The White Knight Read Online Free Page B

had made hits but had not downed their targets. They had both disobeyed his instructions, and Luke watched them whirl around and fly at the remaining four planes.
    Having no choice, Luke motioned to Streak, and the two of them joined in the fray.
    A dogfight in the air is one of the most disorganized activities on the face of the earth. No one knows what moves to make in an aerial battle. It’s a hellish confusion, withplanes exploding so violently they seem to shake the skies in their fury.
    Luke went straight for Erich Ritter’s black Messerschmitt while Ritter was pouring his lead into Varga’s plane. Despite Luke’s attempts to get in range to shoot at Ritter, the Black Knight had already performed his deadly work. His fire struck Varga’s plane in the nose, and at once a white plume of smoke began to pour out. Varga tried to lose Ritter, but there was no losing the best pilot in the entire Condor Legion. Varga would be a dead man if he didn’t get out of his plane.
    Even at a distance too far for true shooting, Luke began to fire at Ritter’s plane. He must have made some hits and startled Ritter, for the black plane suddenly broke off, bearing left, leaving Varga’s plane headed for earth. For one instant, even as he flashed by, Luke saw that Varga was slumped over and knew that the young man was dead. A fierce anger raged in him and he stayed after Ritter, firing in short bursts. The one thing the rat could do that was superior to the Messerschmitt was turn more sharply. This had been the secret of Luke’s kills. Once he got on the tail of a 109, he could not be shaken off. The only hope the enemy had was to outrun him, for the 109s were faster.
    Ritter made one turn, and Luke caught a clear image of the German’s face. Ritter was staring at him, and in that brief instant, the two men’s eyes clashed.
    And then the 109 straightened out, and with his engine fully open, he simply ran away from Luke. Desperately Luke fired all of his ammunition, but the attempt was futile as the Black Knight moved out of sight. Then he saw that the rest of the German squadron had been shot down by Nicolai and Streak, so the fighters came together and Luke led them home.
    When the three landed and got out, Streak and Nicolai came right over to Luke. “That Ritter!” Nicolai shouted, his face pale with anger and his eyes filled with a killing light. “I will kill him! You will see me kill him!”
    â€œNo. I will kill him if it’s the last thing I do,” Luke Winslow said between clenched teeth.

CHAPTER THREE
    A Picnic to Remember
    â€œI’m so sorry to have to bring you this terrible news about your son.”
    Whenever Luke had to visit the family of one of his downed pilots, he felt utterly inept. What could one say to parents who had put their hopes in a promising son, a son who was now gone forever? As Luke stumbled over his words, he saw the pain and anguish in the eyes of Señor and Señora Varga. He wanted desperately to get away, but he forced himself to accept their teary invitation into their home. Varga had been a favorite of his, and his own heart was heavy with the loss.
    â€œHe was a favorite in the squadron,” Luke said in a husky voice as he sat in an easy chair. “Always cheerful, taking extra duty, never complaining. A fine pilot and everyone’s friend. It is a personal tragedy for me and for the men in our squadron.”
    Señora Varga leaned forward, drinking in his words as though listening to a eulogy of her son would return him to her in some way.
    Señor Varga was obviously trying hard not to show his emotion. Still, underneath the sadness in his eyes there lurked a seething hatred. His words burned as he looked upward as if to see the battle that had killed his son. “This accursed war!” he raged. “It kills the best of our young men.”
    â€œIt seems the most valiant are taken while lesser men sometimes