"Welcome home Douglass said, shaking Canidy's hand with a strong grip. "I'm Captain Peter Douglass."
"How do you do?" Canidy said.
Douglass pushed a box across the table to him.
"That's yours," he said. "You left it behind. Doug sent it to me.
Canidy opened the box. It was his Order of the Cloud Banner.
"I'm sorry that had to go the way it did," Douglass said. "But Baker was right. It kept a lot of questions from being asked. Anyhow'@--he looked at Canidy-"I thought you might want to S that to your father."
A thin black woman appeared and laid harn and eggs in front of Canidy.
,I took the liberty of ordering for you," Douglass said. "We've already eaten."
"Fine," Canidy said. ,can you eat and read?" Douglass said. "It would save time."
"Yes, Sir."
"Give him Hansen's report, Ellis," Douglass ordered.
Hansen's report came in a manila folder, stamped SECRET.
Canidy opened it and found several sheets of paper.
SECRET INTERNAL MEMORANDUM DATE: 16 DECEMBER 1941
FROM' R D. HANSEN To: E. C. BAKER Subj: FULMAR, ERIC THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN CONCERNING SUBJECT FULMAR. (SOURCE INDICATED.)
(1) (FROM POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE):
SUBJECT HAS BEEN IN REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE WITH REV.
GEORGE CRATER CANIDY, D. D., HEADMASTER ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL, @Ctdar RAPIDS, IOWA.
HIGHLY RESPECTED CLERGYMAN/EDUCATOR WITH NO KNOWN A= SYMPATHIES.
WITH REV. CANIDY PRODUCED THE FOLLOWIN CT SPENT SIX (6) YEARS AS BOARDING STUDENT AT OL, AND HIS CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH DATES FROM THAT PERIOD.
BELIEVES IT IMPOSSIBLE THAT SUBJECT SYMPATHIZER.
STATES THAT SUBJECT'S CLOSEST FRIEND RICHARD CANIDY (SEE ONI INFORMATION FOL AT ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL WITH SUBJECT AND LAT CT AT ST. MARK'S SCHOOL, SOUTHBORO, MASS.
3@ FBI INTERVIEW WITH VARIOUS FACULTY MEMBERS, ST. MARK'S SCHOOL, PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING:
I (a) SUBJECT ATTENDED ST. MARK'S SCHOOL FORIWO YEARS.
SUBJECT WAS ORDINARY STUDENT, WITH NO OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC OR DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS@
(b) SUBJECT WAS WITHDRAWN FROM SCHOOL MO CUSTODY OF STANLEY S. FM (SEE FBI INFORMATION FOLLOWING SUB-JECT's ACADEMIC RECORDS WERE SUBSEQUENT LY REQUESTED BY AND FURNISHED TO DIE Schule Am ROSENBERG, IN SWITZERLAND.
(C) SUBJECT's CLOSEST FRIENDS AT SCHOOL WERE RICHARD CANIDY AND JAMES M. C. WHITTAKER. (SEE WD G-2 INFOR- MATIO N
FOLLOWING.)
4. SUBJECT's MOTHER, MOTION-PICTURE ACTRESS MONICA CARL18LE(B. MARY ELIZABETH CHERNICK), REFUSED FBI I@
TFRVIEW ON ADVICE OF COUNSEL.
5. FBI INTERVIEW WITH STANLEY S. FINE, VICE-PRESIDENT, LEGAL CONTINENTAL STUDIOS, PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING.- (a)
FINE IS HIGHLY REGARDED ATTORNEY AND BUSINESS EXEC UTRVE WITH KNOWN Axti-GERMAN SYMPATHIES.
(b) FINE STATED THAT FOR BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS, CARLISLE/CHERNICK DID NOT WISH THE EXISTENCE OF A SON KNOWN PUBLICLY. FINE STATED HE HAD HANDLED BOARDING SCHO=@ AND SUMMER CAMP AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS DESIGNED TO KEEP SUBJECT OUT OF PUBLIC NOTICE UNTIL 1933, WHEN, OVER HIS OB@ JECTIONS, CARLISLE/CHERNICK AGREED TO HAVE SUBJECT EDUCATED AT HIS FATHER'S EXPENSE IN SWITZERLAND.
(b) FINE STATED HE BELIEVES CARLISLE/CHERNICK HAS BAD NO CONTACT WITH SUBJECT SUBSEQUENT TO APPROXIMATELY 1937.
FINE MAINTAINED SOCIAL CONTACT WITH SUBJECT UNTIL 1940.
(4) (FROM OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE), RICHARD CANIDY COMMISSIONED ENSIGN USNR ON GRADUATION (A.E.) FROM MAS& INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 1938. DESIG.0 @@NATFID NAVAL AVIATOR, PENSACOLA, FLA., MAR. 1939. ASSIGNED NAS PENSACOLA PRIMARILY AS INSTRUCTOR PILOT. PROMOTED LIEUTENANT (JG) JUNE 1940. CANIDY HON. DISCH. (CONVE-NIENC E OF GOVT.
