The Way to the Stars Page #8

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He looked down, you see, and suddenly

there he'd gone and sprouted'em.

Yep.

Pottamus don't have wings.

Great big ones, too. Wingspan 200ft.

Where'd the pottamus fly to?

Well, it was a nice bright day,

so he flew towards the sun.

- That's very naughty.

- l know, that's what l told him. Naughty.

You're an evil influence.

l think perhaps we'd better put the candy away

in a safe place,

otherwise we shall have them all eaten

before tomorrow afternoon.

Yes.

You know, lris, l've been thinking.

Why don't you leave the old sourpuss

to stew in her own juice?

Oh, l couldn't do that.

After all, l do owe her a lot

in a way.

Oh, look, you don't owe her a thing

and you know it.

Looks to me as if things are the other way round.

She's just a selfish old gorgon

who thinks of nothing but her stomach.

Don't let's talk about her. Do you mind?

Ok, let's talk about you.

l wonder if you'd mind if l asked you

a question, kind of personal.

- A truth game?

- Yeah, that's right.

l've been wondering

if there was any particular...

Well, if there was any

one guy you...

- You know what l mean, don't you?

- l do.

And the answer is no.

- No-one at all?

- No-one at all.

Not even an Englishman ?

Not even an Englishman.

That's all better.

- Hello, gang.

- Hello, Johnny.

Say, what's the flare path lit up for?

Oh, some RAF pathfinder types diverted here.

- Oh. Hello, Alan. Are you happy in the service?

- You bet, sir.

Can l pancake please? Over

No. 2.

Hello, Fanfare N Nuts. This is Blueprint.

You are No.2 to land.

Circle field at 2,000 and stand by.

Over.

Hey is there an ol soak down there

caled Tiny Williams?

This is Peter Penrose Over

N Nuts. Blueprint control.

Remember your RT procedure.

Yes, you old basket, this is Tiny Williams!

How are you?

- Here, let me at him.

- Yes, sure.

Hello, Peter.

Peter, this is Johnny Hollis, remember?

Hiya Johnny

Make mine a large Scotch and soda Over

Wilco.

One Scotch and soda.

- Thanking you.

- Thoughtful of you, Johnny.

Give me that, that's not for you.

Try some of this punch.

- Have you got a thirsty partner?

- No, Toddy's not here yet.

l didn't bring anyone.

Figured l'd do better on my own.

- Good hunting.

- Hey, check that.

- l got it.

- l've had my eye on her all evening.

Luck, pal.

Battery acid!

Excuse me, do you know Keith Hardy?

l've been looking for him.

Keith Hardy? Oh, he's left.

Left?

Yes, can l get you a drink?

Thank you, that's kind of you.

Hello.

Hiya, Keith, old boy,

the very guy l've been looking for.

Obviously.

One Scotch and soda large for you, sir.

- Thanks.

- Good to see you, Peter.

How are you? Do you remember Nobby?

- Sure. How are you?

- Fine, thanks, sir.

- Take this.

- No, thanks, l don't touch it.

- No, too young.

- Ah, l see.

Well, you finally made Lancasters.

Yes, sir. Even the whole ruddy Air Council

couldn't keep us apart.

- Swell. What's it like being a pathfinder, Pete?

- Not so bad. No future in it though.

- What's going on in there?

- Station dance.

- Ah, could we take a squint?

- Sure, take it away. The joint's yours.

- Come on, Nob.

- Right.

Not bad.

Hey, there's that little girl

that used to live down The Lion.

- What's the matter, lris?

- l think l want to go home.

Do you mind?

lris, did l do anything wrong?

No, l just don't feel very well,

that's all.

Come on, come on, break it up. A fine thing.

- l thought you were my friend.

- Ok, Johnny.

- When did you get here?

- Just now.

l couldn't see you,

so l picked the handsomest man in the room.

Well, l'm pretty too. Get out of it! From now on

you're dancing every dance with me, see?

Excuse me.

- Wasn't it fun ?

- l haven't enjoyed myself so much for years.

Ah.

Are you going to do your Uncle Johnny stuff

again this year?

Ah, sure.

- Oh.

- What's the matter?

Say, is there any way of

breaking into the schoolroom?

- Well, we might. Why?

- lt's something l forgot to fix for tomorrow.

One of my conjuring tricks.

Old Black Magic, they call me.

Oh, come on, then.

- lf we get arrested, it's your fault.

- Ok.

l wish we could have a little more light

on the scene. l think it's gonna show.

l'm afraid you'll have to risk it, Johnny.

lt'll take hours to black out all the windows.

Yeah, you're right.

Ok, we'll risk it.

- Thank you, Miss Todd.

- Not at all.

Say... the village looks quite different

in the moonlight.

The old Lion looks positively romantic,

doesn't it?

There's a very bad blackout in No.3 bathroom.

You ain't got no soul.

- l've seen moonlight before.

- l know.

l hate goodbyes,

so l've been putting off telling you...

but l'm going home.

Oh, Johnny, how marvellous for you.

l'm so glad.

- You can imagine what l felt when l heard.

- Yes, indeed.

- How wonderful for Mary to have you back.

- Yes.

l guess she'll be pleased, all right.

After the war,

maybe you could come out to the States.

Oh... well, we'll try.

l don't suppose it'll be very easy.

Then we'll come over here and visit with you.

Golly, it'd be swell to come over here

to your Golden Lion just as ordinary tourists.

Sit around there all day - talking, drinking.

Not to have to fly.

Don't you like flying, Johnny?

Oh, sure l do.

But in my own time and not the government's.

Well... just in case.

Here's wishing you all the best.

- All the best, Johnny.

- You deserve it.

Give my love to Mary.

l will.

Thank you. And thank you for a lovely evening.

Oh, no, thank you.

- l shall see you again, shan't l?

- Oh, sure. kids' party.

Of course.

And l'll be down to say goodbye,

too if l can.

- Then this is just good night.

- That's right.

lt's just good night...Toddy.

Good night, Johnny. Thank you.

What for?

Lots of things.

- How are you, Johnny boy?

- l don't know yet.

Well, get a good hope, Minnie -

here we go again.

Good morning, Johnny. All set?

Well, getting set, sir.

Guess l'm just a bit out of uniform

at the moment.

Say, sir...

...about that question of going home.

What about it?

Well, l was just wondering

if you couldn't see your way clear

to putting some other guy's name in.

Sure l could, easily, but what's the idea?

l don't know as l'd be all that much good

as an instructor.

Sure you would, Johnny.

What's the real reason ?

l don't know as there is a real reason, sir.

But the crew's only got ten more missions.

We're kind of accustomed to being together.

And last night l got talking

with some of the RAF fellas in the mess...

and it occurred to me that if a guy

didn't get here until the middle of things...

maybe he kind of oughta stick around

until the end.

Oh, it'll take much too long

to explain to you now.

Look, sir, l'll come in and see you

after the mission?

Yeah, sure.

You can see me any time, you know that.

- You don't have to, but come anyway.

- Thanks.

- Hey, Johnny, l'll give you a hand with that.

- Oh, thanking you.

And me thinking at last we had the opportunity

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