I should have remembered that the seasons here are the reverse of those in America.
The plane began to let down an hour or so later. When the pilot corrected his course, Banning for a moment could see they were approaching a populated area. And then an enclosed body of water appeared.
Port Phillip Bay,Banning decided, pleased that he had taken the trouble to look at some maps.
He went to Koffler and pushed at him with the toe of his shoe. And then pushed twice more, harder, before Koffler sat up.
"Yes, Sir?"
"We’re here," Banning said.
"Already?" Koffler asked.
The Mariner touched down several minutes later with an enormous splash, bounced airborne again; and then, with an even larger splash, it made final contact with the waters of Port Phillip Bay and slowed abruptly.
A launch carried them from the Mariner to a wharf. U.S.navy was stenciled on the wharfs sides. There was a bus, an English bus, now painted Navy gray. But when Banning started toward it, someone called his name.
"Major Banning?"
A tall, handsome, distinguished-looking man in a Navy captain’s uniform was smiling at him.
"Yes, Sir."
"I’m Fleming Pickering," the Captain said, offering his hand. "Welcome to Australia."
Steve Koffler came up to them, staggering under the weight of his duffel bag, rifle, and typewriter.
"I’ll get your bags, Sir," he said, and walked back toward the launch.
"He’s with you?"
"Yes, Sir. I thought I was probably going to need a typist."
"Good thinking," Pickering chuckled. "But I didn’t know you would have him with you, so that’s one problem I hadn’t thought of."
"Sir?"
"Putting him up," Pickering said. "You’ll be staying with me. But having a corporal there would be a little awkward."
"I understand, Sir."
"Don’t misunderstand me, Major," Pickering said. "I have nothing whatever against Marine corporals. In fact, I used to be a Marine corporal; and therefore I am well acquainted with what splendid all-around fellows they are. But you and I are in the Menzies Hotel, in an apartment directly over MacArthur and his family. We’ll have to get him into another hotel for the time being."
"Sir, I have a letter for you from Secretary Knox."
"Wait till we get in the car," Pickering said, and gestured toward a 1939 Jaguar drop-head coupe.
"Nice car."
"Yes, it is. I hate like hell having to give it back. It belongs to a friend of mine here. It annoys the hell out of MacArthur’s palace guard."
Major Ed Banning decided he was going to like Captain Fleming Pickering, and his snap judgment was immediately confirmed when Pickering picked up Steve Koffler’s duffel bag and Springfield and started toward the Jaguar.
"It’s been a long time since I had a duffel bag in one hand and a Springfield in the other," Pickering said, smiling. "You go help the Corporal with your bags, while I put these in the car."
"Your tax dollars at work," Captain Pickering said, chuckling, to Major Banning, when Banning came out of the bathroom in a bathrobe. He handed Banning a green slip of paper.
It was a check drawn on the Treasurer of the United States. It was payable to the bearer, and was in the amount of $250,000.
They were in Pickering’s suite in the Menzies Hotel. First they’d installed Corporal Koffler in a businessmen’s hotel (Pickering had handed him some money and told him to get something to eat, and to try to stay out of trouble). Then they’d come to the Menzies, where Pickering had made him a drink, then called the valet to have Banning’s uniforms pressed.
"The Commander-in-Chief dresses in worn thin khakis, no tie, and wears a cap I think he brought home from World War I. Naturally, if you know MacArthur, he consequently expects everyone else around him to look like a page from The Officer’s Guide."
"Sir, what is this?" Banning asked, pointing to the check.
"Your expense money. Or our expense money. It’s from the Secretary’s Confidential Fund. It was in the letter you brought. Knox says that it’s unaccountable, but I think it would be wise for us to keep some sort of a record of where we spend it. Koffler’s hotel bill, for example. In the morning we’ll go around to the Bank of Victoria, deposit it, and arrange for you to be able to write checks against it. And you’d better take some cash, too. Six thousand-odd dollars of that is mine."
"Sir?"
"I bought some maps that neither the Army nor the Navy could come up with on their own. I was happy to do it, but I want my money back. Whiskey all right?"
"I’m overwhelmed by your hospitality, Sir."
"I’m delighted that you’re here. I sometimes feel very much the lonely soul. At least I won’t have to watch what I say to you after I’ve had a couple of drinks."
"I’m carrying a message for you from Mrs. Feller, Sir, too."
"Oh. She was my secretary in Washington when I first came in the Navy. And, of course, you know what she’s doing in Hawaii."
"Yes, Sir. When I saw her there, she said to give you her best regards, and to tell you that she hopes you’ll soon have a chance to resume your interrupted conversation."
"What?"
"She sends her regards and says she hopes you’ll soon have a chance to resume your interrupted conversation."
"Oh. Yes, of course. Private joke."
My God, she’s not only not embarrassed about what happened in the Coronado Beach Hotel, but wants me to know she meant what she said Thank Christ she’s in Hawaii!
A bellman delivered a crisply pressed uniform and a pair of highly polished shoes.
Pickering followed Banning into the bedroom as Banning started to get dressed.
"Tomorrow, I’m going to take you around to meet Admiral Brewer," he said. "Australian. Deputy chief of their naval intelligence. I want you to meet him and see if we can’t get a letter of introduction for you to the man who runs the Coastwatcher operation. They’re working out of a little town called Townesville, on the northeastern coast. The man in charge is a guy named Eric Feldt, Lieutenant Commander, Australian Navy.
Nice guy. Until I met you, I was a little worried. He is not overly fond of the U.S. Navy officers he’s met. But I think he’ll get along with you."
"That’s flattering, Sir, but why?"
"Just a feeling. I think you’re two of a kind."
"Captain, I don’t know how soon, but probably within the next couple of days, the rest of my people will be coming in from Hawaii, probably in dribs and drabs. Should I make arrangements to put them into that hotel with Koffler?"
"How many?"
"One officer, a first lieutenant, and fifteen enlisted men."
"I’m not trying to tell you how to run your operation, but presumably you’ll be moving them, or at least most of them, to Townesville?"
"If that’s where the Coastwatchers are, yes, Sir."
"Open to suggestion?"
"Yes, Sir, of course."
"I think you’d better go up there alone at first. If things work out, you can rent a house for them up there."