by M. L. Maki
Sam laughs and puts her cup down, “I got a few dog collars. Not a good look for me.”
Trying to catch his breath, Johnson gets out, “I agree.”
Sam takes a deep breath, “You know, Will, I still feel like I’m in the principal’s office.”
“You got a star before me.”
“Yes, but the Navy giveth and the Navy taketh away. Right now, by policy, no woman can be promoted beyond commander.”
“I know. It’s bullshit. Absolute bullshit. I expect you’ll smash that glass ceiling. Do you know what you’re doing next?”
“I’ve been promised CAG on the Washington.”
“As a commander.”
“I guess.”
“Please know that there a lot of us getting fed up about how you’ve been treated.”
“Thank you.”
CAPTAIN’S OFFICE, USS LONG BEACH
1810, 17 December, 1942
Tenzar and Hughes are drinking coffee. Tenzar, “So, you dropped her off with Liz?”
“Yeah. Liz wants to take her back.”
“How are you doing, Shawn?”
“Okay, sir. We talked.” He sips his coffee, “She has a boyfriend. I don’t know who.” He looks at Tenzar, his expression bleak, “She wants us to stay friends. I agreed.”
“But you still love her. That must be hell.”
“I do. I just can’t let go.”
“We get underway in two weeks. Up to you, but I think you need to get laid.”
BOEING FIELD, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
0742, 18 December, 1942
After the morning muster, Major Pettigrew asks Commander Hunt, “Where is Miss Lake?”
Spike finishes reviewing the maintenance paperwork, then looks up, “She checked herself into a rehab program. She’ll be missing the rest of the tour.”
“She did not clear it with me.”
Spike stares at him, “She cleared it with me. Tell me you’re not this cavalier with the health of our charges.”
He looks at her, confused, “She’s a drunk. Everyone knows that. She shows up on time and does her job. By the time the alcohol has ruined her, she’ll be too old to act.”
Spike steps closer, her eyes on fire with rage. Pettigrew involuntarily steps back. “Major, I cannot believe I just heard that. You are failing at the only fucking job you are here to do, care for your people. Now get out of my face.”
She turns and walks to her bird, “Cooper, where are we?”
“Ready to go, Spike. Pre-flight done on both birds.” A few minutes later, they’re taxiing to the end of the runway. They pass an open hanger and see a jet bomber. Cooper, “Wow, did you see that jet?”
Spike, “Yes. It looks like a B-58 Hustler and a B-1 Lancer had a baby.”
“Yeah. Wonder how it performs?”
On radio, “Blue Angel 1, Boeing tower. You are clear to take off, runway 14 right. Depart 170.”
Spike, “Clear, 170, Blue Angel.” On intercom, “Time for sterile.” She turns her bird onto the runway and smoothly applies power. They roll down the runway, taking off behind Fat Albert. As they climb, “Angels 10.”
Cooper, “Is Major dumb ass pissed because Veronica checked into rehab?”
“Fuck him.”
Cooper waits, then, “May I ask how things went with Groo?”
Spike smiles, recalling how Shawn got his call sign, “I think I saved the friendship. Well, maybe.” She sighs, “Relationships are complicated.”
Cooper, “We’ll be in San Diego in a few days. I’m setting things up so you have some time with Buford. Leave it to me.”
“Roger that, Radar. You know, in San Francisco we’ll have our one-year anniversary for coming back in time.”
“Yeah. Want to do something?”
“No, but I think we’ll talk about it.”
They do shows at Portland and San Francisco. Then it’s on to Los Angeles.
CHAPTER 29
CO’S OFFICE, NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS BASE, CORONADO, CALIFORNIA
1400, 18 December, 1942
Lt. JG Jeremiah Buford knocks on the door and walks into Captain Robert Issa’s office, “Sir, do you have a moment?”
“Sure. How may I help you?”
Buford hands him a leave chit for 20 through 31 December. “My girlfriend will be in the area and I’d like to spend some time with her.”
