Moore read the sheet of paper again. And then again, and again, very uncomfortable under Donnelly's impatient glare. Finally, he said, "I think I have it, Sir."
"Try it," Donnelly said.
Moore repeated what he had memorized.
"Once more, to set it in your head," Donnelly ordered.
Moore repeated it again.
"OK. Repeat that to Major Banning," Donnelly ordered-"Tell him that Commander Feldt said, 'it's as good as gold.' "
" 'It's as good as gold,' " Moore dutifully parroted. "Sir, I don't know when I'm going to see Major Banning."
"You are going to see him right away," Donnelly said. "You get in your car and you go over to the Hotel Menzies, and you repeat to him what you just memorized. And then you forget it, OK? Understand?"
He's talking to me like I'm a backward child. Probably because I am acting like one.
"Sir, I'm driving some American officers around."
"Well, Sergeant, they're just going to have to bloody well wait for you. I'll have Daphne-Daphne being the Yeoman you were ogling-to look out for them and tell them what's happened."
"Aye, aye, Sir," Moore said.
When he got to the Hotel Menzies, Moore realized that he had no idea where to find Major Banning.
Lieutenant Hon will know, he decided. He rode the elevator to the basement and made his way to the steel-doored room.
"I thought you were playing chauffeur?" Hon greeted him.
"I was outside the Australian Navy building when Lieutenant Donnelly sent for me. He gave me a message for Major Banning. Made me memorize it. And then told me to deliver it. I don't know where he is, Sir."
"What's the message?" Hon asked. He saw the look of concern on Moore's face. "Hey, I'm cleared for everything."
"The airfield at Lunga Point is being built by the 11th and 23rd Pioneers, IJN," Moore recited. "Estimated strength 450. They are equipped with bulldozers, rock crushers, trucks, and other engineer equipment."
"Christ!" Hon said, "that's bad news."
"Commander Feldt said 'that's as good as gold,' " Moore added.
Hon looked at Moore thoughtfully. "You don't have the faintest idea what that means, do you?"
"No, Sir."
Hon went to an open file drawer, took from it and unfolded a map of Guadalcanal, and pointed to Lunga Point.
"That's Lunga Point," he said. "We already heard-had aerial photos-that the Japanese had burned the grass off a flat area, a plain, here. Feldt sent Coastwatchers he had on Guadalcanal across the island from here," he pointed, "through the jungle to see what was going on. And now we know-Feldt said his information was 'as good as gold'-that the Japanese are making a real effort to build a major airfield there. Pioneers are what we call Engineers. They've got 450 Engineers in there with rock crushers and bulldozers."
"I realize I must sound stupid, but is that really so important?"
"If they can base aircraft there-even fighters, but especially bombers-we're in real trouble. Always keep that airfield in the back of your mind when you're reading the MAGICS. Let me know if anything-anything-arouses your curiosity."
"Yes, Sir. Sir, what do I do about getting this to Major Banning?"
"He and Captain Pickering are on their way down here," Hon replied, and then handed Moore a sheet of onion skin. "I just got my hands on this."
OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE
TOP SECRET
WASH DC 0015G 2JUL42
FROM: THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
TO: EYES ONLY
ADMIRAL NIMITZ COMPOA PEARLHARBOR
INFORMATION: EYES ONLY
GENERAL MACARTHUR SHSWPA MELBOURNE
VICEADMIRAL GHORMLEY COMSOPAC AUCKLAND
1. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF OPERATION PESTILENCE OR ALTERNATIVES THERETO IS DESIRED.
2. DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, EXECUTE OPERATION PESTILENCE AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY
BUT NO LATER THAN 10 AUGUST 1942.
FOR THE CHAIRMAN, THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF:
HANNEMAN, MAJGEN, USA, SECRETARY, JCS
"What's 'Operation Pestilence'?" Moore asked, as he handed the onion skin back.
"The invasion of the Solomon Islands," Hon replied. "Or three of them, anyway. Tulagi, Gavutu, and Guadalcanal. Where the Japs are building this airfield. MacArthur and Ghormley think it's a lousy idea."
The steel door creaked open.
"You should have bolted that," Hon said.
Captain Fleming Pickering and Major Ed Banning came into the tiny room.
"What was that, Pluto?" Pickering asked.
"Nothing, Sir," Hon said. "This just came in, sir. I thought you would want to see it right away."