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“Sergeant Lewis waited until I got back from Sonthofen to tell me.”
“I gather he didn’t approve?”
“Actually, he began the conversation by saying, ‘You know, our baby-faced captain isn’t really a candy-ass. He told Bischoff to fuck off, and then he told me if I told anybody but you what he said to Orlovsky he’d cut off my dick with a dull bayonet.’ Or words to that effect.”
“That’s close enough.”
“Mattingly doesn’t want to know what Gehlen does with the Russian. That’s why he told me to deal with it.”
“And you’re happy with that?”
“Do I have to point out that first sergeants—and brand-new captains—do not question what full bull colonels tell them to do?”
“Do first sergeants question their orders from brand-new captains?”
Dunwiddie didn’t reply.
“Let’s try one and see. Sergeant, if the prisoner Bischoff attempts to talk to Major Orlovsky, you will place him under arrest.”
“You’re crazy, Jim. He’ll go right to General Gehlen—”
“I’m not finished,” Cronley interrupted. “You will immediately assign enough of our men to protect Major Orlovsky around the clock from any attempt by any of the Germans to kill him. The use of deadly force is authorized to protect Major Orlovsky. The foregoing is a direct order.”
“Jesus, Jim!”
“The answer I expect from you, Sergeant, is ‘Yes, sir.’”
Dunwiddie looked at Cronley for ten seconds before coming to attention and saying, “Yes, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“Permission to speak, sir?”
“Granted.”
“Mattingly is not going to like this.”
“Probably not. On the other hand, I don’t like the way he’s trying to cover his ass about the Russian. If he wants to let the Germans shoot him—or, for that matter, torture him—I don’t know right now what I can do about that. But I do know I’m not going to let him get away with saying, ‘I didn’t know anything about what happens at Kloster Grünau,’ and then blame whatever happens on you and me.”
“You really think that’s what Mattingly is doing?”
“It may not have started out that way, but yeah, I think—I damned well know—that’s what he’s doing. He considers you and me expendable, Tiny.”
“Operation Ost is really important, Jim.”
“So important that Mattingly is perfectly willing to throw you and me to the hungry lions to keep it going. That’s the point. But I’m not willing to be fed to the lions.”
“You realize the spot you’re putting me in?”
“Are you going to obey the direct order I gave you?”
“You heard me say ‘Yes, sir.’”
“Then you’re off the spot. I just moved onto it.”
Dunwiddie threw up his hands in resignation.
“Let’s go get some breakfast,” Cronley said.
