Part 15 (1/2)

She nodded.

”Well, for one thing, I was ordered to be here,” he said. ”And for another, I have no idea where he is. There's no sense going back south until I do.”

”And when will that be?”

”Whenever there's another sighting of his arrows,” McCoy said. ”Billy Dunn was here early this morning, and he said he's going to photograph the h.e.l.l out of the area where we just missed him. He'll almost certainly come up with something, and when he does, we'll go out again.”

”When you go, can I go with you?”

”No, of course not. And if you try something clever, I'll have you on the next plane to Tokyo.”

”You'd do that, too, wouldn't you, you sonofab.i.t.c.h?”

”You know I would, and stop calling me a sonofab.i.t.c.h.”

She met his eyes.

”It's a term of endearment,” she said. ”I love you almost as much as I love that stupid b.a.s.t.a.r.d who got himself shot down.”

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

For a moment-just a moment-McCoy put his arms around her and hugged her.

[FOUR].

The Bataan Bataan made its landing approach from the direction of Seoul, pa.s.sed low over the people gathered around the base operations tents, and touched down. made its landing approach from the direction of Seoul, pa.s.sed low over the people gathered around the base operations tents, and touched down.

The military police had permitted a dozen still and motion picture photographers to detach themselves from the press area so that they would be able to photograph the Bataan Bataan taxiing up to base operations and the Supreme Commander himself getting off the airplane. taxiing up to base operations and the Supreme Commander himself getting off the airplane.

When the Bataan Bataan, instead of taxiing toward them, turned off the runway and taxied to a hangar on the far side of the field, a chorus of questions and protests rose from the Fourth Estate.

The phrase ”Now, what the f.u.c.k is going on?” was heard, and several variations thereof.

The X Corps information officer, a bird colonel, who really had no idea what the h.e.l.l was going on, managed to placate them somewhat by stating that it was ”a security precaution” and that the Bataan Bataan and General MacArthur would shortly move to base operations. and General MacArthur would shortly move to base operations.

The press could see the Bataan Bataan stop in front of the hangar, and a flight of mobile stairs being rolled up to it. stop in front of the hangar, and a flight of mobile stairs being rolled up to it.

The first three people to debark from the Bataan Bataan were three Army photographers, two still and one motion picture. The photographers took up positions by the mobile stairway. Next off was Colonel Sidney Huff, the Supreme Commander's senior aide-de-camp. were three Army photographers, two still and one motion picture. The photographers took up positions by the mobile stairway. Next off was Colonel Sidney Huff, the Supreme Commander's senior aide-de-camp.

He exchanged salutes with Major Alex Donald, USA, and Captain Howard C. Dunwood, USMCR, who were standing on the ground, looked around to see there were enough heavily armed Marines around so there wasn't much immediate danger to General MacArthur, and then raised his eyes to the open door of the Bataan Bataan and saluted. and saluted.

The Supreme Commander somewhat regally descended the stairs and the cameras whirred and clicked. There was another exchange of salutes, then MacArthur was led to the just-open-wide-enough doors and went inside.

As soon as he had gone inside, preceded and trailed by the photographers, Brigadier General Fleming Pickering and Captain George F. Hart came down the stairs and went into the hangar.

Major Generals Ralph Howe and Edward C. Almond were standing inside the hangar. They saluted, then Almond stepped toward MacArthur for the benefit of the photographers. General Howe went to the door to avoid the photographers and also to see if Pickering had gotten off the airplane.

Pickering and Hart came into the hangar and stood with Howe as Major Alex Donald showed General MacArthur around the closest of the two helicopters. General MacArthur declined Major Donald's invitation to climb aboard the helicopter, but obligingly posed for several minutes while the photographers recorded the event for posterity.

Then he shook hands with Major Donald and walked back toward the door.

”General Howe,” MacArthur declared, ”I'm really glad to see you here.”

”Good morning, sir.”

”This business out of the way, I presume we can get on with returning President Rhee's capital to him,” MacArthur said. ”How are we going to do that, Sid?”

”Sir, I suggest that you reboard the Bataan, Bataan,” Colonel Huff replied, ”which will then taxi to base operations, where the press is waiting.”

”What about General Almond?” MacArthur asked.

”I would suggest that General Almond ride back over there in his car, sir. That would eliminate any possible questions about whether he has come to Korea with you.”

”All right, Ned?” MacArthur asked.

”Yes, sir.”

”I think it would be appropriate,” Huff went on, ”if General Almond were to greet the general when he descends from the Bataan Bataan.”

”Yes, so do I,” MacArthur said. ”He is, after all, the liberator of Seoul.” Then he added, jovially, ”Well, then, Ned, why don't you saddle up, and hie thee to the other side of the airport?”

”Yes, sir,” General Almond said. ”You ready, Howe?”

”General,” Howe said to MacArthur, ”I'd like a moment of your time. Would it be all right if I rode over there with you?”

”I'd be delighted to have your company, General. Of course.”

”Fleming,” Howe said, ”would you mind riding with General Almond?”

”Of course,” Pickering said.

He, MacArthur, Almond, and Huff instantly decided that Howe had something to say to MacArthur that he didn't want anyone else to hear.

As Pickering, Hart, and Almond got into Almond's Chevrolet, MacArthur and Howe climbed the stairway to the Bataan Bataan. Colonel Huff and then the photographers followed them.

Pickering was a little curious about why Howe wanted a moment of El Supremo's time in private, but not concerned. Their relations.h.i.+p was not only one of mutual respect; they also liked each other. It never entered Pickering's mind that Howe was in any way going behind his back. He never had, and Pickering had no reason to suspect he would suddenly start now.

General Pickering was dead wrong. In this instance, Howe had something to say to the Supreme Commander that he absolutely did not want Pickering to know about.

”That will be all, Huff, thank you,” MacArthur said, waited until Huff had closed the door, and then looked expectantly at Howe.

”General,” Howe began carefully, ”I fully understand that my role here is solely that of observer, and that I have neither the authority-and certainly not the expertise-to offer any sort of suggestion. . . .”

The Bataan Bataan began to taxi away from the hangar. began to taxi away from the hangar.

”General,” MacArthur said, ”I decide who has the expertise to offer a suggestion to me, and I would welcome any suggestion you might be good enough to offer.”

”That's very gracious of you, sir,” Howe said. ”It's about those helicopters.”

”Those helicopters?” MacArthur asked, surprised. ”Or helicopters in general?”