Beyond the Horizon

by Ella Carey

  Once she was in the air with the other WASP, Eva flew back and forth up the coast, enjoying the peace without artillery being shot at her and trying not to think of what her mother would say at her being exposed to radar, which could stop her having children of her own.

  Below her, the Atlantic stretched gorgeous and blue. White caps dotted the sea where two years ago, U-boats had wreaked havoc, causing the locals in North Carolina to wake up to the sounds of regular explosions. Cargo ships traveling up the coast were attacked mercilessly. The navy had managed to put a stop to it, and now the battle against U-boats was concentrated up the northern part of the coast.

  When her time was up, Eva took a smooth landing, but after four hours up there, the seat had become hard and her back ached. She stretched, arching her back once she was on the ground. After lunch, they’d report straight to ground school.

  Once her flying for the day was done, Eva stood in front of her mirror, ready to go to the officers’ club, her blue party dress looking ridiculous in these conditions, in this climate, not to mention the mud. But it was the only decent outfit she’d packed in her kit bag. She wasn’t going to go to the officers’ club in a flight suit or her Santiago blues.

  “You look gorgeous.” Helena applied a little lipstick next to her. “I for one am looking forward to a night out.” She pulled her woolen coat over her dark-green evening dress.

  Eva shrugged on her own coat. The sound of a jeep pulling up outside their bay ricocheted into the cold night. She followed Helena out to the porch. Nina waved at them from the front cabin of a rough old jeep, wrapped up in her red coat, a beret sitting atop her long hair. Walter hopped out, his uniform immaculate, brass buttons gleaming in the dark.

  “You girls want a ride?” he said.

  “I didn’t realize you were an officer, Walter,” Helena said.

  “Fully trained at Randolph Field, Texas, before the war.” Walter stood upright as if to attention. “I’ve always been interested in taking on extra antiaircraft training, so I put my hand up to come here.”

  “Well, we are most grateful that you did.” Helena stepped into the back seat of the jeep. Walter held the door open for Eva too.

  He closed the door with a snap, and Nina turned around to them, her face more animated than it had been for weeks. If Eva were honest, she’d say that a pink flush shone from her cheeks.

  “Well, hello there, Miss Nina,” Helena said.

  “Hey, honey,” Eva said.

  “Hey there, Evie, Helena.” She winked at them.

  Walter walked around the side of the jeep.

  “Someone’s got a gorgeous beau.” Helena dropped her voice.

  “Isn’t he somethin’ else?” Nina said.

  Walter was back in the jeep, and in two seconds, he had the engine fired up. “Couldn’t let you ladies trudge through the mud in your party shoes.”

  They rattled along the dirt road up to the officers’ mess, passing groups of flyboys who whistled at the sight of the dressed-up girls through the windows of the jeep.

  “And that’s another reason why I didn’t want you walking.” Walter eased the jeep around a corner to another, identical row of wooden buildings.

  “I just say hello right back to them and don’t let them intimidate me.” Eva had become used to the attentions of the men.

  “Oh, I’d be furious,” Nina said. “Tell them to go stick it and stare at something else.”

  Walter threw back his head and laughed.

  Eva grinned and held on to the rattling doors of the jeep. Her little friend was back.

  Walter pulled up outside a large building. The sounds of classical music drifted out through the blackout curtains. A couple of potted plants sat at either side of the entrance, and the sign on the door warned anyone who wasn’t an officer to keep out.

  “Welcome to the officers’ club, girls.” He was out again, holding the doors open and helping Nina.

  Eva gave Nina a hand on her other side up the short steps that led to the building’s porch, shocked now at the slight figure of the usually healthy girl she’d grown up with. Nina’s coat hung from her frame, and she halted at the top of the steps, her breathing fast.

  “Well done, Nina,” Eva said.

  “Never thought I’d be so grateful for the ability to climb a flight of stairs.” Nina’s face broke into a faint replica of that grin that Eva loved.

