Page 251 of Winter of the World (The Century 2)

"Yup."

"Couldn't we write a message about Midway that the Japanese would want to rebroadcast in code? Then when we intercepted the broadcast we could find out how they encode the name."

Strong looked thoughtful. "Maybe," he said. "We might have to send our message in clear, to be sure they understood it."

"We could do that. It would have to be something not very confidential--like, say: 'There is an outbreak of venereal disease on Midway, please send medicine,' or something like that."

"But why would the Japs rebroadcast that?"

"Okay, so it has to be something of military significance, but not top secret--something like the weather."

"Even weather forecasts are secret nowadays."

The cryptanalyst at the next desk put in: "How about a water shortage? If they're planning to occupy the place, that would be important information."

"Hell, this could work." Strong was getting excited. "Suppose Midway sends a message in clear to Hawaii, saying their desalination plant has broken down."

Chuck said: "And Hawaii replies, saying we're sending a water barge."

"The Japanese would be sure to rebroadcast that, if they're planning to attack Midway. They would need to make plans to ship fresh water there."

"And they would broadcast in code to avoid alerting us to their interest in Midway."

Strong stood up. "Come with me," he said to Chuck. "Let's put this to the boss, see what he thinks of the idea."

The signals were exchanged that day.

Next day, a Japanese radio signal reported a water shortage at AF.

The target was Midway.

Admiral Nimitz commenced to set a trap.

iii

That evening, while more than a thousand workmen swarmed over the crippled aircraft carrier Yorktown, repairing the damage under arc lights, Chuck and Eddie went to the Band Round the Hat, a bar down a dark alley in Honolulu. It was packed, as always, with sailors and locals. Almost all the customers were men, though there were a few nurses in pairs. Chuck and Eddie liked the place because the other men were their kind. The lesbians liked it because the men did not hit on them.

There was nothing overt, of course. You could be thrown out of the navy and put in jail for homosexual acts. All the same the place was congenial. The bandleader wore makeup. The Hawaiian singer was in drag, although he was so convincing that some people did not realize he was a man. The owner was as queer as a three-dollar bill. Men could dance together. And no one would call you a wimp for ordering vermouth.

Since the death of Joanne, Chuck felt he loved Eddie even more. Of course he had always known that Eddie could be killed, in theory, but the danger had never seemed real. Now, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Chuck never passed a day without visualizing that beautiful girl lying on the ground covered in blood, and his brother sobbing his heart out beside her. It could so easily have been Chuck kneeling next to Eddie, and feeling the same unbearable grief. Chuck and Eddie had cheated death on December 7, but they were at war now, and life was cheap. Every day together was precious because it might be the last.

Chuck was leaning on the bar with a beer in his hand, and Eddie was sitting on a high stool. They were laughing at a navy pilot called Trevor Paxman--known as Trixie--who was talking about the time he tried to have sex with a girl. "I was horrified!" Trixie said. "I thought it would be all tidy down there, and kind of sweet, like girls in paintings--but she had more hair than me!" They roared with laughter. "She was like a gorilla!" At that point Chuck saw, out of the corner of his eye, the stocky figure of Captain Vandermeier entering the bar.

Few officers went into enlisted men's bars. It was not forbidden, merely thoughtless and inconsiderate, like wearing muddy boots in the restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton. Eddie turned his back, hoping Vandermeier would not see him.

No such luck. Vandermeier came right up to them and said: "Well, well, all girls together, are we?"

Trixie turned away and melted into the crowd. Vandermeier said: "Where did he go?" He was already drunk enough to slur his words.

Chuck saw Eddie's face darken. Chuck said stiffly: "Good evening, Captain, may I buy you a beer?"

"Scotch onna rocks."

Chuck got him a drink. Vandermeier took a swallow and said: "So, I hear the action in this place is out the back--is that right?" He looked at Eddie.

"No idea," Eddie said coldly.

"Aw, come on," said Vandermeier. "Off the record." He patted Eddie's knee.

---