Chapter Six

Sis,

Got your letter. Our best bet is to try to meet in London. I will send you a wire when I get leave. I’m due for some time off. In the meantime, butter up whoever you need to so when you get my wire you can get a few days and come to London. Sounds like you’re not too far out. You should be able to make it in to the city by train easy. We’ll kick up our heels and have a real reunion.

Milton

****

“Kitty, can you proofread this for me?” Sally stood at her shoulder.

“Just put it there.” She nodded toward the left of her typewriter. “I’ll look at it after I finish this.”

“Thanks. You’re a peach.”

Kitty focused on her notes. What she found most difficult was blocking out all the people, the sounds, the commotion around her. She reminded herself how their work supported the war effort. It had to be as good as the mechanics who repaired the airplanes, as accurate as the map makers, treated with as much care as the ammunition handlers. The paperwork mattered, too. Planning, strategies, reports, orders all played a vital part in winning the war.

She quickly rolled the finished pages from the typewriter and began proofreading. She prided herself on her accuracy, yet she knew she made mistakes. The trick was to catch them herself and correct them before anyone else saw them. And she’d perfected her technique for erasures to a point that someone had to look very closely to spot any corrections she’d made, even on the carbons.

This time no corrections were needed. She smiled, pleased with herself. She loved the sense of satisfaction at having done a good job. Why didn’t everyone feel the same? She picked up Sally’s pages and scanned the typed words absently picking up her pencil to mark a mistake.

A male voice caught her attention. She fought the urge to look up. Instead she focused harder on the task at hand. Sixty seconds and two marks later, she laid down the pages and looked around. Lieutenant Kruger leaned over Madge’s desk a short distance away. They kept their voices low until Madge giggled. Ted’s deep laughter rippled across the room. Heads came up, drawn to the melodious sound.

Kitty pushed back her chair and stood. She could not stop herself from staring at the two who held the attention of the entire office. Ted basked in the attention, but Madge appeared uncharacteristically ill at ease as dozens of eyes watched her.

“You’d better go,” Madge told him, “before the sergeant comes back.”

“Okay, babe.” Ted grinned and turned to face the room. He took a sweeping bow. “Good day, ladies.” Then he waltzed from the room as if he were royalty.

What a ham. Kitty shook her head in disapproval.

“You’re just jealous,” Madge commented, as if she’d read Kitty’s mind.

“I’m not jealous. I just wish he wouldn’t come in here and disrupt our work.”

“Work isn’t everything.”

“It’s what we’re here for. You two can go and kid around after your shift.”

Madge smiled broadly. “Don’t worry. We will.”

Kitty handed the papers to Sally. “I marked the errors. Only three.”

“Thanks, Kitty. I’ll fix them right away.”

“Be careful. Don’t rub a hole in the paper like you did yesterday. Do it like I showed you. Then you won’t have to start over.”

“I’ll be careful,” Sally assured her.

Kitty glanced back at Madge, who’d returned to her typing, yet she still smiled. Kitty had to admit, if only to herself, that she was envious. No man had ever paid her that kind of attention.

Somehow Ted managed to stop by every day. Some days he showed up twice. And every time he made a fuss over Madge. No wonder she absolutely glowed with happiness.

Life wasn’t fair. He was my dream. He was the one who was going to come back into my life and sweep me off my feet, just like in the movies. Instead, he had reappeared and swept her best friend off her feet. Worst of all, he didn’t even remember her.

She tried to shake off the bad feelings. She was happy for Madge. She really was. And she was determined not to feel sorry for herself. Someone would show up some day, and he’d love her for who she was. And she’d love him with all her heart. And they’d live happily ever after, just like in the fairy tales, just like in her dreams.

For now she’d do her job. Work to win the war so they could all go back home to start the rest of their lives.

****

Maps spread across the large table. Ted studied the area around Berlin, Germany, and compared the aerial photos with the map. Carefully he marked the location of the factory the bombers would target. This information would be critical. If he marked it incorrectly, then the bombs could fall on useless, non-military locations. He drove the thoughts of civilian casualties from his mind. There were always civilian casualties, but it couldn’t be helped. And his guilt would not stop the bombing. He had to do his job, to the best of his abilities. Only ending the war would stop the killing.

