The New Breed

by W. E. B Griffin

  But they could heat him-well enough to get his weather-the storm would clear by five-and to learn that the Sabena guest house was available. Sabena maintained a guest house right beside the airfield for just such happenstances as this. In effect, it was a rudimentary hotel capable of feeding and housing, in somewhat cramped circumstances, airplane passengers stranded overnight-or until their flight could continue.

  "Stanleyville," the Captain of UTA 43 said, taking the microphone himself. "Please contact the UTA station manager and inform him that UTA Four Three is diverting to Stanleyville at this time. We have eleven, one one, first-class passengers, including one first-class infant, and ninety-six, niner six, tourist passengers, including seven, repeat seven, tourist infants. Plus seven, repeat, seven crew." He had to repeat the message several times to get it through the electrical interference in the Stanleyville area. Then he called Fort Lamy and had him file the change to his flight plan.

  Then he pressed the cabin announce switch.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "This is Captain Damier speaking. There's a rather nasty thunderstorm in Leopoldville. So we've decided to sit down in Stanleyville and wait it out. I'm sorry for the delay, and I can't even guess when the weather at Leopoldville will improve. That's the bad news. The good news is that I have done this before, and I can tell you that the Sabena guest house really puts out a fine meal. And, if we have to spend the night, they're going to put us up in their fine guest house.

  And if there's time, we'll see if we can't arrange for a bus tour of Stanleyville for those who would like to see it. They call it the Paris of the Congo." He then repeated more or less the identical message in English.

  When Hanni Portet, in the first-class compartment of UTA 43, saw the look of disappointment on Ursula Craig's face, she smiled at her and leaned over and whispered so as not to wake Jiffy.

  "We keep an apartment in the Immoquateur," she whispered.

  "We'll stay there. It's nice, and it overlooks the Congo. These things happen." Then she got a stewardess's attention.

  "I am Madame Portet," she said. "My husband is Captain Portet, Chief Pilot of Air Congo."

  "Yes, Madame," the stewardess replied. "How may I help you ?"

  "When the Captain is in touch with Stanleyville," Hanni Portet said, "would you ask him to get in touch with Air Congo and tell them I'm aboard and to have a car for us at the field? So we can go into town and the Immoquateur?"

  "Certainly, Madame," the stewardess said.

  When UTA 43 touched down at Stanleyville at 4:45, the stewardess, following the Captain's orders, saw to it that Madame Portet and party were the first to debark. She went down the stairs with them and saw that they were safely aboard a Chevrolet carryall. Then she went back aboard the aircraft.

  As the first passengers started to walk down the stairway, the UTA Stanleyville Station Chief came running out of the terminal and pushed his way quickly and somewhat rudely up the stairs.

  He jerked open the door to the flight deck.

  "How much fuel do you have aboard?"

  "An hour forty-five, maybe two hours," the First Officer replied.

  "That'll get you to Kampala," he said. visibly relieved.

  "You mean now?"

  "The Simbas are two hours away."

  "Who the hell are the Simbas?" the First Officer asked.

  "You really think they're going to come here?" the Captain asked. "You sound a little hysterical, frankly."

  "They are going to come here," the UFA Station Chief said.

  "The only question is when."

  "I'd like to know a little more," the Captain said.

  "I order you to prepare this airplane for immediate flight!" the UTA Station Chief said excitedly.

  "You don't order me anywhere," the Captain, said coldly.

  "Captain," the Station Chief said, "you are responsible for the lives of your passengers." The UTA Captain, whose face showed he did not like being reminded of his obligations by a. groundling, thought that over for a moment.

  "Set us up for Kampala, Louis," he said to the First Officer;

  Then he pushed the stewardess call button, and when one came in the cockpit told her to reload all the passengers.

  Hanni and Jeanine Portet, Ursula and Jiffy Craig, and Mary Magdalene had been in the Air Simba apartment in the Immoquateur only long enough to change Jiffy's diapers and for Hanni to start a pot of coffee when the air trembled from the roar of a DC-8 passing over.

  Hanni knew the difference between the roar of engines taking off and landing. That had to be UTA airplane. There had been no other jet on the field.

  But there was no sense in worrying Jeanine and Ursula. There was an explanation, certainly, and the worst thing that could hap:.

  pen was that they would have to catch something else, probably East African Airways, for the rest of the trip to Leopoldville.

  (Three)

  The United States Consulate General Stanleyville, Democratic Republic of the Congo 0845 Hours 4 August 1964

  Chief Warrant Officer Joseph F. Manley, his white shirt and trousers sweat soaked and stained from the effort of moving the steel drums from their storage area to the side of the swimming pool, rolled the last of seven in place and then looked to the Consul General for orders.

