /own a

while ba3k e @ust 3a.e out o0 a hospital Got a ba/ rap on the hea/

65e;/ like to .eet hi. e .ust be one o0 the boys we lost on our 0irst bo.bing 3oerage (tan got to his 0eet

e an/ #;*alley went upstairs an/ into the little roo. %wo .en were seate/ on a be/ playing 3ar/s (tan halte/ in the

/oorway #er his shoul/er, #;*alley sai/:

%i!

$t 0irst (tan was not sure %he .an looke/ like (i. F1 ha/ burie/ its nose in the groun/(i.;s eyes narrowe/ sharply 6%hat 3ra3k>up kno3ke/ .e silly, he sai/ gri.ly 6I /on;t re.e.ber .u3h e put his han

his hea/ 6I was nuts 0or =uite a while, I guess "en now I 0orget things (o.eti.es I 0orget what;s happene/

6You;ll 3o.e aroun/, #;*alley sai/ 3heer0ully

6%hey .ight let us three hae this roo. together, (i. sai/ 6I;/ like to hae you 0ellows aroun/

6It 3oul/ be 0i2e/, the ?ritisher sai/ 6%hey let us line up about as we wish I;ll help you 0i2 it I;e been here a 3ouple o.onths

(tan went with the $+ .an %hey lo3ate/ a non>3o. who tol/ the. to shi0t aroun/ as they please/ e see.e/ to kno

who (tan was an/ all about hi. an/ #;*alley

6)e treat you goot, he sai/

$s they went ba3k the ?ritisher sai/, 6(o.e o0 these NaBis are beginning to try to .ake 0rien/s with us I guess they 0iguthey .ay nee/ so.e 0rien/s a.ong the $llies one o0 these /ays

6%hey 3ertainly will, (tan agree/

%he two boys with (i. gla/ly .oe/ out an/ (tan an/ #;*alley .oe/ in %hey 0oun/ (i. silent an/ .oo/y, as thoug

was broo/ing oer his 3apture an/ 3aptiity (tan spoke to #;*alley about it out in the hall

6(i. is in ba/ shape e ought to be in the hospital 5e;ll hae to wat3h out 0or hi.

6e;ll be a0ter 3o.in; aroun/, #;*alley sai/ 3on0i/ently

%hey entere/ the roo. an/ 0oun/ (i. staring out o0 a win/ow $gain (tan was stru3k by the 3hange in the boy e see.

hae age/ at least ten years e turne/ towar/ the., then got up an/ 3lose/ the /oor e walke/ oer to a pi3ture on the w

an/ .oe/ it ?ehin/ it he reeale/ a s.all hole in the paper e pla3e/ his han/s to his lips an/ shook his hea/

(tan .oe/ oer an/ looke/ 3losely, then he presse/ on the paper %here was a s.all 3ylin/er un/er the paper e grinne(i. an/ #;*alley De0tly he slit the paper with his 0ingernail an/ re.oe/ a strip o0 it, reealing a listening /ei3e %akout his po3ketkni0e he neatly snippe/ one o0 the s.all wires

6%hat will take 3are o0 that 'ater we;ll hook it up again so they won;t be suspi3ious

6%hey listen to all new .en eerywhere, (i. sai/ (u//enly he began to laugh 6?ut I hae 0oole/ the. I hae worke/

a way 0or us to es3ape

(tan stare/ at hi. e was not sure (i. was not still insane

#;*alley sai/ eagerly, 6(pill it "s3ape is what I;. lookin; 0or


26/54

(i. went to the /oor an/ opene/ it e looke/ up an/ /own the hall, then 3lose/ the /oor

6I was going to try it alone, but I .ay be able to take you 0ellows along e spoke slowly

6(ure, three 3an .ake a getaway easier than one, #;*alley sai/ (tan sai/ nothing

6Ger.any is 3ra3king up 0ast, (i. went on 6otten insi/e with hal0 o0 the guar/s s3are/ they;ll be stoo/ up against a w

an/ shot when the inasion 3o.es

6%hey /i/n;t see. to be slipping .u3h where we lan/e/, (tan sai/

6?ut they are, (i. insiste/ 6I hae a .an 0i2e/ to take .e out o0 here an/ a3ross Ger.any I;. to get hi. out o0 the

3ountry an/ guarantee he;ll be sa0ely kept oer in "nglan/

%well$ OMalley 'ut in. When do we get going?

