Cobalt Squadron

by Elizabeth Wein

  “Nothing can change that,” said Paige. “We’re connected to each other, and to home. We don’t have to be in the same place for that to be true.”

  “I know it, Pae-Pae,” said Rose.

  “You goof.” Paige hugged her fondly. “You’d better go. You’ve got to return that weathersuit before you board the shuttle.”

  “Okay.” Rose gave her sister one last hug. “See you after the evacuation.”

  “See you then, Rose,” said Paige.

  Rose climbed out of the gun turret, and out of the bomb bay access hatch. From outside the ship, she could still see Paige in the clear crystal sphere of the ball turret, smiling and waving.

  Rose waved back. See you then.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  With special thanks to Kristin Rens for being so patient. Thanks also to Harry Genge for his list of names, and to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for the fabulous flight in their Lancaster bomber.

  ELIZABETH WEIN is best known for her acclaimed World War II thriller Code Name Verity, which won an Edgar Award and was named a Printz Honor Book. She is less well-known for her historical novels about King Arthur’s children in Ethiopia. Originally from Pennsylvania, Elizabeth has lived in Scotland for nearly twenty years with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Ninety-Nines, Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots and the Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide. A Star Wars devotee since the age of twelve in 1977, Elizabeth saw The Empire Strikes Back in the theater thirteen times in 1980.