Everybody else rose and stood at attention while the Base Commandant led Dave and Freddy out of the mess. He went through the outer door and across one corner of the field toward his office. As he kept step with the senior officer Dave took a quick look at the planes lined up on the field. When he spotted a couple of Vultees a happy smile flitted across his lips. Freddy saw the sudden smile but didn’t say anything. He simply gave Dave a half angry frown and walked along.
When they were inside his office, Colonel Bates dropped into his desk chair, and waved a hand at a couple of other chairs.
“Sit down, you two,” he said. Then, giving Dave a keen look, he added, “I suppose it’s about that pencil incendiary business, isn’t it? I’ve had the feeling there was more you could tell me about it. Well, go ahead, because my curiosity is getting more altitude with every second.”
Dave hesitated, looked at Freddy for a moment, and thought he read complete agreement in his pal’s eyes.
“Well, there isn’t much else we really can tell you, sir,” he said. “Except that the thing was unquestionably slipped aboard at Albuquerque. It was, of course, after the bombers had been there awhile, and Farmer and I had been assigned to Major Hawks’ plane.”
“I see,” Colonel Bates said quietly, when Dave paused for breath. “Go on. You have an idea who did it? And of course, you know why, don’t you?”
“I don’t know who, and neither does Farmer, sir,” Dave replied. “But we do know why. Frankly, it was to stop us from arriving here. Because of the request I wish to make, sir, I think Farmer and I should admit to you that we are on an Intelligence job. The details, of course, we can’t reveal. But—well, things are getting just a bit too hot for comfort, and—”
Dave hesitated and shot a quick side glance at Freddy. But the English youth wasn’t looking at him. He was staring at the opposite wall, and his youthful face was a complete blank.
“And what, Dawson?” Colonel Bates encouraged. “Let’s have it.”
“I would like to borrow one of your Vultees out there for a return flight to Albuquerque,” Dave finally said. “If you wish authority for the request, sir, you can radio Colonel Welsh at the Frisco Air Base.”