6It will take a /ay or so e;s no s.all 0ry either, he;s a non>3o..issione/ o00i3er with so.e authority e thinks the

Gestapo is about to pi3k hi. o00 0or not being tough enough

6It soun/s a bit too easy to .e, (tan sai/ 6?ut I;/ take any sort o0 3han3e to get ba3k into a3tion

6%o.orrow I;ll let you know i0 you 3an go along, (i. pro.ise/ 6Now you better hook that listening ga/get up again

CHAPTER VII

ESCAPE

5hen (tan awoke the ne2t .orning (i. was gone 0ro. his bunk e sat up =ui3kly, then lay ba3k an/ let his sti00, sore

.us3les rela2 %here was no hurry e was not going any pla3e that /ay, perhaps not 0or a long ti.e 'ying there he listento #;*alley;s /eep snores an/ thought ba3k oer the eents o0 the past 0ew hours

%hose eents ha/ happene/ so swi0tly an/ so e2plosiely that they see.e/ like the sha/owy .e.ory o0 a night.are e

re3alle/ that he ha/ not aske/ #;*alley how he ha/ been 3apture/ e ha/ @ust taken it 0or grante/ his pal ha/ been throu

an e2perien3e the sa.e as his own It was o//, too, the way things 0itte/ together %he o//est o0 all was 0in/ing (i.


27/54

6%hey listen all the ti.e, ans sai/ 6%hey wat3h eeryone %here is .ore Gestapo than guar/s

6Ni3e 3ountry to lie in, (tan re.arke/

#;*alley laughe/ an/ pulle/ the blankets up aroun/ his 3hin

6(ure, an; it nee/s a bit o; 3leaning up, he sai/

ans looke/ at hi. nerously 6You think the ?ritish an/ $.eri3ans 3o.e soon he aske/6I0 they;re later than ne2t week, I;ll be a0ter speakin; to a 0ew generals harsh>like, #;*alley answere/

6Perhaps not ne2t week but soon, (tan sai/

6I a. not a party .e.ber I will go ba3k to .y little 0ar. near Pilsen, ans sai/, 6i0 it is per.itte/

6It 3oul/ be 0i2e/ that way, (tan sai/ an/ s.ile/ 6(ilen3e is gol/en, but too .u3h o0 it .ight .ake the Gestapo boys

suspi3ious e walke/ to the pi3ture o0 itler an/ 3onne3te/ the .i3rophone again

6You will report at on3e 0or .ess eil itler ans 3li3ke/ his heels an/ /i/ an about>0a3e e .oe/ out o0 the roo.

al.ost goose>stepping (tan grinne/ a0ter hi.

6Get up, you bu., he 3alle/ to #;*alley

#;*alley got out o0 be/ an/ began /ressing 5ithin ten .inutes they were in the hall $s they walke/ /own it they passe

less than three pi3tures o0 itler hanging on the walls #;*alley .oe/ eery one o0 the. an/ peere/ behin/ it

6I /on;t like the s3enery here, he gru.ble/

%he .ess was a large roo. whi3h on3e ha/ been a liing roo. an/ /ining roo. 3o.bine/ %here were twenty prisoners,

.ostly $+ .en, all o0 o00i3er;s rank %hey looke/ bore/ an/ listless, but they greete/ the new arrials with 0rien/ly

interest (i. was seate/ at the table e looke/ up an/ no//e/

?reak0ast was not ba/ an/ the boys ate eerything set be0ore the. $0ter break0ast the .en went out into the yar/ %he suwas shining an/ the air was war., but there was a 0eel o0 winter in the win/ whi3h blew oer the high wall

(tan an/ #;*alley sat /own on a ben3h with (i. %he other .en busie/ the.seles with han/ball an/ =uoits (i. bent

/own an/ tra3e/ a line with a sti3k in the /irt

6I hae eerything line/ up 5e get away tonight $ ?ritish 3olonel is giing a le3ture in the big roo. at nine tonight I h

0i2e/ the 3he3ker 5e;ll get away while that is on (i. /i/ not look up

6ans is the 3he3ker #;*alley aske/

6Yes

6(ure this isn;t a trap %hings hae been working too goo/ aroun/ here, (tan sai/

6%his will not be easy, (i. answere/ in a low oi3e 6%he 3han3es are about een we;ll be shot be0ore we get 3lear o0 thwire an/ the guar/ lines %hese guar/s /o not shout at you, they shoot an/ then yell (i. laughe/ shortly 6?ut I;/ rathe

shot than rot here

6(ure, an; that;s .e, too, #;*alley agree/

65e;ll be rea/y, (tan answere/

6You 3annot take anything with you, (i. warne/ 6Now we hae to break up %he guar/s are wat3hing us e got to hi

0eet an/ walke/ away6I think he;s a3ting nuts 0or the bene0it o0 the guar/s, #;*alley sai/

6I0 it turns out he really is nuts, we .ay 0in/ ourseles .esse/ up with lea/, (tan answere/ e got up an/ walke/ oer where the $+ boys were pit3hing =uoits

6Care to get in a 3aptain aske/ hi.

