《血战长空》

　　下部　第七章

　　夜已深了。星星隐没在宛如幕幛般的浓雾中。这个时候，在整个 Tonopah， Nevada。霍华德房间的灯光是不多的亮点了。但他仍兴致盎然，俯身在书桌上，不停地写着，有时，他会直起身，默默地思考一会。他脚边的纸篓里，已经堆满半篓的纸团。这是他几个小时的工作成果，但现在却被他毫不犹豫地抛掉了。
　　他已与叶梅通过几次话(她使用的电话是远征军司令部，也就是Dorn中校那儿的电话)，虽这略解他想思之情，但因为受时差和环境所限，每次总不能让他们尽情，白天他忙于训练，无暇顾及其它，但到了晚上，孤独和思念就会像影子一样如约而至，常常使他无法入眠。为了排解这种情绪，他试着给她写信，但他不知道，经过漫长的，充满硝烟的路途，它能否安全抵达目的地。
　　The night was deep. The stars dissolved in the thick fog. At this time, the light in Howard’s room was one of few bright spots in entire Tonopah, Nevada. But he was still in a great excitement, and leaned on the desk, writing continuously. Sometimes he straightened up, and silently thought for a while. Half of the waste basket at his feet was filled with paper balls, which were the production from his work of a few hours, but now he did not hesitate to discard them.
　　He talked with Ye Mei several times on the telephone (The phone she used belonged to the headquarters of the Expeditionary Force, that is, it is the phone Lieutenant Colonel Dorn used), although this could release his lovesickness a little, every time they could not talk on the phone as much as they liked due to the time difference and environmental constraints. During the daytime he was busy training, and couldn’t attend to this. But in the evening, the shadow of loneliness and missing her would come to him as if it were planned so that he could not fall asleep. In order to resolve this sentiment, he tried writing to her, but he wondered whether these letters could safely reach her across such a long way at war.

　　他们从Hamilton Field来到Tonopah Range，已经有半个月。如他以前想象的一样，除了几个老兵，他的队友大都是稚气未脱，刚跨出校门的年轻人，与他们相比，霍华德感到自己的确有点老了。噢，是的，到四月他就30岁了，他记得，中学时他曾做过一个计划，在那个时候， 30岁是一个遥不可及的，收获的季节。
　　在Tonopah，他们接受一系列的bombing and gunnery训练，但结果却糟糕透顶，他们甚至不能达到所需要求的一半。看到那些年轻人笨拙地在靶场上飞来飞去，霍华德就想起自己的过去。他恨不能一夜之间把自己所有的技能传授给他们。但他明白任何事情都需要一个过程。
　　因为他的年龄和在飞虎队的经历，他深得队友和中队长查尔斯约翰逊的信任和爱戴。队中的大小事情和训练计划，查尔斯都要征求他的意见。但不久前，他却意外死于一场训练事故。接替他的里查德尼斯是一个来自其它中队的老飞行员，象他的前任一样，对他也尊敬有加。这让他悲哀的心情得到片刻的缓解。
　　It has been a month half since they came to Tonopah Range from Hamilton Field. As he had imagined, apart from a few veterans, most of his teammates were childish young people who just left school. Compared with them, Howard felt he was really a little old. Oh, yes, he would be 30 years old this April. He remembered he had made a plan in high school. At that time, being 30-year-old was a distant harvest season.
　　In Tonopah, they accepted a series of bombing and gunnery training, but the result was terrible, they could not even reach half of the necessary skill requirements. Having seen those young people flying awkwardly in the range, Howard remembered his own past. He wished he could have taught all of his skills to them overnight. But he understood that they had a long way to go.
　　Because of his age and experience in AVG, he won the trust and affection of his teammates and Squadron Leader Charles Johnson. Charles always sought his advice on all the matters in the team and training programs. But not long ago, he died in a training accident. His successor, Richard Nice, a former pilot from other squadrons, also respected him very much like his predecessor, which gave his sad mood a moment of mitigation.

　　他终于完成这封修改多次的信，读了两遍，这才满意把它放进信封里。明天，训练完毕，他会去基地收发邮件处，把它寄出去。他想象着叶梅收到信后的种种感觉，拿起牙刷，开始刷牙。晚饭后，他已洗过澡。所以干完这些，他就上床就寝。不一会，他进入梦乡，在梦中，他梦见他和叶梅漫游在西山上，他们前前后后都是中国人。然后，他又梦见他们站在山顶上，像那些中国情侣对着山歌。
　　第二天一早，他被一阵时断时续地敲门声吵醒，他穿衣下床，中队长里查德站在门外，他把他让进屋里，里查德坐在他桌前的椅子里，看着他洗脸，刷牙。直到他忙碌停当，才开口说。
　　He finally finished writing this letter, which was modified several times, read it twice and put it in the envelope with satisfaction. Tomorrow when the training was completed, he would go to the Sending and Receiving Office of the base to send it. He imagined all her feelings when Ye Mei received the letter, picking up the toothbrush and starting brushing. After dinner, he took a bath. Having finished these things, he went to bed. Soon he fell asleep and dreamed he and Ye Mei were roaming in West Hill, with many Chinese people around them. Then he dreamed that they stood on the top of the hill, singing folk songs in antiphonal style as Chinese lovers.
　　The next morning, he was awakened by some intermittent knocks on the door. After dressing himself, he went out of bed, Squadron Leader Richard standing at the door. He let him into the room. Richard sat on his chair at the desk, watching him washing his face and brushing his teeth. Richard didn’t talk until he finished all.

