Chapter 23

The following week was hectic.

The four pilots were in the conference room most of the day checking through manuals of the new A10 and comparing them with those of the American A10. They would discuss the differences, making notes and asking questions. They would bring up any unanswered questions or concerns later in the afternoon, when they met with the civilian engineers.

But what they really wanted was to see, was the British A10 in the flesh; first it was arriving on Tuesday, then on Wednesday.

Finally it arrived on Thursday. It didn’t look all that different from the aircraft they had flown in Arizona, at first sight. But when you got closer you could see the subtle differences. The engines were slightly bigger. There was no canon at the front, it would be added later. There was a biggish rounded nodule behind the cockpit containing the new radar, in front of the cockpit on either side were two bulges with armoured Perspex shields facing forward, sensors, which linked to the radar.

The largest difference from the aircraft he had flown in the desert, was in the cockpit. The layout had changed, the standard controls, control column, flaps, thrust leaver, brakes were recognisable still, but the front of cockpit was dominated by three ten inch display screens.

Robert had to move aside from further examination as the civilian engineers and RAF ground crew swarmed all over it.

The pace picked up with the arrival of the first aircraft.

Not having the luxury of a dedicated flight simulator, such as the one at Fort Call, they had to make do with a software program that the electronic engineers had made. This could be shown on a large thirty-six inch monitor, which displayed all the flight controls of the new aircraft. Clicking the mouse over a particular control revealed a flag, which explained its function.

It was slow going because there was only one program for the four of them to use. They had been assured that a full-scale reproduction of the cockpit would be arriving the following week, which would be linked to the program, once the engineers had sorted out all the bugs.

In the mean time they had lectures from the Rolls Royce people. Lectures from BA Systems people, so by the time they came off duty late Saturday night, their heads were aching with the data they had absorbed.

Robert had received a call from Terry at eleven, to say Sue and she had booked in at the motel and where in chalets 14 and 15.

It was nearly midnight by the time Tim’s BMW pulled up outside 15. The chalets were single story, built in one long row, a parking bay outside each one. Robert grabbed his overnight bag from the rear seat and moved to the door of 14, where a Ford Mondeo was parked outside. He knocked and walked in.

He stopped stunned; Sue was standing there with a big smile on her face and practically nothing else on. The smile quickly faded and her eyes opened in alarm at seeing Robert there.

“Oh sorry Sue I’ve got the wrong chalet.” He stammered as he quickly backed out and closed the door.

As he turned he saw Tim exiting 15 as they passed each other Tim muttered, “Sods law.”

When he entered Terry was sitting on the bed with a bathrobe on, seeing him she jumped to her feet and kissed him. When he broke away he asked her if she had been wearing the robe when Tim came in.

“Yes, why darling.”

“Well I’ve just seen Sue in her tanning suit.”

“Oh, and how did it look?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t stay long enough to form an opinion.”

She chuckled, “Poor darling did it frighten my hero.”

“It will frighten Tim when he sees it.”

They could hear laughter coming from the next room.

“Well he doesn’t sound frightened to me,” she said, “I’m sorry about the mix up, but when I saw this one was the last in the row, I switched keys with Sue. At least it gives us some privacy, the walls are paper-thin.”

He removed the bomber jacket and dropped the overnight bag on the small chest of drawers, then sat on the bed to remove his shoes.

“Had a shower?” He asked.

“Yes, when we arrived at 10:30.”

“So you’ve not had time to change then.”

“No, I’ve changed.” She answered with a smile on her face

At that moment they were interrupted by a drumming noise coming from the next room. Robert crossed to the wall and placed is hand on it. He could feel it vibrating; he put his ear to it, and he could hear low moans, grunts, and cries from the next room.

“It sounds like Sue’s tanning suit didn’t stay on lo...” He never finished his thought as he completed his turn.

Terry had removed the robe; it was lying on the bed. She was standing looking at him. Her suit seemed to consist of more string than material, two thin strips extended down from the halter at her neck barely covering her areoles her nipples standing proud, the black of the material, contrasting with the light cream of her flesh. The miniscule piece of material that tried to cover her vulva stood out on the whiteness of her bikini line.

He realised she had shaved off the strip of hair that had grown there.

“So,” she said huskily, “what do you think?” Knowing already, by the bulge in his jeans.

He walked up to her, his thumbs tracing the outline of her nipples.

“I still say these are indecent, and only to be worn in complete and utter privacy.” He managed to get out, his voice strained.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll take it off.” She replied, her voice low and sexy.

“No it’s emm ... all right.” He swallowed.

“You know darling I think his Nibbs is trying to look at it, let me help him.” She moved closer and slowly lowered his zip of the jeans sliding them down to his ankles.

She continued, “Oh the poor thing he’ll suffocate in there.” Her hand pulled his shorts forward lifting and then pushing them down to join the jeans.

His erection fully vertical and hard, she sat on the bed and leaned forward.

“Hello Mr Nibbs have you missed me?” She kissed the end of it.

He let out a low groan as his hands reached out for her, but she pushed them away.

“Stop it Bobby, we’re having a conversation.”

“What’s that you said, oh you liked the kiss.”

Her head dropped lower and he could feel her mouth encompassing his erection. Her lips holding it firm, then her head began to slowly move.