Issa takes the chit, his face tight, “You know how I feel about this.”
“Yes, sir. I do. I don’t give a fuck. You’ve no right, legal or otherwise, to fuck with my private life.”
Issa makes eye contact with Buford. Buford’s demeanor is calm, but his eyes are on fire, “You love her?”
“I do.”
“But does she love you?”
“All I have is her words and actions. Both say yes. If you must, ask her yourself when she gets here.”
“What are you going to do if I say no?”
“I’ll talk to the admiral. We both know the law, sir.”
“Yes, we do. You need to know I care about her.”
“I do. I know if I hurt her, a thousand guys will line up to kill me. I won’t hurt her. Not ever.”
Issa nods and signs the chit, “When she gets here, I’d like to see her.”
“I think I can make that happen, sir.”
BOBLINGEN WORK CAMP, BOBLINGEN, GERMANY
1730, 19 December, 1942
Lt. Peter ‘Moses’ Moskowitz is eating and talking with his fellow prisoners. He’s picked up quite a bit of Polish and German over the last months. “This is the one-year anniversary of me and my people coming back in time. A year ago, my life was boring and simple.”
Nata, “What was the world like?”
“Everything was much better. The war and Hitler were a distant memory. The Iron Curtain between the eastern-block, controlled by the Soviet Union, and the west fell the year before. The world was at peace”
Another prisoner, “Did we survive?”
“Many of you do. But I don’t know who.”
A man new to their work group looks up from his food, “American. Why do you help then build the weapon that will destroy your country?”
Moses eyes the new man, “I do what we all must do. I survive. If you are to survive, you must conserve your energy. Do not waste it on the likes of me.”
“You’re an officer.”
Moses snorts, “Does that make me immune from the lash? Does it make me immune from the fire that awaits us all?”
“We have built thirty bombers. They’ll be used to destroy New York City, Washington, Boston, and yet, you do this?”
Moses turns to Nata, “Who is this man?”
Nata, “I don’t know.” He turns to the stranger, “Who are you? Where are you from?”
“I am nobody. I am from Warsaw.”
“Name?”
“Berken Epstein.”
Moses, “You seem well informed. How do you know the targets for these aircraft?”
“I do not. It is called the Amerika bomber.” He shrugs.”
Moses, “I see.”
Forty minutes later, Epstein works his way to the guard shack, “It seems he is just trying to survive, sir.”
MINES FIELD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
21, December, 1942
Commander Hunt enjoys the blue skies and amazing weather as she does her air show. As she comes in to land, “Cooper, do you realize that we just closed LAX for an air show? That would never happen in 1990.”
“True. This is home for me.”
“Is your family watching?”
“I think so.”
“After the speech, I’d like to meet them. Buford might be here, too.”
“Yeah. If he is, leave it to me. I’ve got a plan.”
“What is my part of the plan?”
“Your part is to do what you always do. We’re going to play three card monte with the major.”
“Okay. Please, don’t get into trouble.”
“Come on, Spike.
This is in my wheel house.”
“Right. Showtime.” She opens the canopy and waves. The crew and actors march out of Fat Albert. By now, it’s old hat. Sam jogs onto the stage and waves again. Looking at the throng, she sees Jeremiah. Their gazes lock briefly and she smiles.”
Mayor Fletcher Bowron shakes her hand. “Thank you for coming. I hope you’re going to say some kind words about my fine city.”
“I went to college in Pasadena.” She steps up to the microphone, “Hello, LA!”
Looking down as she waits for the cheers to quiet, she sees Cooper next to Buford. “I’m so honored to be here. I hope each of you understands just how important you are to the war effort. This war, World War II, is a total war, and every single citizen must do their share on the road to victory.
“It’s important that you support us, the war fighters, as we run up beaches, as we battle the enemy on, above, and below the seas, as we sweep clean the skies of enemy aircraft. Nothing we do is possible without you. Please write your serviceman or woman. If you don’t know anyone, then write a random soldier, airman, or sailor. Adopt a unit.
