The Last Heroes (Men at War 1)

7

Crookshanks sent for Canidy at half past seven that night. He slid a leather box, three inches by eight, across his desk to him. It was open. It held a medal of some kind.

"What’s that?"

‘‘That’s the Order of the Cloud Banner,’’ Crookshanks said. ‘‘Which I was given a couple of weeks ago to present to the first pilot who scored a victory.’’

‘‘They got one, did they?’’

‘‘We got six of the eight,’’ Crookshanks said.

‘‘That makes me feel pretty inept,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘Is that why you called me in here, to point that out?’’

‘‘I called you in here to give you the medal,’’ Crookshanks said. ‘‘I didn’t think you’d want a parade.’’

‘‘One of mine went down?’’ Canidy said, genuinely surprised. Crookshanks nodded. ‘‘Well, I’ll be damned!’’ Canidy said. ‘‘Are you sure?’’

‘‘We’re sure,’’ Crookshanks said. ‘‘It was witnessed from the ground. We have pieces from all of them.’’

‘‘All of them?’’ Canidy asked. ‘‘Oh, you mean the other five.’’

‘‘Yeah. Your five and the other one.’’

Canidy looked at him to make sure he had heard right.

‘‘You are surprised, aren’t you?’’ Crookshanks asked.

‘‘I didn’t stick around a second longer than I had to,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘Yeah, I’m surprised.’’

‘‘You think it was luck?’’

‘‘Sure it was luck,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘What else?’’

‘‘It’s going to cost you,’’ Crookshanks said.

‘‘How?’’

‘‘I want you to talk to the others so maybe they’ll get lucky too.’’

‘‘I’d probably get as many laughs as Groucho Marx.’’

‘‘It was an order, Canidy, not a suggestion,’’ Crookshanks said.

‘‘In that case, yes, sir, Commander Crookshanks, sir.’’

‘‘Because you are such a paragon of cheerful, willing obedience, Mr. Canidy, I have decided to give you a little reward of my own.’’

‘‘I’d like my own ship.’’

‘‘That’s what I had in mind,’’ Crookshanks said.

‘‘Thank you,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘There’s a hook there too, I’m afraid.’’

‘‘Which is?’’

‘‘Martin Farmington didn’t get back today,’’ Crookshanks said.