W.E.B. Griffin - THE CORPS VI - CLOSE COMBAT

THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY INFORMED ME THIS AFTERNOON THAT TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S CONFIDENTIAL FUND HAS BEEN CABLE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT AT THE BANK OF AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS DIRECTED ME TO INQUIRE THE STATUS OF YOUR CAMPAIGN TO HAVE THE OSS RECOGNIZED BY THE SWPOA AS A MEMBER OF THE TEAM.

PLEASE PASS TO LIEUTENANT MCCOY, 'GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK!'

REGARDS

FRANK

END PERSONAL FROM SECNAV

BY DIRECTION:

DAVID HAUGHTON, CAPTAIN, USN

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

=TOP SECRET=

"Well, I'll be a son of a bitch," Pickering said.

Koffler turned. "General?"

"I think you had better read this, Sergeant Major Stecker," Pickering said. "General Vandegrift has been heard from."

Stecker scanned the sheets, his eyebrows rising. "I don't think you were supposed to show me this," he said. "It says-"

"I know what it says. Show it to McCoy and Koffler, Colonel. Consider that an order."

Koffler had to read it last. As the other men stood dumbfounded, he looked at Pickering.

"Sir, if the Colonel's not going, then-"

"Sergeants are supposed to speak only when spoken to, Koffler."

"-then you're really going to need somebody who knows how to paddle a rubber boat."

Pickering stared at him for what seemed the longest moment of Koffler's life. Then a deep laugh rumbled out of his throat, and rolled on and on.

Behind him, the black plastic pack bobbed in the bathtub.

The End

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