"Can he call you back?" the man said, still speaking Spanish.
"No."
"Hold on," the man said, now in English.
A long ninety seconds later, Milton Leibermann came on the line.
"So how's things out in the country, Tex?"
"Ettinger is in Uruguay. Probably Montevideo."
"I thought he planned to stay in the country?"
"So did I. Do you have any friends in Uruguay who could be useful?"
"You're not going over there yourself?"
"I wish I could, but I can't get away."
"You wouldn't want to tell me why not?"
"You remember that party we talked about?"
"The big one? All the important people?"
"Right. I've been invited. Under the circumstances, I can't turn down the invitation."
"You will tell me all about the party, won't you, Tex? Just as soon as you can?"
"What are we doing here, making a deal?"
"You could put it that way."
"OK, Milton. Deal."
"Just for the record, Tex, I would have gone anyway," Leibermann said, and the phone went dead.
[THREE]
2035th U.S. Army Air Corps Support Wing
Porto Alegre, Brazil
1325 18 April 1943
The pilot of the Douglas R5-D took his microphone from its cradle on the control yoke, checked to see that his transmitter was set on the correct frequency, and depressed thetransmit switch.
"Porto Alegre, Navy Seven Niner Niner Seven."
"Go ahead, Seven Niner Niner Seven."
"Niner Seven passing through seven thousand estimate twenty miles northwest your station. Approach and landing, please."
"Niner Seven, you are cleared for a straight-in approach to Runway One Seven. I say again One Seven. Ceiling and visibility unlimited. The winds are from the south at fifteen, gusting to twenty. The barometer is two niner niner. Report when passing through five thousand and when you have the field in sight."
"Niner Seven understands One Seven."
"Niner Seven, that is a Roger."
"Porto Alegre, please advise your base commander we have a Code Six aboard."
"Wilco, Niner Seven."
The staff cara 1942 Chevrolet sedanassigned to Colonel J. B. Wallace, U.S. Army Air Corps, stopped at the side of the Base Operations building. The driver, a young, crew-cutted sergeant, jumped out. He went quickly to the trunk and removed a checkered flag rolled around a length of aluminum pipe. Unrolling the flag as he walked, he went quickly to the front of the Chevrolet and inserted the pipe into a holder welded to the bumper. The purpose of the checkered flag was to increase the chances that pilots of taxiing aircraft would see the Chevrolet and not run over it.
Then he quickly slipped back behind the wheel, drove onto the tarmac in front of Base Ops, and waited for the Navy Transport that had just landed to turn off Runway One Seven and taxi to the Base Operations building.
After it did that, ground crewmen pushed a flight of stairs up to the door of the aircraft.
"Drive over there," Colonel Wallace ordered.
"Yes, Sir."
The sergeant drove to the rolling stairs, then jumped out and opened the rear door for Colonel Wallace.
Colonel Wallace tugged at the skirt of his green tunic, adjusted his leather-brimmed capto signify his status as an active pilot, he had removed the crown stiffener from ittucked his riding crop under his arm, and stood near the foot of the stairs to officially greet the Code Six passenger that Naval Air Transport Command flight 404, Panama-Brazil, had reported aboard.
A Code Six was a Navy captain, or an Army (or Marine) colonel. Colonel Wallace believed that an officer who had achieved such a high rank, and was bearing the enormous responsibility that went with it, was entitled to the courtesy of being greeted by someone of equal rank when arriving at a military base. If an incoming aircraft, when asking for landing permission, did not volunteer the information that they didor did nothave colonels or general (or flag) officers aboard, the Porto Alegre tower was instructed to inquire.
The passenger doorwithin the much wider cargo dooropened, and a Marine colonel stepped out onto the landing at the head of the stairs. He immediately turned to the aircraft, and someone inside handed him two leather suitcases.
"Take care of the Colonel's luggage," Wallace ordered, and his driver went quickly up the stairs, saluted, took the suitcases, and motioned for the Colonel to descend the stairs.
Wallace stepped to the foot of the stairs, removed his riding crop from under his left arm, and touched the brim of his cap with it.
"Welcome to Porto Alegre," he said with a smile.
The Marine colonel returned the salute. He wore, as Marines didWallace thought it was a fine ideathe silver eagles denoting his rank both on the epaulets of his tunic and on the points of his collar.
"Thank you," he said.
The Marine colonel was not wearing any ribbons to indicate where he had served, or what, if any, decorations for valor or outstanding performance he had earned. Colonel Wallace thought the wearing of ribbons should be mandatory, and he did not like to hear them referred to depreciatingly as fruit salad.
"I'm Colonel J. B. Wallace, commanding," Wallace announced.
"Just the man I'm looking for," the Marine said. "My name is Graham."
"How may I be of service, Colonel?"
"You can point me in the direction of the nearest head," Graham said. "And then I would like a few minutes of your time."
"I guess the Officers' Club is as close as anyplace," Wallace said, gesturing toward his car. "Unless you would prefer, Colonel, to let me have you set up in the VIP quarters?"
"The Club would be fine, thank you," Graham said.
Can I still find something to eat here?" Graham asked when he had come out of the restroom and joined Wallace at a table in the barroom.
"Of course," Wallace said, signaling to a waiter.
"All I had on the plane was a bologna sandwich and a banana," Graham said.
"Well, we'll get you something herethe beef is invariably goodand then we'll take you to my office and settle your paperwork with my adjutant. How long will you be with us, Colonel?"
"Not long," Graham said. "I don't think I'll have to get involved with your adjutant."
"Excuse me?"
Graham reached in his pocket, didn't find what he was he was looking for, and then searched his other pockets until he did. He handed Wallace a somewhat battered envelope containing a single sheet of paper.
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
THE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, D.C.
1 January 1943
Subject: Letter Orders
To: Colonel A.F. Graham, USMCR
Office of Strategic Services
Washington, D.C.
1. You will proceed to such destinations as your duties require by U.S. Government or civilian motor, rail, sea or air transportation as is most expedient. JCS Travel Priority AAAAAA-1 is assigned. The wearing of civilian attire is authorized.
2. United States Military or Naval commands are authorized and directed to provide you with whatever assistance of any kind you may require to accomplish your mission(s).