Survivalist - 19 - Final Rain by Ahern Jerry

Author:Ahern, Jerry [Ahern, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The airfield was covered with snow. Wolfgang Mann’s squadron of J7-Vs had landed in a precise circle and, engines running and waiting, she noticed, synth fuel to burn, as Colonel Mann’s own aircraft touched down.

Colonel Mann emerged from his mobile communications center as the flight crew began opening the fuselage doorway. There was an odd look in his eyes and he seemed very tired. “The base here is ours, but precious few of our personnel remain able to fight to any great degree. Another Soviet attack from the air in force and the base will be overrun. I’m ordering complete withdrawal to Eden Base itself. Portable breastworks and additional anti-aircraft batteries are being flown in from New Germany, the attack there temporarily stalled. That’s the only way reinforcements here have become possible. Would you care to disembark, Sarah? You will be perfectly safe.” And then he smiled, but the smile wasn’t for her, really. She could feel that. “But why should I say something like that to you? If I had a single platoon of men who displayed your courage, I could conquer the earth if I were so inclined. But what good would there be in that?” And he looked away as he reached out his hand for her elbow.

Sarah let him take it.

With her parka hood up and her parka zipped to her neck and the heavy arctic gloves, she was still cold as thev steDoed

through the doorway and onto the small, low steps.

The dull roar of the J7-Vs’ engines surrounded them, punctuated only by the howling of the wind.

Snow touched her cheeks and the tip of her nose.

Colonel Mann offered his arm and she took it. They began to walk. His arm seemed to radiate a tenseness.

There was activity in the main shelter which still stood largely intact, but gone were the heat machines which kept the runway surfaces clear and warm. She remembered coming to the base in Lydveldid Island, wearing her Icelandic skirts and cocooned in her shawl.

It was very different here, and likely worse there. Michael. It was impossible to tell him not to go. He was too much like his father for that. Maria Leuden would find that out.

Colonel Mann was speaking to her and she realized she wasn’t listening to him at all. “I’m sorry, Wolfgang, I just was lost in thought, that’s all. How’s Elaine Halversen?”

“She is working inside. I thought you might like to see her, but for a time she will likely be engaged in the happy task of realizing that her young lieutenant still lives. There has been so much death.” He looked away from her, surveying the airfield across which they walked. “There are adequate medical facilities remaining here to deduce the specific nature of his injuries. They are supervised by none other than a gentleman already of your acquaintance, Doctor Munchen.”

“He’s here?”

“Yes,” Mann nodded, tugging at his uniform cap. It was cocked at a slightly rakish angle, almost making him look like Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in the movie The Prisoner of Zenda.

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