“It was a great day!” Kentucky murmured as he sat with his fighter pals7 on the flight deck.
“Yes, a big day,” Blackie echoed.
The elevator trap opened and from below came the sounds of voices and music. Men were singing and radios blared popular music or announced more victories.
The elevator rose. It carried a new fighter to the flight deck.
135
“That’s for Ted1 or Jean,” Kentucky rumbled8, “if one of them comes back.”
“Yes, if only one of them does come back,” Red agreed soberly.
It had been a truly great day. The men below decks were happy and hilarious9. But the trio on the flight deck, Kentucky, Blackie and Red, were for the most part silent. Ted was gone. No one knew when he would be seen again, if ever.
Jean, too, was gone. He had somehow been lost from his formation. Kentucky had heard him say, “I am being attacked by a superior force. Notify my nearest of kin10.”
Had Jean been joking? There was no way to know. Men did joke in the midst of battle. That was the one way of keeping your nerves steady.
Kentucky did not believe that Jean had been joking. He had scant11 hope of ever seeing him again.
But Ted—that was different. Kentucky believed that Ted had made a safe landing on the water.
“The course we are taking,” he said soberly, “should bring us in about two hours over the spot where Ted went down. I’m going to ask for permission to make a search.”
“At night?” Blackie voiced his astonishment12.
136
“Sure! Why not?” Kentucky’s tone was confident. “Ted’s smart. He’ll know the sound of our planes and he’ll find something to use as a flare13. If he’s there and I get near the spot, I’ll bring him in.”
“I’m with you,” said Red.
“Count me in.” Blackie made it three.
Darkness came down like a black curtain. Through this curtain the task force plowed14 on. “What’s our destination?” was the question passed from man to man. Mindanao was often mentioned, but only one man—the Commander—knew what lay ahead, and he wasn’t telling.
On being told of Jack15’s discoveries—the book that gave him so much information about the jet plane, the note of warning attached to a tree, and the native girl who paraded in an Army nurse’s uniform—Stew16 found himself torn between two desires: one to fit out the Jap raft and leave the island immediately; the other, to remain to help Jack try to commandeer the jet plane and fly away.
“Must be a marvelous new invention,” he commented excitedly. “Think of doing the stratosphere at 500!”
“And then dropping down upon some unsuspecting Japs!” Jack added.
In the end Stew decided18 that it would be wise to put the Jap raft into condition for immediate17 escape, if flight became necessary.
137
“Who knows what might happen?” he argued. “If those men speak German, they could easily be Nazis19, and they may bring in a whole boatload of Japs to hunt us down.”
Jack was not so sure of all this. Those men in charge of the jet plane had been friendly enough and did not seem like Nazis. Nevertheless he did realize that it was best to be prepared for any emergency. So, after a rather cheerless breakfast of cold fish and coffee, they spent the morning putting the raft in order.
When they returned at lunchtime, they found that the bananas had not yet begun to ripen20, so they lunched on chocolate bars.
“But just you wait!” Stew exclaimed. “I’m going to have a real dinner tonight, if I have to run down a wild pig.”
“Okay,” Jack agreed. “I’ll gladly join you. In fact, I’ll even roast the pig. But you’d better take the fishline with you. There are worse meals than fish.”
“Oh, fish!” Stew snorted. “Just you wait and see!” However, he did take the fishline as they climbed up the slope for one more look at their island home.
“I’ll charm one of those wild roosters into sitting on my knee,” Jack laughed, as he tucked the violin under his arm.
138
“Or some wild maiden,” Stew joked.
“None of that!” Jack replied, soberly.
Stew paused half way up the ridge21 to examine some fresh wild pig tracks, but Jack kept straight on, until he reached the crest22 of the ridge. There, seated on the highest pinnacle23 of rock, he surveyed the scene, and was enchanted24.
Save for a few white clouds, the day was clear. On the dark, blue water there was a slight ripple25 that made it seem alive.
Off to the right and lower down he suddenly discovered the small native village, a few tiny grass huts clustered about a larger one. As he watched, two long, slender canoes with outriggers shot from the shore. He looked at them through his binoculars26 and discovered that one was manned by two native boys, the other by two native girls.
As the paddles flashed and the canoes sped away in a wild race, he thought, if things should get worse here, those people could take us to the next island, or elsewhere. He glanced away to the south. It couldn’t be more than ten miles to that next island.
At last, charmed by the scene that lay before him, he took up his violin and began to play.
139
He had once supposed that much of the music he had known might by this time have escaped him, but now, in this moment of rest and inspiration, they all came back to him—“Londonderry Air,” “Ave Maria,” “O Sole Mio,” and many others. How long he played, he could not tell.
Had he paused to listen as he played, he might have heard movements in the brush directly beneath him. The snapping of a twig27, the swish of a branch, even the low murmur5 of a voice might have reached his keen ears. At last, with a sigh, he replaced the violin in its case.
