130McGee left Vitry with his own conclusions. So Siddons had pulled a forced landing in order to go for a joy-ride. Now he was off having a fine time and would claim that his delay at Vitry was so long that he thought it best to head for La Ferte. Well, they would have him there. He had not reckoned that Cowan would send someone back.
4
Upon McGee’s return to the squadron, Cowan was too busy to see him, nor did he send for him until after mess that night. When McGee arrived at the Major’s temporary quarters he found him in company with Mullins, the Operations officer, and both were bending over a large map spread out on the table.
Cowan looked up with the quick, exasperated nervousness which he always displayed when interrupted.
“Well!” he barked, crisply.
“You sent for me, sir?”
“Yes, yes. I had forgotten. What about Siddons?”
McGee had decided to shield Siddons to the extent of not reporting the fact that the mechanics at Vitry had found nothing wrong with the plane. A squealer gains no friends in the Army.
“I don’t know where he is, Major. He landed at Vitry, complaining of a jamming rudder and heating 131engine. He took off again in an hour. He hasn’t showed up yet. Perhaps he thought it best to go on to La Ferte.”
“Humph!” Cowan retorted, the pointed ends of his moustache twitching. “Maybe he did! He needs grounding. I’d send him to Observation if the Chief of Air hadn’t ordered us to quit using observation work for punishment. They crack up those crates too fast. And Siddons is just the kind to do that sort of trick. He’s a good flyer, certainly, but–what would you do with him, McGee?”