Blackbirds by Garry Ryan Page B

dear,” Honeysuckle said.
    At one thousand feet, the Anson went into a right turn. Linda and Sharon sat one behind the other near the back door.
    Sharon felt her emotions rising. They hit a pocket of rough air. The engines surged momentarily, then resumed their reassuring clatter.
    â€œSo what’s troubling you?” Linda turned to face her friend.
    â€œI traveled all this way in the middle of a war to find a family. It felt like I was half a person after my mother died. I thought that by coming here, I would feel like I belonged somewhere.” Sharon studied her friend’s face to see if she understood.
    â€œIt hasn’t worked out the way that you’d hoped?”
    â€œMy uncle makes improper advances. My grandmother appears to be totally unaware of what her son is actually like. My father knows I exist, but doesn’t know me at all.”
    â€œWhat were you expecting? Your mother traveled halfway around the earth to get away from her family, and she never returned.”
    Sharon opened her mouth to reply and closed it. What do I say to that?
    â€œNobody’s family is perfect.” Linda began to turn around.
    â€œAt least you’ve got a mother, a father, and a brother,” Sharon said.
    Linda shook her head. “But for how long? Hitler’s ready to kick down the door and march across England like he did in France. We’ll see how many of us survive the summer.”

CHAPTER 6

    Mother smiled as he said, “Here you go!”
    Linda held their chits high. Today she wore her uniform slacks, white blouse with rolled-up sleeves, and tie. She smiled broadly. “Finally!”
    Sharon stuffed the crust of a mutton sandwich into her mouth and tried to smile despite her full cheeks.
    â€œWe’re both going to Castle Bromwich. I’ve got a Spitfire!” Linda grabbed her friend around the waist and squeezed.
    Sharon swallowed, choked, and coughed.
    Linda released her hold and swatted Sharon on the back.
    After the coughing subsided, Sharon wiped her eyes, picked up her kit, and followed Linda to the air taxi. This time it was a Dragon Rapide, with its elegant nose, dragonfly wings, and twin engines.
    Fifty minutes later, when they were on finals for Castle Bromwich, Sharon saw the rows of factory roofs and all of the frenetic activity outside, where brand-new aircraft were lined up under a clear sky. A perfect day .
    When they taxied to a stop, Linda was first outside the door.
    Sharon had to wait in her seat as the pilot rushed past her, saying, “I’ve got to find some petrol.”
    By the time Sharon had collected her gear and exited the aircraft, Linda was already in the cockpit of a Spitfire, having the controls explained to her by a smiling mechanic.
    Sharon pulled her chit out of a pocket and walked toward the dispersal hut.
    A Merlin engine crackled to life.
    Sharon looked over at Linda, who leaned left and right to see around the Spitfire’s long nose. The engine began to smooth itself into a hum when Linda added power. She stood on one rudder, then the other, as she zigzagged her way along the taxiway while checking to make sure that no one was in front of her.
    Sharon waited for the takeoff run so she’d be able to describe it for Linda later. She watched Linda dutifully do her run-up. She taxied onto the end of the runway, lined herself up into the wind, and applied throttle. The engine emitted a throaty hum. It began to roll forward; the tail lifted, then the wheels kissed the ground once before the wings carried the fighter into the air.
    Sharon frowned when she spotted a line of black smoke trailing the Spitfire. The smoke was thicker and blacker than what usually passed for exhaust.
    â€œChrist!” The mechanic waved his arms and went running after Linda’s Spitfire. “Bail out!”
    â€œShe’s too low!” someone else said.
    Linda turned left when she realized her aircraft was on fire. She completed her