Outside the Major's office I almost collided with a code clerk hurrying in with a message. I thought nothing of it till I was on the street climbing into the car that would take me to the airport and a voice called sharply after me.
"Sir, Major Burley wishes to see you in his office right away."
I went back upstairs, cold with foreboding, suddenly recalling the excited look on the code clerk's face.
Armstrong was standing by the window, looking disconsolate, when I entered. The Canadian said nothing but handed me a decoded message.
ATTENTION CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE: COLONEL ARMSTRONG SUSPENDED FROM FURTHER DUTIES FOR OVERSTEPPING HIS AUTHORITY. WILL REPORT BACK TO WASHINGTON AT ONCE TO FACE CHARGES.
"Now," explained Major Burley sternly, "you will understand why I must cancel your plans, sir."
I blew sky-high.
"Go ahead. Let the world blow up behind their stuffed-shirtism and quintuplicate file copies and pedantic memos and see how well that will protect them when the earth goes 'puff'."
The Major stared at me in frank bewilderment. This "puff" business was something entirely new to him.