Deer, raising his hands, "but if the sun comes
tomorrow, and warms the earth so our gliders can fly, we will need our
strength to pull them into the air."
57 The following day when he stepped from the cave, a glorious sight
awaited him. The clouds were gone, the sun rose bright and shone on the
wet ground.
58 One of the glider pilots came out and looked. "Let the sun be up an
hour more," he advised, "and we will have all the lift we need."
59 Leaping Deer nodded. The first ten gliders were hooked to the ropes.
The men in black uniforms climbed into them. Their Yellow Thunder was
not tucked under their wings, but was in the cockpit. They would bring
their ships right down into the enemy cities. Though Leaping Deer knew all these men were dying, he marveled at their
courage to sacrifice the last of their life to destroy the enemy.
60 Ten would leave for Hope today, ten tomorrow. He doubted if there
would be little left of the city after they visited. If their
information was correct and the gliders reached the enemy stores of
powder and other works, they would probably destroy the city.
61 One by one these ships rose skyward, then ten others took their
place, and, ten more were ready behind them. THESE twenty ships would
hopefully return before dusk. THEIR Yellow Thunder was carefully stored
in compartments just under the wings. By pulling two levers the pilot
opened the compartments. By pulling a third lever he dropped the
Thunder.
62 One by one the ships rose skyward, circled higher and higher to get
their lift, then sailed away. It was about mid-day when the gliders
reached Faith. Sleepy Crow, one of the last in the formation, watched
the other ships one at a time, drop down, release their Thunder, and
pull away. Below them, the city rocked with the explosions.