Flying For Freedom by Alois Siska

Author:Alois Siska [Siska, Alois]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781844686384
Publisher: Pen & Sword Aviation
Published: 2012-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

We Fight Death

‘Lojzku, how long can we hold on?’

‘Perhaps one more day.’

‘You don’t believe in rescue any more?’

‘I was hopeful until yesterday.’

‘Let’s have a drink … bloody thirst!’

I raise the tin to my swollen lips and curse the sea water.

‘You bastard! You’ve already killed three of my friends and now you’re waiting for us too!’

The water does not taste of anything any more; our burnt throats have lost all feeling. The sea rages; the dinghy is tossed about helplessly. We huddle together.

‘I was never afraid of dying, Pavel. That was to be expected on every flight, especially during the war. But this! Blondy came off better then Tomanek and Mohr. One knock on the head finished him, no pain and suffering. I would not mind going the same way. But dying slowly while conscious – that’s no way to go for a soldier.’

Scerba does not even stir.

‘Pavle – I’ve got an idea – we could finish it ourselves …’

‘I know Lojzku. But we haven’t got any pistols.’

‘But we’ve got something else. In that tin are some drugs. If we took the whole lot, it might send us to sleep. Let Death come and get us then … what a disappointment it would be if we cheated her! She’s had her share already.’

Pavel agrees. It takes a lot of effort to open the wretched tin with our hands, but it’s worth it. Pavel fills the tin with water and prepares the cocktail. I don’t know whether he is thinking about anything. I am not. I am only worried that we will spill some of it. His hands are shaking.

‘So, half and half …’

Pavel drinks his half and hands over the tin. I finish it off.

‘Mates for ever!’

We huddle and touch each other for the last time. All that’s left is the waiting …

I sense a strange buzzing inside my head; my eyes are heavier then ever. I want to sleep so much.

It’s getting dark all around….

All of a sudden I hear a distant noise of flying birds. I don’t feel any pain, in fact, I feel just fine. I don’t know where I am nor do I sense anything. Strange silence, all seems beautiful. Have I died yet or am I on my way out? The buzzing comes and goes. I don’t want to open my eyes. Have I moved?

‘Lojzku, how are you?’

I hear a husky voice, then silence again. I can’t understand what’s going on; I just feel as if I am falling. The buzzing grows and grows until it becomes familiar. I begin to grasp the situation.

‘Pavle, are you asleep?’

‘No … but I feel fine.’

‘So do I. didn’t we die?’

I want to sing, but my throat is too dry. And the thirst is back.

Were we asleep, unconscious or just in a void? I am not able to answer that.

The dinghy is tossed about, the spray batters us, I feel faint …

When I come round and eventually open my eyes, it’s getting light. For the sixth time. It should be Saturday, 3 January.

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