On the Brink by Marion Kummerow

Author:Marion Kummerow [Kummerow, Marion]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marion Kummerow

19

Victor

The airlift was entering its second month when Victor was called to his commanding officer. He rolled up the blueprints he was working on, stuffing them back into their cardboard tube. A glimmer of hope filled his chest as he considered that maybe this time he was being called to sign his demobilization paperwork and not for another stupid and petty assignment. He’d become fed up with the Rhein-Mud airport, his asshole CO, and the utter poverty all around him, and longed to returned stateside.

“Sir.” Victor entered and much to his surprise, found along with his CO Colonel Dassel an unknown general sitting at the small conference table. He saluted and stood at attention.

“Sergeant Richards?” the general asked.

“Yes, sir. That’s me.”

“Please sit. I’m General Tunner.”

William Tunner? The man who was famous for orchestrating “the Hump”, the biggest airlift operation in history. For three years, the operation had successfully supplied Chiang Kai-shek and the US Air Force in China in their fight against the Japanese. What could this legend possibly want from him?

“Yes, sir.” He took a seat across from the man who was famous across the entire Air Force but whom he’d never seen in person before. Tunner was in his early forties, rather wiry, with dark, combed-back hair and brooding eyes. He was by no means handsome, but he emanated an impressive presence. The intense stare from his eyes kept Victor alert, and for some reason he wanted to please this man.

“I assume you know why I’m here?” Tunner said.

“For the Berlin thing, sir?”

“That’s how they call it here?” Tunner seemed not to be pleased and Victor made a mental note to be more careful with his words.

“As of today, I’m responsible for Operation Vittles,” Tunner said. “I hear you’re quite the skilled airport designer.”

Victor noticed how his CO made a dour face, but obviously couldn’t contradict Tunner.

“Sir, airport design and logistics is my specialty,” Victor said with some pride, albeit trying to avoid self-praise.

“How would you like to build an airport from scratch?”

“I’d love to,” Richard answered, even before the enormity of the question seeped into his brain.

“Great.” Colonel Dassel turned to look at Victor. “As of now you’ve been transferred to General Tunner’s command. Your new task will be the construction of a new airport in Berlin. Dismissed.”

It was clear that Dassel hated Victor even more now for being given such an opportunity, while Dassel himself was confined to office work in Frankfurt.

With a million questions in his mind, Victor glanced at his new superior, who nodded with understanding and said, “I’ll see you in the operations room in thirty minutes for a briefing.”

“Yes, sir, and thank you!” Victor left the office, his mind buzzing. He wasn’t sure exactly what had just occurred and he knew even less whether he liked it or not. Constructing an airport from scratch had been the dream of his youth, but doing so in the rubble heap they called Berlin? While the city was blockaded by the Soviets? How could that even work? The more he thought about it, the more it seemed impossible.

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