"Yes, yes," Knox said impatiently. "So your position is that the Hawaiian analysts are wrong more often than not, and your two are right more often than not?"
"No, Sir. There's rarely a disagreement. The relationship between Hon-"
"What?"
"The Korean-American, Sir. His name is Hon. His relationship with Hawaii-and Lieutenant Moore's-is not at all competitive. When they see things differently, they talk about it, not argue."
"I wonder if we can make that contagious," Senator Fowler said. "From what I hear, most of our people in the Pacific don't even talk to each other."
"I wanted to get that straight before we go across the street," Knox said.
"Sir?" Banning asked.
"We're going across the street?" Senator Fowler asked.
"Don't you think we should?" Knox replied.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I think we should. Can we?"
What the hell are they talking about, "going across the street"? Banning wondered. The only thing across the street from here is another hotel, an office building, and the White House.
"There's one way to find out," Knox said. He walked to one of the two telephones on the coffee table and dialed a number from memory.
"Alice, this is Frank Knox. May I speak to him, please?" There was a brief pause, and then Knox continued. "Sorry to disturb you at this hour, but there is something I think you should see, and hear. And now."
Who the hell is Alice? Who the hell is "him"?
Frank Knox put the telephone in its cradle and turned to face them.
"Gentlemen, the President will receive us in fifteen minutes," he said. "Us meaning the Senator, Major Banning, and me. Plus someone to set up and run the projector."
"Sessions," Colonel Rickabee said.
"Aye, aye, Sir," Captain Sessions said.
"Thank you very much, Major... Banning, is it?" Franklin Delano Roosevelt said.
"Yes, Sir."
"... Major Banning. That was very edifying. Or should I say alarming? In any event, thank you very much. I think that will be all... unless you have any questions for the Major, Admiral Leahy?"
"I have no questions, Sir," Admiral Leahy said.
"Frank, I'd like to see you for a moment," the President said.
"With your permission, Mr. President?" Senator Fowler said.
"Richardson, thank you for coming," Roosevelt said, flashing him a dazzling smile and dismissing him.
"Captain, you can just leave the projector and the screen," Knox ordered. "Would you like to have the film and photographs, Mr. President?"
"I don't think I have to look at it again," Roosevelt said. "I certainly don't want to. Admiral?"
Leahy shook his head, no.
Sessions took the film from the projector. Banning collected the photographs and put them back into their envelope. A very large black steward in a white jacket opened the door to the upstairs corridor and held it while Banning and Sessions passed through.
Roosevelt waited to speak until the steward was himself out of the room and the door was closed behind him.
"Well, question one," he said. "Are things as bad as Major Banning paints them?"
"It's not only the Major," Admiral Leahy said. "This came in as I was leaving my office."
He handed the President a sheet of Teletype paper.
"What is that?" Knox asked.
"A radio from Admiral Ghormley to Admiral Nimitz," Admiral Leahy said.
"I'm the Secretary of the Navy, Admiral. You can tell me what Admiral Ghormley said," Knox said, smiling, but with a perceptible sharpness in his tone.
Roosevelt looked up from the paper in his hands, and his eyes took in the two of them.
"Admiral Ghormley has learned of a Japanese aircraft carrier, and its supporting vessels, off the Santa Cruz Islands," Roosevelt said, and then dropped his eyes again to the paper. "He says, 'This appears to be all-out enemy effort against Guadalcanal. My forces totally inadequate to meet situation. Urgently request all aviation reinforcements possible.' End quote."
"That's a little redundant, isn't it?" Knox asked. 'Totally inadequate'? Is there such a thing as 'partially inadequate'?"
"I think the Admiral made his point, Frank," the President said. "Which brings us to question two, what do we do about it?"
"I'm confident, Mr. President, and I'm sure Secretary Knox agrees with me, that Admiral Nimitz is doing everything that can be done."
"And General MacArthur?" the President asked.
"And General MacArthur," Admiral Leahy said. "The loss of Guadalcanal would be catastrophic for him. The rest of New Guinea would certainly fall, and then quite possibly Australia. MacArthur knows that."
"There is always something else that can be done," Roosevelt said. "Isn't there?"
"Not by the people on Guadalcanal," Knox said. "They are doing all they can do."
"You're suggesting Nimitz can do more?" Admiral Leahy said.
"Nimitz and MacArthur," Knox said.
"For the President to suggest that... to order it... would suggest he has less than full confidence in them," Leahy said.
"Yes," Roosevelt said, thoughtfully.
"I don't agree with that," Knox said. "Not a whit of it. Mr. President, you're the Commander-in-Chief."
"I know. And I also know that the first principle of good leadership is to give your subordinates their mission, and then get out of their way."
"I'm talking about guidance, Mr. President, not an order. I myself am always pleased to know what you want of me...."
Roosevelt looked at the two of them again.
"Admiral, you're right. I can't afford to lose the good will of either Admiral Nimitz or General MacArthur; but on the other hand, the country cannot afford to lose Guadalcanal."
He spun around in his wheelchair and picked up a telephone from a chair-side table.
"Who's this?" he asked, surprised and annoyed when a strange voice answered. "Good God, is it after midnight already? Well, would you bring your pad in please, Sergeant?"
He hung up and turned back to Knox and Leahy.
"Alice has gone home. There's an Army sergeant on standby."
There was a discreet knock at an interior door, and without waiting for permission, a scholarly-looking master sergeant carrying a stenographer's pad came in.
"Yes, Mr. President?
"I want you to take a note to the Joint Chiefs of Staff," the President said. "I want it delivered tonight."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"And make an extra copy, and have that delivered to Senator Richardson Fowler. Across the street. At his hotel. Have him awakened if necessary."
"Yes, Mr. President."
The President looked at Admiral Leahy and Secretary Knox.
"I don't think Richardson liked being sent home," he said, smiling wickedly. "Maybe this will make it up to him." He turned back to the Army stenographer. "Ready, Sergeant?"
"Yes, Mr. President."