CHAPTER THREE
_Eastward To War_
For a long minute Dave and Freddy just stood there and stared at theinfantry Sergeant as though he were something escaped from a museum.Then they snapped out of their collective trance and stepped in throughthe door. It was then that Freddy let the question pop off his lipsbefore he could stop it.
"Is Colonel Welsh here, Sergeant?" he asked.
The non-commissioned officer looked at him with a faint puzzled frown.
"Colonel Welsh, sir?" he echoed. Then, shaking his head, "No, sir.There's no Colonel Welsh here. My orders are to take you to MajorBarber. Follow me, please."
The two flying aces exchanged looks, shrugged, and then followed theSergeant up the stairs. On the landing of the third floor the Sergeantturned right along a hallway and finally came to a stop in front of thefifth door down on the right. He motioned politely for Dave and Freddyto wait, then knocked and went inside.
"I don't think I like this, Dave!" Freddy whispered when they were leftalone. "You heard him say that Colonel Welsh wasn't here. What the devildo you suppose is up?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Dawson replied with a scowl. "I'mbeginning to suspect, though, that it's something very hush-hush. Istill wish I hadn't left my service gun in the hotel. Here, Freddy. I'mprobably acting silly, but you never can tell."
As Dave spoke the last he fished out one of the Commando knives andslipped it into Freddy Farmer's hand. The English youth took it withouta word and let it slide into his pocket out of sight.
"Think we're foolish to wait here, Dave?" he breathed a moment later."After what's happened tonight, we may be simply asking for moretrouble. It's certainly a mixed up mess."
"Plenty screwy," Dave grunted with a nod. "But I'm a curious cuss. AndI'm just sore enough to follow this whole cockeyed business through tothe end. But keep on guard, Freddy. Back to back, pal, and so forth."
"Quite!" Freddy grated, and hunched his shoulders as though to gethimself set to spring at a split second's notice.
Another minute, and the door opened and the Sergeant reappeared. Hepulled the door wide, stood to one side and motioned for the two airaces to enter. They stepped through into a plainly furnished outeroffice. The Sergeant closed the door, walked past them and opened a dooron the right.
"In there, sirs," he said. "Major Barber is waiting."
"And just who is Major Barber?" Freddy Farmer demanded, and didn't move.
The Sergeant started to grin but cut it off instantly.
"He'll tell you, sir," he said. "Go in, please."
The two youths hesitated a fraction of a second longer; then by mutualaccord they stepped through the second door and into a smaller office.It contained a desk, a few chairs, a filing cabinet or two, and a lonepicture of President Roosevelt on the wall. Seated at the desk was aniron gray-haired Major in the uniform of infantry staff. He smiled androse from his chair as they entered.
"Evening, Captains Dawson and Farmer," he said, and extended his hand."Glad to see you here. Sit down, both of you."
The two youths shook hands with him, and then settled themselves inchairs. The Major reseated himself and rearranged a few papers on hisdesk. Dave watched him closely, and spun his brain in an effort to tryand figure out just what the picture was this time. Presently the Majorlooked up and gave them both a quizzical smile.
"Of course you're not wondering anything, are you?" he asked with afaint chuckle. "Any trouble on the way down here?"
Dave stiffened slightly. Things began to click a little in his head. Hegave the senior officer a long searching look.
"No, not a thing, Major," he lied quietly. Then with a little gesture ofone hand, "Should something have happened?"
That seemed to please the Major, for he grinned broadly. A moment laterhe took a card from his pocket and passed it across the desk.
"Time to unmask, I guess," he said. "There's my identification. You canboth relax. Sorry things had to be so mysterious, but that's the way wehave to work sometimes."
Dave took the card and held it so Freddy Farmer could see it also. Hetook one look, gulped, and shot a quick glance at the grinning man ininfantry staff uniform. The card, which contained a small picture, plusa left thumb print, stated that the holder was one Major E. J. Barber,officer in charge of all Commando units in training in the UnitedStates. It was signed by General Marshall, and also by Colonel Welsh.
