Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第57部分

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Lucerna　AB；　15。10
The　noise　of　the　jets　died　away。　As　Jagdea　and　her　wing…men　dismounted；　the　fitter　teams　and　the
other　flight　pilots　applauded。　Jagdea　knew　they　were　saluting　a　hell　of　a　fight；　a　clutch　of　good　kills；
and　the　fact　that　all　four　were　back　alive。　They　were　also　showing　support　for　Viltry　on　his
successful　debut。
But　it　felt　wrong。　Not　just　because　of　Hayyes。　How　many　Imperial　planes　had　she　seen　go　down
in　that　one　brawl？　Men　were　dying　at　a　hell　of　a　rate。
“Good　work；”　she　said　to　Cordiale；　who　had　sat　down　on　the　deck　to　unlace　his　boots　and
massage　circulation　back　into　his　feet。　Exposure　to　multiple　negative　G　events　often　left　a　pilot　with
pins　and　needles；　or　worse。
“Thanks；　commander；”　he　said。
Viltry　was　removing　his　helmet。　He　looked　pale；　shaken；　but　there　was　a　grin　on　his　face。
“Enjoy　that？”　she　asked。
“Of　course　not。”
“You　did　well；　Viltry。　Like　you’ve　been　on　Thunderbolts　for　years。”
He　smoothed　his　sweat…flattened　hair。　“I　must　admit　it　was　fun　cutting　loose　in　something　so
agile。　You　forget　how　heavy　Marauders　are。”
Marquall　was　just　climbing　down　from　Nine…Nine。
“Nice　going；　Marquall；”　she　said。　“You　kept　your　head。”　She　dropped　her　voice　so　only　he　could
hear　her。　“Don’t　ever　ignore　a　direct　instruction　again；　pilot。　I　called　you　out　because　it　was　time　to
go。　That　happens；　you　obey　without　question。　Are　we　clear　on　that？”
He　looked　at　the　deck。　“Yes；　commander。”
She　walked　away。　“Rearm　and　refuel；　please！”　she　shouted　to　the　fitter　crews；　knowing　they
were　already　on　it。
A　tall　man　in　a　Commonwealth　uniform　was　waiting　for　her　with　Blansher。
“Major　Frans　Scalter；”　Blansher　said；　by　way　of　introduction。　Jagdea　shook　Scalter’s　hand　and
looked　him　up　and　down。　Scalter　had　a　slightly　stunned　expression。
“I　take　it　you’ve　explained　the　basics　to　Major　Scalter；　Mil？”
“I　took　the　liberty　of　spoiling　your　surprise；　commander。”
Jagdea　looked　at　Scalter。　“Well；　major？　Are　you　interested　in　taking　a　place　in　my　flight？
Commander　Eads　has　given　you　his　personal　recommendation。”
Scalter　opened　his　mouth；　but　couldn’t　find　any　words　immediately。　He　nodded；　and　then　said；
“I　would　be　honoured；　Commander　Jagdea。　I　have　been　longing　to　get　the　chance　to　fly　for　my
home　world　again。”
“That’s　agreed　then。　Good。　Your　designation　will　be　Umbra　Seven。　Mil；　if　you’re　busy　with
Kaminsky；　find　someone　like　Del　Ruth　or　Cordiale　to　get　Mr　Scalter　oriented；　kitted　up；　and
checked　out　on　a　simulator。”
“Yes；　mamzel；”　said　Blansher。　“You　off　somewhere？”
“I　won’t　be　long；”　said　Jagdea。
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Marquall　stood　by　his　bird　for　a　while；　stripping　off　his　jacket　and　gloves；　not　wanting　to　mix
with　the　others。
“Everything　all　right；　sir？”　asked　Racklae。
“Fine；”　he　replied。　He　was　hardly　going　to　tell　his　fitter　that　he　was　still　smarting　from　the
dressing　down　Jagdea　had　given　him。　At　least　she’d　had　the　decency　not　to　do　it　in　front　of　the
