To Slip the Surly Bonds by Chris Kennedy & James Young

Author:Chris Kennedy & James Young [Kennedy, Chris & Young, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theogony Books
Published: 2019-09-10T06:00:00+00:00

* * *

Two hours later, after Brigadier General Geiger had cleared out the Navy and Marine pilots, Ian and the two Army officers had finished their planning. The oppressive humidity had made Ian’s shirt collar start to chafe, and he had unbuttoned it to try and ease the suffering. Reaching into the pocket, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and passed it around.

“I think the best bet is that we let Major Copeland’s boys go in and have a go at that…what did you lot call it? Oh, CAP.”

“It’s what I’d prefer, yes,” Copeland replied. “It will give us a chance to get the drop on them, climb out, and then come back before you guys arrive.”

“Why climb out?” Major Leopold asked nervously.

“Because having seen what those assholes can do if we stick around, I’d rather use the Lightnings’ strengths,” Copeland replied, his voice without rancor. “They climb fast, but the -38 goes up like a homesick angel. If they’re busy trying to chase me, you and your bombers can come right in while Squadron Leader Copeland’s boys are setting up for their torpedo runs.”

“I do wonder what your navy lads are going to be up to while all this is going on?” Ian observed.

“I suspect they’ve got plans of their own,” Leopold said. “But judging from the way those other guys were talking, the Japanese have a range advantage. At least, that’s what happened at that carrier battle last month.”

“Whole lot of fighting over an island,” Copeland muttered. “There’s been, what, two fights out in that sound, a carrier battle, and a few of our ships blasted between here and Espiritu?”

“People react rather strongly when you try to steal their airfield,” Ian noted drily. “I will say I’m surprised at how much support your Army Air Corps seems to be providing.”

“Army Air Force,” Leopold corrected, then smiled self-consciously. “Sorry.”

“Well, with General MacArthur dead, Admiral Nimitz is the only four star in theater,” Copeland said sourly. “Bad war for four stars. Or at least four stars that say dumb shit like ‘I shall return…” or ‘They’ll send Lightnings out there over my dead body…’”

“What?” Leopold asked, even as Ian grinned around taking a drag from his cigarette.

“Yeah, allegedly that’s what General Arnold said the night before his heart attack,” Copeland continued. “At least, that’s what the lieutenant colonel who handed me orders at the airfield in Oklahoma told me.”

“Oklahoma?” Leopold asked.

“Yeah, we were flying cross country to New York,” Copeland explained. “I should be in England by now.”

“You wouldn’t like it much,” Ian stated. “Place has a bit of a German problem.”

Copeland exclaimed and smacked his leg. Ian saw the blood smear where the offending mosquito had apparently been well into starting its meal.

“Then again, at least most of the Mosquitoes there are friendly.”

“Damn things have always had a taste for me,” Copeland said angrily. “Makes my wife happy as can be when we’re out together.”

“She’s going to be a lot less happy when you have malaria,” Ian remarked, drawing a concerned look from the Army major.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.