“I think Admiral Souers might call on the assistant chief of staff–Intelligence or the chief of Naval Intelligence, and say something like, ‘I’m going to show you a movie that I plan to show to the President unless you get off the back of DCI right now. And stay off.”
“You’re going to blackmail them,” McMullen said, almost incredulously.
“Not ninety seconds ago you were saying something about ‘things of questionable legality’ that sometimes have be done,” General White said.
McMullen met White’s eyes, then looked at Cronley.
“Well, then I suggest, Cronley, that we pool our talents and assets and find those two bastards.”
White said: “I was going to suggest Cronley take you with him to see Commandant Fortin when he goes there in three days.”
“Yes, sir,” Cronley said. “Good idea.”
“How well do you get along with Fortin?” McMullen asked.
“Very well,” Janice said, “after Jim gave him two refrigerators and a trailer full of photo lab supplies. Fortin is French, you know.”
“You gave him two refrigerators, Cronley?” White asked. “Where did you get them?”
“I’d rather not say, sir.”
“What were we just saying about things of questionable legality?” White said, then chuckled. “Well, that’s it. Wagner can start on giving us details of the Stars and Stripes delivery system. Until lunch. Which brings us to that. Miss Johansen, what we’re having for lunch is clam chowder. You’re familiar with New England clam chowder?”
“Of course.”
“Clams, potatoes, a little tomato, all in a milk broth. Served very hot?”
“I said I was.”
“Miss Johansen, if you refer to me or Colonel McMullen with a term of endearment, such as ‘darling,’ in the presence of my wife or his, you will shortly thereafter enjoy a lap full of clam chowder. Do we understand one another?”
“General, darling, I never get guys I really like in trouble with their wives. You and the handsome Irishman have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
[ FOUR ]
München-Ostfriedhof Cemetery
St.-Martins-Platz
Munich, American Zone of Occupation, Germany
1050 5 February 1946
It had begun to snow and the shoulders and hats of the archiereus and the priests who had conducted the service began to be covered as they watched cemetery workers pat the dirt over the graves into neat mounds with shovels.
Finally, the workers finished and looked at the archiereus for his approval.
He answered by making the sign of the cross, mumbling a final prayer, and then brushing the snow off his ornately embroidered vestments.
He then looked at Cronley and Ziegler, who, wearing Class A uniforms, stood across the graves. He blessed them, mumbled something to the priests and brothers, and then turned away from the graves and started to walk toward the Ford staff car that had brought them to the cemetery.
CID Agent Walter Thomas, of the CID photo lab, followed the procession for fifteen seconds with an Eyemo 16mm motion picture camera. Then he panned to Ziegler and Cronley for five seconds and then put the camera down.
“I fully expect to get an Academy Award for this,” Hollywood announced. “Category, Weird Funerals in a German Snowstorm.”
“Just develop that film, Hollywood, and get his”—Ziegler pointed to another CID agent who had been photographing the funeral with a 35mm Leica still camera—“film developed and printed and over to the Vier Jahreszeiten, like, ten minutes ago. This is important.”
“I hear and obey, Master. Give me two hours.”