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>> The Wall Ashley McConnell Summary from Backcover: WHEN YOU'RE UP AGAINST THE WALL, LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK Germany, 1961. A rigid world of dangerous politics and strife. The Berlin Wall is under construction. And Dr. Sam Beckett has leaped into the life of a six-year-old girl ... As Missy, he feels small and helpless. What can a child do to alter the fate of Germany and the world? Sam is about to find out - when he leaps again into the adult Missy. On the day the Wall comes tumbling down. ISBN: #1-85283-881-7 (UK) Copyright: 1993 by MCA Publishing Rights Printing History: First published in the UK in 1993 by Boxtree Limited Pages: 274 Cover Art: Keith Birdsong Excerpt: "What does an officer do when he sees a swabbie with marks like those on his face?" Al growled, having moved around from behind Sam and caught sight of Missy's face. "Good God Almighty, Sam, what happened to you? You look like somebody put you through a meat grinder!" "Very good," Steve said. After his first reaction, he seemed to notice nothing unusual at all. "Now, aren't you going to give me a hug?" Sam took a deep breath, stepped forward, and raised his arms. He was surprised at the enthusiasm with which the officer grabbed him and lifted him exuberantly into the air. "That's my girl!" he said. "Did you miss me?" "Oh, yeah," Sam gasped, flailing for the ground and just missing kicking Missy's father in the Good Conduct ribbon. The feeling of being lifted completely off his feet and swung into the air was extremely disconcerting. He wondered fleetingly if any woman had felt this way when he picked them up. He wondered if he had ever picked a woman up. He thought it was likely. He made a mental note to try to remember that it might not be an enjoyable experience in all cases for the pick-ee. "I'm okay," he added for Al's benefit. "'Yes, sir,'" Al said warningly. "You don't say 'yeah' in this house." He shook his head. "Looks like somebody already pointed that out to you. Are you sure you're all right? Did Jane do this?" "I mean, Yes, sir," Sam corrected himself, and answered both questions at once in the most economical fashion possible. His lips hurt. "Good girl." Sam felt a bit like a cocker spaniel puppy being praised. The Major set him down again and patted him on the head. "We're going to make a real little airman out of you." "Yeah, right," Al cracked. "Not so little, really." Sam turned and glared at the Observer, careful to keep his expression out of Steve's line of sight. It made no difference. The Major picked up the briefcase and walked past, as if having greeted his daughter he could now completely ignore her existence. In a few strides he arrived at the door of the master bedroom, and disappeared inside. "What the hell was that all about?" Sam asked angrily. "Am I supposed to be his kid or one of his recruits?" Al shrugged and waved his cigar in an expressive circle. "There isn't any difference, from his point of view," he said. "Discipline is discipline, right?" Sam was incredulous. "Are you telling me you think it's okay to have kids saluting their fathers?" Al shrugged again. "Hey, it's not my kid. And I can understand it. It's the same standard he applies to his subordinates in his command; Missy is his subordinate at home. Why should there be a difference?" "Where is the real Al and what have you done with him?" Al stopped and stared at him. "I said I understood, Sam, not that I approved. It's not the way you or I were brought up, but that doesn't make it immoral." "I think it's sick!" "Sick is what Jane's doing, not what the Major wants. You're sure you're okay?" |