"This really isn't a joking matter, Whittaker," Baker said. "I didn't think it was," Whittaker said coldly. "You are now a member, more or less in good standing," Canidy said, 94 of Donovan's Dilettantes."
"What the hell is that?"
"I'll tell you later," Canidy said. And what's the 'more or less in good standing' mean?"
"Now we have to get Fulmar to cooperate," Canidy said. "My getting out of here really depends on that?" Whittaker asked.
"I'm afraid so," Baker said. "No," Canidy said firmly.
"No, it doesn't, Jimmy. Baker, I'll go to Donovan himself about that.
Jimmy's coming with us no matter what happens with Eric Fulmar." Baker didn't reply "Well, Mr, Baker?" Whittaker asked after a moment.
AMMER can see no point in keeping you here any longer, Captain Whittaker," Baker said finally.
"Okay," Whittaker said. "You guys are going to have a problem with Fulmar. He's really pissed. He's tried to escape four times." I didn't hear about that," Baker said.
"Are you sure @ " "Yeah, I'm sure, The only reason he hasn't escaped is that every time he was about to go, I squealed on him." He know about that?" Canidy asked. Whittaker shook his head no.
"It wasn't time to try something like that," Whittaker said. "It was getting close, but it wasn't time yet, I sort of thought there was a reason my childhood chum just 'coincidentally' wound up in the adjacent cell."
"You are very perceptive, Captain," Baker said approvingly.
"Lucky for you I am," Whittaker said.
"I could have gotten out of here."
"How could you have done thao" Baker said scoffingly. "Would you like to watch me take that forty-five away from that kid?" Whittaker said, nodding at the MP sitting on a folding chair in the fence din yard.
"I'm surprised at you, Mr. Baker. I thought that surely Major Canidy had regaled you with tales of my exploits on Bataan."
"I'm well aware that you were decorated for valor, Captain Whittaker," Baker said condescendingly, "I didn't get any medals for what I did," Whittaker said.
"You could call my medals political medals. It pleased the people who gave them to me. It had nothing to do with what I did."
"What exactly did you do?" Baker asked. "I blew a lot of things up," Whittaker said. "Sometimes after the Japs had captured them. I'm awfully good at explosions. "Really?"
"That meant we had to take out sentries," Whittaker said conversationally. "Indeed?" Baker said impatiently. The next thing Baker knew, he was on the floor. Whittaker's knee against his back held him immobile. Whittaker's left hand was on his chin, twisting his neck so that it was exposed. Whittaker drew the index finger of his right hand across Baker's Adam's apple. "I don't think," Whittaker said, still conversationally, "that I would have to cut that kid's throat to get his gun. All I would have to do is say "Boo! "' "Let him up, Jimmy," Canidy said, laughing.
"I think you've made your point." Baker rose awkwardly to his feet and straightened his clothing. Then he surprised Canidy. "You're very goo
d," Baker said.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone that fast." That surprised Whittaker, too, and seemed to embarrass him. "You figured out how to handle Fulmar?" Whittaker asked.
"Or are you open to suggestion?"
"Let's hear it," Canidy said quickly. "If you go in there and give him the business about volunteering, he's going to tell you to go fuck yourselves. "What do you suggest?"
"Take him someplace now, without conditions. Maybe the house on Q Street, or better, Summer Place. Dangle the carrot in front of his nose.
Sugar catches more flies than vinegar. Right now you've got him trapped in a corner. Even Pekingese dogs will fight when you get them in a corner, "I'm not sure I'm authorized to do that, give him his freedom without conditions," Baker said uncomfortably. But Canidy saw that he had not rejected Whittaker's reasoning out of hand. "And you stay the hell out of sight," Whittaker said.
"He really hates you. Let Canidy go in there and tell him he's been sent to get us out of here."
"Would he believe that?" Baker asked. "Why not? The last time he saw Canidy was after they'd both been left behind in Morocco. And he would probably take his cue from me."
"And what if he tries to escape?"