The Last Heroes (Men at War 1)

Canidy stormed past a surprised cook into the dining room, then into the consulate proper. He headed for the office of the consul general. Robert Murphy did not seem to be surprised to see him.

‘‘I’m very sorry about this, Canidy,’’ Murphy said.

‘‘What the hell is going on?’’ Canidy demanded furiously.

‘‘It was necessary for you to stay here,’’ Murphy said, ‘‘because it was even more necessary that Fulmar do the same.’’

‘‘And why was that another of those little things that unimportant people like me can’t be told about?’’ Canidy fumed.

‘‘Why is because we’re going to invade North Africa,’’ Murphy said matter-of-factly. ‘‘And soon. And we need Fulmar and el Ferruch to help us in that. We hope that we can enlist Thami el Glaoui’s Berbers on our side. And your friend is going to be just as useful to Sidi el Ferruch as he is to us—as a kind of go-between. Sidi wanted him to stay and he wanted to stay. So he stayed. If you had been told this was planned, things would

have gotten terribly messed up.’’

‘‘We promised him . . . I promised him . . . we’d get him out of Morocco,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘Right now, he thinks we’re lying sonsofbitches. What makes you think he’d help us again?’’

Murphy shrugged. ‘‘That’s one of those bridges to be crossed when we get to it. Grunier and the admiral had the highest priority. Once we got them to the sub, the priority shifted to the invasion. As I said, you weren’t told beforehand because it was better that you didn’t know.’’

A marine appeared with doughnuts and coffee.

‘‘I thought you could use a little something to eat,’’ Murphy said.

‘‘May I ask you a question?’’ Canidy asked.

‘‘What happens now?’’

‘‘No,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘How come you told me about the invasion? Isn’t that secret?’’

‘‘Top secret, actually,’’ Murphy said. ‘‘Around here I decide who has the need to know. I decided that it was in the best interests of the U.S. government that you should know. Eldon Baker is too valuable to us for you to break his neck.’’

Canidy chuckled. ‘‘That thought did cross my mind,’’ he said.

‘‘That would have been inefficient,’’ Murphy said. ‘‘One very good intelligence officer dead and another one in jail for murder. We don’t have that many good intelligence officers. ’’

‘‘That sounds like soft soap,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘You did very well,’’ Murphy said. ‘‘Better than some thought you would. Thus, I agree with Eldon. You seem to have a talent for the clandestine, Canidy.’’

I’ll be goddamned. I am flattered. I am as pleased as a little boy with a gold star to take home to Mommy.

‘‘What does happen to me now?’’

Murphy reached for a Teletype message.

‘‘Before I give you this, listen carefully,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not true. It’s designed for the French and Germans to read.’’

STATEWASH 26 FEB 42

FOR CONSULGEN RABAT MOROCCO

PASS TO RICHARD CANIDY AT EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY QUOTE REV DR GEORGE CRATER CANIDY IN STABLE BUT SERIOUS CONDITION CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA GENERAL HOSPITAL FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK END QUOTE STOP CABLE CONSTITUTES AUTHORITY CONSULGEN RABAT TO PLACE FSO CANIDY ON EMERGENCY LEAVE IF DUTY LOAD PERMITS AND TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION TO US STOP JOHN G GLOVER DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL END

Canidy wondered if this was yet another weird idea of Eldon C. Baker’s.

‘‘You’ll leave by air tomorrow,’’ Murphy said.

‘‘OK, I guess,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘If you’re going to be fucked, you might as well enjoy it.’’

Café des Deux Sabots Rabat, Morocco March 17, 1942