The name was suddenly very familiar to Dave, but he couldn't place itexactly for a moment. Freddy Farmer beat him to it.
"I say!" he gasped. "Major Barber! Of course! You served originally withthe British, sir. You helped build the original British Commando force.You won the Military Cross, and the Distinguished Service Order forthose first Commando raids on Occupied Norway. And now--?"
Freddy stopped as though embarrassed at blurting out so much. The seniorofficer widened his grin and nodded.
"You've unmasked me, Farmer," he said. "That's right. And now that UncleSam is in it, I'm fighting under my own country's flag. But that's justthe same as fighting under England's flag. From now on the two countriesare going to become more and more like one big country, I think. Well,satisfied with my identity now, eh?"
Dave gravely handed back the card, and looked at the man.
"So it was a test?" he murmured, and placed the captured Commando knifeon the desk with his other hand. "Do I feel a sap! That idea never evenoccurred to me. But they were as near the real thing as I ever hope tosee. Thank goodness I wasn't carrying side-arms!"
"Eh?" Freddy Farmer ejaculated, pop-eyed. "A test...? Good grief! Youmean those two chaps who had a go at us tonight? But I say--!"
The English-born air ace couldn't go on. He stopped abruptly and shookhis head in stunned bewilderment. And as though his brain didn't realizewhat his hand was doing, he took out his own Commando knife and placedit on the table beside Dave's. Major Barber picked them both up andgently tapped the needle points against a fingernail as he lookedadmiringly at the two youths.
"Check and double check," he finally said. "That's just what happened.And I might add, you almost caused two of my best men to resign from theCommando service, or the Rangers, as it will become known as time goeson. Tonight was the first time that either of them had lost theirknives. They were on the phone just a few minutes before you arrived.They declared that if there were any more like you two I wanted tested,I'd have to get somebody else. In fact, they begged me for a couple ofdays' leave to rest up from the rough going over you gave them. Mycongratulations!"
"Thanks, sir," Dave mumbled as he suddenly had a funny feeling in thestomach. "Holy smoke! If I'd been able to keep my grip on my man, I'mafraid I'd have broken his arm right off, and probably his neck. But atest! Why? I mean--that is--well, you do this sort of thing often, sir?I mean--"
Dave stopped and floundered about for suitable words. The Major tossedthe two knives on the desk and leaned forward.
"Not every day, Dawson," he said quietly. "But often enough. Let meexplain. As yet our Commando units are not organized or completelywhipped into shape for action as all-American units. Some, however, whohave gone through the training have shown that they are as good asthey'll ever be, short of actual experience against the enemy. Those menwe pick out and send across to get that actual service with operatingBritish Commando units. With that action experience under their belts,they make fine instructors for the units we are sending over to Englandfor final polishing up."
The Major paused to catch his breath and clear his throat.
"Each man selected for immediate active service is ordered to report tome here," he continued presently. "He does not know that he is reportingfor Commando duty, so the last thing he's thinking of is an attack uponhis person here in New York City. That way I can tell for sure if he isthe man that I want to send across in advance of the regular Commandoforces. My two men, both of whom have seen actual Commando service withme, carry out the test and report to me. Up until tonight they ratherenjoyed their work.
They're tough, and they can take a lot ofpunishment. But it seems you two gave them a little extra to taketonight."
As the senior officer paused, both Dave and Freddy continued to sitsilent and motionless. To tell the truth, their brains were spinningjust a little too much to make comment possible. But in a few secondsFreddy managed to unhinge his tongue.
"So--so we're going across for Commando duty, sir?" he blurted out. "ButI thought this Commando training was just a--well, a stopover betweenjobs Colonel Welsh had for us. I--"
"Hold everything, Farmer!" Major Barber laughed, and held up a hand. "Iknow you two are airmen, and it's the air where you shine the best.But--well, this is a bit different from my regular procedure. You're notgoing across as strictly Commando material. No, that's not right,either. You'll be all Commando. Don't worry about that. But in addition,there'll be an extra little assignment for you two to carry out."