“Lieutenant Kruger.”

Ted looked up. Colonel Snyder stood in the doorway.

Ted straightened and saluted the officer. “Sir.”

The colonel sauntered into the room, giving a casual salute as he moved. “Do you have the flight plans for tomorrow’s target?”

“Not yet. It’ll be a tough one for the bombers. Heavy flack through here”—he pointed to an area on the map—“and here.” He pointed to the second area, his mind plotting alternate approaches.

“This target is critical,” Colonel Snyder insisted. “We must eliminate the enemy’s ability to continue. Destroy their morale. And we must control the skies.” The colonel continued to move around the table, his focus on every detail.

“Yes, sir. I understand. I was just thinking about how the bombers should approach the target. We had heavy losses the last time.”

“Work it out, Lieutenant. We must disrupt their production of war materials, even if we cannot completely destroy it.” He looked up from the map and caught Ted’s gaze. “Do what you can but remember, losses are inevitable. We must focus on destroying the target.”

Ted stood straight and faced his superior officer, trying to remember how many missions the man had flown. It wasn’t many. Not enough to fully understand what the men he sent on these missions had to endure. It didn’t matter, not to Snyder or any of the brass. They were running this war. All he could do was follow orders.

“How many planes are we sending?” Ted asked after a few moments.

“All the available planes in the wing. Maximum effort.”

Ted fought to contain his emotions. The brass used ten percent losses as acceptable. On the last mission to Germany, the losses had been over twenty percent. Too many. But Snyder didn’t care.

“Perhaps if we approach from the northeast, through here.” He used the pointer to show the colonel where he meant. “Maybe they wouldn’t expect that. There might be less flack. Fewer fighters.”

The colonel nodded. “It might work. But they’ll spot us when we cross the coastline, send the fighters. Then the fighters warn the anti-aircraft batteries.” He shook his head. “You know there are no surprises over Germany as long as the Luftwaffe is flying.” He pointed to the map again. “Besides the city is ringed by anti-aircraft guns.”

“Yes, sir. I know.” Disheartened as he was, Ted had to do his job.

Colonel Snyder walked around the table and looked at the map from a different angle. “Go ahead and plot a course. Then we’ll go over it and see how it works out.”

“Yes, sir. Give me an hour or so to work out the details.”

The officer nodded and headed for the door.

“Colonel.” Ted drew a deep breath and asked the question he’d been withholding for over a week. “Have you considered my request for transfer back to the bombers?”

Colonel Snyder stopped and frowned at him. “I don’t understand why you would want to put yourself in such danger. Not when you can contribute as much or more right here.”

“I’m a trained navigator. I want to finish my twenty-five missions. After that I could go back to the states and train the new guys. Pass on my combat experience.”

Colonel Snyder stepped closer and narrowed his gaze, looking straight into Ted’s eyes. “I think there’s more to it than that. I think you want to put yourself in harm’s way.” He hesitated a moment. “Does this request of yours have anything to do with the fact your original crew was shot down after you were wounded?”

Ted started to deny it, but he couldn’t. He had to be honest with himself as well as the colonel.

“I admit that’s part of it. But I was trained to fly missions, and I’m no better than anyone else. Why should I stay behind here when others are putting themselves in danger every day?”

“Well, I need you right now. So get to work.” He spun on his heel and departed.

“But you’ll think about it?” Ted called after him.

Let me get back up there where I belong.

****

Ted lit a cigarette and strolled at a leisurely pace in the general direction of the castle. He was in no hurry to return to the planning office. Colonel Snyder had been deep in conversation with General Lake when he’d left the officers’ mess, so he figured he had a little time to relax before tackling the night’s task. Let the brass argue it out before he spent any more time on it.

He paused and looked around. A few men headed for the Officers’ Club. He wouldn’t mind dropping in for a beer. On second thought, he’d better not. Colonel Snyder wouldn’t like it if he smelled it on his breath. Ted needed to stay on Colonel Snyder’s good side so he’d approve Ted’s request for a transfer.

