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A London bus splashed gritty slush over his overcoat as he walked to Berkeley Square, and he had to stand for several minutes outside a firmly closed door before he was finally permitted inside.
But the things turned immediately and vastly better.
A Lieutenant Colonel Stevens greeted him. A good-looking, older officer. He was wearing a West Point ring. Ed was among his own.
“We’ve been expecting you, Commander Bitter,” Stevens said. “Let me welcome you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
"I wonder what happened to Canidy,” Lt. Colonel Stevens said.
“Sir?”
“He borrowed our limousine to meet you at Croydon and spare you the ‘Be Kind to Our British Cousins’ lectures,” Colonel Stevens said. And then before Bitter could frame a reply, he raised his voice and asked, “Has Major Canidy checked in?”
"Sir,” a man’s voice, somehow familiar, called back,“he said when you’re through with Commander Bitter to send him over to the Dorchester.”
"He must have gotten tied up at SHAEF” Colonel Stevens explained. And then he added, “Eighth Air Force did a photo recon of the Saint-Lazare sub pens yesterday. Canidy wanted to see what, if anything, they got.”
“Yes, sir,” Bitter said.
“Commander, I believe I’m supposed to brief you, but I would imagine that you’re pretty well briefed on the problem itself already. As well as its ramifications. I think I should tell you this, however: Despite what the DCNO thinks—he had a talk with Colonel Donovan—OSS was given this mission because Ike thought it was the sensible thing to do. It is not a conspiracy to make the Navy look foolish.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dick said he proposes to send you to see your friend Douglass, who has unfortunately become the expert on the target and its defenses. And then you’ll go see how the Aphrodite project is coming along at Fersfield. How does that sound?”
“‘Aphrodite project’?” Bitter asked.
Stevens chuckled. “The drone aircraft,” he explained. “Dick Canidy is apparently well read in mythology. Aphrodite, he informed us, is not only the goddess of love, she is the protectress of sa
ilors. He further suggested that when they heard that name, as they certainly will, the Germans would be prone to associate Aphrodite with the WAC, who use her as their lapel insignia. We were all so dazzled that no one could think of an objection. The Aphrodite Project it is.”
“Canidy is full of surprises,” Bitter said.
“Dick speaks very highly of you, Commander,” Lt. Colonel Stevens said. “Despite the motive behind your assignment to us, he thinks you’ll be very useful.”
Stevens watched Bitter’s face for a reaction. When he could detect none, he went on, as if he was doing something reluctantly that had to be done,"Commander, I think I should tell you that Canidy has been ordered to keep a close eye on you. The first time he suspects your primary loyalty is not to the Aphrodite Project—bluntly, that you consider yourself under a greater obligation to the Navy—he is to send you back to the United States on the next available aircraft. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Bitter said.
“Captain Fine has an identity card for you, Commander, and a set of orders that will permit you to move freely around without many questions being asked. Once you have those, there’s nothing else for you to do here. You’ll work out of Whitbey House.”
“Yes, sir,” Bitter said.
“Can you come in, Stan?” Stevens called. A moment later, Captain Stanley S. Fine came into his office.
“You know Commander Bitter, Stan?” Stevens asked.
“Yes, sir,” Fine said. “Good to see you, Commander. Welcome to the lunatic asylum.”
“Take care of the paperwork, will you, Stan? And then take the Commander over to the Dorchester.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And, Stan, I want the Princess back.”
“I understand, sir.”
