CHAPTER 15


   As the helicopter made a slow and lazy circle of the field, Barbara could not help but notice the very prominent looking aircraft that was still parked in the exact same place that it was when she and Shannon had flown up to their station. Despite the fact that the aircraft was painted camouflage, the big Iron Cross, painted on the wings, stuck out like a sore thumb. Barbara kind of figured, that at least here, the Wehrmacht liked sticking out like a sore thumb. It was not like anyone was going to tell them they couldn’t do what they wanted too. So why hide?
The only thing different that Barbara could see about the German presence was the activity level around their aircraft. When she had taken off it had almost seemed as if the Germans had just landed here to catch some sleep. They looked pretty busy at the moment. The only good thing that Barbara could say about that was, it appeared as if they were getting ready to leave. Barbara could only guess that much because they were not digging holes and setting up big guns so, what else could they possibly be doing?
The only thing that looked out of place, about the airport, was not what Barbara could see but, more like what she could not. She set her bird down right in the grassy field that she had taken off from. She even put the skids down on the marks they had left overnight. There was a second set of marks not far from hers and they did not have a chopper sitting on them. After she killed her engine she sat in her seat to let the blades slow down while she finished turning everything else off. She grumbled to herself, “where the hell are those two?”
Unfortunately, keeping your volume down with a microphone right next to your lips usually defeats the purpose of doing so in the first place. Shannon, sitting beside her mother, got a big smile on her face and told her mother, “I guess they’re out flying the hump, huh?”
Barbara tried to control her temper and she kept her reply short and sweet, “shut up Shannon.” She then decided to scold her daughter, “it’s not funny.”
Shannon remained as playful as ever, “who’s joking?”
It was a good thing that the blades were almost stopped because Barbara decided to just get out now and not answer her daughter. She grabbed her bag from the back seat and did not listen to another word, that her daughter had to say, as they walked back to the tower. It was when she reached the front door that she froze and gulped. Two grenadiers were standing just outside the door. It was a young girl and boy but, with all the equipment they had on it really didn’t matter who they were. They both looked intimidating enough. The only good thing that Barbara could see was at least their battle rifles were slung over their shoulders and they did not appear to be on the look out for any trouble. She stayed away from the door anyway.
As Barbara debated about what to do, another German appeared. He came walking out the door and this guy was big and burly. Barbara got the impression that he would have looked scary without all the military hardware. He had stripes on his sleeves and walked with an air of authority about him. He proved that much when he commanded the other two Germans with only a nod. Barbara held her breath as they walked by. She let it out when they did not even pay her a bit of attention. They simply went their own way, back across the tarmac, to the hangar that their aircraft was parked in front of.
Shannon had been so silent during the encounter that Barbara had almost forgotten she was standing behind her, semi hiding. When the Germans were far enough away, ever increasing the gap between them, Shannon stepped out of her mother’s shadow and said, “what a bunch of dicks.” For once, Barbara decided not to correct her child.
Barbara did not exactly run but, she did walk very quickly towards the tower. She was in near panic until she saw Lucy step out and watch the departing soldiers. Lucy looked no worse for wear. She did have a strange expression and if Barbara did not know any better she would say it was one of surprise and shock. Barbara quickly asked, “Lucy, are you OK?”
“Um,” it did seem as if Lucy was at a loss for words. “Yeah, I guess. I’m just…”
“What?” Barbara was very concerned, “what did they do?”
“They paid,” Lucy was still stunned.
Now Barbara was too. She blinked, her jaw fell open, and she asked, “IFOR actually paid for a landing permit?”
“Um,” Lucy tried to get her thoughts together and then she said, “not exactly. It was that Sergeant guy there. Said his name was… Berg, I think? He rented that hangar they’re parked by.”
Barbara blinked again, “you’re kidding, right?”
“No,  best sale we‘ve made all month. He handed me a wad deutschemarks and signed a lease. ,” Lucy’s eyes were still big, “I hope he doesn’t do it again.”
Barbara looked back out towards the Germans and they were still just harmlessly walking away. She finally started breathing normally and with some relief she told Lucy, “I think I need a drink.”
Lucy did not even blink, “already opened a bottle honey.”
Shannon got a look in her eyes and before she could even get one word out, Barbara just said, “no.” They proceeded inside and as Barbara’s thought processes began to recover she asked, “has Tony checked in? I tried to raise him but couldn’t get him.”
Lucy was still in shock as she sat down at her little desk and started pouring bourbon into a glass. After handing the glass to Barbara, Lucy just started drinking out of the bottle. After a couple of good swigs she said, “you’d have better luck in the air than I would down here sugar. We got limited range here and I can’t ever raise anybody up on them slopes. Besides, I didn’t figure they’d be back by now anyway.”
Shannon crossed her arms, wrinkled her nose, and told her mother in a snide way, “told you.”
That made Lucy laugh as she commented to Shannon, “that girl sure had some goo goo eyes.”
“No,” Barbara said sternly. Tony might have been a lot things, irresponsible and self gratifying being amongst them but, if you put him in a pilot seat he did not take chances. It was something of a contradiction but, it was one that kept him from getting fired. Barbara knew a real pilot when she saw one and, she also knew that Tony was even better at it than she was.
Barbara looked to her daughter, “Shannon, stay here and help Lucy out for a while, will you?”
Shannon suddenly switched from good humor to slight fear, “Mom? The Germans? Remember?”
“If they were going to blow this place up I don’t think they would have paid Lucy for the damages in advance,” Barbara told her. “Just stay away from them.”
Shannon was not very convinced. She then realized the other side of that equation and asked her mother, “where are you going?”
Now Lucy got it and she put the bottle aside even if her hand did not come off, “that’s a really good question Barbara. I hope you ain’t figuring on flying out to the slopes, not on your own honey. That ain’t safe.”
Barbara ignored the advice since she was already well aware of it. She remained deep in thought for a moment and then asked, “how are they doing up at,” her voice became semi sarcastic, “Loveburg?”
Lucy took another swig and then said, “Killy radioed in a couple of hours ago, right after they landed. They had to ride horses the last few miles on account of them people don’t like no planes flying over. He said they was fine but, I ain’t heard nothing sense.”
While slipping her sunglasses back on and zipping up her jacket, Barbara said, “when you hear from them again, just tell Killian to bring Kent back here. The field up by the station is socked in with snow. I wouldn’t try landing a plane on it without a ground team.”
“Oh I see,” Lucy nodded as she put the bottle down again, “I was wondering what you was doing back so early.” Then Lucy thought about it some more and asked, “snow? Funny time of year to be getting that much snow, even up there.”
Barbara walked right out the door without responding. Shannon developed a big grin and she was just about to ask Lucy when she heard her mom yell back from a distance, “I’m checking your breath when I get back, Shannon!”
“Damn it!” Shannon stomped her foot, flopped down in a chair, and commenced to pouting. She then mumbled to herself, “god, Mom’s the one that needs to be flying the hump. Maybe she‘d lighten up.”
Lucy just laughed and took another drink. This time, she put the cork back in the bottle and put it away. She was giggling as she did. Then she said to the kid, “don’t worry sugar, we’re going to have fun. So tell me, I heard you guys got you another one of them treaty fellers. Why ain’t he killed himself yet?”