) JUNE 1941
TO ACCEPT ONE YEAR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP, CHINA. CANIDY BELIEVED TO BE IN KUNMING, CHINA.
(5) (FROM G-2, WAR DEPARTMENT)@
JAMES M. C. WHITTAKER COMMISSIONED SECOND LIEUTENANT ARTILLERY ON GRADUATION (B.A.) FROM HARVARD COLLEGE 1938. TRANSFERRED ARMY AIR CORPS. DESIGNATED PILOT M83
RANI Fin TEXAS, 1940. TRANSFERRE@ US IN PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH. PRESENT WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. WHITTAKER's RECORDS INDICATE CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL INFLUENCE. KNOWN TO BE SOCIALLY ACQUAINTED WITH THE PRESP@ DENT.
(6) (FROM TREASURY DEPARTMENT):
CT CAME To TREASURY DEPARTMENT ATTENTION (a) SUBJE FOLLOWING REPORT By FIRST NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK THAT SUBJECT TRANSFERRED TO SMALL, DORMANT ACCOUNT AMOUNT OF $21,545 FROM FIRST NATIONAL CITY BANK BRANCH IN BUENROS AIRES, ARGENTINA. SIX (6) SUBSEQUENT TRANSFERS G $111 405, HAVE BEEN FROM FNCB BUENOS AIRES, TOTALIN 1
MADR7 THE MOST RECENT NOVEMBER 12, 1941.
(b) PRIOR To Dgc@ 12, 1941 @ WHEN UNLICENSED FOREIGN Y PRESIDENTIAL TRANSFER OF U.8@
DOLLAR FUNDS WAS PROSCRIBED B ORDER, SUBJECT DREW NINE (9) TTMES UPON THESE FUNDS AT THE FNCB BRANCH IN CASABLANCA, MOROCCO, FOR A TOTAL OF $6,500.
;I: Cr m@ -7-S (C-. IRS UBJECT NEVER FILED PER SONAL LAIMB GERMAN CITIZENSHIP, His FNCB Ac(d) IF SUBJECT C COUNT IS SUBJECT To Il,@ont UNDER THE ENEMY ALJEN PRO FNCB Ac- ZEM LATION OF THE IRS CODE, AND THE COD] FOR NONPAYMENT OF APPLICABLE TAXES, I'Lu R HUNGERFORD, M.D., CHIEF (7) chological PROFILE (HOME OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, GEORGETOWN MEDICAL CENTER tand OTHER]):
"BASED ON THE INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE IT IS NOT OF COURSE IT, POSSIBLE TO PREPARE A THOROUGH EVALUATION FILE, BUT SEVERAL THINGS SEEM PROBABLE, AND is THE CONSENSUS OF THOSE CONSULTED.
TION AS PATIENT WOULD INESCAPABLY HAVE EXPERIENCED REJEC THE RESULT OF HIS FATHERLESS Clilldhood, AND THESE FEELINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE EXTRAORDINARY RF.M Tiow BEHAVIOR or, PATIENT's MOTHER. PATIENT HA GING BY ET R ENTLY TRANSFERRED (JUD L TE S SEEKING AF PARENTAL FEELINGS TO THE REV. DR. CANIDY, AND F STILL APPARENTLY FEELS A STRONG SIBLING BOND WITH C AND WHITTAKER.
(IN OTHER WORDS, HAVING BEEN DEPRIVED OF A FAMILY, PATIENT HAS FORMED HIS OWN FROM THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO HIM.)
