Griffin, W.E.B. - The Corps 04 - Battleground by Griffin W. E. B

Author:Griffin, W. E. B.
Language: eng
Format: epub

"What's 'Operation Pestilence'?" Moore asked, as he handed the onion skin back. "The invasion of the Solomon Islands," Hon replied. "Or three of them, anyway. Tulagi, Gavutu, and Guadalcanal. Where the Japs are building this airfield. MacArthur and Ghormley think it's a lousy idea."

The steel door creaked open.

"You should have bolted that," Hon said.

Captain Fleming Pickering and Major Ed Banning came into the tiny room.

"What was that, Pluto?" Pickering asked.

"Nothing, Sir," Hon said. "This just came in, sir. I thought you would want to see it right away."

Pickering took the onion skin. His eyebrows rose as he read it. He handed it to Banning.

"Does General MacArthur have that yet?"

"He and Mrs. MacArthur are having lunch with the Prime Minister. One of the crypto officers is on his

way over there with it." Pickering grunted. "What brings you here, Moore?" "He has a message for me," Banning answered for him. "Let's have it, Sergeant." "The airfield at Lunga Point is being built by the 11th and 23rd Pioneers, IJN. Estimated strength 450.

They are equipped with bulldozers, rock crushers, trucks, and other engineer equipment,"

Moore recited, and added, "Commander Feldt says 'that's as good as gold.' " Pickering snorted. "Repeat that, please," he said.

Moore did so.

"What can they accomplish in a month, five weeks?" Pickering asked. "They can probably have it ready for fighters," Banning replied. "I don't know about bombers." "They already have float mounted Zeroes on Tulagi," Pickering said thoughtfully. Then he looked at Moore. "You'd better get back to driving Colonel Goettge around," he said. "I don't have to tell you, do I, that Colonel Goettge is not to know about this? Or what you just relayed from Commander Feldt?"

"No, Sir," Moore said. He started to walk out of the room. "Moore!" Banning called, and Moore turned. Banning held out a thin stack of envelopes to him. "Mail call. It came in on this morning's courier."

"Thank you, Sir." In the elevator en route to the lobby, Moore thumbed through the half dozen envelopes. There were two

letters from his mother; one each from his two sisters; one from Uncle Bill; and one with the return address, Apartment "C", 106 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

His heart jumped. He resisted the temptation to tear Barbara's letter open right there. I'll save it until I'm alone. He raised it to his nose and thought he could smell, ever so faintly, Barbara's perfume and then he put the

letters in the inside pocket of his uniform jacket.

He walked out of the Menzies Hotel, got in the Studebaker, and drove back to where he was supposed to be waiting for Colonel Goettge and Major Dillon. They were outside, waiting for him, and Colonel Goettge was visibly annoyed that he had been kept waiting.

"Sergeant," Goettge said, somewhat snappishly, "I thought that you were aware I have a luncheon appointment with Colonel Willoughby." "Sorry, Sir," Moore said. "I had to do something for Major Banning." "So we have been informed," Goettge said, as he got in the car. Moore closed the door after him and

drove back to the Menzies Hotel.

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