Read Online Two Blackbirds by Garry Ryan - Free Book Online Page B

alongside the statue. The engine ticked over. “She saved her lover during the War of the Roses.”
    â€œWar.” Sharon looked at the statue. War is part of the culture here.
    â€œWhere would we live if we moved to Canada?” Michael looked at the river and the bridge that spanned it.
    â€œI have a house. It’s on the edge of the city. Near the Elbow River. Quite nice, actually.” She turned to see what he was looking at. “Not very far from downtown.”
    â€œBig enough for the three of us?” he asked.
    Sharon nodded. “Yes.” What’s got me thinking about the future? For so long, there was no thought of tomorrow, only today.
    â€œA week after the invasion, I started to think beyond the war. That there might be a future for us after the war. I was afraid.” Michael turned to look at her.
    â€œAfraid of what?”
    â€œWhen I figure that out for myself, I’ll let you know.”
    â€œWhat do you know about Lady Ginette Elam?”
    Michael smiled. “You prefer to talk shop?”
    Sharon shrugged. “Mother said something funny to me about people staying out of the war until now. He implied that she needed stories to tell at parties after the war is over.”
    â€œMother has a sharp mind.” Michael stared at the statue. “There’s a fascist connection in the Elam family. Before the war, they supported Mussolini. You know, the advantages of having the trains run on time and all of that. When it looked like Hitler and Mussolini might win the war, some opportunists backed the winner. Now that it looks like we’ll win the war, they’re backing us.”
    â€œYou make it sound very cold-blooded.” She heard the bleakness in her voice.
    â€œSelf-preservation is a pretty powerful motivator.”
    â€œSo you’re saying I should watch my back?” Sharon looked at her husband and saw the weariness in his eyes.
    â€œI’m afraid that Mother and I agree on this one. Lady Ginette’s first priority is Lady Ginette. And she will see you as a minor obstacle if you happen to get in her way.”

CHAPTER 9
    [MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1944]
    â€œWould you write me a letter?” Edgar was up to his elbows in one of the Anson’s engines.
    Sharon found herself studying Edgar as he looked at her while his right hand tightened a nut with a socket wrench. She asked, “What kind of letter?”
    â€œA reference letter for the 332nd in Italy. If you and Ernie write me reference letters, I’ll have a shot with the Red Tails.” Edgar grunted as he snugged up a nut and moved to the next.
    â€œCan I write it up when I get back?” She hefted her parachute as she heard the duty Anson starting up. “There’s a big push on, and I need to deliver a Dakota.”
    Edgar nodded.
    Two hours later, she was on approach on the east coast of England. Ahead of her, a Dakota took off trailing a glider. Beyond, a stream of transport aircraft headed east over the Channel.
    Her Dakota’s twin engines ticked over. Its long wings transferred every bump in air boiling from the wake of so many other aircraft. The turbulence forced her to constantly work the control wheel and rudder pedals. By the time she was on the taxiway, she was exhausted from the effort.
    The tower ordered her toward a group of men gathered next to a petrol bowser. She worked throttle, rudder, and brakes to get the Dakota onto the refueling apron.
    After shutting down, she looked out the left side as a man with rolled-up sleeves hauled a hose onto the wing and began to top up the tanks.
    Sharon gathered her operating manual and logbook, stuffed them into a green over-the-shoulder canvas bag, and walked downhill to the rear door.
    It opened before she could get there. A helmeted head poked in, spotted her, and said, “Hang on, boys.”
    She made her way to the open side door. A soldier looked up at her. He was wearing a helmet, his face