remember.’
‘Thank you, Lazarus. I was in that war, too, and in North Africa. No B-29s operated
from there as I recall it and no atomic bombs were used in the European theatre – so
this research startled me as much as it did Lazarus. This bad news changed Operation
Johnson Prime – which had as its purpose locating and recovering Dr Ira Johnson, the
Prime of the Johnson family – to Operation Coventry Cusp… which includes Operation
Johnson Prime as one of its phases, but has the far wider purpose of changing the
outcome of that war through this one raid. The raid of 8 April 1941 was selected not
only because Dr Johnson was known to have been in it, as an AFS surgeon in civil
defence, but also because the four waves of bombers – giant Heinkels – that bombed
Coventry that night were the largest number of Nazi bombers used in any one raid.
‘The Circle’s mathematicians, working with Shiva, all agree that this is a cusp
event, where a handful of people can turn the course of a history. So it will be the
purpose of Major Gretchen’s ladies to destroy as many as possible of that air Armada
– as near 100 per cent as superior technology can manage. With this one assist, the
RAF can and will win the Battle of Britain. Without it, it can be – or was – too big
a raid for the Spitfires to handle. An almost invisible additional purpose of
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Operation Coventry Cusp, three layers down, is to save the lives of Spitfire pilots,
so that they will live to fight another day.
‘This is the sort of nudge the Circle of Ouroboros specialises in, the minor assist
that makes a major change in the outcome – and the companions of the Circle feel
sanguine about this one.
`Now please look at the picture behind me. Our view is from the spot in Greyfriars
Green occupied by the dressing station where Johnson Prime served that night. Those
three towers are all that was left standing in the central city after earlier raids
– the towers of St Michael’s cathedral, Greyfriars church, and Holy Trinity church.
Off to the left is a lesser tower that does not show; that tower is the only
original part of a Benedictine monastery built by Leofric, Earl of Merda, and his
wife, Lady Godiva, in 1043. We have leased that tower from the Earl, and the gate
that will deliver Gretchen’s archers will be – has been – erected on it, as well as
the time gate that will move them to 1941. It may amuse you to hear that, while the
contract payment was in gold, a lagniappe was added, a magnificent white gelding
that the Lady Godiva named “Aethelnoth” – and our gift to the Lady is the very mount
she used in her famous ride through the town for the benefit of her townspeople.’
Jubal cleared his throat and grinned. `Despite widespread popular demand coming
mostly from Castor and Pollux, this operation will not be combined with a
sightseeing trip to watch Lady Godiva ride through Coventry.
‘Thats all today, friends. To take part in this operation you need to be convinced
of three things: first, that the Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler was so vile that it
must not be allowed to win; second, that it is strongly desirable to defeat the
Nazis without dropping scores of atomic bombs on Europe, and, third, that it is
worth it to you to risk your neck to achieve the operation’s objectives. The Circle
answers yes to these questions, but you must weigh them in your own conscience. If
your answer is not a whole-hearted yes on all points, then please do not volunteer.
‘After you have thought it over, the remaining Gideon’s Band will meet for first
rehearsal at ten tomorrow morning at our Potemkin-Village Coventry. A transbooth
shuttling directly to the practice village is located just north of this building.’
In Coventry, England, on Tuesday 8 April 1941, at 7.22 p.m. the sun was setting,
glowing red in smog and coal smoke. Looking at this city gave me a weird feeling, so