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Fuller took the sheet and read it:
* * *
TOP SECRET
OPERATIONAL PRIORITY
05APR43 1200
FOR OSS WASHINGTON EYES ONLY GEN DONOVAN; OSS ALGIERS EYES ONLY CAPT FINE.
FROM MERCURY STATION
BEGIN QUOTE
JUPITER OPTIMUS MAXIMUS FIND NO SIGN OF ANTACID OR OTHER. SEARCH CONTINUES.
NEPTUNE STANDS BY.
END QUOTE
TOP SECRET
* * *
“Mercury?” Fuller said.
“That’s your station name,” Canidy said.
“Mercury?” Fuller repeated. “The planet? Oh, wait…”
He glanced down the message again.
“Jupiter Optimus Maximus!” Fuller suddenly said. “Hey, I remember. That’s from mythology. Jupiter was the supreme god of Italy.”
Nola had a blank look on his face.
“I have never heard of him,” he said.
“Of Italy and Rome,” Canidy said. “He was the great protector of the state and every part of life therein. Which, if you think about it, is what we are trying to accomplish.”
“Wasn’t he honored with the spoils of the generals and the sacrifices by the magistrates?” Fuller said.
“That’s the one,” Canidy said. “But one of my real favorites is that all places struck by lightning then belonged to Jupiter.”
Tubes laughed aloud.
Nola could not quite understand why.
“Okay,” Tubes said, “so I get it—you’re Jupiter.”
“Your supreme god finds it pleasing that you see such wisdom,” Canidy said evenly.
“Then,” Fuller went on, “who’s Maximus?”
“Jupiter looked to the stars for guidance,” Canidy said, waving with his arm toward the exposed beams of the roof, “and there Jupiter found that that name would go to the great radioman heretofore known as Tubes.”
“Me Maximus? The greatest?” Fuller said with a huge grin. “I am duly honored.”
