"We'll send them to Cairo," Bruce said.
"They'll attract less attention there.
And we'll send them on the ATE courier. There's a daily flight. If we send one man a day, starting right now, they should attract no attention at all. Wilkins is good at distracting attention."
"Mr. Bruce," Fine said, almost hesitantly.
"I'm afraid that you will think I'm rephrasing a request that has already been denied--" "What, Fine?
"Bruce asked impatiently.
"Project Aphrodite has two new B-17s," Fine said.
"One of which you would like to fly to Cairo?" Bruce asked, icily sarcastic.
"May I explain my thinking, Sir?"
"No," Bruce said.
"I would like to hear it," Charity said.
Bruce glared at her and opened his mouth to speak. Before he could, there was a knock at the door, and instead of saying what he'd intended, Bruce said, his voice angry and impatient:
"We are not to be disturbed!"
"Operational Immediate Eyes Only for you, Sir," Capt. Harrison's voice came through the door.
"Oh, hell," Bruce said, "now what?" He raised his voice.
"Bring it in, Harrison!"
Harrison came into the room, extended a clipboard with a Receipt for Classified Document on it, and, when Bruce had signed it, handed him a document with a top secret cover sheet on it.
"Thank you," Bruce said.
"I didn't mean to snap at you, Paul."
"No problem, Sir," Harrison said. He made no move to leave.
"That'll be all, thank you," Bruce said.
"An action is required, Sir," Harrison said.
Bruce snorted, and lifted the cover sheet.
TOPSECRET
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OSS WASHINGTON
FOR OSS LONDON EYES ONLY BRUCE STEVENS ]
FOR OSS CAIRO EYES ONLY WILKINS ;
RELAY FOLLOWING CANIDY MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS:
QUOTE jOSS LONDON AND CAIRO DIRECTED AS HIGHEST PRIORITY TO l
SUPPORT WITH ALL MEANS AVAILABLE ATTEMPT FREE EX LAX AND "3