B, where, unfortunately, Jack, you will receive a long, and probably tearful, speech of gratitude from Geoff’s mother for saving her grandchild from the Simbas.”
“I didn’t do anything like that—” Jack started to protest.
“Yeah, you did,” Geoff said. “Ursula told me.”
“Colonel, I don’t have anything to change into,” Jack said.
“Your ever-efficient stepmother took care of that,” she said. “You have a full set of gear awaiting.”
He gestured toward the car.
[ SEVEN ]
From what Jack had been able to see from the backseat of the Packard, Houses A, B, and C were—although their architecture was individual—alike in that they were large, substantial, and surrounded by manicured greenery to assure the privacy of the inhabitants.
If he could judge by what he found in House C, they were luxuriously furnished and equipped. In addition to a glass-walled shower, plus a pool-sized tub, his bathroom had a black marble bidet. One rarely encountered bidets in the United States, much less black marble bidets.
The towels he found in the bathroom were too large and too thick to be wrapped around his waist, as was his custom, but that was not really a problem, because there was a terry-cloth robe hanging on a hook.
He put it on and walked into the bedroom, where he found Lieutenant Colonel Lowell sprawled comfortably in a chaise lounge. He had a whiskey glass in his hand, and there was another on the table beside the lounge.
Lowell got off the lounge.
“I knocked, but you were in the shower, I guess,” Lowell said.
“No problem, sir.”
“I’ve got two things you need,” Lowell said. “Which would you rather have first, a nice, new king-sized Band-Aid for your nose? Or the drink?”
“The drink, please, sir. It’s been a long day.”
“And a long night before, according to General Hanrahan,” Lowell said, a little smugly. He waited a moment, indicated the glass of whiskey, and waited until Jack had it in hand before going on: “These are your orders, so pay attention, Sergeant.”
“Yes, sir?”
“You will not talk to the press, and will not permit your photograph to be taken by the press,” Lowell said.
He’s serious. What the hell is that all about?
“Sir?”
“Starting at about the time you left Kamina, the press was all over the place, and there is a rumor that an American Green Beret jumped with Belgians on Stanleyville. Everybody denies it, of course.”
“I understand, sir.”
“They are looking for an American hero right now, and if they could find you, get your name, it would be you. Felter thinks the frenzy will die down quickly. But then, when your permission to accept a foreign decoration goes through Congress, it’s liable to come up again. Felter does not want your name or your photograph published. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. That’s fine with me, Colonel.”
“For the immediate future, you can count on ten, twelve days, two weeks here. Have a good time. I’m going to McDill in the morning, so the house will be yours alone.”
“I’m awed by these houses, Colonel,” Jack confessed. “Are they all yours?”
“This one’s mine. And my cousin’s is his. House A is owned by the company.”
“You spend a lot of time here?”
“This is the first time this year. If you’re looking for some place to take Marjorie on your honeymoon, this might be ideal.”
“I don’t know what to say, sir.”
“Try thank you,” Lowell said. “I’ll set it up. All you have to do is call, and tell them when you’re coming, and they’ll send somebody over to turn up the air conditioner, make the beds, et cetera, et cetera. . . .”
He paused and changed the subject.
“We haven’t finished with your orders,” Lowell said. “Felter wanted to keep you at MacKall indefinitely, but I convinced him that sending you back to Rucker made more sense. So, in the absence of orders to the contrary in the meantime, you’ll report to Rucker on 17 December. Back to the Instrument Board.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And get a regular cap. If you show up wearing a Green Beret, it’ll cause talk. And we don’t want talk.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That was Felter’s idea. To hell with him. You earned it, you want to wear it, wear it. Just don’t talk about Stanleyville.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s it. Now let me look at your nose, and then we’ll have to go face my sister-in-law.”
“Yes, sir.”
III
[ ONE ]
“Soft Breezes” (aka House B)
33 Ocean View Drive
The Ocean Reef Club
Key Largo, Florida
2345 3 December 1964
Hors d’oeuvres—plates of shrimp and oysters on beds of ice— and cocktails—served from behind a wet bar made of coral by a white-jacketed barman—and dinner—steaks