I push myself up on my hands and drop through the hole in the plane’s fuselage. I fall through empty space. Alice through the rabbit hole. Feet together, soaring through the silent night without another word to anyone. But then, after a few seconds of free fall, the static line yanks my parachute open. Most girls my age are fresh out of school, working in typing pools and factories. And here I am, seconds from touching down in enemy territory.  

There are no brakes to pull. No going back...