_Clocks Won't Wait_
For the next hour the English air ace, the Yank air ace, and the new
Chinese Minister of War would hardly have noticed a German Luftwaffe
bomb coming down through the dining-room ceiling. None came down, of
course, because the good old R.A.F. patroled the night skies outside,
and German night fliers had long since realized that the R.A.F. boys
could beat them to the punch any day in the week, and twice on Sundays.
Under pressure from the Chinese official, Freddy and Dave recounted
some of the experiences they'd had during the war. And under polite
pressure from them, Soo Wong Kai told them many interesting stories of
China.
"That's one country I sure want to visit before I die," Dave said after
a short silence. "It must be very wonderful in China. I've read quite a
bit about it, but I guess if you piled all the books about China one
on top of the other you wouldn't even begin to scratch the surface, eh?
If you get what I mean, sir?"
"Yes, I do, Captain," the other replied. "And I'm afraid you're quite
right. There has been a great deal written about China, but it would
take ten times as much to tell the story of the real China--the China
of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his people."
"There's a soldier!" Freddy Farmer spoke up with a vigorous nod. "What
a splendid leader, and what splendid troops he now commands. I quite
agree with Dave, sir. I, too, hope to visit China some day."
"And may that day come soon," Soo Wong Kai said gravely. "Soon, because
of the things you will see in China. And soon, because of the honor
such a visit would be to my country. China has come a long way, and she
still has a long, long road to travel. But we shall travel that road,
and we shall attain the goal at the end of that road. But there I go
sounding off, when I can easily see that you two gentlemen are doing me
the great honor of being polite. So--"
"No, you're wrong, sir!" Dawson spoke up quickly. "I'm enjoying every
second of this talk. And I know Freddy is, too. Believe me, sir, and
this is the truth: If I'm given the chance--which you can bet on that I
won't be--of picking the next front to fight on, I'll pick China right
off the bat."
"Hear, hear!" Freddy Farmer added his bit quickly. "Quite, sir. We were
almost there, when we were in Burma just before the States came into
the war. However, as Dawson says, if we have our choice next time, it
will most certainly be China."[1]
[Footnote 1: _Dave Dawson at Singapore._]
"And a happy day that will be for my struggling countrymen," Soo Wong
Kai said softly. "We have there, now, the Flying Tigers. True and
brave airmen they are. And China will never be able to repay her debt
to those gallant boys. What they have done for China is something no
nation and no people could ever hope to repay in full. And to have you
two fight on the China front would be much the same thing. Do not look
at me so, for it is the truth when I say that I have heard your names,
and your deeds, mentioned deep in my country. So, should your orders
ever carry you to China, all that China has to offer is yours for the
asking. And--Ah! But the truth embarrasses you, eh?"
Dawson grinned, and wished that some of the redness would go out of his
face. He liked praise just as much as the next fellow, but Soo Wong Kai
was sure hitting on all sixteen cylinders.
"Well, there's a couple of other fellows or so fighting in this war,
too, sir," he said with a little laugh. "But thanks just the same, sir."
"And thank you, Captains, for a most pleasant meeting," the Minister of
War said as he rose to his feet. "I shall always remember this happy
event. And it will be my perpetual wish that some day we will meet
again in my country. Again, thank you. And I bid you a heartfelt good
evening, Captains."
Both Dawson and Freddy leaped to their feet, stammered out their
thanks, shook hands with the Chinese, and remained at attention as he
walked away and out of the dining-room.
"Well, quite an event, what?" the English youth breathed after they had
reseated themselves. "Quite a splendid chap, eh? A very decent sort."
"Tops, and how!" Dave grunted, and pointed at their empty plates. "Go
on and say it, pal. I can read it in your eyes."
"Say what?" Freddy demanded. "And just what can you read in my eyes,
I'd like to know?"
"What you're thinking, and wishing," Dave said with a straight face.
"That he'd brought along one of his official buddies."
"You still aren't making sense!" Freddy snapped. "Speak up! Get it off
your blasted chest, whatever it is."
"As if you didn't know!" Dawson snorted. "If he'd brought along one of
his official buddies, why then there would have been more meat ration
coupons, of course. And you could have worked them for a second helping
of roast beef. Don't try to kid a pal, pal! You were kind of thinking
that, weren't you?"
"No, my little man," Freddy replied softly, and slowly reached for a
dish of pudding he hadn't touched yet. "But would you care to have me
_show_ you what I'm thinking _now_?"
"Do, sweetheart!" Dave growled, and reached for his own pudding. "And
you'll be combing pudding out of your hair, too. So--Sweet tripe,
Freddy! Let's dive in and finish this. We're due out at Croydon Airport
in a little over an hour. And we haven't packed, or paid the bill yet.
And you can bet your sweet life that that Newfoundland-bound bomber
isn't going to wait for us."
"Right as rain!" Freddy echoed behind a heaping spoon of pudding.
"Darned decent of the Air Ministry to give us a ride by air, instead
of having us make the crossing by water. A magic world, isn't it, Dave!
By this time tomorrow night we'll be dining in New York City. Magic
isn't the word."
"No, it's speed!" Dawson snapped. "Can the chatter, pal, and just
shovel it in. And I'll match you for the check."
"No, Dave, I'll pay it."
"What?" Dawson gasped. "Am I hearing things?"