　　“霍华德上尉，你看到我们昨天训练测试的结果了吗?”他声音带着一种掩饰不住的焦虑。
　　“看到了，队长。”
　　“有什么感想?”
　　“怎么说好呢!我觉得这已经相当不错了，你要知道，十天前，他们甚至不能达到所需要求的一半。”
　　“我知道一些，”里查德的脸色缓和了一些，“但会不会有些更有效的办法使我们进步更快点。”
　　“我也正在考虑这个问题，队长。”
　　“你在中国，从陈纳德那儿没有学到什么有效的办法吗?”
　　“是有一些，但那都是对付日本人的，我怕它们在这里起不了什么作用。”
　　“不妨试一下，你不试的话怎么知道它们不起作用呢?”
　　“说的也是。”
　　“就这样定了，过会儿你就把那些玩意拿出来让我们见识一下。”
　　“Captain Howard, did you see the results of training tests yesterday?” He could not conceal the voice with a kind of anxiety.
　　 “Yes, Captain”.
　　“What do you think of it?”
　　“ It’s hard to say. I think this has been quite good. You know, ten days ago, they could not even reach half of the necessary requirements.”
　　“I know that,” Richard’s face was a little relaxed, “but are there some more effective ways to help us make much quicker progress?”
　　“I’m also considering this issue, Captain.”
　　“When you were in China, did you learn any effective ways from Chennault?”
　　“Yes, I did. But they were used against the Japanese. I'm afraid they are not useful here.”
　　“Let’s try. If we don’t try them, how can we judge whether they work or not? ”
　　“You’re right.”
　　“That’s it. In a while, please show what you learned to help us enlarge our horizon.”

　　伯特沉吟了片刻，把防风帽拿在手中摆弄着。
　　“我倒是有一些办法，可能小伙子会喜欢。”
　　“还买什么关子，快说说它呀!”
　　“其实非常简单，我们不妨把学校进行的那些体育比赛拿过来，在中国时我们就是这样干的。”
　　“你是说我们为何不搞场棒球赛和美式足球赛之类的事情。”
　　“对，是的。”
　　“这倒是一个不错的方法，”里查德拍拍他的面颊，“为什么以前我没有想到这个?”
　　“如果你同意，今天我去购置设备。”
　　“好，就这么办吧。”
　　Bert thought for a moment, playing with the wind hat in his hands.
　　“I have some ways the young men perhaps like.”
　　“Why do you still keep a secret? Be quick to speak them out!”
　　“Actually it's very simple. We might as well adopt the school sports competitions here. We did so in China.”
　　“You mean we can hold baseball and American football matches and so on.”
　　“That’s right.”
　　“That’s a good idea,” Richard patted him on the cheek, “why could I not think of this earlier?”
　　“If you agree, I will go to purchase the equipment today.”
　　“Well, just do it.”

　　那天上午他们照例进行的是投弹训练，霍华德和里查德队长各带一组。早饭后，霍华德把他的一组队员聚在一起，把那些说了无数次，老掉牙的话重复了一遍。无非是动作要快，集中注意力，注意配合之类的话。他知道，这些听起来简单，但在几十秒的时间里，要做到合乎要领是相当不容易的。这取决于一个人与生俱来的素质，也取决于时间的积累。就像你不会相信一个好的飞行员只有几十个小时的飞行经历，你也不会相信一个好的射击手只去过很少几次靶场。他对他的队员充满信心，别看现在他们只是一些乳臭未干的，或是来自俄亥俄，南达科他，堪萨斯，阿肯色的一些闻所未闻的小镇上木抐而腼腆的青年，他相信，经过一段时间的训练，他们会成为出色的飞行员，从前他不是这样走过来的吗？
　　队员走后，霍华德穿上飞行服，拿着飞行帽和护目镜出了房间，他喜欢训练前这段时间，这让他能有机会好好思考下一步的行动计划。参军这么多年，他明白了许多道理，而这就是其中的一项。他在营房前的空地上踱着步，等待着收拾行装的队员。这个时刻，通常是一天最安静的时候，但今天，空气中却隐隐有一种异样的动静，他环顾四周，发现一团黑影在不远处的几棵大树后一闪而过，虽然只有一瞬间，但他仍确定他是谁。
　　That morning they were accepting bomb training as usual, Howard and Captain Richard leading one group of flying cadets respectively. After breakfast, Howard gathered his group of recruits together, and repeated what had been said many times to them. There was nothing but fast operation, concentration and cooperation of this kind. He knew that sounded simple, but it was not very easy to meet the essentials in tens of seconds. Not only does this depend on the inherent qualities of a person, but it also depends on sufficient time, in any event you don’t believe that a good pilot only has dozens of hours of flight experience, or a good shooter has only been to the shooting range a few times. He had confidence in his fellows, although they were now callow shy youths, from some unknown towns such as Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas and Arkansas. But he believed they would become good pilots after a period of training. Didn’t he himself ever have such an experience?
　　After the flying cadets left, Howard put on his flight suit, and walked out of the room, holding a flight cap and goggles. He liked the period before training, during which he had an opportunity to think carefully about the next plan of action. Having been in the army for so many years, he understood a lot of things, one of which was that. He was wandering in front of the barracks, waiting for the cadets to pack their belongings. This moment was usually the quietest time in a day, but today to some extent there was a strange movement in the air. He looked around and saw a shadow flash off behind the trees nearby. Although it was just a moment, he still recognized who he was.

