“We feel that they do,” Stan said.
“I’m sorry I can’t take you. I’m afraid I’d be called to account for helping you disobey orders.” The general’s smile had spread into a grin. “You will go on as you should.”
“Thank you, sir,” Stan said. They both saluted and walked away.
“Guess we’re sunk,” Allison said sourly. “O’Malley will certainly rub it in when he sees us again. He’ll be right in the middle of the big fight.”
Stan was looking at the NATS amphibian and smiling. “We might be able to thumb a ride with the Navy.”
Allison looked down toward the sea. The Navy boys were getting the big freighter set to take off.
“Worth a try, let’s go down there.”
They hurried down to the beach. An ensign was handling the shifting of supplies from the flying boat to a truck. He greeted Stan and Allison in a friendly manner after glancing at their service stripes.
“You boys are a bit off your reservation, aren’t you?” he asked.
“We sure are and we want to get back. How about a ride to Bizerte?”