[BlitzPig_EL]

Usually, well at least these days, 'ole Santa can count on taking a few hits and dodging the odd RPG round while I zip through certain areas to deliver presents. But, this year was very different. I noticed soon after take off that the reindeer seemed edgy, but all was well and I was far too busy with the land, down the chimney, drop presents, eat cookie, routine to worry too much. After all, the instruments were in the green and power output was nominal, still, I could sense tension in the reins. Oh well, I turned the volume on the bells up a notch and kept flying.... Odd thing was, even over the usual hot spots, there was no trouble. Not a shot fired at me, nothing.... Well, maybe the heathens were asleep? Anyway, I got on with the nights work.

I had just finished with the last drop of the night, and was vectoring towards home. I noticed Rudolph kept looking back towards our 3 o'clock, so I turned the bells and running lights off, and that is when I heard them. Engines. Not the whine of those modern jet thingys either, but the deep growl of multiple 12 cylinder engines.

I looked over to my right, and had to blink twice, at first I thought it was just St. Elmo's fire, but St. Elmo does not make noise.

What I saw was a shimmering, almost ghostly flight, of 6 antique aircraft. It was hard to make out just what they were because of the brighness agianst the dark sky, but I could clearly see the pilot of the lead bird. His face was of a 20 year old, but his eyes were those of someone much, much older... He smiled at me broadly, and gave a very casual salute. Then they broke off smartly and headed away. As they turned, I could just make out the visage of teeth painted on the noses of their machines...

Now I understood why my flight was so uneventful. No one would dare mess with Santa, when he was escorted by Tigers...



Merry Christmas to all of you.

[fly_zo]

... thanks m8


all the best to you and yours too

Z