“What’s terrible?” His voice showed his astonishment.
“If I spot some Jap bombers coming this way and send out an alarm, I’ll practically be calling you out to fight them!”
“Sure! Why not? I’ll never be called by a finer gal.” He laughed.
“Yes, I—I suppose that’s what you think,” she replied slowly, solemnly. “And—and I like you for saying that. But it would be hard to watch you being shot from the sky and to know that I was the one who called you out.”
“The Japs won’t get me,” he declared. “That little kite of mine is really fast. Besides, if they had any such luck, you’d see my parachute blossom in the sky. I’m really good with a parachute. And AM I!”
“That’s fine, Jimmie,” she murmured.
“But there’s a lot more to it than that.” Jimmie sat up straight.
“Yes, I know.” She caught his sense of thrill. “The whole army is coming here to camp beneath these trees.”
“Tanks, guns, and fighting men. That’s why we must defend this forest,” he replied in a tight, tense voice.
“Yes, Jimmie. And that’s why I’m to be cooped up there on the hill.”