第111节

t was Pete Vandenberg from Condor Squadron, Class

of '89 at the Flight Academy. A fellow-graduate who had come third in

the honours list, relegating him to fourth position by two points.

Steve ignored his burning joints and levered himself up. 'Pete! What

the heck are you doing here?!" 'I was going to ask you the same

question!" Pete shook Steve's hand vigorously and fisted Steve's

injured shoulder. Steve almost fainted. He sat down quickly, with his

left side out of harm's way against the side wall of the compartment.

Vandenberg stowed his trail-bag on the overhead rack and sat down

facing him. 'Jeer, man! We got word you were dead! What happened?"

'It's a long story,' said Steve.

'Well, we got an hour to Wichita. You can give me some of it."

Vandenberg gave Steve's left knee a friendly slap.

That hurt too. The blood from the skinned kneecap had stuck to his

trouser leg and kept tearing away every time he moved.

'Great to see you!" Vandenberg leaned forward. 'Did you know the left

side of your face was swollen?"

'Yeah. I tripped over my own feet and fell off a Bobcat."

Vandenberg put his face to the window, checked the platform then said:

'So how come the uniform?" His nose wrinkled. 'Mines and Mills?"

'That's another long story."

Vandenberg caught sight of two people passing the window. He rapped

hard with his knuckles, then leapt up and ran along to the open door.

Steve didn't look to see what was happening. Keeping perfectly still

seemed to be the best remedy to all his ills.

Vandenberg returned and gestured towards Steve.

'Now do you believe me?"

Two overlapping voices chorused:'Holy shit I - Sonora-bitch!" Steve

found himself looking into the grinning faces of Mci Avery and Sonny

Ayers, two other '89 graduates of the Flight Academy. But Melanie and

Sonny had been his classmates in the top-rated Eagle Squadron. They

were also dressed in blue with gold wings above the left-hand tunic

pocket and lieutenant's sleeve stripes. Steve shoved out his hand but

didn't get up. The two of them were so excited they almost pulled his

arm off.

'What the hell are you doing here?" they both asked.

'He won't say." Pete Vandenberg tapped the side of his nose.

'Special assignment."

'That's right,' said Steve. 'So why don't you guys tell me what you're

up to?"

Before they could reply, two Meat-Loafs walked along the centre aisle

and stopped as their eyes lighted upon Steve. 'You got no name,

soldier?" asked one of the sergeants.

'Step out into the aisle,' said his colleague.

Steve reached into his pocket and held out the wallet containing his ID

card, but made no move to get up.

The second sergeant took the wallet, lifted the flap, showed the card

to the other Meat-Loaf, then handed the wallet back to Steve and gave a

short salute. 'Sorry about that, Captain."

'That's okay, Sergeant."

'A captain? With no rank stripes?" Vandenberg eyed Steve then

exchanged glances with Avery and Ayers.

'Tell me about Wichita,' said Steve.

'We're going out to join Leatherneck,' said Mci Avery.

Steve tried to sound casual. 'The Fighting Leathernecks?

The wagon-train? You're kidding."

'Why?" asked Sonny. 'Are you shipping out on it too?"

Steve grinned. 'Wish I was. Unfortunately I've got some other

business to attend to. But I'd love the chance to come on board for an

hour or two. When are you due to leave?"

'Day after tomorrow,' said Pete. 'We're replacing a guy who bought a

farm and a couple more who got injured."

He held out his hand. 'Okay, Steve, show us the ID."

Steve locked eyes with him for a moment then laid the wallet on

Vandenberg's palm. Vandenberg opened it and studied the silver ID then

angled it towards Avery and Ayers before handing it back.

'Does that mean what I think it means...?"