The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-17
A YANK In
THE R. A. F.
Rx HARLAN THOMAS

ny sloft TIL then. The motor
throbbed dryly. missed sputtsred,
pulled once more with burst #
final explosive coughs. and then
vent dead. At once, in the silence,
the sound Of the wind increased.
Il hummed. grew and sang The
ship ghded through q belt Of misty
morning clouds. Now they could
see farms and villages approach
ing. Better ask the stewardess to
fasten your safety belts, TIM
said grimly. We're making an
unseheduled landing
Neither Morley nor Harry left
the plane. They stood immobilized,
fascinated by Tim and the long
descent. He was eoaxing her, hold
ing her up over ripples OF breeze,
using every last margin Of buoy
anev which the air afforded, gid
ing closer, closer. until they could
see the blue water breaking before
them. the line Of rocks and the
bright ribbon Of beach almost
within their grasp.
He hoped the last trees and
hedges. lost the remaining feet of
his altitude and bounded and
crunched along the sand. Tsey
stopped.
Bloody good show, Baker, said
Morley.
Thanks Tim answered wryly.
Glad you noticed 1t. I'll make a
note of that in my diary"
Morley Strengthened up sharply.
You're the navigator. Well, where
are We ."
Tim looked out of the window.
Holland"
Certain Of it >"
That's a bloody windmill over
there. isn't IT ="
Dawn had grown into morning.
The first warm eolors had been
fleeing. the sky grew overcast,
chill and windy. Channel waves
were beginning to be kicked up.
The shore, which first had seemed
so hospitsble, now looked bleak
and lonely
Holland, Ell? Cor mlimey"
Harry said Familiarity, assuming
that discipline need not be pre-
served in a plane that mad been
forced down. Wei, there's a bit
of luck for you, now" he grinned.
Us coming down in neutral
eountry-with no more than a bit
of sea between us and 'ome-when
| was all set to be concentrated
into a concentration eamp-wot >"
IF there's windmill here, there's
sure to be a house" Tim drawled:
and if there's house there's sure
10 be telephone or even an auto
mobile All we've got to do is to
steal it and drive straight into
town for breakfast - and intern
ment" He grinned.
Harry looked bewildered. They
started to leave. Morley went last.
At the door ne paused, took a Gig
arctic, put il into his mouth, and
in his most off-hand voice said,
Have you a match ?"
Tim searched and handed him a
box. IN join you in a moment"
Morley said matter-of-fectly.
Tim jumped out: Don't bother"
he called back. I'm tell them the
Captain went down with his ship"
Morley looked at him angrily for
a moment, and then disappeared
into the plane
Tim and Harry walked off. not
talking. When they had gone
about hundred feet, they stopped.
Both glanced hack at once, They
saw a puff of smoke rising from
the interior of the ship. Then Nor
ley appeared ate the door and
jumped out. In a moment the
flames burst
Tim and Harry peeled off their
heavy flying suits As Harry
watched, the black swath Of
smoke began billowing from the
ship. He grew mournful. Suddenly
Tim laughed, it was a hard, Bit
ter. cynical outburst.
If you ask me. sir, it amt moth
IN to laugh at" Harry said. hurt.
And to think" Tim threw out
disgustedly, to think that 1 gay.
up a thousand-a-week JOB for this,
God! ought to have my head
examined"
! stiil don't grasp 1t, sir"
Harry protested.
You don't. en- -
We can carry on, you know.
sir"
On skip 1t, Harry, for Gods
sake
Morley Joined them. The three
men watched the snip cracking.
sputtering, bursting into darts and
sheets OF flame Then. saying
nothing, they turned away and
started down the lonely, wind
swept beach.
10 Be Continued)