　　他迈开大步，走进一间营房里，大部分队员已准备停当，或坐或站闲聊着，看到他，他们都闭上了嘴巴，神情紧张注视着他，一边在脑海中回忆着是否做了什么不妥之事。霍华德没有进屋,他在台阶下站定，语气平和问一个倚在门边的队员。
　　“斯蒂芬 特纳呢？”
　　“这小子不知道怎么了？这两天一直闷闷不乐的。”
　　“想家了，一天到晚捧着照片独自伤神，我真怕他这样继续下去，会生病的。”一个队员忧心忡忡地说。
　　“你去找找他，我要见他。”他对那个队员说。
　　He walked into a barrack room in big paces, where most of the cadets were ready, sitting or standing, chatting. As soon as they saw him, they all closed their mouths, watching him nervously and recalling whether they had done something wrong. Howard did not come in. He stood still on the steps, and then calmly asked a cadet leaning on the door.
　　“Where is Stephen Turner? ”
　　“Something wrong must have happened to the fellow. He has been unhappy these two days.
　　“He is homesick. He is always feeling sad, holding photos alone all day long. I'm afraid that he will be ill if he always does so. ” One cadet said worriedly.
　　“Go to find him, and I want to see him.” He said to the man.

　　斯蒂芬特纳是位新兵，他是一个内向，言语不多的人。在中队组建后第一次训练时，他是全队最差的队员，但在近期的训练中已慢慢地赶上来了，霍华德喜欢这个年轻人，不但因为他的勤奋，而且因为他身上那种一丝不苟，不达目的誓不罢休的气质，在他身上他能看到伯特的影子。
　　斯蒂芬特纳确实碰到了一件棘手的事，昨晚，他同一位队友下Acey-Deucey棋，发生一些争执，他们约定要用男人的方式来解决这个问题。斯蒂芬特纳不畏惧它，但让他担忧的是，如果这件事被队里和其它军官知晓，将会有什么样的后果？将被军法处置？还是被送回家？他不敢想象自己被赶回家将怎样面对乡邻 “你休假吗？”“你是生病了吗？” 或“Joe怎么没有回来？”诸如此类的询问，以及伴随这些话的那些鄙视，嘲笑的眼神，他知道要是那样他会从此一辈子都抬不起头来。
　　Stephen Turner was a recruit, who was an introverted, quiet person. His performance was the worst in the first training after the training squadron was set up, but in recent trainings he was slowly catching up. Howard liked this young man, not only because of his diligence, but also because of his strict and determined temperament that he never gave up until he reached his goal. He could see Bert in him.
　　Stephen Turner did run into a matter difficult to handle. Last night he played chess with one of his teammates Acey Deucey, during which some dispute occurred, and they agreed to solve this problem in men's way. Stephen Turner was not afraid of it, but what worried him was that if it was known by the team and other officers, no one knew what kind of consequence would come. Would he be punished according to the military law or be sent home? He could not imagine when he was sent home, how he could face the questions such as “Are you on holiday?” “Are you sick? ” or “Why Joe did not come back?” from his neighbors and disdains and sneers in their eyes. If so, he knew he would be in loss of his face for the rest of his life.

　　“特纳，今天的训练由你来领飞。”
　　“你是说我嘛，上尉？”特纳好像还没有从睡梦中苏醒，一脸茫然地问。
　　“是的。”
　　“对不起，长官，刚才我没有听清楚你的话。”
　　“我说今天的训练由你领飞。”
　　“喔，这个—－” 特纳求救似的望着霍华德，似乎希望他能撤销这个命令，霍华德回视着他。
　　“你吞吞吐吐，把你的话说完整了。”
　　“我能行吗？长官。”
　　“没问题，请你相信我的眼睛。”
　　“Turner, today you are the leading pilot in the training.”
　　“You mean it is me, Captain?” Turner seemed not to have wakened from a sleep, and asked with a bewildered look on his face.
　　“Yes.”
　　“I'm sorry, sir, but I didn’t follow what you said just now.”
　　“I said today you are in the leading position in the training.”
　　“Oh, this –” Turner looked at Howard, as if he turned to him for help and  hoped that he could undo this command, while Howard was looking back at him.
　　“Not to hesitate. Please complete your words.”
　　“Am I good enough, Sir?”
　　“No problem, trust me, please.”

　　那天的训练进行的并不十分成功。似乎又回到几天前的起点。他们投了三次，几乎每次都远离目标。后来，他们又在更高的高度上投了两次，成绩也相当糟糕。里查德并没有怪罪，反倒在总结会把特纳赞扬了一番，希望他能再接再厉。但队友却不那么仁慈，他们不停地取笑他，并要为他带的好头干一杯，虽然这里面包含更多调侃的意味，但仍让特纳感觉无地自容。
　　斯蒂芬特纳闷闷不乐，这是他有生以来很少在众人面前露脸的时候之一，因为一些原因，他不是一个十分自信的人，尤其建队之初自己糟糕的表现更加强他这种感觉，他对自己在军队的前途持悲观态度，只是骨子里不认输的念头让他不甘落后。今天的表现他大喜所望，他看到自己身上他以前从没发现的另一面，自信心也随之提高了不少。训练完后，他先冲了个浴，仍无法平复心中的激动，一头漂亮的金发还在滴落着水珠，就身不由己地去了霍华德的房间。
　　The training in that day was not very successful. It seemed to have been back to the starting point a few days ago. They tried three times, but the bombs were always far away from the target. Later, they tried twice in a higher altitude, and the performance was also quite bad. But Richard did not blame him. On the contrary, he praised him at the summary meeting and encouraged him to redouble his efforts. But his teammates were not merciful to him, they constantly made fun of him, and drank a toast to his leading. Although this was just a joke on him, it still allowed Turner to feel ashamed.
　　Stephen Turner was depressed. He rarely ever showed his face in front of others. For some reasons, he was not a very confident person. In particular, his worst performance at the beginning had further strengthened this feeling. He was pessimistic about his own future in the military, but the determination in his deep mind allowed him not to give up and fall behind. He was overjoyed by his performance today and he saw his strength in some aspect he had never found before, which helped him improve self-confidence a lot. After the training, he first took a shower, and was still unable to hold the excitement in his heart. Water droplets still dripping from his beautiful blond hair, he went to Howard's room involuntarily.

