Secret Warriors (Men at War 2)

"Baker is a professional," Canidy said.

"He holds me in the contempt he holds all amateurs. I'm not serious enough."

"I'm surprised you haven't considered that he might know something you don't."

"Oh, I've considered that, Colonel."

"Since the odds are about ninety to ten that you're going to St. Elizabeth's," Donovan said, "I'm going to tell you a little more than you know. I'll be interested in your reaction."

"And if my reaction is not what you want, it's St. Elizabeth's for sure?

" "Yes,' Donovan said. Canidy saw in Martin's eyes that the direction this encounter was taking had come as a surprise to him. "The Germans have begun test-flying a jet-powered fighter aircraft, the Messerschmitt ME-262," Donovan said.

"If the tests are successful, and if they can get the airplane into production in sufficient numbers, the ME-262 will be capable of inflicting tremendous losses on the bombers of the Eighth Air Force.

This means that the current strategy calling for the destruction of German industry by aerial bombardment will have to be called off. At the moment, there is no satisfactory substitute available."

"Jesus!" Canidy said. "The only way out of this problem that seems to make any sense," Donovan went on, "is to interrupt production of the engines. But that, in turn, depends on our getting our hands on either an engine or else its specifications. That will allow our technical people to determine how production can be delayed. Special metals, special smelting techniques, special machining, special machines to make those machines... Are you following me?"

"Yes, Sir," Canidy said.

"The Fokker Company has sublet the development and production contracts for the engine to FEG-that is, to Fulmar Elektrische Gesellschaft.

"And you think Eric can help?"

"We hope so."

"Then how?"

"He can help us recruit a man who we hope can do something useful in this regard. Our man in Morocco, Murphy... You met him, I think?"

"On my way out," Canidy confirmed. "He has established a rather interesting contact with a man named Helm ut von Heurten-Mitnitz."

"He heads the Franco-German Armistice Commission," Canidy said. "He was doing his damnedest-he and an SS officer named Milller-to get Fulmar back to Germany."

"Well, for several reasons, Murphy believes he can be very valuable to us. Fulmar is the key to his cooperation. That's why we brought Fulmar out of Morocco. It has little or nothing to do with Operation Torch."

"How is this tied in with the African flight?"

"It's not," Donovan said after a moment's hesitation. It was obvious that Canidy did not believe him, "And this breach of security has fucked this up?"

"If it gets out, it will," Donovan said. "Then, and for the first time, I am truly sorry," Canidy said. "Shit! Why didn't somebody tell me this?"

"You weren't sorry before?"

"You want a straight answer to that?" Canidy asked. "Please," C.

Holds worth Martin, Jr." said. "It struck me as much ado about nothing," Canidy said. Donovan coughed, as if he were trying in vain to dislodge something in his throat. Canidy waited for him to stop and then went on.

"All you have to do is tell Bitter and Doug lass to keep their mouths shut. To consider them security risks is patently absurd. So far as Whittaker and Martin are concerned, they don't know anything, except who's here in Deal. They also can be told to keep their mouths shut.

There is a problem with one of the women, Ann Chambers. She may look like she's nineteen years old, but she's a lot smarter than you'd think just to look at her. Last night she was pumping everybody."

"You think she learned anything?"

"No," Canidy said matter-of-factly.

"I'm sure she didn't. But she's smart, and we can't afford to have her speculating in the newspapers."