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Stephen leapt out of the co-pilot's seat and scraunner's cubbyhole at the rear of the plane Withina hailstorm of fifty-caliber bullets frohters burst into flaround in a trail of black s Fortress with its open visibility, Stephen had been alhts, and hated flying

Mohter coht the plane up so Stephen had a better angle to fire at it As the fighter flew over theunnery fire hit the fighter face-on

But the shells could not penetrate its arlass

In return, the 190-A/8's pilot spit a barrage of bullets froun that all but parted Stephen's hair He thought if it hadn't been silver already, it would have turned gray froun bursts were followed un that exploded around the bomber

"What was that?" Stephen asked

"We've been hit!" Barbara called out "At least twice Flack in the underbelly, and we just took a cannon shot in the tail froo down!"

Stephen struggled out of the rear gunner's hole and tried to ines sputtered and stalled

"You jump, then I will," she called to Stephen as he lost his balance and fell

"No way," he said, getting up and trying to reach her again "We juether, or not at all"

"It can't happen that way Maybe in the movies, but not for real If you don't jump first, I won't, and we both die in the crash My e have a chance If the Jerries don't shoot at us when our chutes open"

Stephen still hesitated

"You first," she insisted, "or I don't follow And there's no way I can bring this plane doith all the holes there are in it It could catch fire anyBarbara into the situation

"I didn't know there'd be Nazi planes out here Most of Czechoslovakia has been liberated, and the Jerries everywhere are expected to give up any day now I thought it'd be safe to fly in, get the foal, and fly right back out The plan was to bring us together, not put your life in danger"