Delta-Victor (16 page)

She felt dreadful and it wasn't just grief. She was hot and dizzy. All she wanted to do was go to bed and stay there. Once the others had been picked up, she'd go and sit by Deefer's grave and wait for the end to come. It wouldn't be long, she knew that.

Staci wandered into a side room. “Jim, what's this?” she called.

Jim pushed the door open wider. “What's what?” he asked.

“This,” she said pointing to the desk.

“Staci, you gem.” Jim yelled and hugged her. “It's a cipher. Morse code. We can use it to call for help. My Morse is a little rusty, but I know enough to spell out where we are. Any suggestions?”

He sat down at the desk and they worked out a short message. Jim flexed his fingers and said, “Here goes nothing.” He tapped out the message. “SOS Agrihan Air Base. Need help. Please respond.” He added their names and a request for information about his parents. They sat there for half an hour, waiting for a response.

“Nothing,” Lou said. “No one uses Morse code anymore.”

“So why do it?” Staci yelled. “Why'd you get our hopes up, Jim?”

“Stop it.” Ailsa said, putting a hand on Jim's shoulder. “Shouting at each other isn't going to help and it was worth a shot. It'll be dark soon. I suggest we stay here tonight at least. Try again in the morning.”

A flash of lightning split the sky and rain splattered against the window. “Good idea,” said Jim. “At least we'll be in the dry. There should be a mess and barracks here somewhere.”

“Somewhere on this level will do for now. I can't do those stairs again,” Lou said.

Ailsa divided the remaining food into eight portions and gave them one portion each.

“Thanks for nothing,” Staci muttered.

“Have mine,” Lou told her. “I'm not hungry.”

Jim shot her an angry look. “You haven't eaten all day, Lou.”

“I don't feel very well. If I eat I'll be sick and that will be a waste of what little food we have. I'm going to find somewhere to sleep.” Lightning flashed again, illuminating her pale face. Thunder echoed in response.

Jim glanced at Ailsa, trying to indicate he didn't want Lou left alone.

She seemed to know what he meant as she nodded almost imperceptibly. “I'll come with you. If we find a big enough room, the four of us can camp together.”

The two of them left the room. Staci looked at Jim. “Sorry, bro.”

Jim put his arms around her. “It's OK, kiddo. I'd got my hopes up too. We'll try sending again tomorrow. Someone will hear us.”

Ailsa came back. “We found something,” she said. “A bunk room with four bunks and blankets. It'll mean Jim sharing with us, but I think we can cope for a few nights. What about you Stace? Jim doesn't get a say in the matter.”

“I see,” Jim said. “Like that is it?”

Thunder resounded through the empty building, making Staci jump. “Please, Jim. I need you tonight. So does Lou. Although she won't admit it.”

Jim sighed. “You really want me to share with a bunch of women?”

Staci rolled her eyes. “You've done it for weeks. The only difference is we're inside and not outside.”

“True. Sure, we can all bunk together. Is Lou all right, Ailsa?”

“Very quiet, which is only to be expected. She's already lying down and will be sleeping before long.”

“I'm going to bed. Ailsa, where's Lou?” Staci asked.

“Third door on the right Stace. We'll be right behind you.”

Staci ran down the corridor as the rain thudded against the window.

Jim looked at Ailsa. “I'm worried about Lou. You didn't see her up at the graveside. When she looked at me her eyes were empty. She scared me, Ailsa. There was nothing there. It was as if we'd buried her along with Deefer. I'm afraid she of what she might do.”

“She's grieving. She'll be OK. Just give her some time.”

“OK.”

Ailsa hugged him. “We won't leave her alone. That way she can't do anything.”

Jim held her gaze. “And I want the mytona out of her bag. Just to be on the safe side.”

She frowned. “Do you really think she'd do that?”

“I'm praying she won't, but there is something going on with her. More than just grief for Deefer. I just don't know what.”

19

The next morning was sunny. The overnight storm had dispersed some of the humidity. Lou looked out of the window across the pot-holed runway to the sea. The sun glinted off the top of the waves making them sparkle. The others were still asleep, so she quietly limped across the room and opened the door.

