The Last Heroes (Men at War 1)

‘‘Are you going to reply?’’ Bitter asked.

‘‘Sure,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘Why not?’’

‘‘She’s a little young for you, isn’t she? Not quite your style?’’

The reference was obviously to what had happened between Canidy and Sue-Ellen.

‘‘I hadn’t planned to send her dirty pictures, Eddie,’’ Canidy replied. ‘‘Just help her get her gold star to show her mommy.’’

Ex-Chief Radioman Edgar Lopp rushed into the dining room.

‘‘The Japs just bombed Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor.’’

‘‘Oh shit!’’ Canidy said.

‘‘Oh my God!’’ Bitter said.

Lopp turned on the Hallicrafter’s communications receiver they had ‘‘borrowed’’ from the CAMCO warehouse, and they listened for bulletins all over the dial.

At eleven o’clock, a messenger delivered a radio message from Toungoo:

AIRCRAFT OF THE AVG WILL NOT REPEAT NOT PARTICIPATE IN

ANY REPEAT ANY OPERATION WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION OF THE UNDERSIGNED. CHENNAULT.

Since Canidy and Bitter were the only AVG aviators in Rangoon, the message was obviously intended for them. Bitter was powerfully disappointed. He took the Japanese attack as a personal affront, and wanted to rush out to Mingaladon Field, jump into a P40-B, roar into the sky, and take revenge on whatever treacherous Japanese aircraft happened to be conveniently there.

Canidy, on the other hand, felt something closer to fear. The Japanese had not attacked Pearl Harbor foolishly. They had imagined, and now had proved, that they could get away with it. And if, as the radio reported, they had destroyed most of the Pacific Fleet, things were going to be very bad for the United States and its allies in the Pacific.

As a practical matter, Canidy decided the smart thing to do was try to get in touch with Crookshanks at Toungoo. Incredibly, the telephone call went through immediately.

‘‘This is Canidy, Commander,’’ he said. ‘‘For your information, there are two we can bring up there right now, if you think that’s best.’’

‘‘Are they in revetments?’’ Crookshanks asked.

‘‘Yes, sir,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘I’d say they’re safe from anything but a direct hit.’’

‘‘I think the thing to do is let them sit right there until things settle down a little. You got the general’s TWX?’’

‘‘Yes, sir. Just now.’’

‘‘Our priority, obviously, is to get the aircraft to China,’’ Crookshanks said. ‘‘Unless you hear to the contrary, ferry them up here first thing in the morning.’’

‘‘Yes, sir,’’ Canidy said.

‘‘My, aren’t we courteous this morning?’’ Crookshanks said dryly, and hung up.

‘‘What did he say?’’ Bitter asked after Canidy had hung up.

‘‘Tomorrow morning, we take the two that are flyable up to Toungoo.’’

‘‘And what are we supposed to do today?’’

‘‘We’ve been invited to tiffin,’’ Canidy said. ‘‘At Wing Commander Hepple’s house. With a little bit of luck, that redheaded Scottish lassie will be there. Maybe she’ll have a friend for you.’’

‘‘For God’s sake, we’re at war,’’ Bitter said.

‘‘Whatever, old chap, has that to do with tiffin?’’ Canidy replied in a British accent. ‘‘Stiff upper lip! Cheerio! Pip-pip and all that!’’