“Not yet,” Major Larkin said with a grin. “I’m giving you an order, Captain Farmer. Answer Dawson’s question. I want to hear it.”
“Well, sir,” Freddy began, after fixing his eyes on a point on the desk, and holding them there, “the answer is Russia, in my humble opinion. Hitler wants Japan to attack Russia from the east. Such an attack would simplify his problem enormously. But before Japan will tackle that kind of a job, Hitler has got to show that he in turn will help Japan. He’s been doing it a little with his intensified U-boat campaign along the Atlantic seaboard, and in the Caribbean. But that is not enough, and—well, perhaps Japan has told him so. It is Japan who is holding large British forces in India, forces that could be well used in Egypt. Before Japan does anything more to help Hitler, the Nips want something in return from him. So—the Panama Canal. If Hitler can plug that up he will have done Japan a tremendously important favor. That’s the way I look at it.... But I say! Let’s drop this, shall we? I’m probably just talking silly rot.”
“You aren’t, Farmer,” Major Larkin said, and gave him a look of frank admiration. “And you are most certainly one of the reasons!”
Freddy looked puzzled, and blinked.
“Reasons, sir?” he echoed.
Major Larkin smiled and nodded.
“Exactly,” he said. “One of the reasons why there’ll always be an England! Well, I’ll be seeing you two later at mess.”
The two youths saluted and went outside into the sunshine. Freddy’s face was on fire with a blush, but there was an intensely pleased look in his eyes. Dave glanced sidewise at him and chuckled softly.
“So you won’t talk, huh?” he grunted. “Boy! Did you lay the words right down the groove! Pal, I’m right proud of you, I am!”
“Oh, come off it!” Freddy growled, but the pleased smile was still on his lips. “Major Larkin’s probably laughing his head off, right now.”