“Dodge has been pretty decent since I’ve been in R&D. I think he’d go for it, if I asked him.”
“I’ll do what I can,” said Gunderson. “But remember, it’s still a pig in a poke as far as I know anything about it.”
“I’ll gamble with you on it,” said Montgomery.
Six weeks later, modifications were completed and the Ninety-one was accepted by the Government. Almost simultaneously, Soren Gunderson’s application was accepted by the Nagle-Berkeley Institute, and he was invited to bring his associate, Major Montgomery, for interview.
Colonel Dodge chafed daily on the phone regarding the inaction during that period, and did everything he could to speed up the acceptance of the plane. Thirty other men left critical positions in various parts of the nation during that time, but Major Montgomery remained the only R&D man who had a lead that could take him to the school.
Also, the first score of men had come out of the school and were applying again for places in industrial and scientific jobs. Some asked re-instatement with their former employers, others sought entirely new areas of activity. None would make any comment regarding his absence.
Official word had gone out quietly, however, that until more was learned of the school the applications of these men were to be held in abeyance. They were not to be hired even as janitors in critical plants. On the other hand, it was desired to avoid any investigation that would appear as a frontal attack and scare off the operators of the school prematurely. Dodge managed to convince his superiors and the FBI that Montgomery offered their best opportunity.
The Institute was located in the small northern California town of Casa Buena, on the coast near the Oregon border. Montgomery drove from Seattle alone, following Gunderson and his family by a day. It had been decided that Montgomery’s wife, Helen, and their two children would remain where they were since this might be a quite temporary assignment.
The major checked in at one of the two resort hotels as soon as he arrived in Casa Buena. His next act was arrangement of the phone scrambler and a report to Dodge — and to Dr. Spindem, who listened in on most of his conversations. This fact inspired a persistent irritation like that of an irremovable splinter in the hand.
It was midafternoon, but when he finally called Gunderson he was told to hurry over. Their initial interviews could be taken care of at once.