WHOSE ACADEMIC RECORDS INDICATE HIGH INTELLIGI N
DEVELOPED SELF-RELLANCE TO A- UNUSUAL D] WOULD LIKELY MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH DISTRUST HAVE NOT PROVEN THEIR TRUSIWORTHINESG; A HIGH LEVEL OF DETERMINATION; A RELUCTANCE TO SEEK, OR REED, ADVICE FROM OTHERS; AND A LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE APPROVAL OR DISOF HIS PEER GROUP. IS PROBABLY VERY STABLE, ANY INSTABILITY HAVING IN PATIENT'S FORMATM (IMMEDIATE PRE- AND PERIOD. ITIS IMPORTANT To NOTE HERE THAT THIS STABILITY WILL, PROBABLY TEND TO MAKE PATIENT IMMUNE To MOST NORMAL SOCIAL PRESSURES, AND DISRESPECTFUL OF NORMAL@ AUTHORITY FIGURES. FATIENT's PSYCHOLOGICAL MAKEUP IS PROHA@ BLY FIRMLY ESTABLISHED, AND PRO13ABLY RELATIVELY IMMUNE TO CHANGE- IF, HOWEVER, THERE WERE TO BE A FURTHER PROFOUND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA (FOR EXAMPLE, IF ONE OF HIS "FAMILY" BE-TRAYED HIM), THERE W(ULD PROBABLY BE SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFICULTY.`
(8) COMMENTS:
INASMUCH AS SUBJECT HAS BEEN ABROAD FOR SO LONG AND UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED HEREIN, IT IS BELIEVED LIKELY THAT RE WILL CONTINUE To REFUSE OVERTURES FROM OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE US, GOVERNMENT. TWO (CANIDY, RICHARD; WHITTAKER, JAMES M.C.) OF THE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO APPEAL TO HIM ON PERSONAL GROUNDS ARE OBVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE. FM IS NOT CONNECTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD IT BE DECIDED ADVANTAGEOUS TO ESTABLISH A WORKING RELAT'OVSHIP WITH SUBJECT, His FN`CB FUNDS MAY PROVE USEFUL, THEY ARE MOST LIKELY SUBJECT's PROCEEDS FROM HIS ACTIVITIES IN MOVING CASH AND NEGOTLABLES, IN CONCERN WITH HIS FRIEND SIDI EL FERRUCH (A MOROCCAN NOBLEMAN), FROM OC_ CUPIED FRANCE, AND ARE HIS ONLY ASSETS. INASMUCH AS THE DEATH PENALTYHAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR MUGAL TRANSFERS OF MONIES AND VALUABLES, AND INASMUCH AS SUBJECT was SO ENGAGED WITH Sim EL FERRUCH, IT CAN THEREFORE BE LOGICALLY PRESUMED THAT SUBJECT ENJOYS TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF EL FERRUCH, Am A ING DEGREE OF INFLUENCE WITH B C R E "If I thought I could get an answer," Canidy said, "I'd ask, why all the interest in Eric Fulmar?"
Douglass didn't reply directly. "Fulmar is so important that a radio over General Marshall's signature was sent to the Philippines (rdering Lieutenant Whittaker home at the first opportunity. There bas
been no reply."
"Meaning what? That he's dead?" Canidy asked. "That he can't be located, or that Douglas MacArthur is once again expressing his contempt for George Marshall-or for the President," Douglass said. "The point is that you're the only person we have we feel can deal with Fulmar."
"Deal with him how?"
Again, Douglass avoided a direct response. "Baker tells me that in China he put it to you that we're asking you to volunteer for a mission of great importance to the war effort and that the mission involves a considerable risk. If you don't mind, I'd like to put the same question to you now, Canidy."
"Baker wouldn't tell me what this mission is all about," Canidy said. "Will you?"
"The question you were asked," Douglass said, "is whether or not you are willing to go into it under the conditions outlined."
"What are my options?" Canidy said. "What if I say no?"
"Yes or no, Canidy."
He's acting like a character in a bad spy movie, Canidy thought. In every dangerousmission thriller I have ever seen, there was a scene where the commanding officer gave the hero one last chance to change his mind: "Are you sure you want to go through with this?" The hero always wanted to go through with it. That doesn't mean I will have to go through with it. I know how to say, "I quit"
"OKI" Canidy said.
"All right," Captain Douglass said. "Thank you. But you menti(ned options a moment ago. I think I should tell you that if you had declined the offer, you would have been sent to some very secure Psychiatric institution for examination. That examination : would take a very long time. In the Civil War, Lincoln suspended the rules of habeas corpus. President Roosevelt isn't going to do that. The attorney general has told him that under existing law, persons suspected of being non compos mentis don't fall under the rule of habeas corpus. They are being examined, not incarcerated."
Canidy and Douglass locked eyes for a long moment.
"Canidy," Douglass said, "if I could tell you what's behind all this, that threat would not have been necessary. But I can't tell you, and it was."
He's dead serious, Canidy thought. Maybe truth really is stranger thanfiction, "Yes, sir," he said.
"There is a Frenchman now in Morocco," Douglass began, whom we absolutely have to bring to the United States. It is critically important that when we bring him out, the Germans will not connect his disappearance with us. Otherwise they would doubtless realize why we want him. What we desperately hope they will believe is that he escaped by his own means to join General de Gaulle in London."
"And you want Fulmar to smuggle him out," Canidy said. "Arid think I can talk him into it."
"Not exactly," Douglass said. "Not him alone. For reasons we can 't get into, we want Sidi Hassan el Ferruch involved as well." 4"Why?"
"We have other plans for him later," Douglass said. "The best possible scenario is that you meet Fulmar, he greets you as a beloved friend, and he instantly agrees to persuade el Ferruch to help you. Mr. Baker does not believe that. He thinks the worst possible scenario is more probable. In that Fulmar would denounce you to the Germans."