6%hanks, I;ll hae a try, (tan answere/


28/54

#;*alley stret3he/ out on the ben3h an/ went to sleep e slept through until lun3h 3all was soun/e/ (tan .i2e/ with th

?ritish o00i3ers an/ learne/ what he 3oul/ about 3on/itions e got their na.es so he 3oul/ report regar/ing the. i0 he /i

get away

%he a0ternoon /ragge/ away an/ .ess 3all soun/e/ a0ter one o0 the $+ o00i3ers ha/ put the .en through a sti00 /rill a

series o0 sitting>up e2er3ises $0ter .ess (tan an/ #;*alley went to their roo. (i. was not there

6I /i/n;t see (i. aroun/ the .ess when we le0t, won/er where he went(tan whispere/

6You worry too .u3h about hi., #;*alley answere/ 6I bet he;s snoopin; aroun/ gettin; set to get us away

(tan stret3he/ out on his bunk %hey waite/ 0or (i. to show up, but he /i/ not 3o.e to the roo. $t eight o;3lo3k (tan b

to s=uir.

6%hey;e probably nabbe/ hi., he sai/ sourly

6(ure, an; I;ll start working on ans i0 they hae

%hey ha/ been speaking in ery low tones Now (tan spoke lou/er 6?etter be getting rea/y to go to that le3ture

6(ure, #;*alley agree/

%he boys settle/ /own to wait #;*alley kept looking at his wrist wat3h (tan lay with his eyes 3lose/ e was 3he3king

eery angle o0 the strange business $s near as he 3oul/ gather, things were going ba/ly in Ger.any %he big 3ra3k>up .

be near at han/

$t 0ie .inutes to nine they hear/ steps in the hall %hey passe/ /own the stairs ?oys 0ro. the roo.s along the hallway

were going to the le3ture (tan got up an/ /is3onne3te/ the .i3rophone #;*alley was pa3ing about like a 3age/ lion %h

hear/ single 0ootsteps an/ there was a rap on the /oor It opene/ an/ ans stoo/ there

6I a. gla/ you hae not yet gone to the le3ture, he sai/ 6err General wishes to speak to you You will 3o.e with .e

(tan looke/ at #;*alley an/ #;*alley looke/ at (tan (tan spoke s.oothly

6Coul/n;t we see the general a0ter the le3ture 5e;/ like ery .u3h to hear the 3olonel

6It will not wait err General is a ery i.patient .an

%here was nothing to /o but go with ans (tan an/ #;*alley walke/ along the hallway with the 3orporal, keeping a sha

wat3h 0or (i. %hey /i/ not see hi. in the hallway or /ownstairs ans took the. past the guar/s at the outer gar/en gatan/ a3ross the street to another house In a s.all hall roo. he no//e/ towar/ 3hairs

6You will be 3alle/, he sai/, then turne/ an/ hurrie/ away

%he outer /oor was open an/ the boys 3oul/ see two sentries stan/ing on the 0ront por3h

65e hae to get out o; here, #;*alley sai/

6Not a 3han3e %here;s no win/ow an/ those two guar/s woul/ see us be0ore we got within ten 0eet o0 the., (tan answe

6It;s @ust a 3ase o0 sitting tight an/ hoping (i. waits 0or us

Near where they were sitting a /oor opene/ into another roo. (tan leane/ oer an/ looke/ at the /oor It was not lat3he

0ir.ly an/ was open about a hal0 in3h e 3oul/ hear .en talking in the other roo. %hey were speaking in Ger.an

6You un/erstan/ Ger.an 'isten to what they are saying, (tan whispere/

#;*alley .oe/ 3loser an/ listene/ %he .en see.e/ to be arguing hotly "ery on3e in a while one oi3e woul/ be raiin anger %here were three .en in the roo. #;*alley e/ge/ the /oor open a bit .ore an/ peepe/ into the roo.

$0ter a bit he straightene/ an/ grinne/ at (tan 6(ure, an; the general is eatin; the tails o00 his sta00 (o.e o0 Ae. see. to

think the war is lost %hey been tellin; hi. the Ger.an people are /e.an/in; pea3e at any pri3e I 0igure he;s goin; to ha

one o; the. shot

$t that .o.ent an or/erly 3a.e rushing out o0 the o00i3e e 3harge/ past the boys without see.ing to see the., an/ rusout o0 the buil/ing


29/54

6%he general says i0 this leaks out, the $llies will ina/e at on3e

e;s sure .a/ #;*alley laughe/ so0tly

$ 0ew .inutes passe/ an/ the or/erly returne/ with a s=ua/ o0 ar.e/ sol/iers le/ by a lieutenant %hey sto.pe/ past the

an/ into the o00i3e 5hen they 3a.e out they were .ar3hing a 3aptain an/ a .a@or be0ore the.

