Read Command Decision for Free Online Page B

too firm; the face and eyes had already taken on the unctuous familiarity of the job.
    “I’m very happy to meet the commander of our famous Fifth Division,” said Major Prescott.
    “Have you replaced Major Tailor?”
    “For the moment, anyway, sir,” said Prescott. “He went home to do a book and movie on General… that is, on this Air Army, so I’m sort of taking over.”
    “And here, Casey,” said Kane, “is my friend Elmer Brockhurst.”
    Dennis had been too intent on Garnett to notice that the correspondent had entered, chatting familiarly with Prescott, and now confronted him with an outstretched hand below his faint smile. Dennis ignored the hand.
    “General Kane, I’ve refused this man the station for worming operational information out of my people.”
    He saw anger flash and then fade, deep under Kane’s blank simulation of a smile.
    “Now, my boy, that’s one of the things I’ve come down here about. You and Brockie were both trying to do right and…”
    He had been looking about the room as he spoke and his eyes had fallen for the first time on Captain Jenks, waiting at rigid attention. With instant decision Kane left the Brockhurst matter in the silent air which he had known to close over hotter issues than this, and making straight for the Captain he extended a hand, face and voice exuding paternal cordiality.
    “Why, Captain Jenks, delighted to see you, my boy.”
    Brockhurst watched Dennis almost visibly frosting over as Kane shook hands with the Captain and then, throwing an affectionate arm around his dirty coveralls, led him back to General Garnett.
    “Cliff, this is one of our real heroes. I had the pleasure of decorating him with the D.F.C. while Casey was in the hospital a while ago. He’s a Squadron Commander and already has sixteen missions. It is sixteen, isn’t it, Captain?”
    “Nineteen now, sir.” Jenks was embarrassed but he was visibly absorbing assurance from General Kane’s patronage.
    “Nineteen, eh,” chuckled Kane. “I guess that name on your ship hardly applies any more. Captain Jenks named his Fortress the Urgent Virgin , Cliff. Maybe you saw her. Elmer here got us a wonderful spread on her in Coverage —three pages and nine pictures.”
    Brockhurst now realized that this was indeed the boy on whom he had done the special article. He had begun the assignment with zest and ended it holding his nose. In twelve years of newspaper work he had never seen anyone, from actresses to presidents, as camera conscious as that kid.
    At the time he had shrugged and blamed the uniform. Since then he had begun to wonder. The effect of the uniform was illusory; it only intensified what was in the man. Kane’s cunning and Dennis’s inhuman austerity seemed sound examples. He attuned his ears as Kane went on.
    “What brings you up to Division Headquarters today, my boy? Are you helping General Dennis here?”
    Jenks hesitated: “Not exactly, sir.”
    “It’s a disciplinary matter, sir,” said Dennis. “Captain Jenks and I will attend to it later.”
    He indicated the door to Jenks, but Kane did not remove the firm arm around the Captain’s shoulder.
    “This is what you wanted to see, Cliff, real field problems. Now Casey, you and Captain Jenks carry right on just as if we weren’t here. If there’s one thing I pride myself on it’s not interfering with the vital work of my divisions.”
    Dennis looked pointedly from Kane to Brockhurst.
    “This is not a matter for the press, sir.”
    Evans, watching intently from his post by the door, scowled to himself. Garnett looked like one of the finicky ones to him, and if Dennis were trying to get himself fired he could not have chosen a better way. Kane’s courtship of the press was as notorious throughout the Division as in the Savoy. Evans saw him flush angrily before he addressed Dennis.
    “Brockie is a friend of mine, General.” He let this sink in before turning his affability on Jenks again.
    “Well, what’s the