Looking back toward the castle, he saw a WAC emerge from the building. Why would Madge be working late?

It didn’t take but a minute to realize that the WAC wasn’t Madge. She didn’t walk with that distinctive style, almost a swagger that dared men to look. No, this girl had a different air about her. Confident, yet relaxed. Not military at all, despite the uniform.

She looked familiar. As she drew closer, he recognized Madge’s friend, Kitty. The prickly one. The one who pretended she didn’t like him. He’d caught her looking sideways at him more than once, so he knew it wasn’t true. She probably thought with Madge around that she didn’t stand a chance—which was true. Not many women could measure up to Madge. But Kitty wasn’t bad. She had a sort of quiet appeal. Some guys preferred that to the flashy types like Madge. He, on the other hand, liked having the prettiest girl on base on his arm, the envy of every man around.

Before reaching the spot where he stood watching her, she took a path that cut across the once manicured lawn toward female territory. The Army believed in keeping the women separated from the men. From the warnings they’d gotten about fraternizing with the female soldiers, he half expected them to put up a fence and string barbed wire to keep them safe. But warnings hadn’t deterred the red-blooded American airmen. And he was no exception.

A little female companionship tonight would make a nice distraction. He threw down his cigarette butt and strode toward her.

“Hey there,” he called as he came closer. He didn’t want to scare her.

She stopped and turned. Even in the dim light of dusk, he could see her body tense. She straightened to attention and saluted. “Lieutenant.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he chided as he casually returned her salute.

“I don’t want to be accused of disregarding military protocol.”

Ted chuckled. “Are you always so formal?” He cocked his head sizing her up. “Don’t you ever let go? Relax a little?”

She didn’t reply but the tension in her body spoke volumes. She was nervous, didn’t want to be alone with him. Interesting.

“Running late for supper, aren’t you?” He kept his voice light, not threatening.

“I should make it…if I’m not delayed.”

She wasn’t very good at her attempt to get rid of him, but she’d given it a try. He wasn’t about to let her off so easy.

He grasped her elbow and turned her back toward her destination. “I’ll just walk with you. Make sure you get there okay.”

Rather than respond, she resumed her trek at a quicker pace. He hurried along beside her, determined not to let go of her arm. She wouldn’t get away that easy.

“You don’t like me, do you?”

“I wouldn’t say that.” She glanced his way. “I’m just concerned for Madge.”

“Oh, don’t worry about Madge. That girl can take care of herself.”

He couldn’t read her thoughts, not hurrying along at this pace. Her face showed only determination.

They crossed the main road and cut between buildings to reach the road into the WAC area. Finally she spoke again. “She likes you, a lot.”

Madge, she’s talking about Madge. “And I like her.”

“But you’re not serious.”

Her flat statement surprised him, and he couldn’t hold back his laughter. She had no idea how ludicrous she sounded. “You’ve got to be kidding. Nobody’s serious. Not over here.”

Her brows drew together wrinkling the skin between them as she glanced up at him. Something familiar in her frowning face stifled his amusement. His throat tightened. She wasn’t kidding. She really didn’t get it.

“We’re just having a good time, while we can,” he said. “You know what it’s like.” He released her arm and slowed down, unsure why he needed to explain himself. “There’s no point in thinking about the future. Not here. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. So we just have fun while we can.”

She stopped and looked him in the eye, her expression filled with concern—and something else. Anger, maybe. “Just make sure Madge understands that.”

Her words, and the way she looked at him, scared him a little.

“Are you saying she’s getting serious? About me?” The idea was incredible.

“Yes. I think so.”

“Well, that’s just nuts.” He reached up and scratched the back of his head, pushing his hat forward and to one side as he did.

She turned her head, but before she did, he saw her eyes crinkle, and he realized she was trying not to smile. And he wanted to see her smile, for him, just for him.

The women’s mess stood only a few feet away. She moved toward it. He jumped to her side and snatched his hat from his head.

Just before reaching the door she spoke. “Maybe so, but these things happen.” She faced him and nodded. “Good night, Lieutenant.”

