that his friend meant every single word he was saying. His passion was apparent. Whatever team Corby was assigned to would benefit greatly because of him. Em could hardly believe the change in Corby. His acne had simply disappeared. He had gained at least twenty pounds, all muscle. The hair that was starting to grow on his scalp was no longer as red as it once was. It was now more of a brown. Corby had grown up. When they had arrived, he looked like a fifteen-year-old. Now he was beginning to look like a man. Em assumed the changes he was seeing in Corby also applied to him and the rest of the airmen in his flight. He even felt bigger and stronger. The changes that took place in just six short weeks amazed him.
“Hey. We’ll be leaving soon,” Em spoke out loud, but it didn’t sound like his own voice. Even his voice had grown up. The tone was a little deeper. Perhaps they had all grown up.
“Em,” Corby began, “I don’t know where you are really going, but I’m pretty sure you’ve been lying to me. If you can’t tell me, I understand. Only, if it’s dangerous, I expect you to tell me. You know you can trust me, and after all, we may never see each other again.”
“Shut up!” Em was startled by Corby’s words. “Never say that again because, when this is over, we are going back to Kentucky, both of us. And you are going to help me build Irene a house.”
Somehow, these statements made them both go all quiet. They just looked at each other, each with thoughts of home. They remained quiet for a few more seconds before Corby said, “Hey, Em, I’m kind of glad you are leaving today.”
Em looked at his friend and said, “What the heck do you mean by that?”
“Nothing personal, but if you don’t get Jack out of here soon, I’m afraid Larry might try something stupid again. He’s bent on revenge.” Em could not tell if Corby was serious or not.
“Corb, tell me something. What does Larry even think he can do to Jack? Jack would pulverize him in seconds. Is it all because of that day with the letter? I mean, the bloody nose was all Larry’s fault, right?” Em looked at Corby very sincerely and said, “I mean, if that’s all it is, then there is still hope of getting them to become friends, I think.”
“That’s not all, Em. Jack never leaves him alone. Every time that Jack has been near him lately, he has provoked him somehow. He calls him pip-squeak or just shadowboxes around him. He really gets to Larry in the worst way. I don’t think that Larry ever intends to be friends with Jackson Turner.” Corby told him all this. It surprised Em. He also told him that, just two days ago, Jack had approached Larry in the chow hall. He sat down at Larry’s table without being provoked. He then reached across the table and took Larry’s milk. He poured the milk onto Larry’s tray. He leaned in close to Larry’s face and whispered something to him. He spoke so low that only the two of them could hear. Larry refused to tell Corby later. Corby said that Larry had still not told him what Jack had said. Now, at the mention of Jack’s name, Larry turned a crimson shade of red.
Em could not believe this of Jack. He would try to make sense of it later. Right now, it looked as if he needed to say goodbye to his lifelong friend. Two jeeps pulled up to the side of the building. Sergeant Cannon jumped out of one of them. “I think that’s my ride.”
“Yeah. You better go get Jack. I’ll watch your stuff,” Corby assured him. Em turned slowly and proceeded into the barracks. As he entered the building, Jack was coming out. McAtee and Summerkamp had his bags and walked three paces behind him like a couple of servants.
“Set them over there, boys.” Jack had been spinning tales all week, and everyone was curious about where he and Em were going. “When I get to California, I will tell the girls all about you.” Jack had bragged about going to California all week. Every time someone countered with a story about Biloxi, Jack just made some sort of gesture of unpleasantness. He had everyone that was going to Biloxi convinced that it was a mosquito-infested swamp. He had the most amazing power of persuasion over people. He could talk a turtle out of his shell.
Sergeant Cannon finished talking to the drivers and started walking slowly toward them. “Well, this is it, boys. Are you ready?” When he noticed Corby, he asked, “What are you doing, Cookie? Shouldn’t you be getting ready yourself?”
“All packed, sir. Just seeing my boys off.” Corby was all business when any sergeant addressed him. The weeks of suffering through chow runner duties had trained him well.
Sergeant Cannon told Corby to load Em’s and Jack’s stuff into the jeep. When Corby walked away, loaded down so he would not have to make two trips, Cannon started talking in a low voice. He practically whispered to them. He explained the importance of what they were going to be doing, again. When Jack tried to speak, Cannon cut him off. Again, he told them of the importance of his relationship with Colonel Roth. But then he told them something that neither one expected. He said that as soon as they had finished their training and joined Colonel Roth, he would be joining their team. He said this as if they should have expected it. However, it could not have come as a bigger surprise.
“You going to fly with us, Sarge?” Jack quickly corrected himself when Sergeant Cannon looked at him. “I mean Sergeant Cannon.”
“If everything goes well, yes. I’ll be a part of the crew also. Besides, Philip needs someone to babysit the two of you.” He grinned as he said this and looked from Em to Jack and back to Em again. “One more thing, fellas,” Sergeant Cannon said very sincerely. “Don’t worry about your buddies. They are as safe as possible in the air corps. We were established mainly for support, so we will be far from the front lines. Your friends will probably see nothing in Europe except the engines they are working on.”
Somehow, his words seemed to soothe Em and made him worry less. He was sure that he and Corby would be back in Kentucky in less than two years. The war would surely end now that the Allies were gaining ground in France. It had only been a few days, but the news reports ensured every American that progress was swift. The Allies were moving inland from the coast at will. The Germans were retreating. Hardly any resistance was met once the Germans had seen the size of the Allied army. The Germans were running just like the president said they would. It would surely just be a matter of time before the Allies marched all the way to Berlin. Em only hoped everything he heard was true.
With these thoughts in his head, Em looked to Corby as he loaded the last bag into the jeep. Corby smiled as usual as he walked back toward them. Em wondered how long it would be before he saw that face again.
As he climbed into the front seat of the jeep, he held his hand out. Corby took it. He held on to his hand firmly as he shook it. Before he let go, he pulled Em out of his seat and hugged him. He whispered, “Thank you, buddy, for everything you’ve done. Don’t worry about me. You’ll never be rid of me. You and Irene will have to put up with me until we’re all old and gray.” Then he shoved Em forcefully back into his seat and turned and walked toward the barracks door. When he reached the door, he opened it and disappeared inside. Em watched the door close as the jeep started to roll.
*****
The roar of the engines as the plane accelerated somehow did not seem as loud as when the hatch was open. The acceleration caused the two airmen to lean forward, away from their seats. Em had never been on a plane before, but he had expected to be facing forward. He looked up at the hulking mounds of equipment. He was almost as frightened of the machinery falling as he was of flying. He wondered how all that weight stayed so still. No matter the size of the piles, they stayed as still as a monument. Absolutely nothing moved inside the plane, except for the four airmen. Em became a little more impressed with the abilities of the crew. His confidence in them grew.
The engines became a little louder as the plane accelerated even faster. Then Em felt the wheels as they left the ground. The sensation was unlike anything he had felt before. It was somewhat like riding Sugar back home. Whenever she was running with the wind, he felt as if he were flying. He felt his stomach. It felt as if it was ascending away from his body. Then he felt it return and realized they were above the ground. He was flying! He felt the sensation continuously. He knew that he was actually soaring above the earth. He looked down and saw the straps that tied him to the floor