+ie .ore .inutes passe/ an/ the or/erly 3a.e out e see.e/ .u3h agitate/

6You will 3o.e now, he sai/ in husky "nglish

%he boys 0ollowe/ hi. into the o00i3e err General was a burly 0ellow with a bal/ hea/ an/ a narrow 3hest e ha/ a

.ono3le s3rewe/ into one eye whi3h .a/e hi. look 0ier3e an/ tough e glare/ at the boys, then snappe/ an or/er to theor/erly %he .an s3urrie/ away

6Co.e up to .y /esk, you, the general snarle/

%he boys .oe/ up an/ stoo/ waiting

6I hae 3he3ke/ the answers you gae to =uestions aske/ you when you were 3apture/ You sai/ an inasion will 3o.e a

on3e 5hy /i/ you say that

(tan stare/ at the o00i3er 65e /i/n;t say any su3h thing, he answere/ eenly e /e3i/e/ that the general ha/ hear/ so.

their 3onersation oer the listening /ei3e

6(ure, an; you got big ears, General, #;*alley sai/

(tan ki3ke/ hi. on the shin %he general @u.pe/ an/ pu00e/ out his 3hest e 0i2e/ #;*alley with a 3ol/ glare

6Pig +ool Eeep a 3iil tongue in your hea/ or you will regret it .u3h

6I0 you brought us here to get in0or.ation, you will be /isappointe/, General, (tan sai/ 65e will not talk

6I brought you here to tell you that we inten/ to .ake you talk, the general barke/ 6I .erely wishe/ to warn you an/ thto let you hae a little ti.e to think it oer

65e are prisoners o0 war, (tan re.in/e/ hi.

6%he 3o/e proi/es 0or /is3iplining prisoners o0 war 5e hae so.e ery e00e3tie .etho/s You will talk an/ be gla/ to

Now get out

(tan an/ #;*alley turne/ towar/ the /oor %wo ar.e/ .en stoo/ waiting 0or the. %hey .ar3he/ out with the guar/s 3lbehin/ the.

6(ure, an; this is a ni3e .ess, #;*alley gru.ble/

6Coul/ be worse, (tan sai/

%he guar/s le0t the. a0ter passing the. into the yar/ o0 their house %hey hea/e/ 0or their roo. Passing through the outhall, they saw that the le3ture was still going on in the liing roo. %hey went up the stairs

(tan opene/ the /oor an/ #;*alley shoe/ into the roo. 3lose behin/ hi. %hey stoo/ looking at (i.;s bunk %he straw

ti3king o0 the .attress ha/ been slit open an/ so.e o0 the straw was s3attere/ on the 0loor (i. was not in the roo. (tan

walke/ oer to a little table #ne s.all light bulb was 0loo/ing the roo. with light

6e was here an/ le0t in a hurry e /i/n;t turn o00 the light

6I;. gettin; out o; here, #;*alley growle/6(it /own 5e;re staying, (tan sai/ sharply e pulle/ o00 his 3oat an/ tosse/ it a3ross his bunk, then he seate/ hi.sel0 othe 0oot o0 his be/

65e;re going to get it in the ne3k, anyway, #;*alley s3owle/

6Do you know where we are, in what part o0 Ger.any

6(o.ewhere near ?erlin, #;*alley sai/


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6(ure, but where 5e nee/ .ore /ope on the groun/s an/ on the 3ountry aroun/ us 5e woul/n;t get a .ile 0ro. this pri

0ar. i0 we /i/ break out

#;*alley sat /own on his be/ 6(ure, you;re right 5e shoul/ hae ha/ (i. tell us so.ething about this /eal

6Now that you .ention it, (i. neer tol/ us anything, (tan sai/

6Probably /i/n;t know anything, #;*alley growle/

%hey sat looking at ea3h other, waiting, trying to /is3oer so.e lea/ that .ight help the. +inally (tan sai/:

65e;ll hae to 3lean up that straw an/ 0i2 (i.;s be/ be0ore anyone 3o.es in here snooping aroun/

6Yeah, #;*alley sai/ but he /i/ not .oe

CHAPTER VIII

FLIGHT

(tan began 3leaning up their roo. so that the guar/s 3he3king roo.s that night woul/ not noti3e (i. ha/ gone e wantgie (i. as .u3h o0 a start as possible 5hile he was brushing the straw un/er (i.;s bunk the /oor opene/ ?oth boys

turne/ =ui3kly In the /oorway stoo/ (i. is lips were parte/ in a thin s.ile

6(i. (tan took a step towar/ the /oor 65e thought you ha/ gone

6uiet, (i. whispere/ 6Co.e with .e

e turne/ an/ .oe/ out into the hall with (tan an/ #;*alley at his heels %hey walke/ /own the hall an/ into a 3ornerroo. (i. 3rosse/ the roo. an/ opene/ a win/ow %hey saw a rope /angling oer the sill

(tan peere/ into the /arkness below but 3oul/ see nothing 6%here shoul/ be a guar/ right un/er this win/ow, he whispe

6e has been taken 3are o0, (i. hisse/ 6You go /own 5e will 0ollow

6Di/n;t you get any guns or grena/es #;*alley aske/

6No, (i. answere/ sharply 6urry

(tan 3li.be/ through the win/ow an/ sli/ /own the rope 5hen his 0eet hit the groun/ he wiggle/ the rope $ .inute lat

