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Geer turns and looks blank “Anyone know that?”

Cat yells, “We don’t know, except he’s the luckiest man on earth”

Evidently that answer is close enough, earning a short bark of laughter “Come on,” the second voice says

Rio signals weapons down and they advance, ducking beneath the up-tilted nose of the plane Rio passes beneath then takes a step back to look up As with o on the side

The word Rio is in swirling red letters that ride just above the i an M1

She freezes, staring up at it The girl is dark haired, long legged, and ratherFlattering andand terrifying

“Strand?” she cries “Strand?”

She pushes past Geer and Cat and stumbles into the little encampment the aviators have made—a tiny, well-banked caainst the lowered front landing gear, and an array of iteed from the wreck

Twoa pistol One man lies on a blanket with a flyer’s jacket thrown over hiht

Strand Braxton

19

RIO RICHLIN—CATANIA, SICILY

Rio drops her rifle and rushes to Strand “My God, my God, are you hurt?”

“Rio?” He seee and unfocused But he s himself that she’s real

“You know Fish?” one of the flyers asks