The Lapp propped his feet against the fuselage, his huge hands gently but firmly took hold of the girl.

The plane bounced once as it hit the runway, the flaps drug, then the breaks took hold. Finally the plane taxied to a stop. The bomb bay doors were opened. The troops piled out to board a waiting truck, while the medics piled in to collect the wounded. Outside the ship, and after seeing her copilot away in a meat-wagon, Lady Mary examined the damage to her plane. Tromp joined her.

"Done."

Later in the day word came that Hitler was dead. Everyone was celebrating with their own crowd, and Tromp and Lady Mary missed each other among the merry makers.