that a man needs in this world to get to the top of the mountain. Sean paused, and she looked up at him attentively.
I think you have that strength. You are still very young, but I believe that you will grow stronger. I want you to be strong for Michael Centaine nodded, finding no words to reply.
Be strong for my son, Sean said softly, and she started.
Your son? and she saw the consternation in his eyes, which was swiftly masked, and he corrected himself.
I'm sorry, his father is my twin, sometimes I think of him that way I understand, she said, but somehow she sensed that it had not been a mistake. One day I will follow that until I find the truth, she thought, and Sean repeated, Look after him well, Centaine, and I will be your friend to the gates of hell. I promise you that I will. She squeezed his arm, and they had reached the entrance where Sangane waited with the Rolls. Au revoir, Gn&al, Centaine said.
Yes, Sean nodded. Until we meet again, and helped her into the back seat of the Rolls.
I will let you know as soon as we decide the day, sir. Michael shook his uncle's hand.
Even if I can't be there, be happy, my boy, said Sean Courtney, and watched the Rolls purr sedately down the driveway, then with an impatient shrug, he turned and marched back down the cloisters with that long uneven stride.
With her hat and jewellery and shoes packed back into the soft leather bag, and with the fur-lined boots on her feet and the flying helmet on her head, Centaine crouched at the edge of the forest.
When Michael taxied the SESa down to where she waited and swung it broadside to the distant airport buildings, she sprinted out from cover, tossed the bag up to him, and scrambled on to the wing. This time there was no hesitation and she clambered up into the cockpit like an old hand.
Head down, Michael ordered and swung the aircraft on to line for the take-off.
All clear, he told her once they were airborne and she popped her head up again, just as eager and excited as she had been on the first flight. They climbed higher and still higher.
See how the clouds look like fields of snow, and the sunshine fills them with rainbows. She wriggled around in his lap, to look back over the tailplane, and then a quizzical look came into her eyes and she seemed to lose interest in the rainbows.
Michel! She moved again in his lap, but with deliberation.
Michel! No longer a query, and her tight round buttocks performed a cunning little oscillation that made him squirm.
Forgive me! He tried desperately to move out of contact, but her posterior hunted after him, and she twisted her upper body around so that she could place both arms around his neck and she whispered to him.
Not in broad daylight, not at five thousand feet! He was shocked by her suggestion.
Why not, mon cheri She kissed him lingeringly. Nobody will ever know, and Michael realized that the SE5a had dropped a wing and was starting a shallow spiral dive. Hastily he corrected the machine, and she hugged him and began to move in a slow voluptuous rhythm in his lap.
Don't you want to? she asked.
But, but, nobody has ever done it before, not in an SE5a. I don't know if it's possible. His voice was becoming weaker, his flying more erratic.
We will find out, she said firmly. You fly the aeroplane and do not fret yourself, and she hoisted herself slightly and began drawing up the back of her fur coat and the yellow skirt with it.
Centaine, he said uncertainly, and then a little later, Centaine! more definitely, and a little later still, Oh my God, Centaine!
It is possible! she cried triumphantly, and almost immediately she was aware of sensations which she had never suspected were harboured within her. She felt herself borne upwards and outwards as though she was departing her own body, and as though she were drawing Michael's soul out with her. At first she was terrified by the strength and strangeness of it, and then all other emotions were swept away.
She felt herself tumbling and swirling, upwards and upwards, with the wild wind roaring about her, and the rainbow-girded clouds undulating on every side, and then she heard herself screaming, and she thrust all her fingers into her mouth to still her own cries, but it was too strong to be contained, and she threw her head back and screamed and sobbed and laughed with the wonder of it, as she went over the peak and fell down the other side into the gulf, spinning downwards, settling softly as a snowflake into her own body again, and feeling his arms around her, hearing him groaning and gasping in her ear, and she twisted and held him fiercely and cried, I love you, Michel, I will always love you!
Mac hurried to meet Michael as soon as he cut the engine and climbed out of the cockpit.
You're just in time, sir. There is a pilots briefing in the mess. The major has been asking for you, best hurry, sir, and then, as Michael started along the duckboards towards the mess, he called after him, How is she flying, sir? Like a bird, Mac. just reload the guns for me. First time ever that he hadn't fussed about his machine, Mac thought wonderingly, as he watched Michael walk away.
The mess was full of pilots, all the armchairs were taken and one or two new chums were standing against the wall at the back. Andrew sat on the bar counter swinging his legs and sucking on the amber cigaretteholder. He broke off as Michael appeared in the doorway.
Gentlemen, we are being honoured. Captain Michael Courtney has graciously consented to join us. Despite other pressing and important business, he has been kind enough to devote an hour or two to help us settle our little difference with Kaiser Wilhelm IL I think we should show our appreciation.
There were howls and catcalls, and somebody blew a loud raspberry.
Barbarians, Michael told them haughtily, and dropped into the armchair hastily vacated by a new chum.
Are you comfortable? Andrew asked him solicitously. Do you mind if I carry on? Good! Well, as I was saying,
