“With those hidden fighter fields out of the way you could go in and out alone,” Stan pointed out. “The way it is now, they keep sending up fighters all along the route.”
“I have to run for it,” Allison said. “Pilots meeting.”
After he had gone Stan and O’Malley headed for Colonel Holt’s office. Bugs and Splinters came in just as they were leaving. They were both highly excited. They had been assigned to active duty. Stan smiled at them but he was thinking that they were taking the places of the men who had been in his flight.
The boys were waiting for the colonel when Sim Jones came out of a side door. He paused for a moment. Stan eyed him coldly; O’Malley walked on into the colonel’s office without speaking.
“I suppose you think I deliberately tricked you, Wilson. You’re headed for the Old Man.” His lips pulled tight. “I don’t blame you, but I didn’t pull that stunt to get you cut out. It was a boner on my part.”
“It was,” Stan agreed dryly. “And I’m not squawking to the colonel.”
Sim looked Stan in the eye; he flushed a deep red. “I figured I was so good I could cut back and take out all three Jerries.”
“Forget it,” Stan said and grinned. “We all pull ’em.”
Sim turned and hurried away without another word. Stan was still smiling as he entered the colonel’s office. O’Malley scowled up at him.
“Did you bop him one?” he asked.