CHAPTER 10AN UNEXPECTED GUEST
If anyone was ever thunderstruck, to use a common expression, it was Worrals. She was astounded into a moment or two of speechlessness.
“They’re crazy!” she burst out. “I expected some reasonable sort of warning—”
“You don’t know the Air Force yet, evidently,” asserted Bill. “That’s the way it does things. The Higher Command must have known just what effect this order would have on you, but as they’ve gone through with it we must assume that the need for Spitfires at Malta is imperative.”
“How many machines are coming?” asked Worrals, in a voice that was still slightly dazed.
“Twelve, I suppose. I hear it’s a full squadron.”
“Shall we have enough petrol?”
“Just. I’m loaded to capacity. The poor old Whitley is fairly bursting with juice.”
“One little in
