"So?"
"Question, do they really think they are so much better soldiers than we are that they can kick us off Guadalcanal with the troops they have and the ones they're sending? Answer: I don't know. They are not stupid, but when they get their pride going, all bets are off."
"How about this? Question, are they only sending five thousand troops because they don't have shipping to transport any more than that? Probable answer, I haven't the faintest idea. Maybe there are enough ships and they intend to use them to move those two divisions from Rabaul to New Guinea with them, leaving Guadalcanal until later."
"So what we're looking for is shipping information?" Moore asked.
"One other thing. I have seen nothing in any of these intercepts that suggests the Japs are worried about our getting that airfield up and running. Does that mean they don't think we can do it? Or they don't understand what it will mean?"
"How much more is there to go through?"
"I've got another thirty intercepts."
"I'll get on them," Moore said.
"The reason I was hoping you would bring the Deaconess with you was so that she could help. Why should we do all the work? She's making all the money."
"Lieutenant," Moore said, in mock shock and outrage, "that's very ungentlemanly of you."
"I haven't been admiring her legs. I don't have to be gentlemanly."
"I'll take the intercepts out to the cottage."
"I thought you said she was playing tennis?"
"You don't play tennis all afternoon."
"OK," Hon said. "Now listen to me, John. I'm not pulling your leg. I don't trust that woman. She looks to me like she has taken post graduate courses in how to take credit for what other people have done, while simultaneously keeping her own ass out of the line of fire."
"You better go deeper into that," Moore said.
"So far, she has not put her ass on the line with any analysis we've taken to the Emperor. Think about it. So far we have been right. She's getting credit for that, because they think she's in charge. But if we had been wrong, I think she would have said, 'Lieutenant Hon never discussed that with me.'"
"You really think she's that much of a bitch?"
"Yeah."
"Well, there's something damned cold about her, I'll admit that."
"I want to make sure she reads every goddamned thing that comes through here. I don't want her to be able to say she never saw something."
"What are you going to do about the Emperor?"
"I'm going to call Sid Huff and tell him I have some MAGIC. What you read. Before we offer an analysis, I want the Deaconess's two cents."
"I'm on my way," Moore said.
"Take a pistol and use the chain on the briefcase. Do it by the book, Sergeant."
"OK."
"Do I have to tell you that making a pass at the Deaconess would earn you a prize for Stupid Action of the Century?"
"Jesus Christ, that never entered my mind."
"Bullshit. That leg crack didn't just pop into your head."
"Believe what you want. But rest assured, the lady's virtue is in no danger from me."
"OK. One final thing. Did you know that you're on the AWOL report this morning?"
"I heard they were looking for me."
"Well, you are. I think I fixed it. But you better not go anywhere near the headquarters company barracks until I know for sure."
"Don't worry about that either," Moore said.
He picked the briefcase off the floor, opened it, and set it on the table. Hon put the intercepts into it-it looked more like fifty or sixty than thirty, Moore thought. And then Moore closed the briefcase and snapped the handcuff around his wrist. Hon took a.45 Colt automatic from a file cabinet. Moore hoisted the skirt of his tunic and put the pistol in the small of his back under his trouser waistband.
"You're going to shoot yourself in the ass one day doing that," Hon said.
Then he picked up the telephone and dialed a number.
"Colonel Huff? Sir, this is Lieutenant Hon. I have several MAGIC messages that I believe should be brought to the Supreme Commander's attention."
Moore unlocked the steel door and let himself out. When he reached the security post by the elevator, an Army technical sergeant from headquarters company was waiting for him.
"Sergeant Moore, you went AWOL last night."
"There's been a mistake, Sergeant," Moore said. "I don't live in the barracks any more. I'm not supposed to be on your duty rosters."
"You tell that to the first sergeant, Sergeant. He told me to find your ass and bring you home."
"I'm sorry," Moore said. "I can't do that." He held up the briefcase.
"I don't give a shit about any fucking briefcase," the sergeant said. "You come with me."
"I'll have to tell my officer where I'm going," Moore said and went back to the office. Hon was locking the steel door when he got there.
"There's a tech sergeant out there who wants to haul me off to headquarters company," he said.
"Oh, shit!" Hon said. "Come on."
The tech sergeant was waiting at the outer security point with his arms folded.
"All right, Sergeant, what's this all about?"
"Sir, I'm here to return Sergeant Moore to Headquarters Company. We're carrying him as AWOL."
"That's in error. Sergeant Moore is not attached to Headquarters Company."
"Sir, I got my orders."
"And I have mine, Sergeant. Mine are to dispatch Sergeant Moore, with a briefcase full of classified documents, to-to who is none of your business. But to someone who ranks much higher around here than the first sergeant of Headquarters Company. For that matter, than the Headquarters Company commander. You will not interfere with that. If necessary, I will have this MP place you under arrest. Do you understand me, Sergeant?"
"Yes, Sir."
"All right, Moore, get going," Hon said.
"Yes, Sir."
"Sergeant, you will return to Headquarters Company. You will tell your first sergeant that (a) Sergeant Moore is no longer his responsibility and (b) if he ever does something like this again around here, I will be forced to bring the matter to the attention of Captain Pickering-that's Navy Captain Pickering-and I think he would speak to General Sutherland about it. You understand that?"
"Yes, Sir."
"You may go, Sergeant."
"Yes, Sir."
That may work, Hon thought. If it doesn't, fuck it, I'll go to Sutherland.
As Moore was unlocking the door of the Studebaker, the Marine Aviator lieutenant colonel he had seen before walked up to him.
"Good afternoon, Sergeant," he said.
Moore straightened and saluted.
"Good afternoon, Sir."
"I'm delighted to see a familiar uniform around here," Dailey said. "I'm Colonel Dailey. I've just been assigned here as the CINCPAC liaison officer."
"Yes, Sir," Moore said. He remembered-the radio Captain Pickering had sent SECNAV asking that a liaison officer be assigned.
"What have they got you doing around here, Sergeant?"
"I work for Major Banning, Sir."