Pickering tore open the manila envelope and took from it a smaller, squarish envelope. A red blob was on its flap.
I'll be damned, Rickabee thought. Didn't sealing wax go out with the nineteenth century?
Pickering opened the second envelope and read the letter it contained.
"Will there be a reply, General?" Colonel DePress asked.
"Will you be seeing General MacArthur anytime soon?"
"Yes, Sir. I'll be returning in two or three days, Sir."
"Please tell General MacArthur"-Pickering began and then interrupted himself-"could I send a letter back with you?"
"Of course, General."
"I'll try to do that. If something goes wrong, please tell General MacArthur that I am very grateful for his gracious courtesy, and ask him to offer my best wishes to Mrs. MacArthur."
"I'll be happy to do that, General. And I will check with you before I leave to see if the General has a Personal for the General."
"I'd appreciate that," Pickering said. "Thank you very much, Colonel."
"My pleasure, Sir. With your permission, Sir?" To judge by the look on his face, General Pickering was baffled by the question. Rickabee knew why: The Army officer was asking ritual permission to leave the Marine general's presence, and Pickering was unfamiliar with the ritual.
"Colonel," Rickabee said, doing his best to finesse the situation, "Sergeant Hart will take you wherever you need to go.
And with General Pickering's permission, he'll stay with you as long as you need him."
"Very kind of you, Sir. Just to General Marshall's office would be a great help."
"On your way, Sergeant Hart," Pickering said.
"Aye, aye, Sir," Hart said.
Colonel DePress saluted again. This time Pickering returned When the door had closed on them, Jake Dillon asked, "What the hell was that all about?"
"Goddamn it, Jake," Pickering said. "You're just a lousy major. How about a little respect for a goddamned general?"
"Yes, Sir, Goddamned General. What the hell was that all about?"
Pickering chuckled and tossed him the small envelope from General MacArthur.
So they really are close friends, Rickabee decided. Dillon isn't just another one of Pickering's suck-up acquaintances.
"I'll be damned," Dillon said, when he had read the letter.
"Show it to Rickabee and Moore," Pickering said.
Dillon handed it to Rickabee.
OFFICE of THE SUPREME COMMANDER
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS
13th September 1942
Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, USMC
By Hand of Officer Courier
My Dear Fleming,
I shall probably be among the last to offer my congratulations upon your appointment to flag rank. But you of all people, with your deep understanding of the communications problems in this theater of war , will understand why the news reached here so belatedly; and as a cherished friend and comrade in arms you will believe me when I say that had I known sooner, I would sooner have written to say with what great joy Mrs. MacArthur and I received the news.
Please believe me further that had it been within my power, that is to say if you had been under my command during your distinguished and sorely missed service here, you would long ago have been given rank commensurate with your proven ability and valor in combat.
Mrs. MacArthur joins me in extending every wish for your continued success in the future, and our warmest personal good wishes,
Yours,
Douglas
Pickering waited until Rickabee finished reading, then said, "That's what's known as the old el softo soapo, of which the General is a master, Rickabee."
"I don't think so," Dillon said.
"Neither do I," Rickabee said, thinking aloud. "Those references to his wife made it personal. I think he really likes you."
"The staff over there hated your ass, Flem," Dillon said, "which is the proof of that pudding."
"So what brings you here, Jake, to change the subject?"
"You mean to the States, or here, here and now?"
"Both."
"Well, I am about to win the war by running a war bond tour. I brought eight heroes here from the `Canal-really seven, plus one asshole who managed to get himself shot and looks like a hero."
"Straight from Guadalcanal or via Australia?"
"I saw Feldt and Ed Banning, if that's what you're asking. And I saw the girls in Melbourne, Howard's and that kid sergeant's."
"That's what I was asking. And Howard and Koffler are still on Buka?"
"That's an unpleasant story, Fleming. They're really up shi creek. "