It was almost midnight, when the plane took off Gotham military airbase, to Germany.
Mr. Walker, who was co-pilot on the flight, had taken Jonathan to the airbase tower to go through all formalities with him. As Mrs. Crane has told him, Jonathan would be on board as an official crew member of the W.A.S. Mr. Walker had handed him a flying suit and a pair of combat boots.
„This is your official clothing.", he´d said „We still are at war."
Then he had given him a W.A.S. identification card and a piece of paper, some sort of special permit.
„You should have these things with you all the time. And don´t lose them.", Mr. Walker had admonished Jonathan. „And you should take off your glasses, too. You look too boyish to be going to war."
„Yes, sir.", Jonathan had whispered and put the glasses safely into his sea-bag.
Mr. Walker looked over Jonathan and touched him lightly on the shoulder.
„You gonna make it.", he´d said, trying to encourage Jonathan.
He had been in the war zone numerous times and he knew the misery, the sorrow and the chaos. Mr. Walker could imagine, how uncomfortable Jonathan must feel.
Jonathan had changed his clothes quickly and walked over with Mr. Walker to a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a big aircraft made for transportation. As an official crew member of W.A.S., Jonthan had helped to load up the plane with assorted packages and sacks. Besides of Mr. Walker and the pilot, the crew consisted of four men who had loaded up the aircraft very quickly. Jonathan had felt like being out of place, but the men had encouraged him and praised him for his good work. They even joked around with him as if he was going to be with the crew for a long time.
Jonathan had been suprised and confused. So did he actually have to go to war first to be worthy of notice? Or did they know why he was here and they had compassion for him?
It took two more hours, before the aircraft was restocked and ready for take off. Jonathan felt uneasy when the four huge propellers of the Hercules started to turn and the plane moved. The deep drone of the motors was defeating and the aircraft´s vibration pierced Jonathan´s body. The crew was sitting relaxed on their seats, even joking around! Jonathan swallowed. He could feel himself starting to sweat. He had been on a passenger plane once in his life, but this here was – hell!
„Take off and landing are always the worst!", Jack, one of the men, shouted at him. He seemed to realize, how bad Jonathan felt. „Just close your eyes and take a deep breath, boy!"
Jonathan did.
The
drone got louder and the aircraft vibrated heavily when it reached
its final position and was now accelerating for take off. Jonathan
forced himself to breath deeply and to keep his eyes closed the
entire time during take off. He never heard a loud drone, like this,
before in his life and he had the feeling, his eardrums would rupture
any moment.
After a few minutes, the plane stopped vibrating.
Jonathan could hear a clicking noise - it was the seat-belts as crew
members unbuckled.
„Hey, boy. It´s all over. Just relax.", Jack said. Jonathan opened his eyes.
„Thank you.", he whispered.
He watched the crew members leaving their saets. The started to smoke and to talk to each other. Jonathan remained seated. He didn´t know what to do. He opened his sea-bag and pulled out the photos, he had taken from home. He placed them in his hand, going through them. He and Alexandra looked so happy together, although they hadn´t been a couple at this time.
Jonathan looked at each photo. He remembered where and how the photos had been taken and he smiled lightly. Alexandra and Jonathan looked serious, in others, they were fooling around in front of the camera. Jonathan looked at the next photo. It was a close-up picture of Alexandra. Jonathan looked at it for a very long time and moved his fingers over the photo, as if he was caressing Alexandra.
„Alex.", Jonathan whispered. „I am coming to you. Hold on, I´ll be with you soon."
Jonathan leaned his head against the headrest and closed his eyes.
I
will save you, my guardian angel. I will find you and I will save
you.´ Jonathan thought
– and fell asleep, holding the
pictures firmly in his hand.
He didn´t realize as his grip loosened and the fotos fell from his hand. Jonathan also didn´t realize, when Mr. Walker stepped into cargo space, looked at him and picked up the fallen pictures. He gazed at them shortly and put them back on top of Jonathan´s sea-bag. He would find them when he was awake.
„You have courage, Jonathan Crane.", Mr.Walker said softly, watching the young sleeping man in front of him, in his flying suit and his combat boots. „By God, you really have courage."
Then Mr. Walker stepped out of cargo area and went back to the cockpit.