Part 15 (1/2)
The words seemed to explode in his ears He jerked his head around and saw the strained features of Colonel Welsh The Intelligence Officer's eyes ith both anger and amazement His lips ain ”That was close! It would have been too close, but for you, Dawson! What's that down--”
”A nazi raider that was carrying the seaplane,” Dawson cut hih Even our radio is smashed, so we can't send out her position But the pilot and co-pilot, Colonel! Get help and get them aft The pilot is still alive, I think, but this chap--”
Dawson stopped as he turned and looked at the co-pilot in the seat next to his Cold rage filled his heart, and his bitter hatred of all things nazi flared up again Too many tinize it now Nothing in the world could help the co-pilot He had passed on to join his buddies in the airet to work on the pilot behind me!” Dawson said with a sharpness he didn't realize was in his voice ”There must be a oing Or do you want to turn back?”
”No, keep going!” the colonel replied ”It wouldn't do to turn back now
Here, Corporal! Give me a hand with your pilot Where's the medical kit?”
The last words were directed to one of the aircraft's creho had come forward into the compartment Dawson paid no attention to hiine started to kick up a bit, and he had to give all his attention to getting it to run slow of the flares had faded out, and the B-25 was thundering on through the darkness of the night Dawson switched on the sht so that he could keep a careful check on engine performance and hold the aircraft to her course across the Atlantic Only once did he take his attention fro, and that hen the dead co-pilot was lifted froe burned within Dave, as it always did when one of his countryripped the control wheel hard to prevent his hands fro
Presently somebody slid into the co-pilot's seat and touched him on the arlish youth said in a voice that shook with feeling ”Fancy we've all got you to thank for saving our hides
Personally, I was too scared to ruff affection ”Anybody can haul a plane out of a dive If it hadn't been for your sweet shooting, that rat rief, how did you know?” Freddy gasped ”You couldn't see me from here!”
”I didn't have to look back,” Dawson chuckled ”I si it was and knew at once you were behind the guns How's the pilotout, or don't you know?”
”Not too bad, for which he can thank his lucky stars,” the English youth replied ”He'll pull through all right, but I guess the chap will be out of the war for some time What kind of blasted business was it, anyway, Dave? That beggar aiting for us right up on top, with his confounded flares We were--well, as you would say, a sitting duck”
”Yeah, and ere darn near a dead pigeon, too!” Dawson said grimly
”But how, and why? Don't ask ure out this crazy mess To me it looks like one of those little ite about Unless--”
”Unless what, Dave?” Freddy Farmer pressed as Dawson fell silent
”Unless there's no connection at all,” the Yank air ace finally remarked
”I' Farmer said
”What do you ure it this way,” Dawson replied ”Say that the President's forthco trip to Casablanca is as much of a perfect secret as ever
That--”
”But that's silly!” Freddy Farmer cut in ”The fact that this plane was ent found out as in one of those sealed envelopes I h would have the President aboard”
”Are you all through sounding off?” Dave snapped ”Or don't you want to hear the rest of what I have to say?”
”Sorry, and all that!” the English youth snapped right back at hi to say, Dave?”
”Figure the President's trip business _out_,” Daent on speaking again ”Okay So for what other reason should we be attacked by a mysterious plane from a mysterious raider in the middle of the Atlantic?