“Where are you going?” Jim asked.

Lou jumped, not realizing he was awake. “Nowhere far.”

Jim leapt off the top bunk and landed with a thud, waking the other two. “Good morning,” he said loudly.

“Brat,” Staci muttered, rolling over and tugging the blanket over her head.

“And good morning to you, too,” Ailsa yawned.

Lou limped down the corridor and towards the stairs. She sat on the top one and sliding her crutches to the bottom, bumped herself down after them as a small child does.

“Let me help you,” Jim said from above her.

Lou looked up at him, her empty gaze again filling him with horror. “I don't need your help. I can manage.” She slid herself around to the top of the next flight and sent her crutches down them, before following them. She reached the ground floor and swung herself rapidly along the corridor. Running footsteps behind her made her slow down.

Jim caught her arm. “Lou, wait up. Where are you going?”

“Outside.”

“No. I don't want you wandering off on your own.”

“Why? Afraid I'll get lost? I don't need you to take care of me. I don't need it and I don't want it. I'm going back to Deefer. He doesn't like being alone.”

Jim held her arm tighter. “After breakfast. Then you can go. The rest of us are going fishing on the beach. We only have enough food for breakfast.”

“I don't have a choice, do I?”

“No, you don't. After you.”

Lou sighed. “You seriously want me to go all the way back up those stairs and then back down again?”

”OK.” Jim yelled up the stairs to the others. “We'll eat down here as soon as you lot get up.”

“Two secs,” Staci yelled back.

Lou slowly made her way down the corridor and sat on the steps of the building, gazing out over the sunlit base.

As the others joined her, Jim said grace.

Ailsa took the remaining four portions out of the bag and gave them one each.

Lou immediately gave hers to Staci, ignoring a look from Jim that would have made anyone else eat it.

Staci finished eating. “If that was breakfast, roll on lunch.”

Jim shook his head. “We've only just finished breakfast and you're talking about lunch.”

“Well, I'm hungry.”

“Well, there isn't any more,” Lou said bluntly. “But I'm sure we'll manage. We always do.”

Jim looked at the others. “I'm going to try the cipher again. Then, we're going fishing. Ailsa knows a thing or three about fishing. Lou's right, we'll manage. There's bound to be fruit around somewhere anyway.”

“You go fishing; I'm going to sit with Deefer.” Lou headed off, not giving the others a backwards glance.

Jim sighed.

“I've got the mytona,” Ailsa told him. “Go and try the Morse code and we'll wait here for you.”

Ailsa as it turned out, knew more than a thing or three about fishing. Between her and Jim, they caught enough for two meals. Staci alternated between watching them and building a sandcastle. Jim then built a fire on the beach. Ailsa baked half the fish in leaves and stewed the other half in some river water.

Just as it was cooked, and Ailsa had put out the fire, Jim heard a noise. He got to his feet and looked skyward. “Is that a plane?” he asked. “It is. Look.”

A fighter shot over from behind them and circled around over the base. Jim waved madly to get its attention. The plane circled again then disappeared off into the distance without seeing them.

Staci's face fell. “We should have stayed on the base.”

Jim shoved down his disappointment and the feeling that his sister was right. Hopefully they'd have seen the smoke from the fire and know someone was here. “They'll come back. I'll send another message as soon as we get back. I'll go and get Lou. Meet you at the base. You bring the fish up with you.”

“Leave her, Jim,” Ailsa said.

“She ought to eat. I also want to get some wood for tonight and tomorrow, so we can stay on the base.”

Jim ran up the path past the airbase and into the forest. Lou was where he thought she'd be—sat by Deefer's grave. “I need your help.” he panted, out of breath from having run so far.

“I'm no good at CPR, so don't drop dead at my feet.”

“Oh ha, ha, ha. I need some wood taken down to the airbase. Lots of wood. Can you help?”

Lou glared at him. “How can I carry wood?”

“So go stay with Staci, and send Ailsa to help me please.”

In answer, Lou got to her feet and swung herself off down the path.

Jim looked sadly at Deefer's grave. “We all miss you boy, but I think you've taken your mistress with you.”

