"Why not today, sir?" Markham interrupted with an apologetic gesture. "We've got all afternoon, and the sooner you get those pictures, the sooner you may be able to find out something ... I hope."
"True," Group Captain Ball said. "Quite true, Markham. On the other hand, delaying things another day may give Jerry the idea we're no longer interested in that Zone. Sort of catch him off guard, you might say. It's a chance worth taking. We jolly well might profit from it."
"Yes, I see your point, sir," Markham said with a nod. "And, after all, we've got a little preparing to do. Checking planes, engines, and all that sort of thing. Right you are, sir. Tomorrow morning at dawn it is."
"Good!" Group Captain Ball said. Then turning toward Dave and Freddy he continued, "And now I have a bit of a surprise for you two chaps. In recognition of your...."
The Air Ministry official stopped short and stared hard at Dave Dawson, who seemed not to be listening. The Yank born R.A.F. ace was gazing out the Squadron Office window with a look on his face that seemed to indicate his thoughts were a million miles away.
Group Captain Ball cleared his throat, and reached out a hand and tapped Dave on the knee.
"Day dreaming, Dawson?" he asked sharply. "All this sort of bores you, eh?"
Dave jumped as though he had been shot, swallowed hard, and went beet red to the roots of his hair.
"No, sir, of course not!" he said hastily. "I was.... Well, I was just thinking, sir."
"Really?" the senior officer murmured. "Mind telling us about what, Dawson?"