6.

He looked up from the desk and Buckner was there, leaning casually in the doorway with one stiff arm up against the jamb. “Well?”

“Pack your things, Glenn. We’re moving out.”

“Not without filling me in first.”

“Happy to. Take a seat while I finish this.” He went back to the assignment rosters.

When he looked up Buckner was sitting there with his hands folded across his flat belly. The picture of wry patience.

It was nearly noon. In Washington it would be about seven in the morning. Alex said, “You’ve been communicating with Washington nearly every day.”

“Sure.”

“Using the Navy shortwave from Scapa Flow, right?”

“You got it.” Buckner smiled a little. “I thought I had a tail the past few days.”

“You’re lucky I let you off the base at all.”

“Okay so you’ve found out my deep dark secret, Hell if you’d asked me I’d have told you. I’m the President’s boy, Alex—I got to keep in touch with the home office.”

“If I’d had objections to it you’d have heard them long before now.” Alex pushed his seat back. “We’re taking off this afternoon, Glenn. Shortwave only works at night. You won’t have a chance to talk to Washington before we go.”

He saw the impact of it and he went right on before Buckner could work up the anger to respond. “I promised to spell out the plan for you and I’m going to keep the promise right now. It happens the transatlantic cable was cut last week by an American depth-charge attack on a U-boat; otherwise I’d have strung you along until takeoff. But there’s no telephone to Washington now. Next week they’ll have the cable repaired again, won’t they. Fortunes of war, Glenn.”

“You’re a clever bastard.”

“Sure I am. Now there’s a string attached to what I’m about to tell you.”

“What string?”

“You’re going with us as far as our forward base. It’s in Finland.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I’m glad you feel like that. You won’t be able to communicate with Washington at all until we’ve accomplished the mission. My radio people have strict orders to keep you away from all wireless gear.”

Buckner took it stoically. “Thanks heaps—pal.”

“Don’t try to make any phone calls, Glenn. I’ve had the outside line disconnected. Nobody communicates off the base without my authorization.”

“Thought of everything, haven’t you.”

“I always had a fair head for security,” he murmured, “Nobody’s sabotaging this operation now. Nobody.”

Buckner did a strange thing. He nodded and smiled. “If I were in your shoes I’d do exactly the same thing. I had my orders, Alex—but in the gut I’m on your side. I want to see you people pull this thing off. I remember Moscow under Joe Stalin—you know how it is. Now let’s hear the plan. Just for the hell of it.”