#;*alley was at his si/e (i. arrie/ within another .inute e 3aught the boys; ar.s an/ began .oing away 0ro. the

house

(i. le/ the. to the wall an/ along it until they 3a.e to a gate It was open (i. pause/ an/ (tan an/ #;*alley peere/ os.all light burne/ aboe the gate %he light reeale/ a tru3k 0ille/ with 3ans (tan grinne/ in the /arkness %he tru3k was

garbage lorry %he night breeBe 3arrie/ that in0or.ation to hi. %he tru3k s.elle/ ery strong

65e hi/e a.ong the 3ans, (i. whispere/

$t that .o.ent two .en appeare/ 3arrying a 3an %hey heae/ it into the tru3k #ne o0 the. 0astene/ a 3hain a3ross the

opening, then they .oe/ towar/ the 3ab o0 the tru3k

65hen the light is snappe/ o00 (i. whispere/

+ro. the kit3hen o0 the house a oi3e shoute/ so.ething in Ger.an %he tru3k /rier answere/ %he light snappe/ o00 an

(i. starte/ 0orwar/ with the boys besi/e hi. %he tru3k was sputtering an/ ba3k0iring, pouring out rank s.oke as theyrea3he/ it %hey went into it as it lur3he/ 0orwar/ $ll o0 the 3ans 3a.e 3langing ba3k against the 3hain, al.ost shoing t

boys out

ui3kly the three .oe/ 3ans until they were up in the 0ront o0 the tru3k ne2t to the 3ab %here they 3rou3he/ /own with

knees pulle/ up %he 3ans .a/e so .u3h noise there was no /anger o0 the boys being hear/

6;%is a sweet s.ellin; 3ab ye 3alle/, #;*alley obsere/


31/54


32/54

%he /oor 3lose/ su//enly an/ (tan hear/ the .an walking oer grael towar/ the. %hey a/an3e/ to .eet hi. (i. sp

as soon as he was 3lose

65e were sent by ans

6Goot Co.e, I show you, the .an answere/

%hey walke/ with hi. to the house an/ he opene/ the /oor 6ui3k, he .u.ble/ e began pushing the. through the /

%here was no nee/ to shoe %he boys /ie/ insi/e an/ the Ger.an 3lose/ the /oor e .oe/ to a win/ow an/ pulle/ /

the blin/, then he 0a3e/ the. e was a short .an with a bee0y 0a3e is sto.a3h rolle/ out oer a wi/e leather belt

6I get you 3lothes, he sai/ gru00ly

Disappearing into another roo. he returne/ a0ter a ti.e with an ar.loa/ o0 3lothing whi3h he tosse/ on a table %he boys3hange/ into rough shirts an/ /ungarees %he 3lothing was 3oarse, but it was 3lean %he Ger.an gathere/ up their uni0or.

6%hese I burn, he sai/ an/ le0t with the.

65e hae to .oe on at on3e, (i. sai/ 6%his pla3e will be sear3he/ be0ore .orning %he Ger.ans are ery thorough

%he boys seate/ the.seles an/ waite/ %heir host was gone 0or a long ti.e +inally (i. got up

6I;ll go hurry hi. along, he sai/ 6You stay right here e le0t the roo. hurrie/ly

6(i. is no nut e has this all worke/ out, #;*alley sai/

6e 3ertainly has, (tan agree/ e got up an/ .oe/ to the /oor (i. ha/ @ust 3lose/ #pening it gently he went into a /

roo. +eeling his way he .oe/ to another /oor e 3oul/ see a sha0t o0 light un/er the /oor alting with his han/ on t

knob, he listene/ (i. was talking with their un/ergroun/ agent in Ger.an (tan opene/ the /oor =ui3kly %he two .enwhirle/ about an/ 0a3e/ hi.

6I /i/n;t know you spoke Ger.an, (tan sai/

6You shoul/ not be sneaking aroun/, the Ger.an sai/ sharply

6I hae always spoken Ger.an, (i. answere/ 6I learne/ it in s3hool ba3k ho.e ow /i/ you think I .anage/ to line

things up so well i0 I /i/n;t know Ger.an

65e got worrie/, (tan sai/ 6%hought so.ething .ight hae happene/ to you

6I @ust wante/ to .ake sure these uni0or.s were burne/, (i. sai/ an/ laughe/ 6Ger.an 0ar.ers are thri0ty people %hehate to burn goo/ wool 3loth, whi3h 3an;t be bought 0or any pri3e here %hese people hae only ersatB 3loth

65e go now, the Ger.an sai/ an/ s3owle/ at (tan

6Di/ he burn the. (tan aske/

6e burie/ the. in his or3har/ 5e /on;t hae ti.e to waste haing hi. /ig the. up, (i. answere/

#;*alley ha/ hear/ the talking an/ @oine/ the. in the kit3hen

6"erybo/y;s here, so let;s go, (tan sai/ e was trying to re.e.ber i0 (i.


