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"They say what for?"

"We're talking in the clear, Captain," Ellis said.

"You can't expect them to offer details."

"When can I get to see the Colonel?

"Whittaker asked.

"He said that I should go to Virginia and pick you up and see if we could raise MFS," Ellis said.

"I think he wanted to see if you thought they were being controlled by the Japs. To answer your question, Captain, that's where we're going now"

[THREE]

Colonel William J. Donovan was in civilian clothing: a well-cut, doublebreasted Glen plaid suit, a crisp white shirt, and a red-and-blue finely patterned necktie. He looked, Whittaker thought, like a successful lawyer about to sue Chrysler or DuPont for a lot of money.

When Whittaker entered the office, Donovan walked around his desk with his hand extended, and then the handshake gave way to a quick embrace.

"Good to see you'Jimmy,"he said.

"How did you find the place in Virginia?"

"I'd been there before," Jimmy said.

"And Staley drew a map. No problem."

"Why do I suspect you purposely misunderstood me?" Donovan asked.

"You mean 'what did I think of the place'?"

Donovan nodded.

"Baker and I crossed swords again," Whittaker said.

"He seems to feel I 'manifested a belligerent and uncooperative attitude." I also 'subjected a trainee to public humiliation."" "Oh, Jimmy," Donovan said, both angry and resigned.

"What the hell was that all about?"

"Well, the belligerent and uncooperative attitude is something that seems to happen when I get in the same room with Baker," Whittaker said.

"It seems to be contagious. Canidy has the same thing happen to him."

"We're talking about you, not Dick Canidy," Donovan said.

"What happened with the trainee? What was he doing so wrong you felt you had to humiliate him?"

"Her," Whittaker corrected him.

"I kissed her."

"Cynthia?" Donovan asked. Whittaker nodded.

"I don't know why I'm smiling," Donovan added.

"I'm sure she didn't think it was funny. You'll notice that I am assuming she didn't want to be kissed."

"That girl doesn't know what she wants," Whittaker said.