Silver Wings by H. P. Munro Read Free Book Online Page B

along and begged the instructor to teach me. I worked after school washing planes and doing any bit of work they would throw my way just to get them to teach me, I got my license after around a year. I wanted to fly so I did chores for money and saved every dime I got until I could afford to buy an old wreck of a 1929 Travel Air, got the old girl going, and then started off barn storming and offering rides,” she shrugged as she finished her introduction, realizing she had shared more than she intended. “I worked my way across the country until I hit water. I stopped in Hollywood and have been flying stunt planes there ever since.” She focused her gaze on her pillow, “Then my father was killed in the Pacific last year and I wanted to do, no, Ineededto do something.”
    Lily reached over and gave Helen's arm a sympathetic rub. The blonde looked up and smiled gratefully.
    Eager to break the atmosphere that had settled in their small bay, Adele turned onto her side and looked at Helen, “And the other first time?”
    Helen hooted with laughter, “Definitely not for first night discussion.”
    The sadness evaporated from Helen and conversation started to flow seamlessly between the six women. They were shocked when, in the middle of an in-depth discussion about the films that Helen had flown in, the lights suddenly went out in their bay and they could hear the sound of a bugle playing the mournful tones of Taps.
    “Well ladies I guess that is that,” Adele murmured in the darkness. “I s'pose I'll be seein' y'all in the morning.”
    They muttered good nights to each other and settled down for their first night’s sleep in strange surroundings.
     

Chapter Four
    Helen heard the first notes from the bugle playing reveille. It had only started the repeat when she was out of her cot and in the bathroom to brush her teeth. She used her flannel to wipe the remnants of sleep from her face and freshen up before returning to the living quarters. Her bay mates were in various states of consciousness; apart from Lily who was still blissfully asleep on her front, with one arm and leg draped over the side of the bed, brushing the floor.
     Helen went to her locker and pulled out a white shirt and shorts. She changed quickly, pulling her zoot suit onto her lower half and secured it with the canvas belt, leaving the body and arms flapping at her backside.
    Adrienne mumbled a good morning as she padded past her towards the bathroom, wash bag in hand with Marjorie, Lucy and Adele following like goslings behind their mother.
    Making her bed and tucking the blankets into the corners Helen fell naturally into a long forgotten habit. She realized the benefit of being a military baby, she had been conditioned to be up, 'As soon as the bugle player wets his lips' as her father drummed into her. She ran a hand through her short blonde curls and surveyed her handiwork.
      Yup , she thought. The General would be proud . She smiled to herself as she raised her eyes from her neatly made bed towards the explosion of blankets and limbs in the bed next to her. Guiltily she allowed her eyes to trail up Lily's exposed leg, appreciating the tanned shapely calf and view of her thigh thanks to Lily's shorts having ridden up during her sleep. She smiled as Lily continued to sleep deeply, soft, snores coming from the pillow that her face was partly submerged in.
    “Lily,” she called walking around her cot to stand beside Lily's bed. “Lily, wake up.”
    She gingerly tapped the sleeping woman's shoulder.
    Getting no response she shook her gently, “Lily, it's time to get up.”
    She chewed on her lip wondering what tactic to take next in order to wake the woman who would seemingly sleep through a tornado. She was about to give Lily another shake when Adrienne returned.
    “What gives?” she asked noticing Helen hovering above Lily's bed.
    “I can't wake her,” Helen replied indicating down towards the still sleeping Lily.
    Adrienne deposited her