They hurried to the colonel's headquarters, where they found their commanding officer waiting for them. He beamed upon the dirty, unshaven group headed by Stan.
"I'll only keep you a few minutes, gentlemen," he said. "Be seated."
Stan saluted smartly and spoke his piece. "I'd like you to meet General Bolero's sons, Tony and Arno. They made it possible for us to deliver the papers from the general and later to escape."
"What you have done is appreciated. I hope I may be able to be of service to you," the colonel said.
"We wish to fight the Germans. We are both pilots," Arno said.
"I believe that can be arranged," Colonel Benson said.
He looked at Allison and O'Malley and a broad smile formed on his lips.
"I have heard of the luck of the Irish. Now I am willing to add the British to that list. What I wanted to say is that you are requested not to talk about your experiences at all until you have reported to headquarters in Malta. After that you will be returned to my command. No one is going to talk me out of three fliers like you men." He looked at Tony and Arno. "Possibly I might be able to make it five."
O'Malley seemed to feel this was a soft spot where he could safely make a request. He grinned at the colonel.