"Sounds interesting, sir," Dave said eagerly, as the other paused."What's the extra little assignment?"
The smile faded from Major Barber's face, and he shook his headvigorously.
"No soap, Dawson," he said. "You're not going to find that out rightnow. In fact, not until after you have arrived in England. Andincidentally, you're leaving for England tonight."
Coming right on top of everything else that had happened, the Major'slast statement brought both boys up straight in their chairs. Theyexchanged wide-eyed glances, and then focussed their gaze on the seniorofficer again.
"Leaving for England tonight?" Freddy Farmer echoed breathlessly. "Isay! That's wonderful! Positively marvelous!"
"Figured it might please you, Farmer," Major Barber said with a smile."Yes, all _three_ of us are leaving for England tonight. You'll have mefor company, if you can stand it, as far as Botwood, in Newfoundland.An Army bomber is waiting at Mitchel Field for us right now. At Botwood,though, we'll part company. At Botwood you two will get further orders."
The Commando chief paused for a moment and stared thoughtfully down atthe desk top. Eventually he raised his eyes and gave a little halfshrug.
"I don't want you two to be too much in the dark," he said slowly, "soI'll tell you that this show, if carried out successfully, will have amarked bearing on whether or not the United Nations open up that secondfront that everybody is yelling their heads off about. And--take it as asincere compliment, if you wish--a good chunk of that success is goingto rest on your youthful shoulders."
"Well, that clears up everything, sir," Dave said with a grin. "Now weknow what this is _all_ about."
"Stop fishing, Dawson," Major Barber chuckled at him. "It won't do youthe least bit of good. Not that I don't trust you two as much as I'dtrust my own father and mother. But that's not the point. As we allknow, the fewer who know about a surprise, the more of a surprise it is.And I definitely want this little business to _be_ a surprise to Hitlerand his bunch of cutthroats. So until the time is ripe, nobody is beingtold a thing about anything."
Grave and serious as the conversation was, Dave couldn't stop the smilethat tugged at his lips. The Major spotted it and cocked an eyebrow.
"Something strike you funny, Dawson?" he asked.
"No, not funny, sir," Dave replied instantly. Then with a flash sideglance at Freddy's intent and grave face, he went on, "I agree with youthat it's best to wait until the time is right for final instructions.Besides snoring something terrible, Farmer, here, often talks in hissleep."
It was just the thing needed to ease the mounting tension. Major Barberburst into gales of laughter, and Freddy Farmer practically shotstraight up out of his seat, and turned all the colors of the rainbow.Dave put out a protective hand.
"Take it easy, pal!" he cried. "I've got a witness to anything you do.Better wait until we're alone."
The red remained in Freddy's cheeks, but he made no move toward Dave. Hesimply regarded him with scorn, rather like something the cat haddragged in. Then he looked at Major Barber.
"Your two test men gave you a complete report on tonight's littleaffair, sir?" he asked. "They told you everything?"
The senior officer blinked, and stared at Freddy as though trying tofind out what was behind the words.
"Why, yes, I believe so," he said. "But was there something they leftout?"
Freddy looked at Dave with friendly pity in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dave," he said quietly. "I know I promised, but--well, thatlast remark from you deserves the punishment of the truth. Sorry, andall that. But you asked for it, old man."
"Say, what is this?" Major Barber demanded, leaning forward. "What truthabout Dawson?"
"Then they didn't tell you that part, sir?" Freddy Farmer murmured."That it was Dawson who threw himself flat to the sidewalk and screamedfor the police while I battled those two chaps?"
"Ouch!" Dave cried, and clapped a hand to his forehead. "Will I neverlearn to keep my big mouth shut!"
Dave Dawson with the Commandos Page 3
