Bitter Sky by Tim Stretton

Author:Tim Stretton [Stretton, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BattleCat Press
Published: 2020-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VII

Von Eck did not share the sense of triumph when she appeared at Heino’s quarters early the next day, after a few hours’ snatched sleep.

“Saskia? You should still be asleep.”

Heino stepped aside to let her into the room, conscious that he was attired in his usual sleepwear of long-johns and an undershirt.

“This is no time for sleep, Voss.” If she had noticed his informal dress she did not mention it. “Have you even been to sleep?”

“Yes, in fact you woke me up.”

“Get dressed.” So she had noticed. “We have an errand.”

“I can hardly dress with you here, Saskia.”

“I’ll meet you at the gates in ten minutes.”

The Bibliotek was no great distance, and in normal circumstances a pleasant walk along the riverbank. This morning neither Heino nor von Eck was disposed to enjoy the scenery or the exercise. The sun was only just up and there was a mist hanging over the river. Heino had eyes only, if covertly, for von Eck. She clearly had not slept at all: her face had an alabaster sheen and even her lips had a whitish tinge. The only contrast was the black bags which hung below her eyes. Her uniform, normally so neat, hung askew. He had seen enough aeronauts in the past reach the point where they could no longer continue. It was not easy to live with the knowledge that every day, every mission, could be their last. The longer the war dragged on, the harder it was to suppress the thought that you had beaten the odds for too long, that today they would catch up with you. Heino caught himself running through the names of his classmates from Rauenschau—only two years ago—who were now dead. Kreuzneuve, Hagen, Wangenheim, Blittersdorf, Trützschler—Helga.

He stopped himself with an effort. The way that he managed to retain his own sanity was to live entirely in the present. When he started to dwell on lost comrades, his mind was visiting forbidden and dangerous territory. Was the same happening to von Eck? She had always been cool and composed, even in the most terrifying situations—almost miraculously so. It was one of the things which made her such a fine navigator and bombardier. But like him, she had endured almost two years of combat, lost the same comrades that he had lost. Could he really think her undamaged when he was so close to coming apart himself? Add to that her concern for a brother fighting on the opposite side, the open scorn and hostility from many of the other aeronauts. It was no wonder she was cracking. Time to get a new navigator. He suppressed the thought as unworthy. They had always been a team, and they would live and die—probably the latter—in the same way.

In the circumstances, indulging her in a trip to the Bibliotek was the least he could do.

“Voss? I’m talking to you.”

Heino shook his head to cast his brooding aside. “I’m sorry. I was thinking of something else.”

Von Eck smiled, a brief flash of bleak sunshine through the clouds.

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