It was pretty clear that Foster was suggesting to Lorimer that the ring knockers, the graduates of the service academies, join ranks to repel the temporary warriors who were intruding in the real business of warfare.
General Lorimer looked a little uncomfortable.
“G. G. ,” he said, “I’m sort of on a spot with you.”
“I don’t understand, “Admiral Foster said.
“I hate to say I’m pressed for time, but I am,” Lorimer said.
“And, as embarrassing as it is for me to say this to you, G. G. , you don’t have the need-to know what Commander Bitter and I are going to talk about.”
“For Christ’s sake, Ken, I’m the Chief, Naval Aviation Element, SHAEE”
“But you’re not on Canidy’s list, I’m sorry to say.”
“What the hell is that?”
“It’s the list of those people authorized access to Project Aphrodite operational information,” General Lorimer said.” Canidy’s List, because Canidy drew it up.”
“We’re in a pretty fucked-up condition when a rear admiral is told to butt out,” the admiral flared, “by a major.” General Lorimer shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
Admiral Foster checked his temper.
“Anything the Navy can do to help, Ken,” he said. “And you remember that, too, Commander. Anything at all. Keep in touch.”
“I’ll walk you to your car, G. G. ,” General Lorimer said.
“I’ll find it, thank you, “Admiral Foster said, and shook their hands and left.
When the door had closed after him, Lorimer turned to Bitter and waved him into a chair.
“So what can I do for the OSS, Commander?” “General,” Bitter said.
“I am somewhat embarrassed to confess that think I have just been made a pawn in a game of some sort between Major Canidy and the Navy. I just got here. It was Admiral Foster’s idea to bring me, to introduce me to you. I have no idea what I am supposed to do here.” Lorimer looked at him for a moment and then smiled.
“Let me clear the air between us, Commander,” General Lorimer said.
“I don’t really give a damn one way or the other who runs this sub-pen busting operation. I want to see it done right for selfish reasons.
Eighth Air Force has lost a lot of airplanes and men with no apparent results.
We’re already starting to feel the pinch of short supplies because of the shipping those subs are sending to the bottom. I want the submarines gone, and if helping the OSS get them gone is what it takes, you just tell me what the OSS wants.” He paused, then went on, “And with Canidy running this, I am at least satisfied he’s acting as I think an officer should.”
“Sir?”
“I was taught as a second lieutenant that an officer should not ask anyone to do anything he is not willing to do himself. Canidy showed up at Horsham St. Faith yesterday, before daylight, all ready to fly a photo recon mission of the sub pens. We were ready for him.
Colonel Stevens had called me and told him he was likely to try something like that, so, at my orders, he wasn’t allowed on the plane.
” “I wasn’t informed–” Bitter said.
General Lorimer shut him off by raising his hand.
“Canidy called me this morning and told me I owed him one, and I could pay it back if I got the admiral off your back and sent you on to Fersfield.
That’s where the drones are. I did what I could.”
“May I ask why Canidy believed you’ owed him one’?”
“Because when Colonel Stevens said he thought Canidy was planning to go on the mission and that was not a very good idea, I made sure that he didn’t go,” General Lorimer said. “But what I had in mind, Commander, was that when the B-26 that made it back crashed and burned on landing at Horsham St. Faith, Canidy damned near got himself blown up pulling the crew out of it.”
“He didn’t say anything about that to me, sir,” Bitter said.
“Nor to me,” Lorimer said. “He painted a pretty glowing picture of you, however. He said you’re quite a fighter pilot. And he said he thinks you just might be able to carry off the sub pen project.”