The Last Heroes (Men at War 1)

‘‘Yes, sir, I’m curious,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘But I’m also a junior grade lieutenant.’’

Chennault chuckled. ‘‘Before they retired me from the Air Corps,’’ he said, ‘‘I was a captain. Before I was a captain, I was a first lieutenant. I was a first lieutenant, your grade, for fourteen long years.’’

The steward delivered three glasses, just about full of bourbon over ice.

‘‘Don’t you think we’re about to get in a war, Canidy?’’ the admiral asked suddenly.

‘‘I hope not, sir,’’ he said. The question made him uncomfortable.

‘‘Yes or no?’’ the admiral asked impatiently.

‘‘I don’t see how we can avoid it, sir,’’ Canidy said. The admiral snorted.

‘‘How would you like to get into it early, Canidy?’’ General Chennault asked.

‘‘I’d rather not get into it at all, sir,’’ Canidy replied, after a moment’s hesitation. He had decided that this was one of those occasions when he would say what he was thinking, rather than what he was expected to say.

‘‘I’m surprised,’’ Chennault said. ‘‘The admiral told me you’ve been flying the new Grumman.’’

‘‘Yes, sir.’’

‘‘All that power scare you?’’ Chennault asked.

‘‘No, sir,’’ Canidy replied. ‘‘The airplane’s first-rate. But nobody was shooting at me.’’

The two leathery-faced old pilots looked at each other, and then General Chennault looked into Canidy’s eyes. ‘‘What do you want out of the service, Canidy?’’ he asked softly.

‘‘I’m afraid my answer would sound flippant, sir,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘Out, you mean? What you want out of the service is yourself?’’

‘‘Yes, sir.’’

‘‘And then what?’’

‘‘I’m an aeronautical engineer, sir. I’ve been offered a job by Boeing.’’

‘‘They’ll have you designing ashtrays for transports,’’ the admiral said, smiling, but meaning it. ‘‘You won’t be flying. ’’

‘‘They’ve offered me a job in high-speed airfoil design, sir,’’ Canidy said, unable to let it pass.

‘‘What do you know about high-speed airfoil design?’’ the admiral asked disparagingly.

‘‘That’s my specialty, sir,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘You’re one hell of a fighter pilot, according to your records,’’ Chennault said, ending the sparring. ‘‘They didn’t let you fly the F4F-3 because they liked you or because they thought you were a wing expert.’’

‘‘General Chennault is a highly qualified judge of fighter pilots, Canidy,’’ the admiral said, offering an olive branch. ‘‘That’s a hell of a compliment from him.’’

‘‘I’ve read the general’s book, sir,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘On your own? Or because it was suggested to you?’’ Chennault asked.

‘‘I was ordered to read it, sir,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘I want your honest opinion of The Role of Pursuit Aviation, ’’ the admiral said.

‘‘Theoretically, it sounds fine,’’ Canidy said.