He caught her arm again, unable to fight the urge to hold onto her. “What about you? Are you always so strait-laced? Don’t you ever have any fun?”

Her gaze darted to his face. Her eyes danced in the dim light. “Sometimes.” She drew a deep, ragged breath as if she were trying to calm her nerves. He watched her lips purse together and found himself wondering what she would taste like.

She tugged her arm from his grasp. An odd sense of loss crept from his fingertips, up his arm to settle in his chest. Much as he wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss that frown from her lips, he couldn’t make a scene, not here in front of the mess hall door.

“Goodnight,” she whispered.

He could only nod.

She disappeared, leaving a void in her wake.

From inside the clanking of dishes and pans merged with muffled voices. The familiar aromas of greasy food and stale coffee seeped through the flimsy door of the temporary building.

He turned away and forced his feet to move. Back to the castle. Back to work. Before Colonel Snyder sent someone to look for him.

****

Ted shook his head to rid his brain of Kitty’s image. What had happened? What was it about her frowning face that made him want to pull her into his arms? Why had he desperately wanted her to smile at him?

Maybe it was because she shied away from him, frowned at him every time he came around. Disapproval oozed from her, fueling his need to be the clown, to act out like a kid in school taunting the teacher by entertaining the other children.

He didn’t like to think of himself that way. He wasn’t a kid anymore. He’d grown up. He’d had to. In some ways he’d never been a kid, not like the others. His father’s death had made sure of that.

His mind returned to Kitty. Something drew him to her. Did he want her approval? She was Madge’s friend. And she had made it clear she was worried that Madge might get hurt.

He disagreed. Madge knew the score. She liked a good time just like he did.

And her luscious body, that picture perfect face, provided the perfect distraction from the dark depths that lingered under the surface. He couldn’t go there. Wouldn’t.

He’d think about beautiful, blonde Madge.

Then why did dark-haired, prim and proper Kitty creep into this thoughts? What was it about her?

A couple of times he’d caught her looking at him, as if she were trying to see through the façade. She knew. Somehow she knew he was putting on an act, knew all his bravado covered up his fear and his pain. But he didn’t sense condemnation. Her disapproval felt more like disappointment.

He wanted to fix that. Wanted her to like him. That was all it was. He just wanted Madge’s friend’s approval and friendship.

“There you are.” The young corporal came running down the hallway.

“What’s going on?” Ted asked.

“It’s Colonel Snyder. He’s on a rampage. Says we’ve got the flight path for tomorrow all wrong.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to him.” Ted gritted his teeth. He hated working for a man who didn’t care what happened to the men in those bombers.

“He’s gonna’ make us change it.” The non-com ran along trying to keep up with Ted’s long strides. “He says it’ll take too much fuel.”

“He won’t change it. Not if he wants enough planes to get to the target to do any damage.” The route ran through his brain, the exact location of all the flack zones, the approach to the target. He’d managed to devise a route that avoided the worst of it.

Snyder hadn’t flown that many missions. He didn’t have to face the flack, the fighters. He preferred to stay behind and give orders rather than risk his own life.

An idea popped into Ted’s head, and he smiled. It was devious but it might just work.

“What are you thinking?” the corporal asked warily.

“I’m going to talk Colonel Snyder into leading this mission.”

“What!” The young man’s astonishment morphed into laughter. “You devil! That’d serve him right.” He patted Ted on the back. “You’re a genius.”

They’d almost reached their destination when the corporal asked, “How are you going to do it?”

Ted stopped and smiled down at the shorter man. “I heard Colonel Stewart led the last mission. Everybody’s impressed with him. Enough to get him promoted again, maybe even give him a group.” He looked toward the door and thought of the men waiting there. “If they give him one, that means a group leader gets bumped up here, to the wing. Snyder wants to be in line to take over the wing, but he’s afraid of the competition.”

“And if he leads a mission, it’ll look good on his record. Make points with the old man.”

“Exactly.” Ted smiled thinking of the squirming colonel. “Of course, it wouldn’t do if he got shot down or killed, now would it?”