Griffin W.E.B. - The Corps 08 - In Dangers Path

«He was here once…«

«Albright told me.»

»… and apparently had words with Colonel Platt.»

«He told me that, too,» Pickering said. «That doesn't sound like McCoy. What was that all about?»

«Platt felt that as the OSS station chief here, everybody in the OSS belonged to him. McCoy didn't think so—« He cut himself off in midsentence when he noticed Colonel John J. Waterson and Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Platt walking across the foyer toward them.

«Good evening, General,» Waterson said.

«We were about to get into the subject of Captain McCoy,» Pickering said. «But I need first to visit the head, and then I want a drink.»

«The facility is right over there, General,» Platt said, pointing. «And we could talk in the bar, if you'd like.»

«I'd hate to run your people out of the bar, Colonel.»

«All of my people have Top Secret clearances, General.»

«But none of them, so far as I am aware, have the Need To Know about Operation Gobi,» Pickering said.

«Sir,» Platt said uneasily, «Washington has been keeping us up-to-date on Operation Gobi.»

«That was done without my knowledge, Colonel,» Pickering said. «From this moment, no one is to hear anything more about Operation Gobi unless it comes from Colonel Banning or myself.» He turned and walked across the foyer to the toilet.

«I don't really understand this, sir,» Lieutenant Colonel Platt said to Colonel Waterson.

«I'm sure the General is about to explain it all to you, Colonel,» Waterson said. «Right now, I suggest that you either clear everybody out of the bar, or find some other place where we can all talk.»

When Pickering entered the room Platt was calling the «bar,» he found Waterson, Platt, and Banning standing at a bar, but there was no liquor in sight. George Hart, seeing his boss, lifted himself out of the chair in which he had been sitting at a small table. Pickering signaled for him to keep his seat.

He looks about as tired as I feel.

«Is there any scotch?» Pickering asked.

«No Famous Grouse, sir,» Banning said. «I guess I should have thought to bring some with me.»

«Beggars can't be choosers,» Pickering said. «I'd like a weak one, Ed, if you'd—«

«Coming right up, sir.»

«And I'd rather not drink alone,» Pickering said.

Banning went behind the bar. Hart got out of his chair and joined him. Hart found glasses and put ice in them. Banning rummaged under the bar and came up with two bottles of scotch whisky. Cutty Sark, and a brand Pickering had never seen before. He held them up to give Pickering his choice.

«The Cutty, please, Ed,» Pickering said. «And, if there is any, a little soda.»

«There isn't any, sir. Water?»

«Please,» Pickering said.

Hart poured water from a pitcher into a glass and then carried it to Pickering.

Pickering waited until the others had drinks. «I feel that a toast is called for,» he said. «But all I can think of is somewhat obscene, so I'll have to settle for 'your health, gentlemen.' «

Everybody took a sip.

«Jack, the first thing that comes to mind,» he said to Colonel Waterson, «is getting you back to Brisbane. Unless you go back on the B-17 that brought me here, God only knows how long it will take to get you there. So make sure that airplane doesn't leave without you.»

«Yes, sir.»

«Next question, Jack, how much did you tell Colonel Platt about what brought you here?»

«Almost nothing,» Platt answered for him.

«I told Colonel Platt, sir, that I was not at liberty to discuss why I was here, other than that I carried a letter to General Stillwell.»

«I should have known that, but I had to ask,» Pickering said. «You did the right thing. And what did you tell Colonel Banning?»

«I thought the Colonel should know you were on your way here, sir. And that the relief of Generals Dempsey and Newley had been ordered. And that General Albright was also en route. I told him all of that.»

«You spoke with General Albright, Ed. How much did he tell you?»

«Not much, sir, other than that you were en route, that Generals Dempsey and Newley were out of the Special Channel loop, that he had been appointed acting signal officer of USMMCHI, and, until further orders from you, we would be taking our orders from him—we being Easterbrook, Rutterman, and me.»

«Okay,» Pickering said. «Colonel Platt, there has been a possible breach of security. I'm afraid I can't tell you more than that, except it was of such importance—

potentially

of such importance—that Generals Dempsey and Newley here have been relieved of their duties, and so have the Secretary of the JCS and the OSS's Deputy Director for Administration.»

«Jesus Christ!» Colonel Platt said.

«I hope you understand, Colonel,» Pickering said, «that the fact that you cannot be given more information about this is in no way a reflection on you. You just don't have the Need To Know.»

«I understand, sir.»

«You've said you were advised of Operation Gobi?»

«Yes, sir.»

«By the Deputy Director Administration?»

«Yes, sir.»

«That was something else he shouldn't have done,» Pickering said. «Or at least shouldn't have done without my knowledge and permission.»

«Sir…«

«That wasn't your fault,» Pickering said. «And General Albright tells me you have some ideas of your own—a proposed Opplan—on how Operation Gobi should go forward?»

«Yes, sir.»

«And that you sent this Opplan to Washington?»

«Yes, sir.»

«Addressed to whom?»

«The Director, sir.»

«I want to see that. I was about to say tonight, but I wouldn't know what I was reading tonight. First thing in the morning.»

«Yes, sir.»

«You can give it to Colonel Banning tonight,» Pickering said. «I'll want his opinion. Which brings us to Colonel Banning. Colonel Banning, and the people he brought with him, work for me. They are not part of the Chungking OSS station. Having said that, I want them housed here.»

«Yes, sir. May I ask why, sir?»

«Because they are engaged in work that can't help but attract the curiosity of their fellow cryptographers. Banning knows how to say none of your goddamn business, but it's a little harder for two junior officers and a warrant officer to say that to senior officers. If they're not in the BOQ, no one can ask them questions.»

«I understand, sir.»

«Going off at a tangent. Ed. Did John Moore arrive?»

«Yes, sir. Two days after I did. It took him a long time to get here from Brisbane.»

«That's probably my fault, General,» Colonel Waterson said. «I got him a triple A air priority. I didn't think there was a rush, and I didn't want to call attention to him.»

«He's here, that's all that matters,» Pickering said, and then asked, «Where's he billeted, Ed?»

«In the company-grade BOQ, sir.»

«Among other things Moore does, Colonel Platt,» Pickering said, «he's a special kind of intelligence analyst. I can't go further into that. And I want him to do that, rather than what a headquarters company commander—who can't be toldwhat moore really does—thinks are appropriate duties for a second lieutenant. I want him moved in here right away.»

«Yes, sir.»

«The next priority is to find McCoy,» Pickering said.

There was a knock at the door.

«With a little bit of luck;' Banning said. «That will be the Killer.»

Hart went to the door and opened it. It was Second Lieutenant Robert F. Easterbrook, USMCR.

«We just got a Special Channel for you, General Pickering,» he said. «I thought I'd better get it right to you, sir.»

«How are you, Easterbrook?» Pickering said, rising from his chair and walking over to him. «I was just talking to your cousin Slats.»