No Luck in Pekin

Schöneluft Log, 1900.07.05 (continued)
Ulrik Manfred Adler, acting Captain

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“Awaiting reply from civilian authorities. Could use ammunition if you can spare any.”

He’s a good fellow, von Strauss. He could have ordered supplies from me, even commandeered the Schöneluft in the name of the Kaiser. I don’t know what I might have done then. I am a loyal son of my Fatherland, but it is not my ship to give away, and I owe Mein Herr much.

I signaled them to wait, and flew back up into cloud cover, shivering. I hate flying in clouds, they leave you blind, deaf, and wet. Philomena always laughs at me; she finds them cozy, and says I must be part cat. I took Chef with me to load a couple of ammo boxes. He resented the heavy lifting and grumbled continuously.

“It will help your people too,” I said. “Fighting together now, eh?”

He did not answer. I don’t think he is old enough to have fought in the last war between our countries. Unlike me, he is old enough to remember it.

We lowered two cases down, and returned for further instructions. There were none. The civilian missionaries refused to be evacuated. Von Strauss replaced the ammunition with a pouch of dispatches for the German command in Tianjin. He did not have to ask; he knew I would go there next. We saluted each other. I flew on.

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To be continued with “The Death of the Lincoln“, but first we find out what the children are up to!