  Inside, twenty or thirty people stood about on a floral carpet in a smoke-filled, hazy room. A long mahogany table was set out with glasses of wine and platters of food. Eva stood for a moment, adjusting to the pretense of more opulent surroundings than she’d become used to since arriving here. Officers chatted with a few other WASP and women who might have been locals from Wilmington and the towns surrounding the base, but mostly, the room was filled with the conversation of men.

  “Let’s get a drink, girls.” Walter led them to the table, offering them all glasses of wine.

  “Nina, what would you like?” he asked, his tone attentive.

  Eva found herself watching how he interacted with Nina. Nina looked up at him, her face reddening into a slight blush. “Orange juice, please. I’m not ready to delve into alcohol yet.”

  Walter handed her a juice and led them all to join a group of other young officers.

  “Well, well.” An officer who looked to be in his late twenties brightened at the sight of Eva, Helena, and Nina. “What do we have here?”

  “Three WASP,” Walter said. “Who have been up at ten thousand feet today.”

  The officer whistled. “I heard they were sending you girls up testing altitudes,” he said. “Tell me, how are you finding life out here at Camp Davis?”

  “Oh, we’re just fine,” Helena said. “Getting used to the mud and all!”

  “Indeed. Bryce Collins.” The man reached out a hand to Helena. She shook it, and he leaned forward to chat with her.

  Walter was leaning in close to Nina in turn, whispering and making her laugh. She threw back her head and chortled when he clearly told her some anecdote about one of the other officers, an older, serious-looking man who walked past.

  Jack’s diamond bracelet glimmered on Eva’s wrist under the lights.

  “Evie!” Helena was right next to her again. “What in the name of heaven is that?” She picked up the bracelet and peered at it.

  “Oh, it was a gift.” She turned it over doubtfully.

  Helena’s officer friend Bryce leaned forward to look at Eva’s wrist. “Well, that’s a gift from a man who’s serious. You got yourself a boyfriend, I’d say, miss.”

  Helena tucked her arm into Eva’s and took a few steps away. “Excuse me one moment, Officer,” she said to Bryce.

  He ducked his head in acknowledgment. “Secret ladies’ business. I know when to keep well out of things.”

  Helena drew Eva to a quiet corner spot. “Evie. You are keeping something from me?” She picked up Eva’s wrist.

  Suddenly, Nina was right by them. “Say! Whoa! What’s that? I’ve never laid eyes on so many diamonds on one girl’s arm in my life.” She narrowed her eyes. “Evie . . .”

  Eva chewed on her lip. Nina held Eva’s arm up to the light.

  “Oh, hadn’t you seen that before?” Walter was by Nina’s side.

  Nina rounded on him. “What? You’ve seen this before me, Walter?”

  “And me!” Helena said.

  “And Helena. We three girls are tight,” Nina said. She turned to Eva. “There are two boys who could have given you that, Evie, and one of them’s engaged and not into grand gestures, so . . .” Her face fell into a scowl. “I guess it’s that other boy.”

  Eva’s gaze traveled slowly over Nina’s face. What was her problem with Jack?

  Right then, a few officers started to dance with some of the women. The music changed, and the room exploded with Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood.” They’d cleared a space on one side, and people started putting drinks down and working toward the makeshift dance floor.
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  “Oh, this makes me miss New York,” Walter said. “Nina, would you like to dance? Promise I won’t exhaust you.”

  “A little jitterbug never did anyone no harm.” Nina grinned up at him, looking as mischievous as she used to when she was twelve.

  “Sounds grand, Nina.” Walter took her arm and led her to the floor.

  Helena watched on, her expression wistful.

  “Girls? Helena, Eva, would you like to dance?” Bryce said.

  “Sure. Come on, Evie.” Helena grabbed Eva by the arm. “Let’s let off some steam with these swell guys.”

  Eva dropped her arm with the fancy bracelet by her side. For now, she’d forget her mixed feelings about Jack. She followed her friends instead, forcing herself to push painful memories of her last meeting with Harry aside as they threatened to intrude, weaving her way through the noisy, chatting crowd. In a few moments, they were all jitterbugging together, and that was all that seemed to matter.