  "Go ahead, Joe," the Consul General said.

  Manley reached into the nearest steel drum and came up with several sheets of bond typewriter paper. On the top and bottom of each sheet was stamped SECRET in red letters. He twisted the sheets of paper together to form a torch and then took a Zippo from his pocket and ignited it.

  He held it to the top of one of the drums.

  For a moment nothing happened. And then all at once there was a brilliant white glare and a sound like rushing wind. A sheet of white flame erupted from the barrel, rising a dozen feet in the air.

  Some kind of phosphorus, Manley decided.

  He expected the flame to die down immediately. It did not.

  "Shit!" he said aloud, aware that the vulgarity offended the Consul General's sense of verbal decorum for cryptographic officers.

  Manley decided another system of ignition would be required.

  He went to the second steel drum and took a stapled-together report from it.

  He ripped one page from it and, without twisting or crumpling it, ignited one end. He dropped it into the second steel drum and then did the same thing to the third. He was just igniting the next sheet of paper when the second drum went off, and then almost immediately the third.

  By the time all of them were ablaze, it was so hot that he had to walk around the other side of the swimming pool in order to get back to the Consul General.

  "I think you better stay until you're sure everything has burned," the Consul General said.

  "Yes, Sir," Mr. Manley said.

  "When you've done that, radio Leopoldville that it's been accomplished. "

  "Yes, Sir."

  ( Four)

  The White House Washington, D.C.4 August 1964

  Two high-priority messages came over the high-speed radioteletype printers in the Situation Room within minutes of each other.

  URGENT FROM US EMBASSY LEOPOLDVILLE

  DEM REP<.:ONGO

  TO SECSTATE W ASH DC

  CONS ULGEN STANLEYVIlLE REPORTS BY ,RADIO "STANLEY'"" VILLE OCCUPIED BY REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY FORCES OF LT GEN OLENGA PAREN SIMBAS PAREN AFTER BRIEFRESISTANCEBY ARMEE NATIONALE CONGOLAISE.

  CONSULATE AND CONSULAR RESIDENCE VIOLA TED BY OLENGA FORCES. US COLORS RIPPED FROM -. CONSULATE FLAGSTAFF. CONSULGEN AND SIX MEMBERS OF STAFF, FIRED UPON BY OLENGA FORCES. CONSULGEN AND STAFF FOUND REFUGE IN COMMUNICATIONS VAULT. ATTEMPTS BY LENGA FORCES TO FORCE VAULT NOT SUCCESSFUL CONSULATE AND CONSULAR RESIDENCE PRESENTLY NOT REPEAT NOT, OCCUPIED BY SIMBAS.

  THIRTY PAREN ESTIMATED PAREN US NATIONALS'IN STANLEYVILLE AND IMMEDIATE VICINITY. STATUS UNKNOWN.

  AMBASSADOR CURRENTLY MEETING WITH PREMIER ,., TSHOMBE WITH VIEW FFECTING RESCUE US DIPLOMATIC PERSON
NEL AND OTHER US NATIONALS BY CONGOLESE MILITARY FORCES. AMBASSADOR BELIEVES IMMEDIATE RESCUE UNLIKELY CONSIDERING ANC INABILITY TO HOLD ST ANLEYVILLE AGAINST SIMBAS.

  AMBASSADOR BELIEVES CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO LIVES OF ALL US NATIONALS IN STANLEYVILLE EXISTS, AND HAS THEREFORE ORDERED DSATTACHE TO PREPARE CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR RESCUE OPERATION UTILIZING US. MILITARY FORCES PRESENTLY IN CONGO.

  AMBASSADOR WILL FURNISH EVALUATION OF ENTIRE SITUATION FOLLOWING MEETING WITH TSHOMBE AND OTIIERS.

  DANNELLY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION

  The second message was very similar to one received two days previously:

  OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE TOP SECRET FROM CINCPAC TO CNO WASH DC INFO JCS & WHITE HOUSE SITROOM USS TURNER JOY DD 163 OPERATING IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS IN GULF OF TONKIN REPORTS ATTACK AT 1045 ZULU BY TWO NORTHVIETNAMESE PATROL TORPEDO BOATS. JOY RETURNED FIRE, POSSIBLY SINKING ONE NORTHVIETNAMESE VESSEL AND DAMAGING THE OTHER. JOY UNDAMAGED, NO CASUALTIES, PROCEEDING.