　　在门前，霍华德正俯身在一辆吉普车上，手里提着一个汽油桶，为油箱注油。他似乎没有看见特纳。他灌满油，关上油箱盖，然后上了车，坐到驾驶员身旁。
　　“上尉，”
　　“想和我们一起去吗？”
　　特纳没有多想，他上车，坐到后排，那个开车的飞行员发动引擎，车子划了一个弧，像短跑运动员冲了出去。
　　“我们要到哪儿去？上尉先生。”
　　“愿意打棒球吗？”霍华德回答道，没有回头。
　　“愿意。”特纳扬了扬他的右臂，一个多月前，它还像一棵风中的灯心草一般细弱，但现在正茁壮成长，一些如同暗礁似的肌肉块开始慢慢地浮现在皮肤下面。
　　“这很好，我们要去基地消费合作社，买些球棒和球帽，以后训练完，可以玩玩棒球。” 开车的飞行员插嘴说。
　　“你打什么位置?” 霍华德问特纳。

　　In front of the door, Howard leaned on a jeep, and oiled its tank, holding a gasoline can. He did not seem to see Turner. He filled the tank with oil, turned off the tank cap, and then got on the jeep and sat at the side of the driver.
　　“Captain,”
　　“Would you like to go with us?”
　　Turner did not think much about it. He got on the jeep and sat down in the rear. The driver, also a pilot, started the engine. The car made an arc, and rushed out like a sprinter.
　　“Where will we go, Captain?”
　　“Are you willing to play baseball? ”Howard replied, without turning back.
　　“Yes.” Turner raised his right arm, which was thin and delicate like a rush in the wind a month ago. But now, some reef-like muscle masses slowly began to emerge beneath the skin.
　　“That’s great. We're going to the consumer cooperation in the base to buy some bats and ball caps. Then, after the training finished, we can play baseball.” The pilot who was driving the car broke in.
　　“What position do you play?” Howard asked Turner.

　　特纳脸红了。像许多孩子一样，在很小的时候，他就是一个棒球迷，不知花费多少下午在自家后院挥棒练习，但因为长得瘦弱，从小学到中学，从没有得到任何教练的青睐，所以，自始至终都是观众席上忠实的一分子。在社区里，他与小伙伴闲暇时经常比赛，但那纯粹是娱乐，在这种所谓的比赛中，他差不多打过所有的位置，从投手到游击手，但要说他擅长什么位置，他还真是无法回答。
　　到了邮政所，霍华德让司机停下车，几天前，他同伯特通话时，已详细询问了他的通讯地址，他在信封上把地址写好，信一共两封，一封是寄给叶梅，一封是寄给伯特。他告诉伯特，他托他买的相机已买好了，过几天给他寄过去。但他感到有点多此一举，因为今晚在电话中他就会告诉他这件事。
　　Turner blushed. Like many children, he was a baseball fan when he was very young. He spent countless afternoons practicing playing baseball in his backyard, but because he was thin and weak, he did not find favor in any coach's eyes from primary to secondary school. He had no choice but to be a loyal spectator on the stand from start to finish. In the community, he often played the games with other children in his spare time, but that was pure entertainment. In this so-called contest, he played almost all the positions from pitcher to shortstop, yet it was difficult to answer which position he was good at.
　　When they reached the post office, Howard asked the driver to pull over. A few days ago, he asked Bert's correspondence address in detail while talking with him on the phone. He addressed two envelopes, one sent to Ye Mei, and the other to Bert. In the letter he told Bert that he had bought the camera he asked him to buy, and would send it to him in a few days. But he felt his words were a bit superfluous, because he would tell him about it on the phone tonight.

　　“我也想给妈妈写信，但是打过电话后，觉得没有什么话可说了。” 当霍华德重新坐到车里，特纳说。
　　“我也有同感。”霍华德心不在焉地回答道。一边想着叶梅，他犹豫着是否告诉她这件事，但最后还是决定给她一个惊喜。
　　“长官，你是给家里去信吗？”
　　“喔，你说什么?”过了好一会儿，他才回过神来。
　　“我问你是给家里去信? 长官。”
　　“不是，是一个在中国的朋友。”
　　“特纳，你与弗兰克奥康纳……”开车的飞行员插嘴道，特纳瞪了他一眼，那人咧嘴笑笑，不再吭声了。特纳偷窥了霍华德一眼，看见他正望着窗外，提着的心这才放下来。
　　“I also wanted to write a letter to my mother, but after a phone call to her, I feel there's nothing more to say.” When Howard re-sat in the car, Turner said.
　　“I feel the same, too.” Howard replied absently. While thinking of Ye Mei, he hesitated whether he would tell her about it, but finally he decided to give her a surprise.
　　“Sir, did you send a letter home?”
　　“Oh, what did you say?” It took him quite a while before he recovered.
　　“I asked you whether you sent the letter home, sir.”
　　“No, it's a Chinese friend of mine.”
　　“Turner, you and Frank O'Connor...” the driver interrupted. Turner glared at him, the guy grinned and then shut up. Turner peeped at Howard, seeing him looking out of the window, which made him feel a little relaxed.

