ing helper. I may have to have parts made and
I do not run a lathe," Stan said.

Herr Domber called a man over to him. After listening for a few minutes
the man left. He returned a few minutes later with a youngster not more
than eighteen years of age.

"Swen, you will be Lieutenant Wilson's assistant. Help him in every way
you can. You are under his orders," Herr Domber said.

"Heil Hitler," Swen said and saluted. He was a blond, curly-headed kid
with a ready smile. Stan grinned at him and said:

"We'll get along."

"You may talk freely to Swen," Domber said. "He is a tested party man,
but he does not like killing, so he is a mechanic. I have to watch him
to keep the generals from stealing him and sending him off to Russia to
fight." Domber laughed, but Stan saw fear come into the boy's eyes.

"Anyone else speak English in the shop?" he asked. "I might want another
man."

"No others," Domber said. "Now we must get to work."

Stan was supplied with a locker and a pair of coveralls. He was taken to
a special room in the shop. There he found parts from P-51's recently
shot down. The smaller shop was completely equipped. Three other men
worked at benches before a window. Stan was assigned to a vacant bench.
Before him lay part of the new dual turbo-supercharger. Other parts were
stacked on a table.

"Know anything about one of these gadgets?" Stan asked Swen.

"Gadget?" Swen repeated in a British accent.

"Yank word for machine," Stan explained.

"No, I have never seen one before," Swen replied.

Herr Domber stood around for a little while, then made off. Stan grinned
at Swen. He had decided to work upon the kid. There might be a chance to
do something. Swen, like most young Germans, was deadly afraid of being
sent to the Russian front. It might be that he secretly hated the men
who bossed him.

At the next bench a tall mechanic was working with a part from a
Spitfire. Stan moved over to the edge of his bench.

"Hand me that wrench," he said to the tall German.

The German reached over and handed Stan the wrench. Suddenly his face
became very red and he spoke angrily in German.

"Thanks, buddy," Stan said. "I'm glad you speak American."

The German shrugged his shoulders and went on working. Swen looked at
Stan and said:

"I am your helper. I could have handed you that wrench."

"I just wanted to be sure Heinie, here, could understand everything we
say. I noticed that he was just playing with that