They rested in silence. Gibbs, he was thinking of the operation, the boys wondering if they could go for something to eat.
"Gunny? Any chance we can get something to eat? My stomach thinks its throats been cut." Tony asked.
"Sure, just keep drinking the water." Gibbs replied.
"You coming?" Tim asked.
As Gibbs began to smile, he could not resist saying, "Nope, just breathing heavy, but then I've been drinking the water." as he slung himself out the bunk to face the two boys, "Ok an army may march on its stomach, but take it easy, we fly tonight. I don't need sick bags. I take it you're fine with 'shutes McGee?"
"Yes." Tim replied, "It's just ships."
"DiNozzo?"
"Sure thing Boss enjoyed the experience, the feeling of the air through the hair, well what hair I have and the…."
"Got the picture Corporal, right lets go and eat." Gibbs finished, as he started to walk to the door.
-oOo-
They went to the NAAFi to see what was on offer.
"Hey Gunny, you're not allowed in here this is for…." a Private shouted.
"Leave it Chalky….them guys are the elite Marine Corps that are going out tonight. Let them have their last meal together." His mate replied.
"They know something I don't?" Tony asked.
"Nope…well I ain't gonna die yet…but "now looking at the meal," Maybe I am." Gibbs answered.
The meal was a bit of a mess, but they ate anyway, as the cook had said, "There is a war on you know, what you expecting Caviar? No wait 'til you get to France, plenty there."
They finished and walked back in silence. Gibbs opened the door to find that supplies had been, well they had their kit it just needed checked and packed into their kitbags.
"How long we going for, 'cos I don't think this will last a couple of days, they expecting us to die?" Tony asked.
"Nope, but I think there will be a drop zone with gear," Gibbs replied.
They checked their gear. Tim looked at a couple of note-books.
"You to meet David?" Gibbs asked.
"I'm not sure, but probably. It really depends on what we find." Tim replied.
-oOo-
At 22.30hrs a female British Lance Corporal arrived at the hut, a jeep waiting for them. She didn't talk, and the boys had their own thoughts so they drove in silence to the airfield. She drove over to two aircraft which were there. Gibbs saw Kort and Colonel Vance in the shadows. The sky was overcast. The glider, a Waco CG-4 or Hadrian as it was called by the Brits, had its doors open.
"Good to see you Gibbs the supplies are loaded." the supply officer began to say. "We will be flying over the Channel Islands, as they are under enemy control, we will be gliding, the Gods are looking down on you no moonlight."
"Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs," Vance started to say, "I wish you well….."
"Thank you Sir….and Kort…see you after the war." Gibbs smiled as he now got into the glider and strapped himself in.
The flight uneventful, bar for the hum of the drag aircraft. The Captain came over to say that they would be dropping the line, and there may be a slight uplift, so be prepared. There was and then silence. Soon the crew informed Gibbs that the drop site was imminent, and to be ready, "We drop you all quickly after the crates, because we do not want the crates spread over a large area. They have a beacon which your Private will track."
"How you guys getting home?" Gibbs asked concerned.
"Way we came. Back over the Channel Isles and then, this glider has been adapted with a mini booster engine. It can be switched on once we are nearer Blighty. So Gunny, see you after the war. The first pints' on me." the crew man finished saying.
"Why would someone want a pint over them?" DiNozzo asked as Gibbs pushed him out the craft.
