The Way to the Stars Page #5

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l've watched them making it.

Oh, well. lt's liquid and it's warm. l was afraid

they were going to abolish it altogether.

Oh, but they were going to,

if l myself hadn't protested to the Colonel.

Nobly done, Tinkerbell.

There you are, Bud.

l say, l've found out what that awful brown stuff

is that they put on the table at dinner.

- What is it?

- Peanut butter.

Oh. Made from peanuts, l suppose.

So l imagine.

l've tried it. lt's revolting.

Hey!

What's for supper?

- Hash.

- Ooh, that's what l thought.

Flying clothes in the mess.

Yes, well, we must try and rise above it,

Tinkerbell.

You think there may be anything on tomorrow

in the way of ops?

Ah, that, of course, l couldn't say, even if l knew.

Al l do know is that they"re exceptibnaly keen

to get cracking keen as mustard

They've only got 12 Forts.

Yes, but then, as a bombardier, l think

that's what they call themselves, said to me,

"12 Forts can make a hell of a mess

of any gosh-darn target."

Apparently, with this new bombsight of theirs,

they can drop a bomb

into a barrel from 30,000 feet.

Zonk!

Well, well.

Last night a very strong force

of RAF Lancasters and Halifaxes

raided Bremen for the fourth night running

- Ah, for Pete's sake!

- What's eating you, Joe boy?

Why do we have to be here all the time,

listening to what the RAF did last night?

We've been here over two months now.

When are we going to get started?

Soon enough, Friselli.

When we do maybe you "l be wishing yourself

back at that radib again Who knows?

- Evening, Penrose.

- Good evening, sir.

First of all, Elsie, a nice large whisky and soda.

Sorry, Mr Palmer,

we've run out of whisky.

- What? Again ?

- l'm afraid so, Mr Palmer.

We had some more Americans in last night.

Will you have beer?

Oh, l suppose so.

What a war!

Tell me, dear, isn't that the RAF boy

who used to be such a friend of yours?

Yes, Auntie.

Hello.

Waitress!

He doesn't seem to come down

as often as he used to, does he, dear?

No, Auntie.

Funny.

Get on with your soup, dear. lt'll get cold.

Hey sister!

Bring that check will you?

We've been waiting for 20 minutes for it.

What is it you're wanting?

The check. For crying out loud, the check!

- l'll see Miss Todd about it.

- And who the heck is Miss Todd?

- Pipe down, Joe.

- Johnny, l'm only...

- We'll miss the picture.

- You hadn't oughta shout like that.

Why the heck not?

Devilish bad form, old boy.

Look, is this supposed to be a restaurant

or a funeral parlour? That's all l wanna know.

Why talk in whispers when we eat?

lt's sort of a custom over here.

What? Like eating's a thing to be ashamed of?

- Yeah.

- Well, l don't get it.

What exactly is it you require?

lt's all right, miss. We don't require a thing.

We're just going to sit here till Christmas.

Please. lt's just the check.

l mean, the bill, if you don't mind.

Oh, the bill? She understood you wanted to

cash a cheque and it's strictly against our rules.

Oh, no, l'm so sorry.

lt's just that we are a little bit pressed for time.

Here.

Do you think that this will cover it?

- Did you have coffee?

- Yes.

- ls that what you call it?

- Do you wish to make a complaint?

No. Of course he doesn't. No.

lt's very good. Very.

He's just trying to be funny, you know.

Thank you for explaining. l'll bring your change.

Thank you.

Boy, these sourpuss Janes give me a pain.

You two characters go along

and collect the transport. l'll wait for the change.

Ok. l'll settle up with you later.

Watch out for that human rattlesnake.

She'll eat you alive.

l heard you were here. l couldn't telephone.

We've both got to report to lntelligence,

"S2", after dinner.

- Something on ?

- Dawn tomorrow.

Soup any good?

Not bad.

How are you?

Glad to see you.

How you been?

Hello, kid. How's tricks?

Trying to strangle me?

Ok. Go right ahead. See if l care.

That's right.

Pull away, old fella!

Or should l say,"old lady"? Which is it?

"Old fella."

Caught.

- What's his name?

- Peter.

Peter. A nice, well-behaved baby.

That what you think!

- Whose is he?

- Mine.

Yours?

l beg your pardon.

- Why?

- Appropriating him like that.

Most mothers don't like it.

No. They think you're gonna poison them.

Oh, l don't mind. l always feel rather flattered

when someone pays my son a little attention.

Mary doesn't. That's my wife. She hates it

if some stranger gets familiar with our Emmy.

How old is Emmy?

Going on four. We've got a boy, too.

George. He's six. You wouldn't care to see

a snapshot of him, would you?

- Why, yes. l'd love to

- Sure it wouldn't bore you?

- Not at all. Please show me.

- Good. You're in for it.

There.

- What a pretty little boy.

- You'd better not let him hear you say that.

And then, this next one,

that's George and Emmy together.

And that's Mary with them.

lt isn't a good picture of Mary. l took it myself,

the last leave before l came overseas.

She's kind of squinting at the sun.

She hasn't seen it yet

or she'd stop me showing it around.

l think she's beautiful.

- Thank you for letting me see them.

- Thank you for letting me let you see them.

Do you hear from them often ?

Oh, Mary writes most days. They come in

batches, though, that's the trouble.

Nothing for weeks and you get kinda worried

and then suddenly you're snowed under.

- The children must miss you very much.

- Oh, no, l shouldn't think so.

lt doesn't mean much at that age, does it?

No.

Where's his father? Overseas?

He was killed three months ago.

l'm so...

- ls...?

- Yes.

Thank you.

Have you been over here very long?

Hey, Johnny, what the...

- Ok. l'm coming.

- l beg your pardon.

Would you mind not shouting like that in

the hotel? lt's apt to disturb the other guests.

Yes, miss. Certainly, miss. l'm very sorry, miss.

Well, see you sometime again, l hope.

l mean, you'll be around?

- Oh, yes. l'll be around.

- Good.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

What was she balling you out for?

Not washing behind your ears?

Excuse me!

Are you going out tonight?

Just to see a picture.

Have a couple of drinks, maybe.

- Like to come along?

- No, thanks. No. lt's not that.

lt's just that...

Well, if you don't mind me saying so, it might be

a good idea if you had an early night tonight.

Come on, boy. No picture for us.

Back to the station... and bed.

- Johnny, look...

- l said,"bed".

Scram.

- Ok. Good night.

- Good night.

Thanks.

That's Ok.

lf l don't see you before, all the best.

You bet.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Hello.

- Hello.

l haven't seen you for...

well, ages, it seems.

l know. We've been pretty busy up at the station.

l haven't had much of a chance

to get down here.

- Well, what's your news?

- Nothing much.

Auntie's made another application

for my deferment.

She says she's trained me now in her illnesses

and if l leave her to join up, it'd be fatal.

l see. lt would. Absolutely.

But l can stay on at the cottage hospital

as a part-time nurse.

- That's something, isn't it?

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