  Two hours later, Nina was flushed but sitting up on a chair at the edge of the room, her head resting on Walter’s shoulder. Eva and Helena chatted with a fine group of officers, whom they’d danced with ever since they hit the floor.

  “Eva? Helena?” Walter appeared at Eva’s side. “I’m taking Nina back to the infirmary. You girls all want a lift back to the bay?”

  “Yes, please, Walter.” Eva didn’t fancy walking all the way back in the mud. Rain had started pelting the roof, and today, they’d had a fall of sleet.

  Once they were snuggled back in the jeep, Helena’s head resting on the window in the back seat, she started singing a slow rendition of “Zoot Suits and Parachutes,” her voice lilting in the dark. They made their way through the night back to the infirmary, and Nina took up the tune. Soon Eva was singing along with them, a sense of nostalgia for their days training at Avenger Field running between them, even though they seemed so far away.

  Walter pulled up outside the infirmary. He sat for a moment, looking straight ahead in the front seat.

  Helena let out a yawn. “Gee, I’ll be an interesting girl to wake up at six a.m.”

  “Nina,” Walter said, something special and soft in his tone.

  Helena flashed Eva a glance.

  Eva found her heart beating hard for her dear friend. Walter was a lovely man. Was he about to ask Nina out?

  “Nina,” Walter went on, sounding almost shy, “I hope you don’t mind me askin’ you this in front of your friends and all, but thing is, I was wondering if you’d like to go out to the pictures with me. In Wilmington? I’ve got Wednesday night off.”

  Helena gave Eva a nudge.

  “Walter, I’d love that.”

  Eva felt a smile spread across her face.

  Outside, the rain had softened into a slow-falling mist.

  “Well, I’m happy to hear it.” Walter climbed out.

  “You sleep well, Nina,” Eva said.

  Nina turned to the girls. “Had to be a silver lining to getting sick.” She sent them a wink.

  Walter opened the door to help her out of the jeep.

  “They’re letting me out in two days, Evie,” Nina said.

  “I can’t wait to have you back, honey!”

  The last couple of days without Nina seemed to drag, and yet Eva knew that every mission she flew was taking her one step closer to having her friend back with her in the air. She sat in the anteroom, a cup of coffee clasped in her hands after a morning of routine antiaircraft tracking. The sounds of the guns ricocheting around her plane was something she was becoming used to as a constant ringing in her head.

  “Mail drop.” Wendy pushed the door open, still wearing her helmet. “Eva, Helena. Letters for you.”

  Wendy passed five envelopes to Eva. Eva’s eyes flew over the handwriting. She sifted them. Her mom, Bea, Rita. Jack. Nothing from Dylan—although she’d heard that he’d taken up a teaching post in Upstate New York, somewhere quiet and as far away from his memories as he could get. From Harry, not a thing. But the fifth letter in her hand was from his mom.

  “At last,” Helena said. “Mail seems to take an age to get out here.”

  Wendy pulled out a seat. She held a few letters in her own hands.

  The room went quiet, and Eva frowned at the letters. She couldn’t help it. She had to read Harry’s mom’s letter first. She slipped her nail under the seal.

  Dearest Eva,

  First, let me say how delightful it was to hear from you. We are so very proud of you and Nina. I know how much boys like Harry appreciate you.

  When it comes to Harry, I can tell you that he is fine. I know how much, of all people, you and Nina are aware that loose lips sink ships, so you will understand that I will keep my information far briefer than I’d like.

  Harry’s written to tell us not to worry, he’s fine and he’s enjoying steak breakfasts! He said the other boys in his squadron are cheerful company but that they had lost one man recently. He couldn’t tell us about anything else, not even the weather from overseas, as that would give away too much. That’s all he’s said.

  I write to him daily in the hope that my letters from home give him comfort. I know Lucille writes to him real regular too. Life is mighty quiet here with all of our young folk off at war, but we are doing our bit. We are going on with our ration cards.

  God bless you, dear,

  Louise Butler

  Next, Eva opened Rita’s letter.

