Long Flight Home by Lainie Anderson

Author:Lainie Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: book, FV, FIC002000
ISBN: 9781743057155
Publisher: Wakefield Press
Published: 2020-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

Laura clapped. ‘Did you write that, Wally?’ she asked.

‘No,’ I said, shocked she thought it was possible. ‘One of the observers at No. 1 Squadron came up with it. I could never write anything as good as that.’

‘Bah!’ The Colonel said, tucking the piece of paper in his jacket pocket and striking a match to re-light his pipe. ‘Anyone can write poetry. Words and application. That’s all it takes.’

It was late afternoon when we finished the yew hedge and stood back to admire the job I’d started weeks ago on my first morning at Cheveney. The Colonel pointed to long shadows running across the lawn to the east and said I’d be following them soon on the flight home. ‘Godspeed to you all,’ he said, and I was touched by the pride in his voice.

Mrs Borton offered me my old room for the night but I was keen to get back to Brooklands ahead of Ross’s training session in the morning. While I waited for Tom to bring around the car, she brought out a small package and asked me to give it to Ross. ‘Open it,’ she said, touching my arm. ‘It’s for all of you. For luck.’

‘Marmaduke!’ I said, when I saw his little face.

It was a perfect replica of a tiny mascot pilot that Biffy had installed on our Handley Page. We’d all felt his loss when the bomber was destroyed in India. This little fella looked exactly the same: about six inches high, seated with his hands clutching the steering sticks, and a tiny two-blade propeller out front. His uniformed body and head were made of carved, painted wood, complete with flying cap and goggles.

‘Marmaduke II,’ Mrs Borton said, scratching the ears of Marmaduke the dog as she spoke. ‘I thought we should have another one made for the Vickers Vimy to help guide you all home.’

‘Better than those silly stuffed black cats Alcock and Brown took across the Atlantic,’ the Colonel said.

‘He’s perfect,’ I said, rubbing Marmaduke’s flying cap with my thumb. ‘Ross will love him.’

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