“As I’ve toured the country, I have been highlighting individuals in my command who distinguished themselves. If I can, I chose someone local. Someone who you can be exceptionally proud of. Now, my yeoman is from right up the road in Burbank, but he asked me not to talk about him.
She smiles as the crowd chuckles. “Instead, I’m going to talk about my senior enlisted advisor, Aviation Ordinance Master Chief Bruce Bond. Bruce could have been a football star, instead, he chose the Navy. I should describe Master Chief. He’s a huge man and enormously strong. He’s black and bald. It is for this reason the Navy gave him the call sign ‘Fluffy.’
A chuckle ripples through the crowd. “Through all of the fighting, he has been my right-hand man. I want to share a specific incident. At the end of July, the Germans attacked our base at Alconbury. A Wellington bomber on final was shot down and crashed on the field. Fluffy drove across that field exposing himself to gunfire to rescue the crew. When he got to the plane, he came under fire from a German jet doing a low-level strafing run. He didn’t run. He didn’t hide. He picked up a wrench and just before the jet got to him, he threw it into the air. The wrench was sucked into the intake of one of the engines. The pilot was so low, that when his engine flamed out, he could not recover and crashed at the end of the runway.
“Fluffy ran to the fire engulfed Wellington and rescued its crew. For his actions that day, King George the Sixth presented him with an honorary knighthood, making him Sir Fluffy.”
She waits, grinning, as the gales of laughter sweep through the crowd. “Sir Fluffy is a very good man; a heroic man. He, like all of us, needs your support. Please join the team that is fighting and winning this war. Please buy bonds. Thank you.”
She heads off the stage to the bathroom, then joins the mayor in his car. Mayor Bowron, “Why did you choose to talk about a black man?”
She smiles, “You have a lot of black citizens. They matter, too.”
He shakes his head, “That community is crime ridden and trouble.”
“What are you doing to help them?”
“Commander, there is nothing you can do. They do it all to themselves.”
“Sir, volumes will be written about the corruption in this city. There will be race riots. All of this will tarnish your legacy. What are you doing about it?”
“Commander, do not meddle in things outside of your control.”
“I see. Thank you, Mayor.” The car stops and she gets out.
Cooper, “This way, ma’am.” He shows her to the dressing room. A Marine and Major Pettigrew are waiting outside the dressing room door.
Pettigrew, “Commander, a word?”
Sam, “In a moment, Major.” She walks into the room. Jeremiah is sitting at the far end with her bags. The actresses are changing their clothes. Rita smiles, “He’s cute, Sam.”
Sam smiles back. “Yes, he is.” She walks straight into Jere’s arms. The four women turn their backs to the couple and finish dressing.
They come up for air, and Jere says, “I love you, Sam.”
“I love you, too. Cooper shouldn’t have put you in here.”
Myrna pipes up, “It was our idea. This is the only place you can avoid the major. Now, you have about thirty minutes before you’re due on stage. We’ll keep the major busy for you.” She giggles.
Sam looks at her friends, “Really?”
Rita, “You know, you’re our commander, too. Nice to meet you, Lieutenant.” The four women troop out.
Sam kisses Jere, “It’s an amazing conspiracy.”
“Yes, it is. You need to change, right?”
“I do.” She strips off her flight suit. He helps her. “I’m struggling to believe you’re real.”
“How much time do you have off?”
“Until the first. No matter your schedule, I’ll have the time.”
“Issa approved?”
“I gave Captain Issa hell for interfering in our lives. But I get it. He really cares for you.”
“Then what’s his problem?”
“He doesn’t think I’m good enough for you.” He kisses her shoulder.
Sam leans back and gives him a long look, then pulls him in and kisses him. “You are plenty good enough for me. So there.”
Jere laughs. Sam finishes dressing, buttoning up her dress blue jacket. He wraps his arms around her and holds her to him, “We have a few minutes.” They kiss deeply. When they come up for air, he pushes her away, holding her shoulders. “Know that I want your success more than my own. I will never ask anything of you that might hurt you.”
She smiles, “I know.”
“You need to get your game face on. What do we need to talk about?”
“Right now, nothing. But, you’re right, I need to get it together for my speech.”
“What about?”
“The usual theme of sacrifice.”
Jere looks her in the eyes, “Talk about the helicopters rescuing injured and sick people. Show them there is a tangible benefit to the community.”
“Yes. You’re right. Thank you, love. Now, does the Marine outside know you’re in here?”
“Yeah. Cooper set it all up. You know, he’s a gem.”
“I do. He wants to serve with me through the entire war. He said he was my batman.”
“What?”
“It’s a British thing. A batman is an enlisted aid that takes care of a senior officer. He handles all the mundane stuff so the officer can focus on war fighting. In turn, the officer looks out for the batman.”
“Oh. I see. Yep, he’s your batman.”
“Right. Time to go. Give it a minute and come see the show.”
Sam steps onto the stage into the bright lights, “Thank you.” She waits for the applause to die down, “Thank you. It means the world to me that you care. Nothing we do, nothing any of the warfighters on the front lines do, is possible without everything you do. All of you are accepting rationing, so we can have the materials and equipment we need.
“Something I don’t think anyone is talking about is how all this new technology will change all of our lives after the war. High speed transport will revolutionize travel. You’ll be able to fly from LA to New York in five or six hours. You’ll be able to watch movies from the comfort of your living rooms. Helicopters will transport seriously injured people straight to the hospital in minutes.
“Commander Sandra Douglas is the commanding officer of HS-1, the helicopter squadron in my command. As much as the jet has revolutionized aerial combat, the helicopter has revolutionized medicine. Commander Douglas has personally saved hundreds of soldiers and sailors from perishing by rescuing them right on the battlefield. Often the wounded, and the helicopter are under fire. She flies into a hail of bullets to rescue those in need. Throughout the invasion of Britain, she never refused a mission and never left anyone behind. I am proud to call her friend.
&n
bsp; “Those of us on the front lines, like Commander Douglas, salute you.” Sam renders a crisp salute, “Without you, nothing would be possible. With you, victory is assured. We. All of us. We are a team and together we will defeat our enemies and bring peace and freedom to the world.
“Please buy bonds. Thank you.”
As the crowd applauses, she bows, then walks off the stage. She smiles at Jere as she walks to the receiving line. Again, she is asked for dates, “Thank you, but no.”
A young man in civilian clothes stops the line, “Are you really married?”
“No.”
“Then why won’t you go out with me? I’m rich.”
Sam bits her lip, then smiles, “Over at that table is an opportunity to spend your money wisely.”
“No, I want you.” He grabs for her arm.
Sam puts him in an arm lock and gracefully walks him to the bond table, “This is the place where you can do some good. Good day, sir.” Sam returns to the receiving line.
The man rolls his shoulder and shakes out his arm, anger and frustration in his eyes. The man realizes he’s being watched. He looks around and his gaze meets Jere’s. The man’s eyes open wide and he turns back to the table.
When the man finishes at the bond table, Major Pettigrew comes up to him, “She isn’t supposed to accept dates in the receiving line. You shouldn’t have pushed it.”
Rolling his shoulder and wincing, the man says, “I suppose not. What’s her deal?”
“I think she likes you. All that was just to test you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She works for me.” He looks around, then motions the man closer, “I shouldn’t say this, but she’s really hoping to get pregnant before the tour is over so she can avoid more sea duty.”
“Really.”
“Yep. I’ll also share that she’s staying in Bungalow 5 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She has a party tonight, but it should end about eight because she has to fly tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir.”
When she’s finished, she realizes Jere has disappeared. Cooper is escorting her into the back of the theater when Major Pettigrew walks up, “Commander, I want you by my side at dinner. There are a number of people I want to introduce you to.”