AIRMAN

Most of the airstrip preparation was still done at night. Uprooting tree stumps and bushes created an area filled with ruts and soft spots. Wilson, Elston and the others walked around the field checking on hardness and obstacles. One night while in the field, Wilson noticed Eva working with the others. She did not go with the other Chetniks who were off fighting since someone had to be left behind to provide for feeding the two-hundred-fifty airmen now in Pranjani.
One evening, Eva was having trouble with an obstinate bush that didn’t want to come out of the ground. Using a small shovel, try as she might, the bush would not budge. With Bogdan and the other Chetniks gone, Wilson approached her to help.
Walking up to her, Eva struggled with the bush when Wilson surprised her. Even though she noticed him in the distance, she didn’t see him coming toward her. Surprising her, he motioning to the bush. She understood he wanted to help. Wilson reached down for the small shovel lying on the ground by her, telling her to dig around the roots while pretending to do the same with an imaginary shovel. Watching Wilson trying to explain the obvious induced a smile from Eva.
She began digging around the roots while Wilson pulled the defiant plant. He gave it one hard tug. “Keep digging,” as Eva kept chopping away at the roots. When the bush finally gave way, Wilson flew onto his back with the soles of his shoes pointing skyward. Eva laughed. Her laugh was distinct, almost as a child’s, as she put her hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. Sitting up, it was the first time he had ever heard her laugh out loud and told her, despite her not understanding what he said.
He stood up, brushed himself off while moving toward her. Her laugh became a smile as both looked at each other. Immediately, she recognized the look that she hadn’t seen since being with Duško. Wilson, wanting to tell her that he was in love with her said, “Eva, I want to tell you …” As he said it, he took her soiled hand. Suddenly, all of her doubts came flooding back. The losses she’d experienced in her life, the pain and heartbreak, the promise she made to herself – was she setting herself up for that again? What was she doing in this field? Preparing a place for him to leave? None of it made sense. Before Wilson could finish saying what he wanted, Eva broke away from his grasp and ran home.
Wilson stood feeling helpless. Some of the same concerns entered his thinking. He was leaving - would he ever see her again? What could he possibly offer her? Unless he took her back to America - but he couldn’t even get back himself. Was it really only a schoolboy crush he had so far from home? He had seen many beautiful women, but Eva was much more. He realized he could walk away from the others, even Gina, but not from her. Why did she run away? He had to go after her - had to tell her. He couldn’t leave it like this.
Eva ran home crying. Avoiding low-hanging branches and other obstacles, running as fast as she could, crying all the while. When she reached her yard, she fell to her knees at the well in front of her house and sat there, crying, with her head in her arms. For a moment she looked down into the well’s blackness. Was that what her life had come to? Why should she wait to get killed by a German or Partisan bullet? What difference would it make if she lived or died? Slowly, she stood at the edge of the well, her gaze fixed into the well’s darkness.
Then she heard a voice call her name. Startled, she turned and saw Wilson. Teary-eyed, “Go away,” she said in her native tongue, motioning him to go.
It horrified Wilson to see her standing at the well. He spoke in a whisper as he extended his hand toward her. “Eva, I …” he didn’t know what to say and kept moving toward her. She stood frozen as he took her hand, moving closer, he took her by her waist and lowered her into his arms. “I know you don’t understand what I’m saying, but I know you know how I feel. I love you.” He kissed her passionately. She released all of her doubts and fears, allowing herself to be kissed. Running his fingers through her hair, he looked at her tears as a small smile crossed her face.“ I never want to leave you. I’ve never wanted any woman like I want you.” One kiss followed another. Her arms wrapped around his back. Neither wanted to let the other go.