Страница 37 из 123
"Yes, Mr. President?
"I want you to take a note to the Joint Chiefs of Staff," the President said. "I want it delivered tonight."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"And make an extra copy, and have that delivered to Senator Richardson Fowler. Across the street. At his hotel. Have him awakened if necessary."
"Yes, Mr. President."
The President looked at Admiral Leahy and Secretary Knox.
"I don't think Richardson liked being sent home," he said, smiling wickedly. "Maybe this will make it up to him." He turned back to the Army stenographer. "Ready, Sergeant?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
Ten minutes before, room service delivered hamburgers and two wine coolers full of iced beer.
After Ba
"There's another under the cover," Senator Fowler said. "I ordered it for you. I didn't think you'd have a hell of a lot to eat on the way from San Francisco."
"I'm a little embarrassed," Ba
"Don't be silly," Fowler said.
There was a rap at the door.
"Come in," Senator Fowler called. "It's unlocked."
The door opened. A neatly dressed man in his early thirties stepped inside.
"Senator Fowler?"
"Right."
"I'm from the White House, Senator. I have a Presidential document for you."
"Let's have it," the Senator said.
"Sir, may I see some identification?"
"Christ!" Fowler said, but went to the chair where he had tossed his suit jacket and came up with an identification card.
"Thank you, Sir," the man said, and handed him a large manila envelope.
"Do I have to sign for it?"
"That won't be necessary, Sir," the courier said, nodded, and walked out.
Fowler ripped open the envelope, took out a single sheet of paper, read it, and grunted. Then he handed it to Captain Haughton, who was holding an almost untouched glass of beer.
"Pass it around when you're through," Fowler said.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C.
17 October 1942
To The Joint Chiefs of Staff:
My anxiety about the Southwest Pacific is to make sure that every possible weapon gets into that area to hold Guadalcanal.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"I don't know what this means," Ba
"It means that if either Nimitz or MacArthur is holding anything back for their own agendas, if they are smart, they will now send it to Guadalcanal," Fowler said.
Ba
"Major, if you were God, what would you send to Guadalcanal?"
"Everything," Ba
"In what priority?"
"I don't really know," Ba
"I think they can do that," Fowler said. "God, I hope they can."
He poured a little more beer in his glass, then smiled. "Another question?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"What was Jake Dillon doing on that hush-hush mission Pickering set up?"
"I don't think I understand the question, Sir."
"I've known Jake a long time," Fowler said. "Don't misunderstand me. I like him. But Jake is a press agent. A two-fisted drinker. And one hell of a ladies' man. But I'm having trouble picturing him doing anything serious."
"I think you underestimate him, Senator," Ba
"Really?" Captain Haughton asked, surprised.
"Yes, Sir," Ba
"You want to explain that?" Fowler asked.
How the hell did I get involved in this?
"Major Dillon can get people to do things they would rather not do," Ba
"With Dillon on orders signed by Admiral Leahy, it wasn't a question of whether anyone wanted to do what he asked them to do, was it?" Captain Haughton argued.
"Even though Commander Feldt of the Coastwatchers is, kindly, often difficult to deal with," Ba
"As opposed to what?" Senator Fowler asked.
"As opposed to having sacrificial lambs sent in. Nobody thought the operation was going to work. Dillon convinced them it would. There are ways to get around orders, even orders signed by Admiral Leahy."
"I'm surprised," Senator Fowler said. "I'd never thought of Jake as a heavyweight."
"He's a heavyweight, Senator," Ba
"We've already returned him to Public Affairs," Sessions said. "Effective on his arrival in the States."
"If something comes up, Ba
Then Rickabee stood up.
"I've got some orders for you, Ba