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Digby nodded Bart's experience matched that of other pilots he had questioned He was about to say so when Bart looked up and sro in the unifor for his rank, and Digby guessed he had received the autoht lieutenant after twelve sorties, squadron leader after fifteen
Bart said, "Hello, Charles"
"You had us all worried, Bartlett How are you?" The newcoe drawl
"I may live, they say"
With a fingertip, Charles touched the back of Bart's hand where it eesture, Digby thought "I'lad to hear it," Charles said
"Charles, by, this is Charles Ford We were together at Trinity until we left to join the air force"
"It was the only way to avoid taking our exaby's hand
Bart said, "How are the Africans treating you?"
Charles sby, "There's a squadron of Rhodesians at our airfield First class flyers, but they find it difficult to deal with an officer of my color We call thehtly I can't think why"
Digby said, "Obviously you're not letting it get you down"
"I believe that with patience and improved education we may eventually be able to civilize such people, priby caught a gliood humor
"I was just asking Bart why he thinks we're losing so by said "What's your opinion?"
"I wasn't on this raid," Charles said "By all accounts, I was lucky to et the feeling the Luftwaffe can follow us through cloud Might they have some kind of equipment on board that enables them to locate us even e're not visible?"
Digby shook his head "Every crashed enemy aircraft islike what you're talking about We're working hard to invent that kind of device, and I' way from success, and we're pretty sure they're well behind us I don't think that's it"
"Well, that's what it feels like"
"I still think there are spies," Bart said
"Interesting" Digby stood up "I have to get back to Whitehall Thanks for your opinions It helps to talk to the men at the sharp end" He shook hands with Charles and squeezed Bart's uninjured shoulder "Sit still and get well"
"They say I'll be flying again in a feeeks"
"I can't say I'lad"
As Digby turned to go, Charles said, "May I ask you a question?"
"Of course"
"On a raid like this one, the cost to us of replacing lost aircraft e done by our bombs"
"Undoubtedly"
"Then" Charles spread his arn of inco?"
"Yes," Bart said "I'd like to know that"
"What else can we do?" Digby said "The Nazis control Europe: Austria, Czechoslovakia, Holland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Norway Italy is an ally, Spain is sympathetic, Sweden is neutral, and they have a pact with the Soviet Union We have no hting back"
Charles nodded "So we're all you've got"
"Exactly," Digby said "If the bo stops, the war is over - and Hitler has won"
Hornet Flight
The Pri The Maltese Falcon A private cinema had recently been built in the old kitchens of Admiralty House It had fifty or sixty plush seats and a red velvet curtain, but it was usually used to show filanda pieces before they were shown to the public
Late at night, after all the memoranda had been dictated, the cables sent, the reports annotated, and the ry and tense to sleep, Churchill would sit in one of the large VIP seats in the front roith a glass of brandy and lose himself in the latest enchantment from Hollywood
As Digby walked in, Hu to Mary Astor that when aabout it The air was thick with cigar sby sat down and watched the last few minutes of the movie As the credits appeared over the statuette of a black falcon, Digby told his boss that the Luftwaffe see
When he had finished, Churchill stared at the screen for a fewto find out who had played Bryan There were ti sht he seeloom At last he said, "What does the RAF think?"
"They bla In theory, if the bombers fly in close formation, their arhter that appears should be shot down immediately"
"And what do you say to that?"
"Rubbish For has never worked Some new factor has entered the equation"
"I agree But what?"
"My brother blames spies"
"All the spies we've caught have been aht, of course It h the net"
"Perhaps the Gerh"
"The Secret Intelligence Service tell me the enemy are far behind us in the development of radar"
"Do you trust their judgment?"
"No" The ceiling lights ca dress He always looked dapper, but his face was lined eariness He took from his waistcoat pocket a folded sheet of fliby
Digby studied the sheet It appeared to be a decrypt of a Luftwaffe radio signal, in Gery of dark night-fighting - Dunkle Nachtjagd - had scored a great triuby read the ain in Gere "What does this mean?" he said
"That's what I want you to find out" Churchill stood up and shrugged into his jacket "Walk back with me," he said As he left, he called out, "Thank you!"
A voice from the projectionist's booth replied, "My pleasure, sir"
As they passed through the building, two men fell in behind them: Inspector Thouard They ee balloon, and went through a gate in the barbed-wire fence to the street London was blacked out, but a crescent ht for them to find their way
They walked side by side a few yards along Horse Guards Parade to Nued the rear of Nu Street, the traditional residence of the Pri at the nearby annex over the Cabinet War Rooms The entrance was protected by a boh a hole in the wall
Digby said, "Good night, sir"
"It can't go on," said Churchill "At this rate, Bomber Command will be finished by Christmas I need to knoho or what Freya is"
"I'll find out"
"Do so with the utmost dispatch"
"Yes, sir"
"Good night," said the Prime Minister, and he went inside