Free The Wings of Morning by Murray Pura Page A

Church of Scotland, Methodists—”
    “The Amish are conscientious objectors. We don’t take up arms.”
    “Is that what you are—” Cook glanced about him again. “Is that what these—oddly dressed people are?”
    “We’re Amish. Our people came here from Europe over two hundred years ago, looking for freedom to live our Christian beliefs. Not long after the
Mayflower
brought Pilgrims here for the same reason.”
    “I see. I see. So—you will not fight—even though thousands of people are being slaughtered—the Huns are bayoneting babies and violating Christian women—towns and villages are going up in flames—your own American boys are being machine-gunned in the trenches—”
    “There is no need for a war.”
    “No?”
    “The Germans are Christians too.”
    “Are they?” Cook stood facing Jude like someone who was not used to having his arguments turned aside. It was Bishop Zook, unaware of the tension between Jude and the British officer, who arrived and unwittingly defused the situation.
    “Ah, sir,” he boomed, shaking Lt. Cook’s hand, “
Willkommen, willkommen
, that was quite a show you put on for us. Such stunts. So what do you think of our young man Jude Whetstone? Can he fly, hm?”
    “Oh, he can fly, sir,” Cook responded, still not sure what to make of this part of America he had landed in. “The question is,
will
he?”
    “What?” The bishop did not understand. “Are you going up again so soon?”
    “I don’t know—” Cook began.
    “
Nein, nein
, it is a picnic, we celebrate our freedom to live and follow our Lord Jesus Christ in America, you must stay awhile, we are just about to eat—well, we eat all day—” he said with a laugh. “Come, sit with us for an hour, why not?”
    “Are you speaking German, sir?” the startled officer asked Bishop Zook.
    “Some German, some English, if one doesn’t work I use the other, come, come.”
    The bishop managed to coax the English pilot to a blanket under a cluster of shade trees. He introduced the man to Emma, who gave the officer her brightest smile—and a plate of food. Meanwhile, the crowd dispersed back to their own blankets and picnic lunches.
    Lyyndaya had to smile at the scene.
Soon the pilot will be eating cold chicken and potatoes and Emma will be feeding him fresh strawberries for dessert
. Her thoughts were interrupted as she was suddenly aware that she was not alone. She turned her head to see Jude standing beside her.
    “Do you think your mother will notice?” he asked.
    She dropped her eyes from his intense gaze and mumbled, “Not right away.”
    “I wanted to thank you for letting me know about the aeroplanes. I saw you pointing.”
    She looked up in surprise. “You couldn’t have possibly seen me.”
    “I saw you all right.”
    “How could you know it was me amongst the scores of people?”
    “Well, not all of them wear a navy-blue dress. Not all of them have blonde hair and such beautiful green eyes.”
    “Oh—” She couldn’t stop herself from laughing and giving him a shove. “As if you have eyes that could see all that from so far up.”
    “Then how did I know, Lyyndaya?”
    “From what I’ve heard, I would have thought you’d be looking for Emma Zook.”
    “Is that what you really think?” He took the risk of tipping up her chin with his finger so her eyes were looking directly into his. She didn’t push away his hand or glance in a different direction. “Because I gave her a strawberry? Because my father and I had supper at her house?”
    “Twice, I heard,” added Lyyndaya.
    “Because she was helping people get into the aeroplane today?”
    “You didn’t look like you were suffering.” She gently moved his hand aside.
    Jude nodded. “Yes, she is tenacious. I admit she has caused me some confusion.”
    “Oh, has she?”
    “So have you.”
    “I?” Lyyndaya pointed to herself. “Little short me? From a million miles away?”
    “Yes, little blonde green-eyed
you
. Do you