others。
He　wandered　across　the　hangar　space；　through　the　teams　of　working　fitters；　skirting　a　power
lifter　as　it　offered　up　munitions　drums；　stopping　to　let　an　electric　bowser　trundle　past。
Kaminsky　was　seated　on　a　jerry　can　beside　his　Thunderbolt；　carefully　studying　a　data…slate　of
specifications　and　procedures。
“Hi；”　said　Marquall。
The　shockingly…scarred　face　tilted　up　at　him。　“Hello。　Marquall；　right？”
“Yeah。　So…　you　got　your　wish；　then？”
“I　beg　your　pardon？”　Kaminsky　replied。
“That　night　in　Zara’s。　You　said　you’d　give　anything　to　be　like　me。　To　fly　again。”
“Ah；　I　did；　didn’t　I？”
Marquall　nodded。　“I　can’t　quite　remember　if　it　was　before　or　after　you　called　me　a　bastard　and　a
waste　of　space；　and　suggested　I　shot　myself　to　make　the　sector　a　better　place。”
“Damn；”　said　Kaminsky。　He　put　the　slate　down　carefully；　but　still　did　not　get　to　his　feet。　“I　was
kinda　hoping　you’d　forgotten　about　that。　Yes；　I　got　my　wish；　Marquall。　And　what　about　you？　Fallen
off　any　barstools　recently？”
Marquall　coloured。　“No；”　he　said。
Kaminsky　picked　up　the　slate　and　started　to　read　it　again。　“Then　it　sounds　like　things　are
working　out　for　both　of　us；”　he　said。
Lucerna　AB；　16。01
Eads　had　quarters　in　the　lower　levels　of　the　base。　The　evacuation　influx　had　put　huge　pressure　on
accommodation。　The　rock　cut　passages　down　here　smelled　damp；　and　the　glow　globe　lighting　was
poor。　Some　of　the　rooms　she　saw　were　storage　bays；　and　she　was　sure　the　quarters　she　passed　had
also　been　storage　bays　until　recently。
She　found　Eads’s　room　and　knocked　on　the　metal　hatch。　After　a　moment；　it　opened　and　Darrow
peered　out。
“Commander　Jagdea？”
“I’ve　come　to　see　Eads。”
“Yes；　mamzel。　He’s　expecting　you。”
Darrow　opened　the　door　and　let　her　in。　The　room　was　small　and　bare。　Litter　had　been　swept　into
one　corner。　There　was　a　camp　table　and　two　chairs；　an　unmade　cot；　and　a　bottle　of　amasec　with　a
dirty　glass。
The　one　concession　to　comfort　was　an　old；　tatty　armchair。　Eads　was　sitting　in　it；　apparently
asleep。
“I　can　come　back；”　Jagdea　whispered。
“I’m　awake；　Jagdea。　Just　resting　my　thoughts。　It　was　a　long　and　demanding　shift。”
Darrow　collected　up　a　stack　of　data…slates　and　paper　files　from　the　table。
“I　was　just　finishing　the　shift　reports；”　he　told　Jagdea。　“I’ll　get　out　of　your　way。”
“No；　stay；”　she　said。　He　paused；　and　put　the　paperwork　back　down。
“Excuse　the　drabness；”　said　Eads。　“I’m　told　it’s　drab。　I　can’t　help　it。　I　came　out　of　Theda　with
just　the　clothes　I　was　standing　up　in。　Take　a　seat　and　let’s　get　down　to　business。”
Jagdea　sat　down；　and　put　the　folder　she　was　carrying　on　the　table。　“I　saw　the　white　bat　today；”
she　said。
170
“Did　you？”　said　Eads。　“That　devil’s　still　out　there；　then？”
“It　reminded　me　of　the　notice　of　report　that　had　been　circulated　at　the　time　of　the　Lida　incident。
This　report；”　she　said；　tapping　the　folder。　“It　contains　a　written　account　of　a　brawl　with　the　bat。　Very
useful；　very　cautionary。　It’s　been　required　reading　for　the　Navy　wings。　You　wrote　it；　didn’t　you；
Darrow？”
“I　did；　commander；”　the　young　man　replied。
