Part 23 (1/2)

His brain was nuth in hi His tattered tunic was now drenched with blood Drops of blood fell froray curtain seemed to hover before his eyes, and it took every ounce of effort that he possessed to peer through it and make out the instrument panel

”Can't be done, can't be done!” He heard his own h from miles and ot old Freddy And ot me, too Oh, dear God, I' back to Casablanca I just--I just want to quit now, and go to sleep What does it one And without old Freddy, I--”

Hisbut the continued thunder of the Daiines in his ears Suddenly he heard another voice A voice? Or was it so, huh? Just like that! You get a couple of scratches, and you want to let down and quit Isn't that just dandy? So Freddy's gone, huh?

How do _you_ know? You can't tell froet back to Casablanca, where maybe he could be saved _if_ he's still alive No! You just want to quit and make _sure_ that he dies Okay, quitter! There's hard earth down there Dive in _and make sure of death_!”

The little voice kindled a spark of anger within hiht hot flame Quitter, huh? The heck he was! Maybe Freddy wasn't dead! Please, God, let that be true! He'd get Freddy back Honest he would He'd get Freddy back, no matter what This wasn't the end for either of them Remember how they had once kidded that the nazi was not yet born who could polish off either of theone it, that was _true_! Casablanca? Okay! You bet! It was hard to s hard to see But he'd get through just the same Casablanca, here we come! Here we--

The wheels of the bullet-riddled Messersch inside Dawson's head, and drag him back from another world In a daze he looked about and saw that he was rolling along the Casablanca field Above him, the air was filled with Allied aircraft A sharp stab of fear passed through his heart when he realized that this nazi plane had been in the air with those other aircraft He vaguely remembered they had spotted him way out from Casablanca, closed in, and then dropped into escort position

And now _he_ was down on Casablanca base! He'd made it, but he hadn't realized it until just now! Could a pilot fly a course while semi-conscious? Maybe he could, because Dave had very little recollection of this flight except for the very start And--Wait!

_Freddy Farh his brain, he lurched upward out of the seat and looked back Fresh fear and terror gripped hiainst the side of the pit His face seemed even paler, and it was covered with more dots of blood Dawson started to call out, when he heard the pounding offeet He turned his head in that direction and saw a large group of figures, led by Colonel Welsh, racing toward the plane He waved frantically with one hand and called out

”Ambulance!” he shouted ”Get the ambulance at--”

At that exact reat roaring started up inside his head He knew that he was tu, but he was absolutely helpless to do anything about it So stub, hit hi but darkness, and utter silence

Dave Dawson found hi and soothing white when he again opened his eyes It did not puzzle him that all should be white, because his brain was too contented to bother figuring it out His whole body felt contented, too A lulling war ever changed again

This lulling war contentment were all that he could desire

However, that perfect spell of both