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There was another long pause.
"Where is this place, Charley? How do I get there?"
"You want to come here, Sir?"
"Either way, Galloway," Dawkins said. "I come there, or the three of you come out here."
"Hold one, Sir," Charley said, and covered the microphone with his hand. "Pickering, get on the horn and tell the Skipper how to get here from Ewa."
"Welcome to Muku Muku, Colonel," the silver-haired black man said as he opened the door of Dawkins' 1941 Plymouth staff car. "I'm De
"What the hell is this place?" Dawkins asked as he looked around.
"Officially, Colonel, it is the Pacific and Far East Shipping Corporation's Guest House for Visiting Masters and Chief Engineers," De
Dawkins followed De
"Good evening, Sir," Pickering said. "Welcome to Muku Muku. Can De
"Where is Captain Galloway?" Dawkins said.
"He just went inside for a moment," Pickering said. "Excuse me, Sir. May I present Commander Kocharski and Lieutenant Ursery?"
Why am I not surprised? What did I think Commander Kocharski would look like? Lana Turner?
"Commander," Dawkins said, taking her hand; it was larger than his, he noticed. "I have the odd feeling that you would be interested to hear that I have just learned that the Commandant of The Marine Corps has just approved the promotion of Technical Sergeant Oblensky to master gu
Master gu
"Oh, that's wonderful news!" Flo said.
"You've heard, I guess, he's on his way here?"
"Galloway told me, Colonel," Flo said.
"Apropos of nothing whatever," Dawkins said, "I have been informed that there is no bar to marriage between master gu
"Is that so?" Flo said. "Isn't that fascinating?"
"Good evening, Sir," Galloway said, coming onto the patio.
"Captain," Dawkins said.
"Steve's got his master gu
"Thank you, Skipper," Galloway said.
"Thank General Vandegrift," Dawkins said. "He wrote the Commandant."
"I repeat, Sir," Galloway said. "Thank you, Skipper."
"Well, that's the good news," Dawkins said, and reached in his pocket and handed Galloway a folded radio message. "This is the bad."
PRIORITY
HEADQUARTERS USMC
WASHINGTON DC 0905 180CT42
TO: COMMANDING OFFICER MAG-21
VIA CINCPAC
1. FOLLOWING OFFICERS VMF-229 ARE DETACHED FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY (90) DAYS AND PLACED ON
TEMPORARY DUTY WITH USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT, US POST OFFICE BUILDING, LOS ANGELES, CAL. FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN WAR BOND TOUR NUMBER TWO.
GALLOWAY, CHARLES M CAPT USMCR
DUNN, WILLIAM C 1/LT USMCR
PICKERING, MALCOLM S 1/LT USMCR
2. SUBJECT OFFICERS WILL PROCEED IMMEDIATELY BY MILITARY OR CIVILIAN AIR TRANSPORTATION
(PRIORITY AAA-2) FROM PRESENT STATION TO LOS ANGELES, CAL., REPORTING UPON ARRIVAL THEREAT
TO OFFICER-IN-CHARGE USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT. IF TIME SCHEDULE OF WAR BOND TOUR
NUMBER TWO PERMITS, A TEN (10) DAY ADMINISTRATIVE DELAY EN ROUTE LEAVE IS AUTHORIZED.
3. DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQ USMC AND OFFICER-IN-CHARGE USMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT
LOS ANGELES, CAL. WILL BE INFORMED BY PRIORITY RADIO OF DATE, TIME, AND MEANS OF DEPARTURE OF SUBJECT OFFICERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE ORDERS.
BY DIRECTION:
J. J. STEWART, BRIG GEN, USMC
"Jesus!" Galloway said, disgustedly. "How do we get out of this, Skipper? Or at least how do I?"
"I spoke with General Mclnerny," Dawkins said. "He thinks he may be able to get you out of it. I told him I need you to refit the squadron. These two heroes are stuck."
"Stuck with what?" Pickering asked. Galloway handed him the radio message.
"No! Jesus H. Christ!" Pickering said when he had read the message. He handed it to Du
"You're on the Pan American clipper departing at 0700, Mr. Pickering," Dawkins said.
"Can I take my ten days' leave here?" Du
"Will you stop that?" Lieutenant Ursery said.
"Love will have to wait," Dawkins said, smiling. "Duty calls, Mr. Du
"I don't know why he talks like that, Colonel," Lieutenant Ursery said. "He's crazy."
"Yes, I know," Dawkins said. "If the offer is still good, I think I would like a drink."
"De
"We've got just about everything, Colonel, pay no attention to Mr. Pick," De
"Bourbon?"
"Finest Kentucky sour mash coming up."
"Skipper," Galloway pursued. "There's no way I can get out of this?"
"I told you, Charley, General Mclnerney thinks he can get you out of the war bond tour, but you're going to have to go to the States tomorrow."
"I know General Mclnerney," Pick said. "Maybe if I asked him..."
"Try saying 'aye, aye, Sir,' just once, Mr. Pickering," Dawkins said.