Flash Point by James W. Huston

But before you go too far, what’s eating you? You just about bought it on the strafing run the other day. And today you were flying formation like you were afraid of it. Your hook wasn’t even down. What gives?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I’d rather be somewhere else.”
    “Who wouldn’t. But if you want to get out of the Navy, you’ve got to wait—”
    “No, it’s not like that.”
    “What?”
    “It’s something else.” Vialli swallowed. Now that he was actually going to say it, his courage was evaporating. “Always before, in New York, in college, I was always the tough guy. Always doggin’ everybody, making life hard. But here, I don’t know. It’s different. I don’t have to prove anything except in the air.” He grinned at Woods. “Don’t worry. I’m not gonna ask you for money.”
    “Just say it. Don’t get misty-eyed on me or something.”
    “You’re a Lieutenant, a second-tour Lieutenant, and I’m just a first cruise JG.”
    “So?”
    “So that means you’re probably a lifer and figure the Navy’s your career. I haven’t come to that point yet, and figure flying around in a 747 would be a pretty good job.”
    Woods was puzzled. “What are you trying to say?”
    “Before I tell you, I need your promise you won’t tell anybody about this.”
    Woods was starting to feel uncomfortable. He had responsibilities in the squadron that went beyond friendship. “Okay,” he said after a long pause.
    “It’s Irit.”
    Woods smiled suddenly. “So you’re in love. Why don’t you want anyone to know?”
    “It’s not that. Well, I guess part of it is . . . I was in love in college once.” He struggled to express himself. “You ever fall in love a lot faster than you even knew you could?”
    “Just once.”
    “How did you know?”
    “The usual. Every hour I lived when she wasn’t there was like it was wasted.”
    “Exactly,” Vialli agreed. “That’s exactly how I feel.”
    “This is all about Irit?”
    “Yeah. It is. It’s the strongest thing I’ve ever felt. It’s almost scary.”
    “Does she feel the same way?”
    “I think so.” He hesitated. “You see her hand?”
    Woods nodded.
    “She only has her thumb and one finger on her right hand. She’s really good at hiding it.”
    “Does it bug you?”
    “Yeah. And I can’t believe it does. I always thought I was bigger than that. I was horrified.”
    “You’ll get over it.” Woods started to push his chair away from the table and get up, but Vialli put up his hand to stop him.
    “I’ve got to see her.”
    “We’ll be there in a few weeks,” Woods said supportively.
    “I can’t wait that long.”
    “What’s a few weeks?”
    “I can’t explain it.”
    “What do you have in mind?”
    “I want to take some leave and go there.”
    “Where?”
    “Israel. Nahariya.”
    “Nahariya? Isn’t that way north?”
    “I’m not sure—”
    “Just
wait
, Boomer. We’ll be there in a few weeks.”
    “I can’t.”
    He knew Vialli was impulsive, but he also usually had good judgment. “You know better than to decide things like this just ’cause you’re hot—”
    “It’s not like that.”
    Woods had his doubts. “What are you thinking about doing exactly?”
    “When we pull into Naples I’m going to take leave.”
    “And?”
    “Fly to Tel Aviv. Commercial. She’s going to pick me up. I’ve already made the reservations.”
    Woods sat back. “Skipper will never approve a leave request for Israel.”
    “The leave request won’t say Israel.”
    Woods immediately understood. “It’ll say Naples? You’re going to put
a false
destination on it?”
    Vialli looked into Woods’s eyes. “You don’t have to put it that way, but yeah.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    “I’m not asking you to. The Skipper will approve it. I’ll tell him I need some time off. I’ll be back
long
before we sail.”
    “What if we sail early?”
    “I’ll take the COD and catch the ship when I can. Same as if I woke up