The　report　also　contained　your　commanding　officer’s　account。　“I　forget　his　name。”
“Major　Heckel；”　Darrow　said。
“Major　Heckel。　Not　confined　by　modesty　as　you　were　in　your　part　of　the　file；　he　describes　the
most　extraordinary　piece　of　flying。”
“Heckel　was　not　exaggerating；”　said　Eads　quietly。　“He　said　it　was　one　of　the　most　gifted
displays　of　natural　ability　he’d　ever　seen。”
“So　it　seems；”　said　Jagdea。　“Out…running　an　expert　killer；　probably　an　echelon　commander；　a
pilot　at　the　height　of　his　powers。　What’s　more；　doing　it　in　a　totally　out…classed　machine　that　lacked
the　speed；　power　and　vector　abilities　of　the　enemy’s　bat。　What　puzzles　me　is　this；　Commander　Eads。
When　I　came　to　you　asking　for　recommendations；　you　chose　to　ignore　the　young　pilot　serving　with
you　on　a　daily　basis。”　Eads　was　silent。
“Commander？”　Darrow　said　softly。　“May　I　ask…　recommendations　for　what？”
“My　wing　is　short　a　frontline　pilot；　Darrow。”
“You…　you’d　consider　me？”　he　said；　astonished。
“I　understand　you’ve　been　clocking　simulator　time　on　Thunderbolts；”　Jagdea　said。
“I　have；”　said　Darrow。　“Sixty　hours。　Who　told　you？”
“Major　Scalter。　So　where　does　this　leave　us？”
Eads　sat　forward；　his　hands　on　his　knees。　“Enric’s　not　the　one　you’re　looking　for；　commander；”
he　said。
“Why　not？”　Darrow　asked　sharply。　“I’m　sorry；　sir；”　he　added；　adjusting　his　tone。　“Why　not；
sir？”
Eads　addressed　his　answer　to　Jagdea。　“He’s　barely　a　cadet；　Jagdea！　His　combat　hours　are
minimal。　Oh；　he’s　got　talent。　But　that　one　dogfight？　It　was　luck。　He　got　very　lucky　indeed。　If　you
send　him　into　combat　now；　he　will　die。　He’s　not　ready。　My　recommendation　would　be　an　act　of
murder。”
Darrow　rose　to　his　feet。　“I　disagree；　sir。”
“It’s　not　up　to　you；　Enric；”　Eads　said。
“Isn’t　it？”　Jagdea　asked。
“How　will　I　ever　be　ready　if　I　don’t　get　the　experience？”　Darrow　said。
“This　is　not　the　time；”　said　Eads。
“Oh；　I　think　there’s　no　time　like　it；”　said　Jagdea。　“Enothis　needs　all　her　pilots　for　this　war；
Commander　Eads。　If　men　like　Darrow　don’t　try；　then　there　may　not　be　a　future　available　for　other
chances。”
“I　won’t　have　his　blood　on　my　conscience；”　said　Eads　emphatically。　“I　will　not　recommend
him。”
Jagdea　looked　at　Darrow。　“I　think　it’s　up　to　an　individual　wing　leader　to　decide　if　she　needs　a
man　to　be　recommended　before　she　takes　him。　Your　objection　is　noted；　commander；　and　your
loyalty　in　trying　to　protect　him　is　admirable。　Cadet　Darrow；　I’m　offering　you　that　place。　Will　you
take　it？”
“Yes；　commander。　Gladly。”　Darrow　looked　over　at　Eads。　“I’m　sorry；　sir。”
Jagdea　got　to　her　feet　and　collected　her　folder。　“You’ll　have　to　report　immediately；　Darrow。　You
can　come　with　me　now。”
171
They　walked　to　the　hatch。　In　the　doorway；　Darrow　turned　and　saluted　crisply。　“Call　that　a
salute？”　Eads　said。
“Yes；　sir。”
Eads　rose　to　his　feet　stiffly；　and　then　saluted　back。　“That’s　a　salute；”　he　said；　and　sat　down　again。
“Good　luck；　son。　Prove　me　wrong。”
Darrow　followed　Jagdea　down　the　passageways　to　one　of　the　main　staircases。　They　clattered　up
the　stone　steps；　side　by　side。