33/54

%he gui/e untie/ a horse an/ le/ it out through a ba3k /oor %here, by the light o0 the stars, the boys saw a two>wheele/ 3

loa/e/ with hay %he Ger.an hit3he/ the horse to the 3art

6i/e in the hay, he sai/

%he boys 3li.be/ into the 3art an/ burrowe/ un/er the hay (tan worke/ his way well 0orwar/ with #;*alley an/ (i. 3l

besi/e hi. %hey were 0or3e/ to lie ery 3lose together be3ause the 3art was narrow %hey worke/ an opening 0or air an/

on the har/ boar/s %he Ger.an spoke to the horse an/ the 3art .oe/ o00%he 3art @oggle/ oer rutty roa/s 0or hours Daylight began to show through the straw opening (tan wiggle/ oer againsslats on the si/e o0 the 3art an/ poke/ a hole to look through %hey were .oing along a 3ountry lane %he 3art turne/ ou

a wagon passe/ It was loa/e/ with 0ar. workers ?ehin/ the wagon 3a.e a .otor3y3le an/ si/e3ar $ Ger.an sol/ier sa

the si/e3ar, while another, with a ri0le slung a3ross his ba3k, /roe the .otor3y3le %he /rier shoute/ at the Ger.an on t

seat o0 the 3art, but he /i/ not stop hi.

#;*alley began s=uir.ing e was in the .i//le an/ 3oul/ see nothing at all

6?e still (i. snappe/ 6You;ll shake hay loose an/ so.eone .ay be3o.e suspi3ious

#;*alley lay still but he .a/e (tan tell hi. what he saw %hey passe/ other wagons loa/e/ with slae labor going to the

0iel/s, as well as .any 0ar.ers, both .en an/ wo.en, on the way to work

%he Ger.an kept on /riing an/ no one stoppe/ hi. Noon 3a.e an/ he still kept on %he boys were getting hungry an/

thirsty, but the /rier /i/ not halt e pulle/ out a bag 0ro. un/er the seat an/ .un3he/ a sausage san/wi3h, washing the0oo/ /own with /raughts 0ro. a brown @ug #;*alley was able to see this

6(ure, an; I;e a .in/ to rea3h up there an; grab that san/wi3h, he sai/ hungrily

6?etter not, (tan warne/

#;*alley hel/ his appetite in 3he3k, but he kept on gru.bling

6(top wat3hing hi. eat, (tan a/ise/ in a whisper

6(ure, an; I 3an;t take .e eyes o00 that sausage san/wi3h A%is the .ost appetiBin; thing I ier seen, #;*alley sai/

.ourn0ully

%he 3art rattle/ through a illage an/ .oe/ on /own another narrow lane Presently they 3a.e to a gate an/ the /rier

pulle/ up (tan /u3ke/ ba3k

6Ger.an sol/iers, he whispere/ warningly

%he sol/iers were shouting at the /rier e got /own an/ began talking to the. e23ite/ly

6%hey;re looking 0or es3ape/ prisoners, #;*alley whispere/ in (tan;s ear

%hree burly sol/iers walke/ oer to the 3art an/ began thrusting their bayonets into the hay (tan sti00ene/ I0 he was stabhe .eant to .ake no out3ry e 0elt the 3ol/ steel .oe a3ross his bo/y a 0ew in3hes 0ro. his 3hest It slippe/ ba3k, then

stabbe/ again (tan was gla/ the be/ o0 the 3art ha/ a ten>in3h high boar/ aroun/ it

$0ter .ore shouting an/ poking the /rier got ba3k on his seat an/ the 3art .oe/ 0orwar/

6?oy, (tan .uttere/ 6%hat was a 3lose shae

6I got a s.all 3ut, (i. sai/

6$n/ you /i/n;t yell #;*alley spoke a/.iringly6It woul/ hae been the en/ 0or us i0 I ha/ yelle/, (i. answere/

%he 3art 3ontinue/ to @og along slowly 'ong sha/ows 0ell a3ross the roa/ an/ the 3art passe/ .any 0ar.ers returning 0ro

the 0iel/s

6I 3oul/ eat a boile/ /og, #;*alley gru.ble/

65e;ll eat later, (i. assure/ hi.

Darkness settle/ slowly %he /rier turne/ o00 the roa/ into a narrower lane as soon as it was /ark


34/54

6No traeling is allowe/ a0ter /ark, (i. e2plaine/ 65e .ust be near our se3on/ station

%he 3art halte/ an/ the /rier 3alle/ to the.

