Heidi watches as there is a fresh shower of sparks and the old 20mm gun is pried free. The new one, oiled and uncased is already being rigged up on the pulleys.
The foreman is roaring obsceneties as he chivvies up the dockers dragging up all the kit and bedding. Cox is down there with Reuben, they both have bulging kit bags, and I know what's in them.
Heidi turns to me. "They're turning the boat around so fast, Rollie".
"Well we still have to fit and calibrate the new Flak gun, and then take her down the Estuary and test fire it at the seagulls. It'll be a while yet before we get our next patrol orders."
She turned to me. "I know I should be braver Rollie, but now that we're together, I feel so afraid everytime you are gone."
"We all know fear, darling, and..." (carefully worded) "...I'm not taking any unnecessary risks out there" (of course all risks are necessary). "We must be doing something right, because we keep on coming back"
But your face, and those other boys, I worry, and...."
"Shush, now Heidi, they are just scratches" I held her close, as Christian and Doc particularly, looked studiously the other way.
"We'll always come back, you know that"
I watched Reuben and Cochsens, over Heidi's shoulder, commandeering a kubelwagen and hoisting their kit bags of food into the back. On their way to the station.
"Come on Heidi, you have a few days leave, let's go."
"Where to, Rollie?"
"To my home City, Hamburg. I'm going to show you fear and worry.."
LS
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