Part 2 (1/2)

In the range control tower, Corporal Weisbaum was getting madder every second.

”What's the matter with that switchboard operator,” he screamed.

”Don't he hear the buzzer?” He shook the phone and roared again.

Finally, he slapped it down on the hook. ”Gimme that radio,” he said, reaching for the handset. The operator shook his head sadly. ”No use, corp. It's deader'n doornail. Don't know what's the matter. It just quit.”

Weisbaum looked around and spotted one of the regular jeep drivers standing at the foot of the tower. ”Mahoney,” he yelled. ”Get in your jeep and go back and get the old man. Tell him he's gotta see Cromwell shoot. You can tell him what happened.”

The jeep driver started towards his vehicle. ”And Mahoney,” Weisbaum yelled after him, ”while you're there, bring back another radio and tell that idiot on the switchboard we got wire trouble.” Mahoney nodded and went to his jeep.

Back at the cabin, Ma Cromwell wiped her face with her ap.r.o.n skirt.

”Sh.o.r.e hot today,” she thought. ”You hot there, too, Sonny?”

”Kinda hot, Ma,” Jed thought back. ”Sh.o.r.e ain't like home. Not bad though.”

”You gettin' enough to eat, child?” Ma asked.

Jed frowned slightly and stepped up his mental output. A half mile down range and a thousand feet up, an Army helicopter heading for a maneuver area, coughed and quit. The blades went into autogyro as it sank quickly to earth.

Vehicles all over the post came to a spluttering stop and office lights and refrigerators went off.

”What did you say, Ma?” Jed asked. ”Seemed like you got sorta weak.”

”'Tain't me.” Ma snorted. ”Jest that nosy Miz Hawkins. She's gotta listen in on everybody's private talk up in these hills, seems like.”

There was the feeling of an indignant gasp and then Ma's thoughts came booming through. Jed relaxed and grinned. The chopper was almost on the ground when its engine caught fire once again and went surging up and forward. The surprised pilot fought to get control before he slammed into a low hill. Lights came back on and electrical equipment began running other than close to the range.

”Shouldn't ought to talk like that, Ma,” Jed grinned. ”She's jest bein' friendly like.”

”Hm-m-m,” Ma sniffed, ”gettin' so's a body cain't even talk with her own kinfolk without everybody in these parts listenin' in.”

Mahoney got out of his jeep and walked back to the tower. ”Jeep won't start,” he called up to Weisbaum.

The corporal turned purple and leaned over the edge of the tower. ”Ta h.e.l.l with it then,” he roared. ”Now get those b.u.ms back on the line.

We got a whole platoon to shoot out and I want to see that hillbilly do the same thing in the standing position.

”Cromwell,” he bellowed, ”get up on that line.”

Jed opened his eyes quickly and then shut them for another moment.

”Got to go, Ma,” he thought quickly, ”that corporal feller's yellin'

again. You take care, Ma.”

”I will, Sonny,” Ma thought back. ”Mind your manners.”

Jed got up and hurried to the firing line. In the tower, the phone began ringing and the radio and telephone operators began reporting the equipment trouble they'd been having. On the road, one of the truck drivers half-heartedly stepped on the starter for the tenth time. The engine roared to life. The other drivers stopped and stared, then climbed down from fenders and front b.u.mpers and tried their own starters. The trucks and their puzzled drivers left. Firing resumed.

That evening in the barracks, Harry Fisher complimented the mountain boy. ”Nice shooting today, Jed,” he said, ”I was on the radio in the pits while you were shooting. I don't think anyone ever saw anything like that before.”

Jed smiled at his friend and bunkmate. ”It's easy to do, real easy Harry,” he said. ”I reckon everyone could do it once they get the hang of it.”