The Tip of the Sword by Phil Ward

Author:Phil Ward [Ward, Phil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

9

CARD GAME

Colonel John Randal was lying on a chaise lounge by the private pool at the suite Major the Lady Jane Seaborn kept at Mena House Hotel. Beverly Blackwell, in her black French-cut swimsuit, was lying next to him. Brandy Seaborn and Lady Jane were in the pool, floating on air mattresses. Rita and Lana had been playing badminton, but now they were throwing a tennis ball for Happy to chase.

Lady Jane was pretty much ignoring her doctor’s orders.

Beverly said, “OK, General Donovan sent you an “Eyes Only” message. Since I decode all incoming OSS traffic, I know what it says. All the spy-versus-spy stuff doesn’t work out in actual practice the way the people back at HQ in Washington imagine it does.”

Col. Randal said, “What’s it say?”

“OSS intercepted a message from the German consulates in Angola and Mozambique stating that they weren’t able to buy the seven hundred thousand carats of diamonds in their districts as instructed by Berlin.”

Col. Randal said, “That’s too bad.”

“OSS has concluded that the only place the Nazis can obtain the quantity of industrial diamonds it requires is the Belgian Congo because their mines are still producing,” Beverly said. “General Donovan wants an update on the status of Raiding Forces’ intentions to go there and initiate anti-diamond smuggling operations.”

Col. Randal said, “You’ve seen all the classified messages. Been in the room or been briefed on every conversation I’ve had with the general about diamonds. What’s your estimate of the situation?”

Beverly said, “General Donovan is totally obsessed with the Belgian Congo.”

“Yeah, and I have no idea why that might be.”

Beverly asked, “Is it true that the safe you raided Kupho to capture fell overboard and sank?”

“Roger that.”

Beverly said, “Ian saw what happened?”

“Looking straight at the cutter when it went down.”

Beverly laughed. “I would have loved to have seen his face.”

“Wasn’t happy,” Colonel Randal said.

Beverly reached into her bag and extracted a small box. She took out a silver pin. “Lady Jane had these made for me—my WASP wings. They resemble USAAF pilot’s wings but have a diamond shape in the center to symbolize the shield carried by Athena, the Goddess of War.”

Col. Randal said, “Wasp?”

Beverly laughed. “No, Johnny, Women’s Army Service Pilot—WASP. These wings aren’t officially authorized for issue yet, so Lady Jane had her jeweler make this pair from a pattern Daddy sent her. He knows Jackie Cochrane, one of the WASP founders.”

Col. Randal said, “Jane marches to her own drum. Doesn’t much like to wait around for orders to be cut once she decides to do something. How many sets of wings does that make you qualified for?”

Beverly said, “Four—my British Parachute Wings, U.S. Jump Wings, British Air Transport Auxiliary Wings and U.S. Army Women’s Service Pilot’s Wings. I’m going to do like you and not wear decorations, but I love my wings. I’m going to wear all of ’em at the same time, one on top of the other.”

Col. Randal said, “I like that plan.”

Brandy climbed out of the pool, came over and lay down on the lounge on the other side of Col.

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