“Come on up. You can sit in the cockpit.” She climbed up awkwardly and started to step on the pilot’s seat cushion. Jake said, “Not there.”
“Then where do I put my feet?” Jake showed her how to swing herself into the cockpit. Once she was seated she looked around.
“There must be some mistake,” she said. “This plane is too complicated for anybody to fly.” Jake laughed and described the functions of the altimeter, airspeed indicator, vertical speed indicator, and other primary flight instruments.
He skipped over the more complicated navigational instruments, the ecm gear, and other electronic equipment that would be difficult to explain in a short time.
He showed her the stick and throttles and told her how they worked.
She said, “All these buttons on the stick look like warts.”
“They’re there so the pilot doesn’t have to take his hand from the stick to operate them.”
“Which one releases the bombs?”
“This one.” He pointed to a red button on the side of the stick grip.
“I want to see you in the pilot’s seat.”
“Okay. Can you move over and be my bombardier?
She pulled her skirt up to her thighs and Jake helped her step over the center console and into the right seat. He asked, “What do you think?”
Callie had to look up at him because the bombardier’s seat was several inches below and behind the Pilot’s. “I’m awed. All these dials, buttons, switches, knobs. I can see why it takes two people to fly the plane.”
“All it takes is one. You could learn to fly it.”
“I couldn’t imagine it. They fell silent. The airfield was quiet and Jake could hear the tinkle of the engine compressor blades rotating slowly in the breeze. “It’s almost time for my last flight as a navy pilot.”
Callie sighed. “I wish I could make everything right for YOU.
“I wanted to fly because I love the freedom of it, but now I’ve ended up in a war. And I’ve learned how high the price is. I was stupid. I should’ve known that the navy didn’t pay for my flying so I could have a good time.
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself. How many pilots do you know who joined the navy wanting to fight in a war? They just wanted to fly too, didn’t they?”
“Sure, they all just wanted to fly. But I think most of them knew the chances were good they’d end up in Vietnam.” Jake paused. “Yeah, I knew it too. Maybe I even wanted to fly in combat. I thought it would be like in the books-knights-in-the-sky stuff. What I’m trying to say is that I never expected it to be this kind of war, the kind of absolutely nutty war we’re fighting in Vietnam.”
“Who would’ve?”
Jake looked away from Callie and saw Tiger Cole standing in front of the line shack. He was wearing his flight suit and his arms were crossed. Jake said, “Time to go.” Then he turned to Callie, smiled, and shook his head slowly. “You know, I think I love you.” When he leaned down to kiss her, she reached up and put her hands around his neck.
“What a lovely thing to say to your bombardier. Jake, I want you to fly forever.”
“Why do they call you Tiger?” asked Callie.
Cole’s eyebrows lifted a fraction. Jake said, “Because he’s a fighter. He’s a tiger.”
Callie said to Jake, “Do you have a nickname?” Jake shrugged and grinned.
She looked at Cole. “Does he?”
“Cool Hand,” said Cole. “Cool Hand Jake.”
“Cool Hand? Why’s he called that?”
“Because he’s cool when the shooting starts. Real cool.”
“I can believe that,” said Callie. “What about Sammy? Does he have a nickname, too?”
“He has one,” said Jake. “But not too many people know about it.”
Jake caught Cole’s eye. “Actually, it very private.”
Callie began to speak when Cole said, “Ops sent a message to the ship. We have to be wheels-in-the-well in forty minutes.”
“How’s the weather?”
“Good,” said Cole, “but we’ll have a stiff head wind.”
“Any problems?”
“No sweat.”
Jake said to Callie, “I’ll see if one of the guys in the line shack can run you over to the flying club. Be right back.” Callie and the bombardier stood facing the airplane “So this may be your last flight in a navy airplane too?”
“Yeah,” Cole replied, “but I won’t miss it like Jake will. He doesn’t fly an airplane-he puts it on and wears it.” Cole inspected the Intruder they would fly as Jake loaded Callie’s overnighter into a gray sedan beside the line shack.
“Please let me know what happens,” she said.
“As soon as you can.”
“I’ll write just as soon as I know something.”
“Got the sand dollar?”
“Right here,” said Jake, patting his left sleeve pocket. “Thanks for coming. That was beyond the call of duty.”
“I’m very glad I came.”
As she was getting into the car, Callie said, “Keep the faith, Jake.”
TWENTY-TWO
Sammy was seated at the duty desk when Jake and Tiger entered the ready room and laid their baggage across two chairs near the door. Four other officers in the room ignored the two men. Tiger bent over a table and began filling out the maintenance sheets as Jake walked over to the duty desk and drew up a chair Facing his roommate, he lit a cigarette and said, “Hey, shipmate.” Sammy’s face was drawn. “How was the beach, Jake?”
“Empty. No carrier in. Nobody there.”
“Did you call Callie?”
“She came down from Hong Kong.”
Sammy looked at his notes. “There’s some kind of hearing tomorrow at 1400 in the lounge forward of the dirty-shirt wardroom. A captain and two staff types from Washington. They must’ve jumped a plane within hours of the Skipper’s bomb. They got here yesterday and have been talking to everyone, me included.”
He paused and eyed his friend. “This is hot, Jake. Somebody’s going to fry.”
“Yeah. Me. What’d you tell them?” Sammy’s voice was barely audible. “I lied. Told them you never said a word to me that indicated you thought the targets were lousy and were looking to free lance. The Skipper didn’t buy it and reamed me good, but I stuck to it. Don’t sell me out.”
“You know I won’t.”
Sammy continued, “You and Tiger aren’t on the flight schedule. The Skipper wanted to see you as soon as you land. I’m supposed to call him. That bird you flew-what’s its condition?”
Jake shook his head. “A few minor problems. Nothing they can’t fix during the acceptance inspection.” He told Sammy exactly what the gripes were.
Sammy dialed Maintenance Control and passed on the gripes. He then dialed the skipper’s extension and told whoever answered that Grafton and Cole were back. He listened a few seconds, aye aye’d, and hung up. “The Old Man wants to see you, Jake. In ten minutes. He’ll send for Cole after he’s done with you.”
Jake stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray and stood up. Going back to where Tiger was hunched over the maintenance forms, he said, “Looks like it’s time to pay the man. I’m going to see Camparelli now. You’re next.
