Czechoslovakia, May 2, 1945
Airborne again in an early morning fog, flying the Mayfair northeast from Vienna, Barbara headed the bomber for the Carpathian Mountains to the far northeast of Czechoslovakia near the Polish-Soviet border. Last-ditch Nazi resistance fighting was still reported in the region, even though American and Soviet troops had begun liberating the country the previous spring.
Both she and Stephen had left their uniforms behind at the airport and changed into peasants' work clothes. She didn't think her simple work dress flattered her very much, but thought he would look good in anything, or nothing. They also wore parachutes, just in case.
"The Lipizzaner foal is hidden on a deserted farm near the town of Presov," Stephen said. "We don't know if the Soviets know about her. If they do, they'll try anything to keep us from getting her."
"Is that why you came aboard looking like a walking arsenal?"
Stephen brought two .45 caliber automatic revolvers and extra clips with him and looked like a resistance fighter.
"You never know when some firepower might come in handy. But you must think I'm crazy, getting you into this."
"No crazier than me, for volunteering to go."
Barbara felt safe, no matter what, with Stephen sitting beside her in the co-pilot's seat. Still, something had been bothering her, and it wasn't the danger they were flying into.
"Doesn't it threaten your masculinity, that I'm in the pilot's seat here?"
This time he laughed. "Heck, no. I'm proud my future wife can fly a B-17 bomber. Besides, I can do a few things I don't think you can."
"For instance?"
"For instance, I can wiggle my ears, without touching them."
"Prove it."
Stephen raised and lowered his forehead until his ears wiggled, and Barbara could hardly stop laughing.
How wonderful! she thought.You have a sense of humor, and are secure enough as a man to deprecate yourself. "You do have hidden talents!"
"I can show you more," he teased.
"I can hardly wait!"
She wished he were piloting the plane, so she could take her hands off the controls and put them on him. She wanted so badly to put them all over his adorable face and body.
"Navigator, what's that river down below?" she asked.
Stephen looked at a silk map they took aboard. "The Hon.
We can follow it all the way to Presov."
"If we don't lose it, with all the tributaries and over the mountains."