"Why do you think he would do that?"
"Despite your father's character reference, it is Baker's belief that Eric Fulmar's loyalties are solely to Eric Fulmar."
"I've seen him since you have, Dick," Baker said. "You have to TIMIK LADT USHOES Rol keep in mind that he was educated in Germany and is in many ways German. When I first met him, he was having dinner in Fouquet's restaurant in Paris with the daughter of a Gennan major general. His father is a member of the Nazi party."
"He's an American," Canidy said loyally.
"We're taking what solace we can from his skillful avoidance of German military service," Baker said. "It's not much. You saw that psychological profile' "
"It also said he thinks of me as a brother," Canidy said.
"Furthermore," Douglass said, "el Ferruch is an unknown quantity. We have to go on the presumption that el Ferruch is even more likely to turn you over to the Germans."
"There are several other scenarios ' " Baker said. "One is that we establish contact with Fulmar, he tells us he wants nothing to do with us at all, no matter what the price, but, because you are old friends, he won't turn you over to the Germans."
"Pleasant thought " Canidy said. "So where is good old Eric?"
"We found out a fe'w days ago," Douglass said, "that he's in the palace at Ksar es Souk in the middle of the desert. Which gives us the opening for one of the happy scenarios."
"What's that?"
"We get you to Ksar es Souk," Baker said. "We offer Fulmar n-and Fulmar and el Ferruch a lot of money to grab the Frenchma a way out of Morocco."
""Grab'the Frenchman?" Canidy asked.
"That's another little problem " Baker said, "Our information is that the Frenchman desperately desires to return to his family. Thus he works for Vichy and the Germans in the hope they'll give him permission to return to France. Likewise, because he's concerned about reprisals against his family in France, it's extremely unlikely that he will leave Morocco voluntarily."
"You mean, we kidnap him Canidy said. Baker nodded. "Then what happens to his family?"
Baker shrugged.
"Jesus!" Canidy said, repelled by what he took to be unconcern.
'1"which is another reason we need the cooperation of el Ferruch," Douglass said.
Canidy looked at him, eyes flaring.
"It's not that we don't care about that sort of thing," Douglass said.
"Of course not," Canidy said. "But whatever you need this guy for is more important, right?"
"Yes, it is," Douglass said.
"How do you propose to get this man and Fulmar out of MOROCCO-presuming that 'happy scenario' comes true?" Canidy asked.
Baker looked at Douglass for permission to reply. Douglass shook his head no.
"We don't think you should know that yet," Douglass said.
"How am I supposed to see Fulmar? Or, for that matter, enter Morocco?" Canidy asked.
"That at least is fairly simple," Baker said. "We're going to send you to the consulate in Rabat as a foreign service officer. Cynthia will arrange for you to be issued a diplomatic passport, and we'll run you through a quick program to show you how to behave, that sort of thing."
"She wouldn't tell me last night," Canidy said, "how she fits in this."
Cynthia looked at Douglass for permission. This time he gave it.
"You'll be an agent in this operation," Cynthia said. "Every agent has a handler. I'm your handler."
"How are you going to 'handle me?" Canidy asked.
"Take care of your pay, your travel, your training, your briefings, your last will and testament, do whatever I can to get you where you're going as quickly as possible. In other words, be responsible for you."
"You're too young to be my mother," Canidy said. "And too pretty."
"I know, Dick, I know," Cynthia said. "But I'll just have to do."
"Actually, I could do a lot worse," Canidy said, meaning it. "Meanwhile'@--he switched his attention to Baker_--@'where are you going to be while I'm running around in the desert looking for FU mar?"
"Mr. Baker is leaving tomorrow for Rabat," Douglass said. "He will be there when you arrive. As soon as we can make it through the bureaucratic niceties and your briefings, you'll go to Rabat."
"Via Lisbon and Vichy," Baker said. "An ordinary junior foreign service officer would spend a week being briefed at the embassy in Vichy before moving on to a consulate general assignment. If you didn't do that there would be questions. You do understand, don't you, that since Morocco is still a French protectorate, our consulate general there reports to our ambassador to France."
"No," Canidy said.
"We'll get into that in the briefings, Dick," Cynthia said. "There's a lot of material we have to give you."
"Chief Ellis will stick with you through all of this," Douglass said. "I'm sure you'll find him helpful. He's an old sailor."
"He makes a
pretty good guard, doesn't he?" Canidy asked.
Douglass met his eyes.
"Yes," he said. "That too."
S Kunming, China 18 January 19412
The sixteen B5M Mitsubishis the ground spotters reported enroute to Kunming turned out to be, when Ed Bitter and his wingman found them, eight B5Ms and eight KI-27 Nakajima fighters.
"What the hell are they?" Bitter's wingman asked.
W E B Griffin - Men at War 1 - The Last Heroes Page 30