6Co.e out now

%hey 3li.be/ out an/ 0le2e/ sti00 .us3les #;*alley 0a3e/ the /rier

6I;. hungry Got any 0oo/6Co.e with .e, the .an sai/

%hey entere/ a groe o0 trees an/ walke/ up to a tiny house %he house was /ark but, with the ai/ o0 a 0lashlight, the gui/

lo3ate/ a trap /oor un/er so.e loose straw e pulle/ it upwar/, reealing a stairs %he boys went /own into a 3ellar wh

their gui/e lighte/ an oil la.p

%he 3ellar s.elle/ stale but it ha/ bo2es to sit on an/ a table %here was a bo2 on the table

6Your 0oo/, the Ger.an sai/, no//ing towar/ the bo2

e turne/ away an/ went upstairs again %hey hear/ hi. 3lose the /oor an/ rake straw oer it #;*alley opene/ the bo2 on3e It 3ontaine/ a loa0 o0 heay brea/, a 0ew pie3es o0 3ol/ sausage an/ three boile/ potatoes $lso there was a @ug whi

3ontaine/ .ilk

(i. pro/u3e/ a heay 3lasp kni0e an/ 3ut the brea/ %he boys .a/e san/wi3hes an/ .un3he/ the. %he @ug was passe/

aroun/ an/ they /rank out o0 it

6(ure, an; this is not a ba/ /inner, #;*alley sai/ 6It 3o.pares 0aorably with the last roast /u3k /inner I ha/ in 'on/one grinne/ at (tan

$0ter 0inishing their .eal the boys sat waiting 0or their gui/e

6e has to 3are 0or his horse an/ /ispose o0 the hay, (i. e2plaine/

CHAPTER IX

TRAPPED

%he boys le0t the 3ellar ery soon a0ter 0inishing their .eal %heir gui/e le/ the. /own a 3ountry lane %hey hike/ along

stea/ily 0or seeral hours, then /etoure/ through a 0iel/, .aking a wi/e 3ir3le

65e hae to go aroun/ the patrol stations on the roa/, (i. e2plaine/

6It;s ni3e to hae a gui/e who knows the way, (tan sai/

6I un/erstan/ the patrol posts are 3leerly hi//en 5ithout a gui/e a .an walking /own the lane woul/ trip an alar. wire

an/ be 3aught in no ti.e at all (i. see.e/ to know all about the .etho/s use/ by the NaBis to trap anyone 0leeing the

3ountry

%hey kept walking until .i/night %hen they reste/ 0or a hal0>hour, lying in a he/ge besi/e the roa/ $0ter .i/night they

.oe/ .ore slowly (eeral ti.es they /ie/ into the 0iel/s along the roa/ to aoi/ patrols .oing swi0tly along the lane

.otor3y3les #n3e they al.ost ran into a bi3y3le patrol %he 3y3lists /i/ not .ake any noise an/ were upon the boys be0o

they ha/ ti.e to /u3k $ lea0y he/ge sae/ the. 0ro. being sighte/

65e will hae to 3ross the Dut3h bor/er soon, (i. sai/ a0ter talking with their gui/e

6%here won;t be .u3h o0 a guar/ there, will there (tan aske/ 6%he Ger.ans hae .a/e ollan/ a part o0 Ger.any

6%here is a stri3t bor/er 3ontrol, the gui/e answere/ 6%he Dut3h are @ust pigs an/ are kept in their pen

6%hat;s what the NaBis say, (i. a//e/

6(ure, the gui/e agree/ 6%he NaBis say that


35/54

6ow are we to get through (tan aske/ 6You .ust hae a .etho/ whi3h works

6(ure, the gui/e sai/ 6?ut it has always been risky 5e .ay be separate/ I0 we are separate/, you will ask a Dut3h.an

take you to J7 *a.ur in $rnhe. Do not speak to a Dut3h.an wearing a swastika $sk only o0 a 0ar.er or other workin

person

65e all will .eet there, (i. sai/ 6$0ter that, we will hae no .ore trouble %he Dut3h will take 3are o0 us

6Now we go, the gui/e sai/

6$t any rate, we know where we are, (tan sai/ to #;*alley 6$rnhe. isn;t so 0ar 0ro. otter/a.

6(ure, an; that @ust .eans nothin; to .e I;. sti3kin; with this here gui/e, #;*alley answere/

%hey .oe/ along at a 0ast pa3e 0or so.e ti.e +inally the Ger.an 3alle/ a halt %here see.e/ to be =uite a bit o0 a3tiitahea/ besi/es, /awn was not 0ar away %hey ha/ spent .ost o0 the last hour /u3king patrols roaring up an/ /own the lan

65e .ust .oe ery 3are0ully now 5e will leae the roa/ Eeep 3lose to .e, the gui/e sai/ in a low oi3e

%he party .oe/ o00 the roa/ an/ through a he/ge ?eyon/ the he/ge they 0oun/ the.seles in a plowe/ 0iel/ %he groun

was so0t an/ /a.p *oing slowly now, be3ause they sunk in to their boot tops, the boys 3rosse/ the 0iel/ an/ 3a.e to a

