«Yes, sir,» the DDA said. «Microphones have been placed in various locations around the room,» he began. «They are connected with an amplification system in the room behind that door.» He pointed to a door at the rear of the room. «There are provisions for six sets of headphones, although our experience has been that we have never needed more than three stenographers to transcribe even the largest conference. So each of you gentlemen will have earphones.»
«I took that precaution, sir. They are either next door, or will be momentarily.»
«They will let us know when General Adamson and the others arrive, right?» Donovan asked.
«The Deputy Director (Operations), Mr. Director, said he will be here in no more than ten minutes. General Adamson, who has Colonel Albright with him, has probably left the Pentagon by now.» He paused and then added: «Mr. Director, General Adamson was naturally curious about what this is all about.»
«I'm sure he was, Charley, and I'm sure you are, too. You find out first. You can be our guinea pig, so to speak. Will you take these gentlemen to the stenographer's room, make sure everything is in place? And then come back in here. We'll start with you. Pure formality, of course.»
Well
, Pickering thought,
what did I expect Donovan to do ? Accuse his Director for Administration of having a big mouth
?
Because of the three stenographers—two middle-aged women and a young man—there were only enough spare headphones for three people. Pickering solved that problem by separating one of the earphones on his headset from the frame and, motioning Hart to stand close to him, handed him the loose earphone.
He saw Leahy looking at him curiously, perhaps disapprovingly. «I like to have George listen in on everything, Admiral,» Pickering said. «To refresh my memory.»
«I see.»
«He used to be a police detective.» Pickering went on.
«Perhaps we should have left him in there with Donovan,» Admiral Leahy said.
«Okay, Charley, let's have our practice run,» Donovan's voice came, very clearly, into Pickering's single earphone.
«Yes, Mr. Director.»
«This is pretty serious business,» Donovan said. «Someone has been talking too much about magic.»
«Yes, sir?»
«We're trying to find out who, and under what circumstances,» Donovan said, and then, before the DDA could reply, said, «If you can all hear us in there, let me know.»
«George,» Pickering ordered.
Hart took his loose earphone from his ear, let it dangle from Pickering's headset, looked at everybody in the room until they nodded, and then walked to the door and announced, «Colonel, we read you five-by-five.»
He closed the door and resumed his place next to Pickering.
«Okay, Charley, at least that much works,» Donovan's voice came over the system.
«I personally check on the system frequently, Mr. Director,» the DDA said.
«Good idea,» Donovan said. «Okay. Now… I really don't know how to start this… The possible compromise occurred in connection with the shipment of magic devices to Chungking.»
«When I saw General Pickering, Mr. Director, I thought that might be the case.»
«Were you happy with the security arrangements, Charley? You were, of course, familiar with them?»
«Yes, sir. I was familiar with them. And no, sir, I wasn't absolutely satisfied with the security arrangements.»
«In what regard, Charley?»
«It's a little embarrassing for me, sir, with General Pickering privy to this.»
«That can't be helped, I'm afraid. What is it about General Pickering and the magic movement that made you uncomfortable?»
What is this sonofabitch doing
? Pickering wondered.
Asking questions that make me look like a fool? Trying to lay the blame on me
?
«Well, there was the matter of the CIC agents, Mr. Director.»
«Tell me about that, Charley.»
«General Adamson had arranged for Army CIC agents to accompany the magic devices. General Pickering said that his people could adequately guard the devices and declined the services of the CIC. Is that what's happened, sir? Something has happened to the devices?»
«You and General Adamson worked pretty closely on the whole thing together?»
«Yes, sir.»
«And General Adamson told you that General Pickering declined the use of CIC agents?»
«Yes, sir.»
«And he wasn't satisfied when you told him that Pickering's people were probably as well-qualified to guard the devices as CIC agents?»
«No, sir, he wasn't. And frankly, neither was I.»
«Why was that, Charley? I mean, giving General Pickering the benefit of the doubt here. He has a good deal of faith in Colonel Banning and Captain McCoy…«
«They had no real experience in transporting the devices, sir. And General Adamson has.»
«Did you discuss this with the Deputy Director (Operations)?»
«Well, I tried to, sir. But he seemed to feel that it was General Pickering's operation, and that we shouldn't interfere.»
«But you and General Adamson remained concerned?»
«Yes, sir.»
«You were afraid that the movement of the devices wasn't as secure as it could be? That perhaps there was a genuine risk that the operation to move them…«
«Operation China Clipper, sir,» the DDA furnished.
»… that Operation China Clipper would be compromised, and perhaps magic itself?»
«Both General Adamson and I felt that was a real possibility, Mr. Director.»
«I'm surprised, Charley, that General Adamson didn't do something about it, since both of you were concerned.»
«I think he did, sir.»
«Really? What?»
«General Adamson and General Dempsey are old friends. Dempsey is the military mission to China signal officer. They were classmates at the Command and General Staff College. He sent him a heads-up.»
«So that General… Dempsey, you said?»
«Yes, sir. Major General F. T. Dempsey.»
«So that General Dempsey would be aware of the potential problem?»
«Exactly, sir. Both the potential problems with Operation China Clipper and with—I don't quite know how to phrase this—the potential problems with Lieutenant Colonel Banning.»
«A moment ago you said that you
think
General Adamson sent a heads-up to General Dempsey. Presumably by Top Secret message?»
«He showed me a copy of the heads-up, sir. And, of course, it was a Top Secret, Eyes Only, General Dempsey.»
«Does General Dempsey have a magic clearance?» Donovan asked.
«Not at the moment, sir. But I'm sure it's in the works.»
«Okay, Charley,» Donovan said. «That's enough.»
«Sir?»
«What happens now, Charley, is that as of this moment, I have accepted your resignation.»
«Sir?»
«As of this moment, your duties will be assumed by your deputy,» Donovan said. «His first duty will be to go through your desk, gather up your personal belongings, and have them delivered to your home, where you will have been taken by our security people, and will be waiting, under guard, for my decision about what to do with you. My immediate reaction is to send you over to St. Elizabeth's in a straitjacket and keep you there until the war is over, but I know that reaction is colored by my anger, so I want to think that through.» St. Elizabeth's was the Federal government psychiatric hospital in the District of Columbia.