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.‘If I may say so, Lucy, I believe the thought of you inspired him to greater efforts, motivated him, for the whole time we’ve been here, and so he pipped me into second place.But no hard feelings.Or only a few! Wonderful to meet you at last.He constantly spoke of you throughout the course to anyone who’d listen and some who wouldn’t.When a few of us went out on the town he’d invariably stay behind, saying, No thanks, lads, he’d rather remain in camp.We guessed he wanted to write to you, or read over again letters you’d sent to him.I’d see one in his pigeon hole next to mine – B and C, you know, Bain, Charteris – woman’s handwriting on the envelope, and I’d know Ian would be so pleased and happy.I felt some envy, I can tell you.’ Bain had obviously decided Lucy was ignorant of the snowscape broadcast.So he could fantasize; so he could spout his lies with a benevolent, constructive, lovey-dovey intent.‘What’s your posting, Ray?’ Ian asked.‘Attached to K-4 as starters.’‘K-4? What and where is that?’ Lucy asked.‘An airfield,’ Bain replied.‘Mainly Yank.Well, the war’s mainly Yank, on our side.I report there, if we and the Americans are still holding it, which I’m warned is not at all certain, then get sent where most needed.’‘An airfield in Korea?’ Lucy asked.‘Yes, it’s Korea, isn’t it, Ray? Airfields are K-coded there,’ Ian replied.‘North Korean ground troops target our fields,’ Bain said.‘Not a picnic,’ Ian replied.‘Why do you say that?’ Lucy asked.‘Someone here mentioned it,’ Bain said.‘And mentioned it,’ Ian said.‘But what does it mean?’ Lucy asked.‘Not a picnic,’ Ian said.‘Oh, do stop stiff-upper-lipping, will you?’ Lucy said.‘Yes, it does make sipping the drinks difficult,’ Bain said.A couple of months later Ian heard from an Air Ministry officer visiting the OCTU that Bain was back in Britain short of both legs from above the knee.There had been a night battle for an airfield and its control tower.‘One of the K spots out there, you know.Bain and his unit held on.This was quite a little victory in its own way,’ the Ministry air commodore said.‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he got recognition.I gather he did well when he was here.’‘Well, yes.’‘Came out second in his intake.’‘Yes,’ Ian said.‘They sent him to somewhere offering a real challenge.He was considered up to it.That must have made him proud and fulfilled.And so he went to K-4, and then to an even tougher spot.He’s a credit to the training here.Know him, did you?’‘My intake.A different course.’‘Ah, so the fact you’re here on the staff … Did you beat him into second place?’‘It was touch and go.’‘These things are always chancy.And do you get on all right with the top people here – Group Captain Stanton? His wife, Emily? An impressive woman.Some unspecified government work.Very unspecified, yes?’‘I believe so.’‘Formidable couple.She’s a strength to him.He produces the goods, such as Bain.’And, as the Air Ministry bigwig had guessed, Bain did get recognition.Ian took a phone call from him.Male voices clattered and boomed behind Bain’s.It sounded as though he might be in a big common room with several other wounded men and a couple of three-sided telephone booths.Charteris found he didn’t want to visualize it too fully.‘Guess what – they’re giving me a gong,’ Ray Bain said, ‘so show some due respect, would you, please?’‘Great, Ray.’‘Distinguished Service Order.’‘That’s high.Brilliant, Ray.’‘Yes, brilliant.There are one or two others here who are getting similar.’‘Great, Ray.’‘Yes, great.Do you know what I’d like?’‘What’s that?’‘I’d really like it if you could be at the Palace for the presentation.It’s going to be quite a do, I hear.I should think they’d give you a day’s leave for that kind of thing, wouldn’t they – hero alumnis of the outfit? We’re entitled to invite parents, spouse and children, or a couple of friends in lieu.I haven’t got a spouse or children, so you could come, in lieu.Perhaps bring Lucy? You see, Ian, I have the feeling that you’re really very much part of it.’He tried again not to visualize Bain in a wheelchair making the call from the get-together room.What would those nice girls in the town make of him now? Ian wondered how he could be ‘very much part of it’.Or no, he didn’t wonder; he had an idea why Bain could see him as ‘very much part of it’.This wasn’t an idea that Ian felt all right about.He hadn’t felt all right about it since he first heard what had happened to Bain.‘That’s very kind of you to ask me, Ray,’ he said.‘I’ll see if Lucy can make it.In any case, I’d be honoured to come.’ He let rip with some falsity
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