　　基地消费合作社里相当热闹，不少队员聚集在里面，喝着姜汁啤酒，他们以这种方式，来打发艰苦训练的疲劳，弗兰克奥康纳和355中队两名队员俯身在柜台上，高声说笑着，他看见霍华德和特纳，想抽身离开，但已经来不及了，只得硬着头皮向他们打招呼。
　　“上尉，来喝一杯?”他举着酒杯，冲霍华德喊着，尽量躲避着特纳的眼睛。
　　“你小子溜得真快，为什么不叫我们一声。”
　　“我以为你们累坏了，睡觉去了，就没有打搅，”他用空着的手冲服务员挥舞，”喂，来一杯啤酒。”
　　“不了，”霍华德说，“我们一会儿就走。”
　　“那你们来干什么？长官。”奥康纳狐疑地问。
　　“我们想买一些棒球，等训练后，玩一玩，我现在手凉的都能冻死一只骆驼。”
　　“只有五只球棒了，上尉。”那个服务员正走过来，插话道。
　　“那可不行，我们要组织一只球队，起码需要九只球棒。”
　　“过会儿我去打电话，让他们尽快送一些来，那样的话，你们明天就可以好好玩一玩了。”
　　The consumer cooperation was quite lively, with many soldier trainees gathering inside, drinking ginger beer. Only in this way could they release the fatigue of hard training. Frank O'Connor, together with two teammates from Squadron 355, was leaning on the counter, talking and laughing loudly. He wanted to leave without being noticed when he saw Howard and Turner, but it was too late, he had no choice but to say hello to them.
　　“Captain, have a drink?” He shouted to Howard, holding his beer mug and avoiding Turner’s eyes as much as possible.
　　“You boy slipped quickly. Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
　　“I thought you were exhausted and went to sleep, so I didn’t disturb you.” Waving to the waiter with his empty hand, he said, “Hey, a glass of beer.”
　　“No,” Howard said, “We are leaving in a while.”
　　“Why do you come here, Sir?” O'Connor asked suspiciously.
　　“We want to buy some baseballs and play them after training. Now my hand is cold enough to freeze a camel.”
　　“Only five bats left, Captain.” The waiter came over and broke in.
　　“That’s not enough. We want to organize a team, and need at least nine bats.”
　　“I'll call them later to send some here as soon as possible. Then, you can have a great time tomorrow. ”
　　

　　“为什么不是现在呢？”霍华德说。
　　“即使我现在去打电话，你们今天也甭想玩成。”
　　“就休息一天吧！明天开始也不晚，再说了，你们想丢下我，让我独自以酒为伴吗？”奥康纳晃着酒杯说。
他们找了一张桌子，四个人围着它坐下。355中队那两名队员找了个托辞，走到一边去了，服务员带来三瓶啤酒和三个杯子，他们斟满酒杯，他们做这些时，奥康纳一直悲戚盯着桌面。
　　他这样要到什么时候呐! 霍华德在心里对自己说。奥康纳和从前的中队长查尔斯约翰逊都是芝加哥人，虽然入伍前他们并不相识，但自中队成立后，他们就成为了好朋友。俩人以‘芝加哥人’的名字，组织了一支乐队，为队员表演布鲁斯音乐。但在约翰逊试飞一架新型P-39飞机不幸遇难后，奥康纳似乎像变了一个人似的，一天昏昏沉沉的，脾气也变得异常暴躁和敏感。
　　“Why not now?” Howard said.
　　“Even if I call them now, you can never expect to play today.”
　　“Take a day off ! It is not late to start tomorrow. What’s more, do you want to leave me alone companied by beer?” O'Connor said, shaking his glass.
　　They found a vacant table, around which sat they four. The two soldier trainees from Squadron 355 went to another corner on some pretext or other. The waiter brought them three bottles of beer and three glasses, and filled them with beer. While they were doing these, O'Connor was staring at the desktop in grief.
　　How long he will be like that! Howard said to himself. O'Connor and former squadron leader Charles Johnson are both from Chicago. Although they had not known each other before they joined the army, they have been good friends since the squadron was established. They two organized a band named after ‘Chicago’, and performed for blues soldier trainees. But when Johnson was taking a flight test on a new P-39 aircraft, he lost his life. Since then, O'Connor seemed to have changed into a very irritable and sensitive person, going through the day with his mind in longdon fog. 

　　“这啤酒太淡了，喝起来真不痛快。”霍华德一仰脖，咕嘟喝了半杯，不解气地说。
　　“这就是我很少沾啤酒的原因。”那个开车的飞行员说。
　　“你不喝酒吗?”奥康纳粗声粗气地问道。
　　“喝呀，但味道要浓一些。象威士忌和伏特加之类的。啤酒对我而言，就好似水一样。”
　　“如果酒和人相比，啤酒就好似女人一样温柔，而威士忌就好似男人一样强烈。”特纳说，这是他读过的一首诗中的一句，但他早已忘记在哪里读过它和那首诗的名字了。
　　奥康纳高高举起酒杯。“为特纳第一次领飞干杯，也为诗人和酒干杯。”
　　特纳脸变得绯红，端着酒杯，不知如何是好，在霍华德鼓励的目光注视下，他才勉强把酒喝下。
　　“不要取笑我了。”
　　“This beer is too light for me to drink pleasantly.”Howard lifted his head, drank half a glass of beer with a gurgle and said unsatisfied.
　　“That's why I seldom drink beer.” The pilot who drove the car said.
　　“ Do you not like to drink?” O'Connor asked gruffly
　　“Yes, I do. But the taste must be a bit strong, like whiskey and vodka. For me, drinking beer is drinking water.”
　　“If we compare beer with people, beer is just as gentle as women while whiskey is as strong as men.” Turner said, the sentence was from a poem he had read ,but he had already forgotten where he read the poem and its name.
　　O'Connor lifted up his glass. “Let’s drink to Turner’s first leading flight, to the poet and the beer.”
　　Turner's face turned crimson, but he didn’t know what to do with holding the glass in his hand. Under the encouraging sight of Howard, he drank the beer unwillingly.
　　“Don’t make fun of me.”

