“Lieutenant, Major Lufbery has just been shot down.”
Dorman paled. All at once a mist ascended before his eyes, the General seemed very far away.
“Sir?”
The General nodded heavily and looked out the window.
“Major Lufbery has been killed,” he said again.
Dorman bit his lip and his head dropped. Luf was gone; Luf the great. It didn’t seem possible.
General Mitchell turned his head and looked at Dorman.
“His ship caught fire and he jumped out. He fell in a shoemaker’s flower garden eight miles up the river. You know why, I suppose.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You should have handled that enemy, Lieutenant. Your failure has cost us our finest pilot. You’re being transferred to ferry duty at once.”