Have Your Cake and Eat It

[Fairblue]

"Two great bakers at each end of the country," Algy remarked. "We've been lucky." He looked at the message. "I wonder if the regular guys stationed here have ever had anything like this?"

[Kismet]

'Twice a week, I expect,' Biggles declared cynically. 'The same rationing rules don't seem to apply here.'

[Fairblue]

"Ay, they do,"Angus butted in, "but the lassies are canny. It's mainly the sugar, ye ken, they canna get hold of. Most folks in yon hills will ha' an illicit pig or two, and the offer o' a few pork chops or bacon can get ye almost anything. Butter, if they ha' their own coos will nae be a problem, either."

[Kismet]

'What would I have to do to get some bacon?' Algy asked jokingly.

[Fairblue]

"Och, bacon is almost like the local currency," Angus replied, "ye'll probably hae ta gie' ye shirt off ye back."

[Kismet]

'If that's all it takes, they're welcome to my entire wardrobe,' Algy grinned.

[Fairblue]

At that moment Toddy came in with a signal for Biggles. The others looked at Toddy's face, hoping to read in it whether it was good news or bad.

[Kismet]

Biggles said nothing but folded it and left for his office, asking Algy to join him in ten minutes.

[Fairblue]

"We''very been recalled to Rawlham," were Biggles' first words as Algy walked into his office.

[Kismet]

'Jolly good. Are there any further orders?' Algy asked.

[Fairblue]

Biggles hesitated. Algy waited patiently.
"Not exactly," Biggles finally got out.

[Kismet]

Algy raised his eyebrows. 'What do you mean by that?'

[Fairblue]

"Er....well, a couple of days ago, I was approached by the Dean of Tillingtolloch College, you know...the Boarding School just north of here?"

[Kismet]

'We used to play them at hockey,' Algy nodded, 'when I was at school. They cheated horribly.'

[Fairblue]

"He wanted me to give a talk to the sixth form about becoming pilots, so they can do their patriotic duty. Algy, some of them are barely sixteen, for God's sake."

[Kismet]

'Same age as us, when we started, ' Algy said cheerfully. 'What's your problem?'

[Fairblue]

"I told him I couldn't do it. Pleaded work, etc. Algy, I can't look at those faces knowing that the majority of them will be dead,this time next year."

[Kismet]

'Do you want me to do it for you?' Algy asked. 'I can't say I fancy being a recruitment sergeant but if someone has to do it.'

[Fairblue]

"Thanks, old lad," Biggles said resignedly, "but unfortunately the Dean got hold of the Air Commodore through the Old Boys Network and I've been told in no uncertain terms that it's my patriotic duty."

[Kismet]

'You better go down with a touch of fever, then,' Algy suggested. 'I'll put the date in my diary.'

[Fairblue]

"I wish, but it won't do, I'm afraid. It's for tomorrow morning. The Squadron, minus Ginger and Taffy, will return to Rawlham tomorrow afternoon. I tried to tell Raymond that I had too much to do, but all he said was that he was sure you were more than capable of taking over and that it would all be done when I got back."

[Kismet]

Algy grinned. 'Trip over Towser again. That will get you out of the lecture and the move. And with your luck, all the locals will send offerings of bacon and baking, marked'especially for that poor squadron leader'.'

[Fairblue]

Biggles grinned. "Now there's an idea, but I'll save that for Rawlham. We're two pilots down already and don't need a third."

[Kismet]

Biggles stepped out of his office and tripped over the station cat, who liked to disguise herself as part of the floor in the worst lit parts of the building and had caused a number of squadron members to nearly come a cropper. He kept his feet with some difficulty.

[Fairblue]

As he walked over to the maintenance Hutton see Smyth to warn him about the pending move, Toddy came racing after him. The had received orders to provide escort duty for a convoy of destroyers coming in, carrying much needed supplies.

[Kismet]

'Sound the alert,' Biggles ordered. 'I'll brief everybody as the engines are being warmed.'

[Fairblue]

He returned to the office, wondering why this couldn't have happened tomorrow morning. With both Ginger and Taffy hors d' combat, Toddy had been ordered by the Air Commodore to tell Biggles he had to borrow two pilots from the home Squadron. He was not best pleased. He didn't know their capabilities.

[Kismet]

Biggles decided that he would have to fly escort himself. It would be unfair not to support his men when there would be two newbies up there.

[Fairblue]

Algy went up too. He thought Biggles could do with an extra pair of eyes. It was a good job he did.

[Kismet]

Biggles sneezed. It's impossible to keep your eyes open during a sneeze, so it's a good thing not to do it just as a plane starts shooting at the one you are in.