Air Stories — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SECRET OF KALUNDA ‘*T can’t wait any longer,’’ he told the Wing Commander. ‘‘I might have expected something of this sort. To send aircraft on such work is sheer damned nonsense ! I’m going to weigh anchor right away.’’ ‘“ Very good, sir,’’ said Pat. But though the Wing Commander also failed to see any purpose in further delay, he was sorry to leave while there remained a vestige of hope for young Meek’s life. For the hundredth time he asked himself if there was still such ahope. He glanced again at the adverse report on this officer that Vachell had handed him. Clearly this youngster was a pilot of no great ability, nor apparently was he any particular asset to the Service. He must have crashed hours ago, and surely he had killed himself. Still... ‘* You can be sure he’s as dead as the dodo,’’ said Jervis. ‘* Yes,’’ agreed Pat, and turned to go. He wanted a word with Vachell. As he left the cabin he heard the rumble'‘of the anchor chain coming up, and then felt the slight tremor as the turbines were set in motion. He found the Squadron Leader in the ward- room. ‘*Look here, Vachell,’’ he said, ‘‘I think we can take it that Meek’s a goner P ’’ Vachell emptied his glass. ‘‘ Not a doubt of it, sir. That country .. .’’ ‘‘ About this report, then,’’ broke in Pat. ‘‘You’ll want to withdraw it, I imagine P ”’ ‘*No, sir, I think not,’’ was Vachell’s considered reply. ‘‘ After all, it can’t hurt him now, and if it could he’d deserve it.’’ ‘‘But his people !’’ Pateman pro- tested. ‘‘ Withdraw it, man ! ’’ ‘‘Very good,’’ agreed Vachell, but with obvious reluctance. He hated going back on any action of his. An hour later found Wing Commander Pateman once again closeted with the Captain, with whom he was in the habit of passing the evening. Jervis liked Pateman and found him a ready listener to his grouses. He was grousing now. 49 ‘* Straightforward Navy I understand, but this business of half bird and half fish is a wash-out. Give me a battle- ship and a battalion of marines and I’d undertake to subdue that country.’’ ‘* Yes,’’ agreed Pat, ‘‘in time.’’ He felt depressed and disinclined for argu- ment. ‘‘What does time matter? ’’ Jervis demanded. ‘‘ The job would be done, and thoroughly.’’ ‘‘ Rather a costly operation,’’ the Air Force man objected. ‘Judge costs by result, my lad,’’ advised the Captain. ‘‘ Here we’ve wasted a day with a whole ship’s com- pany, you’ve lost a machine and burnt a deuce of a lot of petrol, all for nothing. Now, on the other hand . . . Well, what is ite’? An orderly stood at attention at the Captain’s chair. ‘‘Compliments of the Officer of the Watch, sir. The lights of a haircraft sighted on the port quarter.’’ HE Wing Commander jumped to his feet with surprising speed for so rotund a person, and his face was a kaleidoscope of changing expression. ‘* So the young devil must have landed and got off again!’’ he deliberated. ‘<T’ll go up and bring him in.’’ ‘‘Obvious enough he’s done that,’’ growled Jervis as he got to his feet. ‘‘But what an hour to return! I'll get into wind.”’ But for all the Captain’s gruffness, there was a glint of excitement in his eve as he followed the Wing Commander frou the room. . And when in due course he returned, he paced his room restlessly. It seemed he was impatient for news. But, if so, he was determined not to show it, for when a footstep was heard outside he turned on his wireless, picked up a book and dropped into his chair. Pate- man entered, but did not interrupt. “This is the National Programme,’ said the wireless. ‘‘ Here is the weather forecast for to-night and to-morrow. A deep depression is centred over Iceland. In northern Scotland the weather...” CO LOO)