　　“这可是真心话，”霍华德正色地说，“中国有句谚语，万事开头难。我当年领飞地时候，开始都飞反了方向，想想你的表现，可比我强多了。”
　　特纳似懂非懂的点点头，闭上了嘴巴。
　　“喂，奥康纳，你还要这样继续下去，一点也不考虑我们和中队的感受吗？”霍华德转过头，好似无意地问道。
　　“我知道这样不好，但我总是忘不了。”奥康纳带着哭腔说，又斟满了他的酒杯。
　　“我相信他不希望你这样，”他附在奥康纳耳边轻声地说，“别忘了，我也是他的好朋友。”
　　“别说了，上尉，求求你，别说了。”
　　“我不想说，可你这样子—－像个男人，站起来吧！”
　　“上尉，我们该走了，”那个开车的飞行员站起身，“尼斯队长还在等着我们，我的肚子也咕咕叫了。”
　　“你不同我们一起走?” 霍华德问奥康纳，他又像开始那样悲戚地盯着桌面，仿佛那上面有一件他心仪已久的东西。
　　“你们先走吧! 上尉，可别忘了给我买顶棒球帽，你将来会知道，我是一个多么出色的内场手。”
　　“好的。”
　　他们坐进车里，透过消费合作社敞开的门，霍华德看见奥康纳趴在桌上，好像睡着了一样。
　　“It is true,” Howard said seriously, “a Chinese proverb said it is the first step that costs troublesome. When I was the leader of flight some years ago, at the beginning I made a mistake that I flew in the opposite direction. Compared to my performance, yours is much better.”
　　Turner nodded as if he didn't fully understand it, but he closed his mouth.
　　“Hey, O'Connor, you will continue to do like this, and never consider the feelings of us and the squadron?” Howard turned back his head and asked unwittingly.
　　“I know this is not good, but I can’t forget.” O'Connor said in an almost tearful voice, filling up his glass again.
　　“I believe he did not want you to be like that,” he approached to O'Connor’s ears and said softly, “Don't forget that I'm his close friend too.”
　　“Don't say it any more, Captain. I beg you to stop.”
　　“I do not want to say, but you shouldn’t be like that - stand up, like a man!”
　　“Captain, we'd better be off,” the driver stood up, “Captain Neece was still waiting for us. Besides, my stomach is growling.”
　　“Don’t you go with us?” Howard asked O'Connor, who was staring at the desktop in grief again as if there was something on it he had been longing for.
　　“You go first! Captain, don’t forget to buy me a baseball cap. You will know how good a infielder I am.”
　　“Ok.”
　　They got into the car. Through the open door of the consumer cooperation, Howard saw O'Connor laying his head on the table, as if he was asleep.

　　霍华德没有想到，这个连他自己都认为毫无新意地建议，却收到了意想不到的奇效。每天，一训练完，队员就急不可待地跑向球场，而不再是营房和洗澡间，去进行那些毫无意义的扑克游戏和忙着除掉身上汗水和尘土，甚至比发放津贴还要守时，还要热情高涨。开始，他还为能否组成一支球队而担忧，但现在报名的人数已超出两支球队，并且还有人跃跃欲试，他不得不搞一个测试来把关，可这样一来，那些运动天赋不高，但又渴望打球的人就被挡在门外，这不是他的初衷，所以他索性把中队所有有意愿锻炼的人组织起来，像进行投弹和射击训练那样。
　　起初霍华德还担心，这种体育活动会不会影响到军队训练。但这种担心很快就烟消云散了，这些年轻人正值人生黄金时期，身上好象蕴藏着无穷无尽的能量，似乎从不感到劳累。并且即使有些疲劳，经过一晚上的休息，第二天又会生龙活虎出现在操场上，好像什么事也没有发生过一样。也正如他事先预料到的，它们对部队的训练和建设是大有裨益的，通过锻炼，队员身体更加强壮，精神饱满，这些都一览无余地体现在军队实战训练中，到二月中旬，他们已能达到大队制订的阶段训练要求了，而这是他们先前做梦都想不到的事情。
　　Howard had thought that his suggestion was nothing new, but the result was quite good beyond his imagination. Every day, a training finished, the trainees anxiously ran toward the stadium instead of the barracks to play meaningless poker games or bathrooms to wash away sweat and dust. They were even more punctual and enthusiastic than going to collect allowance. At the very beginning, he was worried whether there would be enough trainees to sign up to form a team, but now the number of applications exceeded two teams, and some more tried to sign up. He had to engage in a test to check them, so that those who were not very athletic but desired to play were blocked out, which was not his original intention, so he simply organized all the trainees in the squadron that were willing to exercise, just like organizing bomb and shooting training.
　　At first, Howard also feared that such sports activities would influence military training, but this concern quickly evaporated. These young men were in the golden period of life and they never felt tired as if their bodies contain boundless energy. And even if they felt a little tired, after an overnight rest, they would perform with furious energy on the playground the next day, as if nothing had happened. As he anticipated, it was of great benefit to the training and construction of troops. Through exercises their bodies became stronger, and they were full of spirit and energy, which reflected obviously in competitive training. Until mid-February, they had been able to reach the stage training requirements of the battalion, which they had previously never dreamed of.

　　从这一点上，霍华德意识到自己的确有些老了，有好几次，第二天早晨，他从睡梦中醒来，身上仍感到阵阵酸痛。这样的情形即使上年在飞虎队时，也从来没有发生过。而现在，它却时不时的光临，仿佛在嘲笑他以前制订的那些未兑现的壮志似的。但他不甘心就这样轻易就范，用更凶猛的投球，更频繁的跑动，更持久的比赛回应它的挑衅，终于有一次，在滑垒时，由于用力过猛，他扭伤了左臂，第二天它肿胀得像一节木桩，不但以后几天再也不能够打球，连训练也不得不暂停一段时间。而这个时候，Neece队长又被调到大队去工作了，中队暂由他代理，他不得不每天吊着手臂，站在队列前，向队员们布置任务，然后目视他们飞上天空，从头顶上呼啸而过，心里说不出多么郁闷和焦急，有时不免生出对自己不满和怀疑的念头。
　　他受伤后的第三天，又有两架新型P-39飞机分配到队中，以前每次这样的事情出现，都要由队里几名经验丰富的老队员驾机试飞一下，但现在他却遇到一个不小的难题。因为尼斯队长已离开中队，而他手臂有伤，也无法担当重任。为此他大伤脑筋，经过再三权衡，他把一架飞机交给一位稳重的老队员，但另一架飞机，虽多名队员竞相请示，他仍迟迟难以决定，最后，他还是把它交给了近来进步明显的特纳。为此，他特意把他叫到队部，嘱咐了一些他应该注意的事项，为了增强他的信心，又说了一些鼓励的话。
　　From that point, Howard realized that he was really senior in some way. On several occasions, when he woke up the next morning, he still felt the bursts of pain. Such thing never happened when he was in AVG last year. Now, it occurred from time to time as if it was laughing at his unfulfilled ambitions he had stirred. He was not willing to submit so easily, so he responded to the provocation with more ferocious pitches, more frequent running and more durable games. As a result, he sprained his left arm in the slide base due to excessive force. The next day it swelled like a stake. Not only could he no longer play baseball during the next few days, but the training also had to be suspended for some time. At this period of time, Captain Neece was transferred to work in the brigade, so he was in charge of the squadron temporarily. Every day with his left arm hanged, he had to stand in front of the queue and assigned tasks to the trainees, and then watched them fly roaring to the sky over his head. He could not tell how depressed and anxious he was, sometimes the ideas of dissatisfaction and suspicion of himself flashed through his mind.
　　On the third day after he was injured, another two new P-39 aircrafts were assigned to their squadron. In the past, every flying test of these aircrafts would be carried out by several veteran pilots, but now he encountered a big problem. Captain Neece had left the squadron, and his arm was injured, so he was unbearable to assume the heavy responsibility. He puzzled his brains about it, but after weighing repeatedly, he decided to let a steady veteran pilot fly one of the two aircrafts, but he had much difficulty in making a decision on who would fly the other, although a number of trainees applied for this task. Finally, he gave the task to Turner, who made significant progress recently. For this, he deliberately called him to the squadron office, told him the things he should pay attention to, and said some heartening words to enhance his confidence.

　　“这不是什么大不了的事，你只把它当做一次平常的训练就行了。”
　　“我明白，上尉。”
　　“听说你们昨天与353中队打得很出色。”因为去医院治疗，霍华德错过了那场比赛。
　　“是的，上尉。”特纳兴奋地说，”我们终于战胜他们，你不在现场，很难想到奥康纳是多么出色，我真为有这样的队友感到自豪。”
　　“看来他已走出阴影。”
　　“我想是这样，但它会在他心灵结一个疮疤，可能永远也不会痊愈。”
　　“很好。”他拍着他的肩膀，好像在称赞比赛，又好像对他的话表示赞同。
　　特纳走后，大约十分钟，又有人敲门。霍华德俯身在桌上，正向叶梅诉说衷肠，他慌忙把笔记本塞进摞在桌边那一堆书籍里，一边回应着。一股寒风随着来人进入房间，冻得他直打哆嗦，他转过身，正好与奥康纳那双褐色的眼睛碰到一起。
　　“It's not a big deal, and you just consider it as a normal training.”
　　“Understand, Captain.”
　　“I heard you played very well against Squadron 353 yesterday.”Howard missed the game because he went to the hospital to receive treatment.
　　“Yes, Captain,” Turner said excitedly, “We have finally beaten them. It is difficult to imagine how excellent O'Connor was, but you were not on the scene. I am really proud of such a wonderful teammate.”
　　“It seems that he has walked out of the shadow over heart.”
　　“I think so, but it will leave a scar in his heart and may never heal.”
　　“Very good,” he patted his shoulder, as if he was in praise of the game, or as if he agreed with him.
　　About ten minutes later after Turner left, someone knocked on the door. Howard was leaning over the table, writing down his love for Ye Mei. He hurriedly inserted his notebook into a pile of books on the table corner while he was responding. Together with the comer, into the room came a surge of cold wind, which resulted in his trembling. He turned around, only to meet with a pair of brown eyes of O'Connor.

　　“这个鬼天气，简直能把人的骨头冻碎。如果不是在部队，我永远也不会来这个鬼地方。”奥康纳说，一边不停地向手上哈着气。
　　“这确实不是一个让人留恋的去处。”
　　“上尉，好些了吗?”
　　“还有些肿，但已不象几天前那样疼痛，医生说再休息一星期就可以上机了。”
　　霍华德受伤后，奥康纳经常来看望他，帮他干一些力所能及的事，对此，霍华德十分感激，俩人又海阔天空的谈了一会，霍华德很快明白他此行的目的，但他没有把它说穿。看看时间已晚，奥康纳终于按捺不住了。
　　“上尉，我听特纳说，你已经批准让他试飞那架飞机。”他尽量摆出一副闲谈的架势，若无其事的问道。
　　“是的。”
　　“为什么？”奥康纳几乎要喊起来，他不能在装下去了，露出了他的真面目。
　　“This bad weather simply can frozen bones into pieces. If I were not in the army, I would never come to this terrible place.” O'Connor said, while opening mouth to blow upon his hands.
　　“It's really not a stomping ground.”
　　“Captain, are you feeling any better?”
　　“Still swells, but not as painful as a few days ago. The doctor said I could sit in the cockpit after a week’s rest.”
　　After Howard was injured, O'Connor often came to visit him and help him do some things he could do, for which Howard was very grateful. The two people talked at random for a while, and Howard quickly understood O'Connor's purpose, but he did not speak it bluntly. Having noticed it was getting late, O'Connor was unable to contain any longer.
　　“Captain, Turner told me that you had approved his test flight.” He tried to speak informally and asked in nonchalant way.
　　“Yes.”
　　“Why?” O'Connor almost cried, so he could not pretend continuously, revealing his true intention.

