Free Echo-Foxtrot by Clare Revell Page B

fun out here.”
    “No chance of that,” Lou told him. “Have fun with Dr. Andrews. Mind she doesn’t give you a toothbrush.”
    He gave her a funny look, but she didn’t bother explaining.
    Instead, she reached down to scratch her leg and then sighed as her hand met nothing but air. That was going to take some getting used to.

12
    Lou watched Jack’s retreating figure as he headed back across the grass to the main building.
    “Do you want something to drink?” Airman Ryder asked.
    Lou shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I had some tea just before we came out. Maybe later though.”
    “Nice view of the car park,” Staci said.
    Lou hadn’t even heard her walk up. Ailsa arrived next, with Jim hanging back.
    “Seen one car, you seen them all,” Lou answered. “And no one can park in one attempt either.”
    They sat in silence. Then Ailsa tried. “We’re off to the beach. The Kirks are meeting us here. Jim’s going to teach me how to play volleyball. Do you want to come?”
    “I’ve never been any good at volleyball. ’Sides, they wouldn’t let me today. Sand and raw wounds aren’t a good combination. Nor are wheelchairs and sand, come to think of it.”
    Jim nodded. “Maybe next time then.”
    “Yeah, maybe.” Lou sucked in a deep breath. “Though I thought you’d have had enough of beaches and sand by now.”
    Staci shook her head. “I can never have enough of beaches,” she said. “Volcanoes and escorts, on the other hand...” She winked at Sergeant Peterson.
    He chuckled. “Cheeky beggar, aren’t you?”
    Lou raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound very American to her.
    “Staci’s determined to teach me what she terms ‘proper English,’” he said dryly.
    Jim looked up and waved at one of the parked cars. “Mum and Dad are here. C’mon, let’s go. You sure you don’t want to come, Lou?”
    She nodded. “I’m sure. Thanks for asking though.”
    He stood up, pulled Staci to her feet, and grabbed Ailsa’s hand. “Better not keep Mum and Dad waiting. We’ll see you when we get back. Have fun.” They moved away, Sergeant Peterson and Staff Sergeant Chaney moving in to escort them.
    Staci looked back. “Bye, Lou,” she called.
    Lou raised a hand in a halfhearted wave. “Bye.” She watched them go and sighed. Why did things have to get so complicated all of a sudden? And why did everyone keep on telling her to have fun when she’d been parked in the most boring place on the base? No, make that the most boring place on the face of the planet.
    She let her hand fall over the edge of the chair and ran her fingers over the brake lever. How difficult would it be to push the chair herself? It hadn’t sounded too complicated when Airman Ryder explained it, but then neither had simultaneous quadratic equations in her maths class. And they were impossible.
    She lifted her face to the sunshine and watched as a plane flew in low over the base, heading to the runway. She wasn’t dying. The thought resounded round her mind.
    She wasn’t dying.
    But was the chair an improvement? Could she ever come to terms with how fast things had changed? Perhaps given time, she could. And let’s face it, time was now something she had plenty of.
    The wind ruffled her hair and she pushed a hand through it, wishing she had a hairband to tie it back with.
    Another airman came across and sat next to Airman Ryder. They struck up an animated conversation, both men sitting with their backs to her.
    Maybe she should try pushing this chair on her own. How had Dr. Andrews termed it? Getting her independence back, wasn’t it? She pulled the brake lever back and, putting her hands on the wheels, pushed them. The chair moved slightly. Hmmm, easier than it looks.
    She pushed against the wheels and moved the chair away from the trees, across the grass. Not going far, just want to get the hang of this. Show off to Dr. Andrews when I get back inside. She’ll be stoked . She went a little farther, then looked over her