The Spitfire Girls(46)

‘Are you going up today?’ Lizzie asked, dropping down to sit beside her.

‘I think so. Well, actually I don’t know,’ Ruby replied. ‘I suppose I’m holding out hope that it’ll clear.’

‘Just remember that it’s your call. You’re the pilot. Don’t let anyone pressure you into it,’ Lizzie said, clasping Ruby’s hand. ‘The visibility will be terrible all day and you know it. It’s not your fault the weather’s been awful all week and the last thing I want is something happening to you up there.’

Ruby nodded. ‘It’ll clear,’ she said optimistically. ‘Thanks for your support though.’

Unlike the male RAF pilots, they got to make their own decisions about whether to fly or not. It was their risk and their decision. Some of the girls thought it made them more important, but Ruby wasn’t so na?ve. It meant the authorities didn’t care so much if they lost them; though they’d be more than annoyed to lose a plane, she was certain.

‘Have this,’ Lizzie said, holding out her other hand. ‘This is me saying in the only way I know how, well, how incredibly sorry I am for my behaviour. The best pilot is taking to the skies today, and I want you to know it.’

Lizzie dropped something into her palm, and Ruby saw it was chocolate. ‘Ohhh,’ she murmured, salivating at the perfect dark square. ‘I suppose I can’t be angry with you now, can I?’

Lizzie grinned, and Ruby laughed when she produced a smaller piece of chocolate from her pocket. ‘I’ve saved a little piece for myself.’

Ruby popped the square into her mouth at the same time as Lizzie, rolling it around, and savouring the bittersweet taste.

‘You know, I’m really proud that you’re representing us all today, Ruby. I honestly thought I deserved it, that it was supposed to be me, but I was wrong.’

Ruby shook her head. ‘I think you were supposed to be the first.’

‘No,’ Lizzie said, her smile kind. ‘I wasn’t. Because we’re both just as good up there in a Halifax, we’ve both put in the hours and we’re both excellent pilots. But I was wanting the first flight for me, and that’s not what it was all about.’

Lizzie brushed away tears and Ruby realised just how much losing the flight, and being called out by her superiors, had affected her.

‘I believe in you, Ruby,’ Lizzie carried on. ‘You’re the one to pave the way, to show there’s so much more women can do to help, and you’re going to do us all proud.’

‘Thank you, Liz. It means a lot.’

Lizzie gave her an awkward hug and they both laughed. ‘This friend thing is kind of difficult,’ she teased. ‘But I could probably get used to it, if I had to.’

‘Don’t go making too much of an effort for my sake,’ Ruby quipped straight back.

Lizzie grinned, and then her smile faded. ‘You know, the powers that be really want you in the sky today,’ she said.

‘How do you know what the powers that be want from me?’

‘May’s inside right now with Chief Instructor Captain MacMillan, and he looked like he was about to have kittens.’

Ruby gulped and almost swallowed the chocolate. ‘What? They’re talking now?’

‘Uh-huh. And I don’t think they want to delay this flight, from what I heard. They desperately need that Halifax delivered, and everyone’s on edge about the whole thing.’

‘Anything else?’ Ruby asked, wiping her hands on her trouser leg to dry her sweaty palms.

‘They want the rest of us up and flying them by the end of the month, but they need the good publicity from you first, and then higher up needs to sign off on it.’ Lizzie grimaced. ‘And I hate to say it, but everything hinges on whether you’re a success or not. I heard them say that every inch of your journey from take-off to landing is going to be scrutinised.’

Hmmm, Ruby thought sarcastically: she just needed to fly perfectly and not get lost in cloud cover, crash into a mountain or muck up her landing. All despite the fact she had no instruments, no radio and no crew as back up – all things a male pilot would have at his disposal.

She looked up again and saw that the cloud wasn’t as thick; or maybe it was her imagination. And then it started to rain.

‘Bloody hell!’ she cursed under her breath. ‘Could today get any worse?’

‘First Officer!’

Ruby turned her head to see May standing on the step of the main building with the captain beside her. She had a feeling it was time to fly, weather be damned.

‘Good luck,’ Lizzie whispered, squeezing her shoulder. ‘Not that you need it.’

Ruby’s heart was pounding all over again as she marched back over.

‘How are you feeling?’ May asked, as they all walked to her desk.

‘Aside from furious about the weather?’ Ruby joked, not wanting anyone to see how nervous she actually was. ‘How can we have so many dismal days at this time of year?’

‘Well, by all accounts it should clear soon,’ Captain MacMillan said, his voice less gruff than usual. ‘It’s your decision as pilot to go up or not, but . . .’

‘Let’s prepare regardless,’ Ruby said, surprised by how confident she sounded. ‘The cloud cover is clearing, and a little bit of rain isn’t going to put me off.’