Back at Bidon Cinq again that afternoon, Johnny McCord was greeted by
the native office assistant he'd left in charge while all three of the
officers were gone. Mellor, at the Tissalit base, had made several
attempts to get in touch with him.
"Mellor!" Pierre grunted. "How do you Americans say it? Stuffed shirt!"
"Yeah," Johnny McCord said, sitting down to the telephone. "But my
boss."
While Pierre was fishing two cans of beer from the refrigerator, Johnny
dialed Tissalit. Kate's face lit up the screen. Johnny said, "Hi. I
understand the old man wants to talk to me."
"That's right," the girl said, and moved a switch. "Just a minute,
Johnny."
Her face faded to be replaced by that of Mellor. Johnny noted that as
usual the other wore a business suit, complete with white shirt and
tie--in the middle of the Sahara!