"I said that I would pay the check," Freddy replied. "No! Not because
I am big-hearted, either. Simply to save the trouble of tossing coins
with you--and losing _as usual_."
"Oh, well, don't feel too bad, pal," Dave grinned at him. "You'll catch
on to how it's done, some day. Then you can make up for lost time.
However, just to prove that I'm a nice guy, I'll pay the check myself."
That last caused Freddy Farmer to go speechless. And he remained
speechless while Dawson took the check from the waiter and paid it in
full, plus tip.
"Wonderful!" the English youth breathed softly. "I have just witnessed
the miracle of miracles, and I don't believe I have the strength to
get out to Croydon Airport."
"Oh, Big-Hearted Dawson, they call me," Dave grinned. "Besides, I feel
pretty swell right now. And who wouldn't when he was about to head back
to the good old U.S.A.! Well, let's go, youngster. That bomber won't
wait."
A few minutes over an hour later the two youths climbed out of the
taxi in front of the Croydon Airport Administration Building, parked
their suitcases outside and went inside to report to Group Captain
Bainsworth, R.A.F. Commandant of the field. The senior officer smiled,
and nodded as they came to attention and saluted.
"Knew you chaps would be along presently," he said. "Squadron Leader
Hixon, your pilot, was in here a moment ago fretting that you wouldn't
show up in time. I assured him that chaps going on leave are never
late. You've proved that truth again. Well, Dawson, I fancy you're a
bit bucked up to be going back to the States, what?"
"Right on top of the world, sir," the Yank air ace informed him. "Not
that I don't like England, you understand, sir, but--"
"Quite," the senior officer broke in with a smile. "Any chap wants to
see his native land. And you, Farmer? Glad to be going along?"
Freddy half shrugged, and let a little sigh slide off his lips.
"It's quite wonderful out in the States, sir," he said. "But--well,
I try to be a good soldier and go where I have to. And this time,
it happens to be the States. Of course, I could do with a bit more
interesting company, but--"
The English youth shrugged again and made a little gesture with
his hands. The group captain chuckled, and Dave shot Freddy a
you-wait-until-we're-outside look. Then he grinned broadly.
"Well," the group captain presently said, "I guess the aircraft is
about ready. I'll go along out to it with you. Good luck, both of
you. And--well, have a marvelous time. Yes, quite! Be sure and have a
marvelous time. And the very best of luck."
The way the senior officer seemed to hesitate in saying the last couple
of sentences had a queer effect on Dawson. He gave the man's face a
keen look, but could read nothing there. Then, with Freddy, he thanked
him for his good wishes, and walked with him out of the Administration
Building, and over to where a revved up Lockheed "Hudson" bomber was
waiting at the far end of the field. They walked almost three quarters
of the way in silence, but when they got close to the waiting bomber
Group Captain Bainsworth slowed up to a halt and faced them.
"I say, a moment, you two," he said quietly. "A favor I want you to do
for me. After you reach New York, you'll be going on down to Washington
to say hello to Colonel Welsh, of U. S. Intelligence, no doubt. Well,
I have a letter I'd like you to deliver for me. It was sent out here
about half an hour ago. Better stick it away out of sight. Best not to
let anyone know you're carrying it, you know. Here."
Dawson happened to be standing closest, so he took the sealed envelope
that Group Captain Bainsworth slipped out of his pocket and handed
over. Dave didn't look at it, though. He looked at the group captain,
licked his lips, and frowned slightly.
"Yes, glad to, sir," he said. "But--well, there's the matter of the
censors, sir. On the American side, I mean. I may have to turn it over
to them for inspection. That be all right, sir?"
"Decidedly not, Dawson!" the senior officer replied gravely. "Let no
one see it. But don't worry. Take a look at the name and address, and
you'll understand why there's no need to show it to anybody but the
right party."
Dave held up the envelope and glanced at what was written on the
outside. Freddy Farmer took a look, too. And they both stiffened and
caught their breath. The envelope was addressed to--
The Hon. Cordell Hull
Secretary of State
Washington, D. C.
"Jumping catfish!" Dawson choked out before he could check his tongue.
"But--but why doesn't this go by diplomatic pouch, sir?"
"I don't know myself, Dawson," the group captain told him. "For a good
reason, no doubt. I simply know that it arrived here half an hour ago,
along with instructions to turn it over to you two chaps for delivery.
Perhaps you'll learn the reasons in Washington. Perhaps not, too. No
matter, though. Just take it along, and don't let anybody get so much
as a look at it. Well, let's get on over to the aircraft."
"Yes, sure," Dave mumbled, and slid the sealed envelope into an inside
pocket. "It will be delivered, sir, without anybody else getting a look
at it--not even the censors."
"Splendid, splendid!" murmured the senior officer almost absently.
"That's the thing to do. Quite!"
A few moments later Dave and Freddy were in the bomber and Squadron
Leader Hixon was slowly opening up the engines to move the aircraft
forward toward the take-off runway.
"All aboard, pal!" Dave called out cheerfully to Freddy Farmer. "A
late breakfast in Newfoundland, lunch in the air on the way down the
Canadian coast, and dinner in little old Manhattan! Boy, oh boy! And
then sixty days of having fun!"
"Except when we have to make those blasted speeches for War Bonds!"
Freddy Farmer growled out as a tag line.