*A TALE*

And it came to pass in those days that an edict came down from the.Seat of the Brass that many men would be called forth into the dawn to drop death and destruction upon their enemies from low altitudes.

And the men went forth amongst themselves and bolstered up their courage by saying "Am I listed amongst those to go?" and "Holy Smoke!" and divers other phrases. For there were those amongst them who liketh it not to get below a half score of thousands of feet when over the. territory of the Hammer and Sickle.There were men there also who had flown the allotted. two score and ten missions and these were cheerful and passing gay (for they got theirs in over Chosen) saying one to the other "Thou shouldst have been with me over Pyongyang!" And one .there was, of quiet modesty known as Perbie, also known as he of the soft voice, who spake as follows: "Have no fear of minimum altitude for whither thou goest, I shall be with thee ........in the Tower."

And it came to pass that before the sun had risen, the CQ; went forth from his place of watch to the abodes of the birdmen and roused them, each in his turn, saying "This is the fourth hour, and the briefing comes before the dawn!" And the birdmen cursed him in a loud voice, for his tidings were not joyful. For the strike cometh they know, and only the Beavers were glad. But even the Beavers were few, and those grew less eager at.the fourth hour of the day. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth and a great unhappiness in that place-but the fear for their commissions and stripes was in them, and they went forth.

At least there cometh up to them he of the great intellect who was known as Intelligence. He was known also by other names. And one of the birdmen said unto him "What manner of Poppy-cock is this that thou speaketh?" and another of the birdmen said unto him "What has thou done unto us?" and "Wherefore beguileth thou us?" and "Thou does not show us very much." And the Intelligent one sayeth unto them "These thou may wear with those thou has won in wars past but not forgotten", and he held in his hands ribbons of many colors, saying further, "Fulfill us this day, and many more days, and we will give thee these for the service thou shalt render another seven years".

And one of the birdmen sayeth unto another, "Knoweth he not of the Law of Averages?" all the others saying, "Yea, Verily, Amen."

For they were not happy in the service that day, and the pouches of their eyes gaveth witness, and they went unto the Holy of Holies, called the Briefing Room. And each in his turn entered and looked upon the handwriting upon the wall and each as he looketh, sayeth one to the other, "Say unto me that this is not so!"

But one cometh among them, known as Oge-San who sayeth, "Yes, it is so, best we calleth the roll." And there was a quiet in the tomb of the Prophets. And he who was called Oge-San spoke with a tongue of sounding brass. He spoke of heading and formations, and of times, and "D for Ditching" and "Dumbo" and “Tango" and "Phantom" and "Dinghy"!

And they looketh up at him with heads of ivory and comprehendeth not.

And there came again the Intelligent One and spake of restrictions, communications, and of the fire known as Flak. He was wise in their ways and full of understanding of them all. He pointeth to a map and to a photograph and spake: "Behold, I speak not with a tongue of two tails; just look at this photograph, I telleth thee not that there are but two guns that bear on thee going in, and two coming out. Lo, I telleth thee that men will throw much lead and steel at thee. Take care that thou ziggest not when thou shouldst zag. Many there are of the enemy who wouldst do thee harm. They come with forked lightning and with bombs of phosphorus and hammers of Eight & Eight millimeters. Yea and verily, do not leave thy formation for the Lord turneth his face from him who leaveth the company of his fellow birdmen and he shalt float into waiting arms below."

Then did he known as Rocky send forth the men known as the Two and Nine's "For Sooth" sayeth he "Mayhap thy Baker Two Nine's shall leave before the Sun cometh upon us" and there were men amongst them who wagged their heads and sayeth "It it is so!” and it came to pass whereof they spake.

Now there are.some.who are called "Lead" and some who.are called "Wing" and the Lead, when he shareth the coffee hour with Wing always sayeth, "The Lord watcheth between thee and me when we are absent from each other, or when thou gottest too close to my tail!"

And so they departed in their chariots, known as "Jeeps" to the dispersals but first some goeth in a panic, to the small house and some behind a tree.

Then each of the birdmen went forth to his bird and counted each part with great care. But at the hour of the pushing of the throttles, one of winged monsters thundereth not. And the birdmen beateth it with their hands and kicketh it with their feet, but it availeth them not. In vain they calleth upon the Lord of the bird, but it lacketh revs, and putteth not out nine and forty inches. Woe betide him who taketh off with lack of revs and inches. For his children shall curse him, and his children's children and Yea, Verily he shall curseth himself.

And it came to pass that the rest went upon their journey and taketh off into formation above the tree tops and climeth up to join their brothers, and soon the place known as the target was before them. It was then that their enemies heaped upon them fire and brimstone and there were those among them whose hands were damp, and some whose faces were damp, and some whose pants were damp. There were many among them who bent the throttles, and there were many among them who goeth off from the formation and these were called on Channel "A". The Leader asketh them "Whither thou Goest???" and they :reply, "I go to fly for myself, for the heat in that path is passing great!" And the Leader curseth them and telleth them to return to the formation, but.they turneth to Channel "B" and heareth him not.

And finally all went home by diverse routes, each to his roost. and to his ounce and a half of the drip of corn. And again they gathered in the Holy of Holies and telleth of the mighty, things they have seen and done. And the Intelligent One sprinkled his paper with salt and writeth it all down as a Testimony. Now the Leader calleth out upon the wanderers and cheweth upon their posteriors and telleth them of a bad show and giveth them hell in general, but they are joyful and glad at being once more upon the ground and heed him not, but make haste into their sacks. (Upon reading the word "SACK", turn to the east and bow three times from the knees).

**** END ****