Brings back memories of home, he thought, as he sighed again. Here’s hoping I get back there some time.
Memories! How strange his life had been! Thousands cheer, he thought grimly. Thousands had cheered his music, and now he played to the rocks, the birds, and the broad sea. But the war is a thrilling adventure—he squared his shoulders—I wouldn’t have missed it for worlds!
From the moment he had passed his tests and joined the Navy, his life as a flying cadet had been thrilling. He thought it by far the finest branch of the service.
First had come his civil aeronautics28 training. An instructor29 had taken him up and scared him almost to death. Next time he went up, he was given the controls and told to fly. And he had flown!
140
Two months of this and he had thought himself a finished flier. He did not know then that he needed to gain a great deal more knowledge than he had. He had wanted all the world to know how good he was, especially Mom, Pop, and the home-town folks.
The old home town was “out-of-bounds” for him, but what of that? When he was given two hours of free flying, he had headed for home, thirty miles away. It had taken a lot of treetop clipping to get Mom and Pop out to see him fly, for he had not written them he was coming. He got them out at last, and waved them a salute30. Then he had flown over the golf course where only a year before he was a mere31 caddy. Stalling his plane, he had come zooming32 down from three thousand feet to scare caddies and golfers half to death, then had zoomed33 away.
Some of the older golfers who had never taken a chance in all their lives, who had never flown a mile nor been obliged to fight for their country, had taken the number of his plane and threatened to report him for reckless flying. Had they? He did not know. All he did know was that he had flown gloriously on.
Next came Iowa City. No flying there, but plenty of study and hardening up. It was summer and hot as an oven. The trainers were relentless34. Marches, races, hurdles35, football, boxing, and all the rest he took in his stride. He got a broken nose from football, a black eye from boxing, and a sprained36 ankle in high hurdles.
141
There was little time for social affairs and when there was, one was almost too hot and tired to care. One bright spot stood out in that whole summer—the night he took the Commandant’s daughter to the banquet and dance given for his group as their training ended. He remembered still her gay laughter and the bright sparkle of her eyes.
He drew Minneapolis for preflight training. What a camp that had been! He was flying again, real combat planes. Formations, sham37 dogfights, night flying, following the light of the plane ahead round and round.
A truly great camp. A grand USO with bowling38, billiards39, a movie every week, warm-hearted city folks, and plenty of girls. How he had hated it when the day came to pack up and leave.
And then there was the long, hard pull in Texas. Some of the boys “washed out.” Jack was determined40 not to let that happen to him. It did not.
He disliked the heat and the great, flat plains of Texas, but most of the time he had been too busy to notice them.
Before long it was time for that new suit of blues41 and the brief ceremony that made him an ensign and gave him his wings.
142
Deck training at Great Lakes, then a short leave to bid farewell to the folks at home.
Those fleeting42 days in the old home town left delightful43, exciting memories. The good folks of the little city had done their best to show him that they really appreciated the sacrifices he must make to fight for them. He even forgave the old golfers who had threatened to report him when he had scared them half to death on his flying visit to the golf course months before.
When it came time to go he had told Pop and Mom good-by at home because he wanted it that way. At the last moment Patsy had insisted on walking to the depot44 with him.
When the train whistled, she had put out a hand for a good, honest handshake, and had said, “Well, so long old pal6. Have a good time. Take good care of yourself, and plea—please come back, for we all need you so much!”
Patsy’s voice had sounded a bit strange. He could hear her still, “Plea—please come back.” It was strange about him and Patsy.
He looked off toward the sun now hanging low over the dark, blue sea, and at the green jungle at his feet. Yes, this was a great little world over here. He’d like to come back some time. But just now, how he’d like to be back in the old home town!
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ted
|
|
| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
allied
|
|
| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
airfield
|
|
| n.飞机场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
pals
|
|
| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
rumbled
|
|
| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
hilarious
|
|
| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scant
|
|
| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
flare
|
|
| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
plowed
|
|
| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
stew
|
|
| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
Nazis
|
|
| n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ripen
|
|
| vt.使成熟；vi.成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
pinnacle
|
|
| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
enchanted
|
|
| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
ripple
|
|
| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
binoculars
|
|
| n.双筒望远镜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
twig
|
|
| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
aeronautics
|
|
| n.航空术，航空学 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
instructor
|
|
| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
salute
|
|
| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
zooming
|
|
| adj.快速上升的v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去分词 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
zoomed
|
|
| v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去式 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
relentless
|
|
| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
hurdles
|
|
| n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
sprained
|
|
| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
sham
|
|
| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
bowling
|
|
| n.保龄球运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
billiards
|
|
| n.台球 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
blues
|
|
| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
fleeting
|
|
| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
depot
|
|
| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |