Wonderful storytelling, Seb! You are very good at capturing the mood and inner thoughts of von Toombs, and conveying his youthful exuberance for the pure joy and beauty of flying. How long will it take for the ugly realities of war to rob poor Toombs of his innocence? Or, will he be one of the lucky few who escape such a fate?

“With Major Lawrence, mercy is a passion. With me it is merely good manners. You may judge which motive is the more reliable.”