Part 16 (1/2)

”Then you're elected,” Dave said ”So let's go!”

In less than acar and Freddy was kicking the engine into life The instant it roared up he shi+fted into gear and sent the car rolling around to the left in the direction the dead Belgian Sergeant had indicated

”I hope he knehat he was talking about!” Freddy yelled above the sound of the clashi+ng of gears ”After that crazy ride I'nize that Namur road e coiulish youth punctuated the last by raas Dave's head snapped back and he grabbed wildly for a hold and found one

”Gosh, you and that Sergeant!” he gasped ”But, it's okay, now Let her rip, Freddy Say! It's plenty different riding in the front seat of one of these things, isn't it?”

It was different, too It was much easier on the bones and tender spots of the huh uneven surface, Dave didn't get half the bouncing around sitting up front But suddenly when a group of trees ca at them and Freddy yanked down on the wheel and swerved past with but a couple of feet to spare, Dave felt his hair stand up straight on his head

”It's fun driving one of these things!” he heard Freddy shout ”A Renault's a good bus My father has one”

”Sure, but I'et!” Dave shouted back ”How about souess we'd better,” Freddy replied and flicked up a switch on the dashboard

Two pale beaht swept out in front of the car They helped some, but they were considerably dimmed so as not to be easily spotted from the air And they most certainly didn't put Dave much at ease Dark objects continued to whip into view and then go slipping by as Freddy skillfully wrenched the wheel this way or that And then suddenly they bounced out of a field onto a dirt road They had actually turned on to the road and were tearing along it toward the west before Dave realized they were on it

”Holy s!” he cried ”You sure kno to drive Well, the Sergeant was right about this road anyway Wonder how far it is to the ?”

Freddy had suddenly sla to the side of the road, and switched off the lights

”Planes,” he said ”Hear theht so

They're Gerht toward us!” Dave said as he twisted around in the seat ”Gee, you've got ears, too!”

Throbbing, pulsating thunder was rolling toward them out of the sky The planes were not more than a couple of thousand feet up in the sky, and from the sound there were at least a couple of squadrons of them The two boys squinted up at the now dark sky, and then suddenly they saw the arainst the stars They showed no lights, but it was easy to pick the backward

”Gee, there's a hundred of them, at least!” Dave breathed ”They look like Heinkels to me Wonder where they're headed? Gosh, look at the?”

Freddy didn't reply He sat peering up at the death ared by, and Dave suddenly saw the frown on his friend's face

”What are you frowning about?” he asked

”I',” Freddy replied ”Unless I' for the same place we are Namur Yes, I'm almost sure of it!”

”So what?” Dave murmured

”So I fancy there'll be very little of it left,” Freddy said ”I'll bet you five pounds they know Belgian GHQ is at Na over there to knock it out Well, all we can do is keep on going, I guess”

The roar of the boain and switched on the lights At the end of five hway

”That poor Belgian Sergeant was right, bless him!” Freddy shouted happily and turned south on the road