it in the middle and then sat back resigned.
“Okay,” Tommy said “You show your cards first.”
Jimmy took his eyes off the photograph.
“Three fours,” he said spacing them out.
He glanced nervously at the photograph again and then stared at Tommy Burke.
Tommy winked at him and moved the three and five of hearts apart. You could cut the air with a knife, the tension was so high. Everyone watched Tommy as he picked his cards up and very slowly, almost painstakingly turned them over and laid them down face up.
‘4,6,7’
A straight!
The table erupted into gasps. Jimmy sank back in his chair, his eyes closed. Tommy reached out and scooped the pot.
“I think I win,” he said. He picked up the photograph of Mary and kissed it, “Welcome back darling,” he said teasing the others.
Jimmy opened his eyes, shaking his head.
“I don’t believe it,” he said. He’d wanted to win that picture so much.
“Well I did try telling you,” Bill said ”You need to listen to me a bit more little brother.”
“I thought he was bluffing.”
“He’d never let that photo go ever.”
The first of the aeroplanes engines started up, gaining their attention.
“All right lads playtime is over,” Captain Witherington with Wigmore joined them at the table, “To me gentlemen please as quickly as you can.”
He waited for the thirty or so pilots to group around him.
“We’ve received reports of an aerial convoy off the coast….” he spread out a map…”Here,” he pointed.
“How far away are they sir,” someone asked.
“Approximately fifty miles.”
“What are we up against.”
“They’re bombers. Presumably looking for targets of ours. I must warn you though gentlemen. They will probably have an escort of fighters. These will be your objectives….”
The pilots listened with excitement. The card game forgotten already. Captain Witherington briefed them, there was a buzz of excitement. The chance of some real action at last.
“Good luck gentlemen.”
Witherington saluted “Dismissed.”
The pilots of 225 squadron quickly made their way to their machines. Tommy Burke charged after the brothers calling out. Bill heard him first. The brothers stopped for him to catch up.
“Just wanted to make sure you were all right about that last hand.”
Jimmy offered his right hand which Tommy instantly shook.
“Of course, you won it fairly.
“Yes I did. It was a little bit dirty of me putting that photograph in. I know how the men look at her.”
“She’s a very beautiful woman,” Bill replied “You’re very lucky.”
“I know. I worry about her sometimes . While we’re over here I wonder if she’s safe. If those bastards are bombing where she works….”
“I’m sure she’s equally worried about you out here every day.”
The last of the Spitfires were started up.
“We’ll see you when we get back.”
“Keep that picture safe,” Jimmy said “Because when we get back I’m winning it from you.”
Tommy laughed and thumped him on the shoulder.
“No chance.”
Jimmy hugged his brother at his aeroplane.
“See you when we get back,” he said turning to climb the short ladder to the cockpit. He paused at the top to quickly wave at Bill and then crammed his flying hat onto his head and sat in the plane. He reached forward and flicked various switches and checked all the guages while doing up the harness. A member of groundcrew climbed the ladder and checked the harness for tightness and satisfied he gave Jimmy the thumbs up and descended the ladder. He went around to the front and gave the pilot the signal to start the engine. Jimmy flicked the ignition on and the crewman reached up and pulled the propeller down with all his might, stepping out of the way as he did so. The Rolls Royce Merlin engine roared into life. Jimmy held the plane on its footbrakes and the crewman whipped the triangular wooden chocks out from under its wheels. Jimmy eased the throttle back and the plane began to roll. The oil guage needle was flickering about and he tapped it with his fingers and it settled. Satisfied that everything was all right he began taxi-ing the small aircraft across the desert floor towards the smooth runway. He checked the windsock. It was barely moving, no breeze, almost perfect conditions for flying. The thirty aeroplanes all began taking off, some just seconds apart. Jimmy suddenly found himself alongside Don and Don waved as they took off together. Captain Witherington watched as each of the planes under his command took off. He watched as they disappeared slowly from his sight until all he could hear were the droning engines. Then they too disappeared and