That evening they sat in the mess hall, which they'd discovered on the second floor. As dirty and dusty as the rest of the building, as least it gave them tables to eat off. Lou as usual, gave Staci her portion. Jim didn't bother to argue this time.

Ailsa found some hurricane lamps and matches to light them with. “All the comforts of home,” she said.

“Except the fish and chip shop,” Staci said.

“You've had the fish, what more do you want, kiddo?”

“Chips. Preferably covered in salt and vinegar, wrapped in newspaper, with a wooden fork to eat them with and ice cold coke to drink. Followed by raspberry roulade with that squirty cream from the can.”

Jim laughed. “Not me. I fancy pizza. Nine-inch deep pan with pepperoni, peppers, sweetcorn, pineapple, spicy beef and extra cheese. With ice cold orangeade.”

“Yuk.” Ailsa said. “I'm a burger person with lots of salad.” She looked at Lou. “What do you fancy?”

“Nothing. Feel too sick to eat and thinking about food makes me feel worse. Sorry. I think I'll go to bed. See you in the morning.”

She pushed her chair back and stood.

Jim got up. “I'll carry a lamp up for you. I want to resend the Morse signal a third time anyway.” He picked up one of the lamps. “Won't be long,” he told the others. On the third floor, they went first to the signals room. As they walked down the corridor he looked at Lou. She looked dreadful. “Are you OK?”

“Not really. I don't feel so good.”

In the signals room, Jim resent the SOS message twice, this time adding the need for urgent medical attention for Lou.

Lou looked at him. “Do you really expect them to come?”

“A plane came over earlier and circled the base while we were on the beach. I plan to stay here tomorrow in case they come back.”

~*~

January 19, day 62. Lou writing.

Jim's been up since five. He resent the SOS and then went outside and started a fire in a metal drum that Ailsa found. He seems sure this plane will come back. I hope it does. It means they can go home. At seven he woke the others, and was surprised to find me awake. Once I can stand I'm going up the cliff path to sit with Deefer. I'm pretty dizzy this morning and feel really sick.

~*~

Jim scanned the base compound for Lou. Ailsa stood at the fire and slowly added more wood to keep it burning. Staci, eager to help and added more wood to the pile Jim had made the previous evening. Ailsa tossed on another handful of wood. The smoke curled up into the perfectly blue sky. Seagulls swooped and called to each other.

Jim frowned and did another three sixty. “Where's Lou?”

“I'll give you three guesses, but you'll only need one,” Ailsa said. “Shall I go after her?”

“Leave her. When she wants company she'll come find us—”

He broke off as a sudden roar came from behind them and a plane flew over the base. Staci and Jim waved frantically at it. The plane circled twice and dipped its wings.

Staci screamed. “It's seen us. It dipped its wings. It's seen us.”

The plane flew lower as if inspecting the runway. Then a parcel dropped onto the runway and the plane banked, rose and disappeared.

Jim ran onto the runway and picked up the parcel. He ran back to the others and ripped it open, his hands shaking. A box was inside. He took the lid off, revealing several packets labeled MRE and sachets of juice and an envelope.

Jim handed the box to Ailsa and he ripped open the envelope.

He unfolded the letter and read it, his voice shaking.

“
Anderson AFB, Guam, Jan 19th. Dear Lou, Jim, Staci, and Ailsa, We received your distress signal and have noted your position. We assumed that you would be short of food and have enclosed some rations. We will send a helicopter to pick you up at 1100 hours. Please be ready to leave when the helicopter arrives. See you then. Colonel Jack Fitzgerald
.”

When he had finished there was silence.

Then Staci jumped up and down and screamed before hugging Jim tightly. “It's over. We're going home.”

Ailsa looked at the sun. “It's only eight. We have three hours yet.”

“Time for breakfast then,” Jim said. “Courtesy of the United States Air Force.”

Ailsa carried the box back inside and up to the mess hall.

Staci said, “Shall I get Lou?”

“No. We'll save her some,” Ailsa said.

In the mess hall, Jim handed out the ration packs. They were all savory and dinner rather than breakfast, but a welcome relief from the fish and fruit. He poured the juice and they sat down to enjoy it.