“Walk up the wing along this rough bit; you won’t slip. Sit on your parachute just in front of Taff’s feet—you’re only wee, you’ll fit. Once we’re in the air you can hop onto the observer’s seat in front of him and you’ll have a super view out the nose. Don’t worry about Yorkie, I know what Ellen’s been telling you, but he’s stuck in the rear cabin minding the radio and the rear gun. Mazur and Taff are a sound pair—they’ll take care of you. You won’t be able to hear much, or talk to anyone, so thumbs-up for everything bang on, and thumbs-down if you need to be sick! Here you are—pop your foot into my hands and I’ll boost you up. Climb in through the hatch—”

Squatting on the broad wing next to me, he locked gloved fingers together.

“Warm enough? All buttoned up? Mae West tight? Righto, we’re off to the North Sea—just wait till you see the Scottish Highlands from the air!”

The front cabin of the Blenheim didn’t feel gigantic, though. With three of us squeezed in together, it was like being a bit of saltfish in a tin. Ignacy and Derfel chattered to each other in Polish and Welsh as they checked the flight instruments. I wondered if they were doing it on purpose to wind up their new gunner. Or me—they must be used to Bill Yorke by now.

I thought of Phyllis squeezed in with tall Harry Morrow, the Aussie flying the third Pimms plane with his knees around his ears, and Gavin Hamilton, who still looked like he wasn’t old enough to shave. I thought of Ellen squeezed in with easygoing, handsome David Silvermont and Flight Lieutenant Jamie Beaufort-Stuart. For a moment I felt a stab of envy.

But if I’d gone with Jamie and Silver, I’d have to go with Chip Wingate, the American from Texas.

My pilot, Ignacy, waved to get my attention.

“All right, little one?”

I gave him a thumbs-up. He grinned. “Engine start!” he yelled to the ground crew.

One propeller began to turn, then the other. Within seconds they were both alive and it became wildly, deafeningly loud in the cockpit.

Through the clear panes in the canopy overhead, I saw clouds rushing by as we gained speed for the takeoff. Then the tail of the plane lifted and I could see trees and moorland ahead of us. Finally, the way a ripe mango suddenly comes unstuck from its stem, we just lifted away from the ground. I could feel we were aloft.

I was in the sky.

Ignacy pushed levers and turned knobs, holding the control yoke lightly with one hand. He waved at me again, gesturing Up, up! He pointed into the Blenheim’s nose. Get up and look!