　　霍华德想过这件事，其实，他一直迟迟未做决定，就是无法在他和特纳中间作出选择，他考虑一个晚上，最后才敲定了特纳，他觉得奥康纳太情绪化，怕他一旦到了天上，想起约翰逊，会生出一些意外，他知道这样事情发生的可能性微乎其微，但即使是万分之一，在现在这个训练阶段，他也不愿冒这样的险。
　　“喔，奥康纳，我们了解你的能力，这样的事，就让年轻人来做吧!现在不是我们刚来这儿的时候，他们已长大了。”他安慰说。
　　“上尉，我怎么能不急，”奥康纳声音小了许多，甚至可说和颜悦色，“你们做这个决定时，一定考虑很多。”
　　“是的。我只把它看做一堂训练课，你知道，这不会有什么军功章――”他意识自己说多了，急忙闭上了嘴巴。
　　Howard thought about it. In fact, the reason why he delayed making the decision was that it was difficult for him to make a choice between him and Turner. He had considered that for a whole night before he chose Turner. He felt that O'Connor was too emotional, and feared that once he was flying in the sky, his recalling of Johnson might result in an accident. He knew it was extremely unlikely that such a thing would happen, but in case it happened during the training stage, he would stick his chin out. He had a low appetite for risk.
　　“Oh, O'Connor, we know about your ability. Let young men do it. Now it is not the time when we first got here. They have grown up,” he consoled him.
　　“Captain, it makes me impatient to hear it,” O'Connor’s voice became much lower, and even spoke in amiable manners, “When you made this decision, you must have considered many factors.”
　　“Yes, I only look it as a training class. You know, there will be not any medals…”he realized he had talked too much, and quickly closed his mouth.

　　“上尉，我可不是为了什么军功章。”
　　“我明白。”
　　“你说的对，上尉，他们太年轻了。”奥康纳说。
　　“是呀!十八岁，我那个年纪还得向妈妈要钱买球鞋和零用钱，以便和女朋友去电影院消遣哩。”霍华德附和道。
　　“多么英俊的小伙，还没有和一个姑娘约会，吻一下她们粉嘟嘟的脸蛋呐!”
　　“你战前在芝加哥警察局干过吗?”
　　“没有，”奥康纳随口答道，但很快就明白霍华德的意思了，他冲他故作神秘的笑笑，好象真有那么回事似的。
　　“想想吧! 上尉，现在纠正还不晚，多么英俊的小伙呀！我可不想让他像约翰逊队长――。”
　　“没有人这么想。”
　　“那么就由我来试飞吧！我保证会干得像他妈的大英博物馆艺术品那样漂亮。”
　　“中尉，我知道你的心意。但我不能这样。你知道，他们必须得靠自己一步步成长。”
　　“噢，这么说――上尉，不能更改了？”过了一会儿，奥康纳才叹了口气。
　　“是的。”
　　“那么晚安，上尉。”他疲惫地说。
　　“晚安。”
　　“Captain, I'm not for so-called medals.”
　　“I understand.”
　　“What you said is right, Captain. They are too young.” O'Connor said.
　　“Yes! When I was 18, I had to ask my mother for money to buy shoes, and serve as pocket money, so that I could go to the cinema for entertainment with my girlfriend. "Howard echoed.
　　“What a handsome guy, he has not dated with a girl or kissed their white and delicate faces!”
　　“Did you work in the Chicago Police Station before the war?”
　　“No,” O'Connor replied casually, but quickly realized what Howard said. He gave him a mysterious smile, as if it is real.
　　“Think about it! Captain, it’s not too late to correct it now. What a handsome guy! I do not want him to go the way of Johnson, captain…”
　　“No one thinks so.”
　　“Then let me make the test flight, and I promise I will fly as beautiful as an artworks in the British Museum.”
　　“Lieutenant, I know your heart, but I cannot. You know, they must rely on themselves to grow up step by step.”
　　“Oh, if so- Captain, can that not be changed?” O'Connor sighed after a while.
　　“Yes.”
　　“Then good night, captain.” He said wearily.
　　“Good night.”

　　奥康纳戴上飞行帽，如同来时那样向手心哈口气，霍华德跟在他身后，把他送出屋去。外面已是一片银白色世界，鹅毛般的大雪仍不紧不慢地下着，他踏在雪地上，留下两排不规则地脚印，弯弯曲曲的伸向前方。霍华德知道他说的每一句话都是发自内心的，但他只能这样办。做为决策者他不能感情用事，作出有悖常理的决定。
　　差不多一个星期后，他们接到命令，部队将离开Nevada，接受下一阶段的训练。新的地方是Santa Rosa，California。
　　O'Connor put on his flight cap, breathing out to his palms as he did while coming. Howard walked behind him, and showed him out of the room. Outside was a silver-white world, and it was snowing heavily but unhurriedly. O'Connor walked in the snow, leaving behind two rows of irregular footprints extending squiggly to ahead. Howard knew that every word he said was from his heart, but he could only do so. As a decision-maker, he could not be emotional and made a perverse decision.
　　Almost one week later, they received order that the troops would leave Nevada for the next phase of training. The new destination was Santa Rosa, California.