without official standing of any sort — ”
“This can prove that” Sam dug a fingernail into the discharge button on his jacket lapel. “Only maybe we're to be something else too — ”
Thurston seemed to be enjoying his own thoughts, working his long bony fingers together, a gesture of pleasure which they both had reason to remember. “Not so fast, Marusaki. You will be private citizens and none of our concern. Understand? Of course, should you care to make a note of anything unusual you see during your travels — ”
Kane's mouth grimaced. “Nice game. If we slip you've never heard of us. Just like that — ”
Ironjaw lost his sweetness. “D'you young fools realize what's happening to us? We demobilized at a rate which almost ruined everything we'd accomplished. Green kids make up the armies of occupation — they haven't an idea in a hundred of their soft heads! The O.S.S. is gone. Our tools are out of our hands — and yet we have to sweat to keep the machine running. You're both members of the Reserve. I could have you back in uniform in an hour.Only what use would you be to me then?”
“And I'm not returning to KP. and the joys of post duty without a squawk you can hear from here to Washington,” struck in Sam. “But what's the pitch in the Indies, sir, that you need eyes and ears down there? I can see now how Safield got permission to send us out as a private expedition — ”
The colonel was busy sorting into different piles the papers he had brought from Safield's office.
“These should take you anywhere in the Indies. Our government is interested in missing flyers — there is an organization being formed with just such duties. Your trip will be considered in the nature of an experiment. And don't concentrate on young Safield alone. Here is a list of others who have vanished in the same area — You have seats booked aboard the Hawaii clipper which leaves tomorrow. From there you're to fly to Manila and report to Boone.”
But Kane refused to be dismissed so easily. “What's wrong down there, sir?” he persisted.
“What's right?” countered the colonel. “The Dutch are fighting native reds in Java, all sorts of queer people are floating around. Use your eyes — and your wits — if you still have a teacupful of them left. Boone will brief you. Good day, gentlemen, and — good luck.”
Outside Kane laughed. “Ironjaw can give the brush-off quicker and more neatly than any other brass I’ve ever met What do you think of the set-up anyway, Sam?”
“Lloyds of London would turn down our applications at once — and they have the reputation of insuring everything and anything.”
Kane's eyes narrowed. “Well, it's nice to have my worst fears confirmed so quickly. Let's go and pick out coffins, shall we? I wonder if Ironjaw will remember to send lilies?”
“Lilies? When he's never heard of us? This interviewnever happened — officially.”
“Just a sort of nightmare, you mean? I suppose Ironjaw was the gristle in the hamburger I ate last night. Okay. But what are we going to do about our kits? I don't see myself coasting about the islands in this natty little gray number.”
“That's been taken care of, apparently.” Sam was glancing over his share of the papers.” Says so right here. We report to this address for kit and all supplies.”
“Then what are we waiting for? I give you Operation — Operation Lazarus!”
Sam considered the point before he nodded agreement “Operation Lazarus it is, Dutch.”
2
“WE'RE UNOFFICIAL, VERY, VERY UNOFFICIAL!”
“Glad I never said that I could decipher chicken tracks!” Kane stretched his long legs, trying to ease muscles weary from hours of walking about Manila He curled his bare toes over the foot rail of the bed and half-dollar sized flakes of once white paint scaled off to the floor.
The rest of the small room was in keeping with the ancient bed. Above Kane's pillowed head a line of plugged bullet holes in the stained
“This can prove that” Sam dug a fingernail into the discharge button on his jacket lapel. “Only maybe we're to be something else too — ”
Thurston seemed to be enjoying his own thoughts, working his long bony fingers together, a gesture of pleasure which they both had reason to remember. “Not so fast, Marusaki. You will be private citizens and none of our concern. Understand? Of course, should you care to make a note of anything unusual you see during your travels — ”
Kane's mouth grimaced. “Nice game. If we slip you've never heard of us. Just like that — ”
Ironjaw lost his sweetness. “D'you young fools realize what's happening to us? We demobilized at a rate which almost ruined everything we'd accomplished. Green kids make up the armies of occupation — they haven't an idea in a hundred of their soft heads! The O.S.S. is gone. Our tools are out of our hands — and yet we have to sweat to keep the machine running. You're both members of the Reserve. I could have you back in uniform in an hour.Only what use would you be to me then?”
“And I'm not returning to KP. and the joys of post duty without a squawk you can hear from here to Washington,” struck in Sam. “But what's the pitch in the Indies, sir, that you need eyes and ears down there? I can see now how Safield got permission to send us out as a private expedition — ”
The colonel was busy sorting into different piles the papers he had brought from Safield's office.
“These should take you anywhere in the Indies. Our government is interested in missing flyers — there is an organization being formed with just such duties. Your trip will be considered in the nature of an experiment. And don't concentrate on young Safield alone. Here is a list of others who have vanished in the same area — You have seats booked aboard the Hawaii clipper which leaves tomorrow. From there you're to fly to Manila and report to Boone.”
But Kane refused to be dismissed so easily. “What's wrong down there, sir?” he persisted.
“What's right?” countered the colonel. “The Dutch are fighting native reds in Java, all sorts of queer people are floating around. Use your eyes — and your wits — if you still have a teacupful of them left. Boone will brief you. Good day, gentlemen, and — good luck.”
Outside Kane laughed. “Ironjaw can give the brush-off quicker and more neatly than any other brass I’ve ever met What do you think of the set-up anyway, Sam?”
“Lloyds of London would turn down our applications at once — and they have the reputation of insuring everything and anything.”
Kane's eyes narrowed. “Well, it's nice to have my worst fears confirmed so quickly. Let's go and pick out coffins, shall we? I wonder if Ironjaw will remember to send lilies?”
“Lilies? When he's never heard of us? This interviewnever happened — officially.”
“Just a sort of nightmare, you mean? I suppose Ironjaw was the gristle in the hamburger I ate last night. Okay. But what are we going to do about our kits? I don't see myself coasting about the islands in this natty little gray number.”
“That's been taken care of, apparently.” Sam was glancing over his share of the papers.” Says so right here. We report to this address for kit and all supplies.”
“Then what are we waiting for? I give you Operation — Operation Lazarus!”
Sam considered the point before he nodded agreement “Operation Lazarus it is, Dutch.”
2
“WE'RE UNOFFICIAL, VERY, VERY UNOFFICIAL!”
“Glad I never said that I could decipher chicken tracks!” Kane stretched his long legs, trying to ease muscles weary from hours of walking about Manila He curled his bare toes over the foot rail of the bed and half-dollar sized flakes of once white paint scaled off to the floor.
The rest of the small room was in keeping with the ancient bed. Above Kane's pillowed head a line of plugged bullet holes in the stained
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