human
Gives a chap a bit of a spooky feeling, all this, doesn't it? he said.
gpt
Like sort of sitting around waiting for an unexploded bomb to go off.
human
Something like, yes, Dave grunted.
gpt
But this'll be more than just a bomb when it goes off. More like an ammo dump, I'd say. And a couple of dozen of them, too. How do you feel, Freddy?
human
Scared stiff, and absolutely pink! was the prompt reply.
gpt
And you?
human
Ditto! Dave echoed.
gpt
My knees are sure getting to know each other, the way they're knocking together. I don't dare sit down for fear they'll freeze solid, and won't let me get up. Boy! I sure wish it was time to get going!
human
Won't be long, now, Freddy murmured with a look at the radium-figured dial of his wrist watch.
gpt
But I agree with you. I'll feel much better once we get in the air, and are getting on with the show. Remember all of Major Barber's instructions?
human
Twenty years from now you could ask me, and I'd be able to recite them word for word, he said.
gpt
The Major should be a school teacher, or something. He can sure put details in your head, and make them stay there. He's a swell guy, the Major is.
human
That he is! Freddy echoed the statement.
gpt
A bit of all right. No doubt his ancestors were English.
human
Listen! Dave shot back quickly.
gpt
I said the Major was a swell guy, see? Just skip casting slurring remarks about him, see?
human
As if--! Freddy blazed, and then saw the grin on Dave's face.
gpt
Well, his ancestors didn't come from the Belgian Congo, like one chap's I could mention!
human
Stop talking about yourself! Dave threw at him.
gpt
Besides, we were originally talking about this raid. What do you think our chances are, Freddy?
human
I don't know, he said finally.
gpt
My brain refuses to try and figure the odds. Which is just as well for my nerves, I guess. I'm only hoping it comes off as easily as the planning makes it appear. One thing, though. Selecting me to go along with you is just about the finest honor I ever received.
human
Oh, think nothing of it, my friend! Dave said with an airy wave of his hand.
gpt
Back in New York when Major Barber asked me if I thought you were well enough trained to--
human
Rot! Freddy cut in harshly.
gpt
I was being serious, Dave. True, we've seen quite a bit of the war. And we've accomplished an odd job or two here and there. But there are plenty of men older than us, better trained, and far more experienced in this kind of thing. It was a mighty high honor to pick a--well, you might say, a couple of kids like us.
human
You've got something there, pal, Dave said gravely.
gpt
But as the Major pointed out, age doesn't mean a thing in this war. Kids and grown men alike can turn out to be heroes with the right stuff. And, not to boast, there are a couple of points in our favor. We're pilots, experienced ones. We know that area pretty well from the first year of the war. We also speak German well. And--well, there're a couple of other good points about us, but skip them. The main point is that the Major selected us. As far as that goes for me, it's okay. I don't care about why he picked me as one of the pair. I only hope and pray I live up to the trust he's put in me.
human
Quite, and me, too! Freddy Farmer breathed as though in prayer.
gpt
I suppose I feel as I do every time we're handed a tough assignment, but I truly feel that I want to accomplish this job tonight and tomorrow dawn more than I've ever wanted to accomplish anything. It's--it's as though my whole life had been built up to this night. Do I sound crazy?
human
Nope, not at all, Dave told him quickly.
gpt
You're simply saying the words I couldn't think up. Say, how long now? I'm getting so jittery to get going that if I wait much longer I won't have the muscle co-ordination to hoist myself up into the pit. How long, Freddy?
human
Twenty minutes, the English youth replied.
gpt
Steady on, Dave. Don't let it get you down, old chap. Things will start soon enough. Be like I am, calm, cool, and--
human
A cockeyed liar! Dave finished with a laugh.
gpt
But thanks for the effort, pal. Your voice does have a soothing effect upon me, at times. And note that I said, at times!
human
Gratitude for you! Freddy snorted angrily.
gpt
But of course, I expected that kind of a comment, coming from you. By the way! I hope you checked to see if your Nazi uniform was stuffed in the pit?
human
I did, Dave replied, and laughed.
gpt
And my rigger mechanic saw it, too. Made him plenty curious. The bundle, I mean. He couldn't tell that it was a Nazi uniform. I thought it best to offer some kind of an explanation, so I told him that it was an extra uniform in case I got shot down in flames, and burned the one I was wearing.
human
Good grief! Freddy gasped.
gpt
What a crazy thing to say! And what did he say?
human
He didn't, Dave chuckled.
gpt
He didn't say a thing--to me. He just walked off, muttering something about all Yanks being a little balmy.
human
And he wasn't far from wrong! Freddy Farmer leaped at the opening.
gpt
Particularly in your case. But let's start on back to the tarmac, shall we? They should be starting up the engines for a brief warm-up soon. And it isn't good to, give the other chaps the idea that we're trying to snub them.
human
Nuts! Dave snorted.
gpt
Those guys are regular. They wouldn't think anything like that, ever. But let's get on back, anyway. I want to give my bus one more check, just for something to do. Oh-oh! There go some of the egg boys. Happy landings, fellows! And smack them plenty, the bums!
human
their