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It eeks yet to Hallowe’en, but the gremlins were already at work

Jerry MacKenzie turned Dolly II onto the runway full throttle, shoulder hunched, blood thu, already halfway up Green leader’s arse--pulled back on the stick and got a choking shudder instead of the giddy lift of takeoff Alarain, there was a bang that ainst the Perspex It hadn’t been a bullet, though; the off tyre had blown, and a sickening tilt looped therass

There was a strong smell of petrol, and Jerry popped the Spitfire’s hood and hopped out in panic, envisioning iht roared past hi to a buzz within seconds

A ar to see what the trouble was, but Jerry’d already opened Dolly’s belly and the trouble was plain: the fuel line was punctured Well, thank Christ he hadn’t got into the air with it, that was one thing, but he grabbed the line to see how bad the puncture was, and it came apart in his hands and soaked his sleeve nearly to the shoulder with high-test petrol Good job the arette in his , and Gregory theher today, ine, and shaking his head at what he saw

‘Aye, tell erly away froed, eyes squinted against the cold wind as he surveyed Dolly’s guts

‘Half an hour for the tyre You’ll maybe have her back up to else we should be looking at?’

‘Aye, the left wing-gun trigger sticks sorease, ot in the way of leftover dripping You best hit the showers, Mac You’re turning blue’

He was shivering, right enough, the rapidly evaporating petrol wicking his body heat away like candles as the h his teeth

‘Go on, then,’ Greg said in feigned exasperation, backing out of the engine and seeing Jerry still there ‘I’ll take good care of her’

‘Aye, I know I just--aye, thanks’ Adrenaline froh hi hie to look back over his shoulder at his wounded plane

Jerry ca with soap and petrol, backbone knotted Half his mind was on Dolly, the other half with his , Red and Yellow resting Green flight would be out over Fla