  Dear Evie, Helena, and Nina,

  I’m mighty missing you girls, and you know me, I’m gonna pack as much into this precious letter as I can. I bet it gets censored, but I’m following the idea of no weather, no locations, no details that are risky. I hope it gets through those censor people! You know me!

  I hope you girls are having a ball and are swinging! I’m thinking it’s a gas that I’m seen as more of the Mercedes-Benz or the Cadillac type of girl, rather than the sports-car sort. A lot of the men are drafted out here. They don’t have the love of the flying we girls have, you see. So it’s different. Mighty different when it comes to morale than it was when we were together. But the WASP here are great girls. We’re holding our own and determined to outfly the boys. You’ll see!

  Oh darn it, this information won’t help any enemy alien. Some of the boys seem a ton more scared than we girls when it comes to flying the bombers. I was flying with a man as my copilot, and he had it in his head that our automatic pilot wasn’t working. I told him it was, because I’d checked it, but he wanted to go back to the line. I told him we had to take off, and finally we did. That boy was darned scared, he was.

  And the other day, a plane exploded right in front of me before we took off. Again, my copilot wanted to turn around and stay on the ground. But I insisted we fly, and the captain of operations ordered us to take off. I had to deal with the boy moaning and turning green the whole flight.

  Other than that, not much to report. But it’s fun, competing with the boys. We’re doing Jacqueline Cochran proud.

  Missing you,

  Much love,

  Your friend Rita

  Eva shook her head, smiled, and opened Bea’s letter. Would Rita ever get the hang of wartime censorship?

  She handed Rita’s letter to Helena and read Bea’s steady writing.

  Dear Evie, Nina, and Helena,

  Well, I hope you three are doing fine out there. I’m well. Enjoying my job and getting to see a lot of the countryside. Overall, it’s good work, and I have no complaints. I’ve been told to keep my letters positive to avoid the censor scissors, so here goes. I’m gonna do my best to be vague.

  Last week, I went the whole distance across the country. I tell you, I don’t miss that weather where we were, because I hit a storm. It was so big I couldn’t see anything else, and it came on so sudden. I tried to fly over it, but I couldn’t. I tried to fly under it, but I couldn’t do that either. I looked for someplace to land, saw an airfield, and landed. Five minutes after, another plane came in, and it was another girl right behind me. I
reckon we were scattered all over that night.

  How are you girls doing? Is it as bad as they say?

  One thing I am going to warn you about and hope this gets through to you, I’ll try. We all have to be careful with our inspections, doubly so, because one girl found a vial of acid chewing holes in her parachute. One girl had to come in for an emergency landing because her coolant and fuel lines were both in the red, and she found they’d been crossed. The engine had seized up, and she landed without hydraulics. So we’re being extra careful. I hope you three do too, because there are some mighty bad things happening. Some men still cannot handle women flying airplanes. The other girls warned me the moment I got here. Of course, some folks are also traitors to the United States. So please be careful.

  But apart from that, I have this rewarding job to do, and these great people to work with. I’m living well and eating well.

  Well, girls, that’s my news. I can’t wait to hear from you all.

  My love,

  Bea

  Eva took back Rita’s letter from Helena and held up both Rita’s and Bea’s letters to the light. They were both heavily cut out by censors, and she knew they understood the rules. So what was so important that they’d wanted to write her about?

  Jack’s letter was written in a sloping hand with expensive fine blue ink on embossed thick cream paper. He was acting, working on his film, but his dad was encouraging him to give it up and take on a sensible job, especially once the war was done. In fact, Jack said, his dad was of a mind to have him married.

  Eva placed Jack’s letter down on the table and pushed it away when she read that. Marriage seemed as alien and irrelevant out here as the moon. And yet Harry was engaged, and here was Jack suddenly throwing the word around as if it belonged to the everyday. Finally, she opened the letter from her mom. To her surprise, she felt herself smiling at the mention of mundane things at home.

  She stood up, going to the flight schedule that was put up for the rest of the day. She was going up in half an hour, flying in circles over the swamp.