Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi



21/1/42

From the moment Hyakutake opened his eyes in the pre dawn light –he knew (despite the pounding head, terrible dry mouth, and other generally disagreeable effects of the night before) that this was going to be a good day.

He was going to fly today –fly in combat –this he just knew –and it felt good –it felt right.

He quietly dressed, made his way onto the fields edge –sniffing the air. Around him the base was coming to life – over at the hangers –crews already wheeling the navy bombers out – down at the end of the field –a babs already taking to the air.
It is calm –that lovely cool pink period before the tropical sun comes up –and ruins the moment

Its only a quick walk to the mess tent –and the simple meal and tea goes down well – Iwaya, takenaka and Inoue joining him. There is little conversation –maybe it’s the sore heads –but Hyakutake thinks its something more.
This morning strangely reminds him of his training days – waiting for the instructor to take him up again, the joy of flight still just being explored, savoured.

Its time –and they make there way to the fighters.
Hyakutake takes his time –pre flighting carefully his beast. His ground crew have prepared her as best they can –he knows this –but He is flying her –not them.

The cockpit is now a very familiar home –and beginning to take on its own personality –the missing paint here –the worn patch there –that trim wheel with the chip in it. It’s a familiar home, a comfortable office. It’s the only place he wants to be.

The Navy Bombers begin to depart –and Hyakutake brings his plane to life –the big Nakajima bellowing, beginning the vibration, the noise, all of his plane into life.

They depart –every take off is an adventure –but this one is a joy –the sun bursts into the cockpit as the ground falls away –Hyakutake keeps the canopy back –its just too good a day to close it.

Patrol -4 fighters, 9 bombers –heading due east – the babs have found prey.

The target is disappointing –a single small freighter –so they spend another hour searching –but the seas remain empty, so they go to attack –the torpedoes have to be used –nobody can land with them

He sees them first -4 unknown fighters - circling way above them.
Wing waggle –acknowledged –and Inoue agrees –and he pulls the stick back hard –and pushes the throttle to the wall. 2 arrows climb -2 stick to the bombers

The enemy fighters are some 5000 feet higher – the KI-44 can climb astonishingly fast –and he climbs like a rocket –caring not that this is a terrible tactical position.

The Dutch hawk 75’s -four of them –however, have met Japanese fighters already in this war – and they break –and dive hard for Batavia, and not even the swiftest plane is going to stop them..

It’s a terrible let down.

By the time the bombers are rejoined –it is all over –the little AK –and its crew –are gone –as if never been.

Hyakutake gives them not a thought.
Only the joy of climbing so high, so hard, fills his mind.
Maybe tomorrow he might get to fire his guns. Maybe tomorrow.

Upper portion used with permission of www.subart.net, copyright John Meeks