“You might as well. This job is half yours,” Stan said. “Until we find out about Allison this flight will have only two men and one ship.”
“Allison’s going to be right back with us. The bye wouldn’t kick off until he had had a chance to wind up this new colleen we got.” O’Malley said it grimly, as though trying to make himself believe.
“Here comes Wing Commander Farrell and I think he’s looking for us,” Stan said.
“Sure, an’ ’tis the big man himself and no other. An’ comin’ to see us instead of us tramping over there. Me bye, the first thing we know, the King will be dropping in to have a spot of tea with us two intrepid fliers.” O’Malley’s big mouth was spread in a wide grin.
“Don’t get up, men,” the Wing Commander said as he came up. He seated himself and started in briskly. “I hear the Hawk is better than anyone thought.”
“Not better than I thought,” Stan said.
“Well, better than the inspectors and test men thought. They said she wasn’t reliable.”
“She is sensitive and temperamental,” Stan agreed.
“She chops up a Messerschmitt and spits out the pieces like me auld granddaddy used to whack up a box for kindlin’,” O’Malley broke in.
“Fine.” The Wing Commander smiled broadly. “I just dropped by to ask you boys to stay very close to quarters. We have reports of activity at sea and there may be quite a bit of action. I’d like to find out if this ship is really a dive bomber.”