3anal (tan 3oul/ see .urky water in the /it3h e @u/ge/ the 3anal was about 0i0teen 0eet wi/e

%hey 0ollowe/ the 3anal 0or so.e /istan3e 'ights ahea/ 3ause/ the gui/e to halt (tan 3oul/ see .en on both si/es o0 the

3anal %hey were silhouette/ against the sky an/ were .oing ba3k an/ 0orth

65e .ust pass through the guar/ lines here, the gui/e whispere/ 6%here will be sol/iers with ri0les on ea3h si/e o0 the3anal %here is .u3h barbe/ wire an/ .any ele3tri3al alar.s along the bor/er 5e .ust take to the 3anal

6(ure, an/ it looks 3ol/, that water, #;*alley .uttere/

65e will keep 3lose to the bank, two on ea3h si/e 5hen we pass the guar/s aboe we .ust 3rou3h /own in the water an

stay against the bank 5e .ust go ery slow 5aes or .oe.ent o0 the water will be noti3e/

6'ea/ on, (tan sai/ gri.ly 6'et;s get it oer with

6%hose on the 0ar bank will wa/e a3ross a0ter we pass the bor/er 5e will then go to $rnhe. an/ hi/e there /uring the /a

%he Ger.an was sli/ing /own the bank into the water as he spoke

6#;*alley an/ I will 3ross oer, (tan sai/ e wante/ to keep #;*alley with hi.

%he water was i3y an/ nu.be/ their bo/ies al.ost at on3e (tan an/ #;*alley wa/e/ a3ross the 3anal %he botto. was.u//y an/ the water 3a.e up to their ne3ks 5ith 3hattering teeth they rea3he/ the 0ar bank an/ began .oing along in

bla3k sha/ows ne2t to oerhanging grass

(lowly the boys in3he/ 0orwar/, being 3are0ul not to sen/ ripples out a3ross the water $s they neare/ the sentry post the

water was well lighte/ 0ro. ele3tri3 0loo/lights set on ea3h bank (tan halte/ an/ 0lattene/ hi.sel0 against the grass

$ sentry was stan/ing on ea3h bank, his ri0le butt resting on the groun/ ?oth were looking /own at the 3anal intently (tpulle/ #;*alley 3lose to hi.

65e;ll hae to get /own until @ust our hea/s sti3k out, then in3h 0orwar/, he whispere/

6In3h away, #;*alley whispere/ ba3k is teeth rattle/ lou/er than his wor/s

(tan sank /own into the water an/ they began .oing slowly ahea/ In3h by in3h they entere/ the lighte/ area an/ .oe

on $ water rat swa. past the. in the .i//le o0 the 3anal It le0t a wi/e ripple behin/ it, an/ the sentries @erke/ up their g#ne o0 the. laughe/ an/ pi3ke/ up a ro3k e tosse/ it at the rat %he rat /ie/ with a lou/ splash ?oth sol/iers laughe/

lou/ly an/ one o0 the. lighte/ a 3igarette

(tan shoe/ ahea/ a bit 0aster %hey .oe/ /ire3tly un/er the sentries an/ kept on going (lowly they e/ge/ away /own strea. %he light on the water be3a.e /i..er an/ 0inally 0a/e/ out

6ow about 3rossin; oer I;. 0roBen sti00, #;*alley hisse/ between 3hattering teeth

6#E, (tan answere/ %hey .oe/ out into the 3anal an/ wa/e/ a3ross

Cli.bing out on the bank, they sat shaking an/ shu//ering


36/54

65on/er where (i. is #;*alley aske/

65e better wait here %hey .ay not hae .oe/ as 0ast as we /i/ (tan began rubbing his legs to war. the.

%hey hear/ no soun/s e23ept those 3o.ing 0ro. the post on the bank o0 the 3anal +inally (tan .oe/

65e staye/ in the 3anal =uite a long /istan3e %hey .ay be up or /own the 3anal ?ut no .atter whi3h way, they are sure

be waiting 0or us 5e 3an;t stay here be3ause /aylight will be breaking ery soon I;ll work .y way ba3k towar/ the bor

you .oe the other way 5hen we 0in/ the., we;ll turn ba3k an/ .eet

6Goo/ i/ea, #;*alley agree/ e .oe/ o00 at on3e

(tan hea/e/ ba3k along the bank o0 the 3anal e kept as 3lose to the e/ge as he /are/, be3ause he 0igure/ (i. an/ theGer.an woul/ be sitting on the bank $0ter going a 0ew yar/s he got /own on his han/s an/ knees an/ 3rawle/ e woul

able to go only a 0ew yar/s .ore be3ause the 0loo/lights were growing strong In a 0ew .ore .inutes he 3oul/ turn ba3k

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A Yankee Flier Over Berlin

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