The Hunters Page #3

- Do you really need that? | - It's a little flash.

Makes me look younger.

I gotta keep up with these jetjockeys.

Before God, there's a lot of good men | going down in this stinkin' war.

- Did anybody tell you it's a stinkin' war? | - Nobody but everybody.

No guts.

It's a war you can't feel. There's nothing | simple about it like the last one.

Except dying - that's always simple.

Sometimes I forget what this one's all about.

- More? | - No, no, not for me, thanks.

They tell you how crummy | these Chinese MiG pilots are?

Oh, yeah. We got statistics. | They lose thirteen to our one.

Sure. 13 to one.

But what they don't tell you is that | when one of 'em is good, he's too good.

Casey Jones, for instance. | You've heard of him, haven't you?

- You're kiddin'? | - I'm not kiddin'.

A Chinese pilot named Casey Jones.

He has a plane with the numbers 7-11 | on the fuselage.

Don't ask me why. | Maybe he's a crapshooter. Look.

The MiGs are based in Red China, | across the Yalu river.

We've got orders never to cross the Yalu, but | they're free to play fast and loose on our side.

- Still? | - Still.

They come off of their airfield swung out | in a line. Bandit trains, they call 'em.

Now, if GCl reports a bandit train taking off | from Antung with Casey Jones at the throttle,

one of our air groups | can count on losing two pilots that day.

I lost seven good men to that China boy.

Seven good men | and a couple of aces thrown in.

Old Case hasn't been around lately, | but he'll be back. We can count on it.

So never underestimate the MiG pilot.

You're liable to run into a live one.

Well, you make it sound interesting.

I thought it would be. Would you care | to wring out an 86 in the morning?

If you think it's necessary.

Not for me, but I guess you haven't | been up in a couple of weeks.

Don't walk lightly with me.

If you want to see what I can do with an 86, | I'll be glad to show you.

No offence. Routine.

Sure.

- Glad to have you with us, Cleaver. | - Dutch...

Good night.

- Major Saville? | - I'm Saville.

I'm supposed to fly with you this morning.

- I know. | - My name's Corona, like the cigar.

- Glad to know you, Lieutenant. | - Yes, sir.

- Our call is "Cobra", right? | - Right.

You'll fly that one over there, sir, 140.

Well, shall we get on with it?

- You had much time in an F-86? | - Enough, I think.

You're gonna need it all. I'm talkin' out of turn, | but there'll be a surprise for you up there.

Oh? What's that?

Colonel Moncavage took off five minutes ago.

He'll bounce you for simulated combat.

- Dutch's orders? | - Who else? He gets his kicks with surprises.

Thanks for tellin' me.

I'm a friend to man.

K-13, this is Cobra. | Ready to roll with two.

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