  LOUMA, VICE ADMIRAL USN FOR CINCPAC

  (Five)

  Leopoldville International Airfield Democratic Republic of the Congo 5 August 1964

  Jean Philippe Portet arrived at the airfield in a 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood sedan. He was preceded by a 1961 Chevrolet carryall and trailed by a former U.S. Army GMC six-by-six truck. The carryall and the truck were full of heavily armed, neatly uniformed parachutists of the Armee Nationale Congolaise; and an ANC major was at the wheel of the Cadillac, which was the vehicle assigned for the use of Colonel Joseph-Desire Mobutu., Hurricane fence surrounded the airfield. When the little procession reached the gate, ANC soldiers there rushed to unlock the padlock in the chain sealing it. While this was going on, the ANC Major kept his hand on the horn ring, and then the soldiers saluted, somewhat unevenly, as the convoy passed through the gate.

  "Major," Jean-Philippe Portet ordered, leaning forward, "drive over to that U.S. Army airplane." The Major turned and looked at him in surprise and confusion.

  "Do what I say!" Portet snapped.

  The Cadillac turned toward the L-23, dutifully followed by the GMC six-by-six. The carryall drove another five hundred yards toward the Air Simba hangar before the driver became aware he was no longer leading his convoy. There was a squeal of brakes as the carryall suddenly stopped, and then a clash of gears and the sound of a siren starting to whine as the carryall started up again and made a wide, sweeping turn across the wide concrete parking area in pursuit of the Cadillac and the truck.

  Geoff Craig and Pappy Hodges, both in flight suits, turned from their inspection of the L-23 as the Cadillac approached.

  "Jesus Christ, now what?" Geoff said, and then he saw Jean Philippe in the back seat.

  Jean-Philippe got out - of the Cadillac. He was carrying a leather briefcase. The Major driving the Cadillac got-out quickly, setting -an example for the twenty -odd paratroopers in the six by six. They jumped to the ground, working the actions of their FN 7mm rifles at the same time, then formed a protective circle around the Cadillac and the airplane, training their rifles menacingly outward. They appeared to be having a very good time.

  Jean-Philippe Portet walked close to Geoff, looked into his face for a moment, and then impulsively hugged him.

  "Well," Geoff said, "what's with you and the chocolate soldiers?"

  "Easy, Geoff," Pappy Hodges said, softly but firmly.

  Jean-Philippe raised the briefcase. "For Hoare," he said.

  "What do you mean, for Hoare?"

  "Money - three quarters of a million dollars in Swiss and American money," Jean-Philippe said. I'm taking it to him. That's why the soldiers. I just left Tshombe and, Mobqtu."

  "You really think he'll be able to do any good?"

  "He did the last time he was in the Congo."

  "Any word from Stanleyville?"

  "The consulate radio is still operating. So is the Belgian Consulate's," Jean-Philippe said.

  "That's not what I meant," Geoff said.

  "My Hanni and Jeanine are with your Ursula, Geoff," Jean Philippe said. "I know what you mean."

  "Well?" Geoff demanded, ignoring the rebuke.

  "I spoke, from the Belgian Embassy, to Nothomb."

  "Who's he?"

  "A bright young man, about your age, an acquaintance of mine, who is the Belgian Consul General in Stanleyville. He said that he'd spoken with Hanni. She's in the Air Simba apartment in Immoquateur and doing fine."

  "Ursula?" Geoff asked. His voice was at the edge of breaking.

  "We have to presume, Geoff," Jean-Philippe said, "that if he talked with Hanni, he knows about Ursula and Jiffy. And I'm sure there would have been some hint if anything was wrong.

  "Nothomb didn't seem especially concerned, to tell you the truth."

  "Well, fuck him!" Geoff flared. "'Not especially concerned, I'll he goddamned!"

  "I mean to suggest, Geoff," Jean Philippe said, "that Nothomb was trying to put me at ease, that he sees no immediate danger."

  "I talked to Father Lunsford," Geoff said. "I know Father Lunsford. I don't know about this fucking friend of yours, but I know when Father Lunsford tells me something you can take it to the bank. And Lunsford told me what these fucking savages are doing! Christ, they're cannibals! No immediate danger, my ass!

  What the hell is the matter with you, anyway?"

  "Geoff~" Jean-Philippe began gently.

  Pappy Hodges interrupted him.

  "Excuse me, Captain Portet," Hodges said. "This is my business." He stepped in front of Geoff. "Look at me and pay attention, because I'm only going to say this one time, kid."

  "What?" Geoff snapped.

  "The Military Attache asked me what about you," Pappy said.

  "He thinks you're too emotionally involved to be reliable. He wants to ship your ass out of here, not only keep you out of the way while people who haven't lost their cool do what has to be done. I told him you were the most levelheaded sonofabitch I had ever known. And I told him how you got your battlefield commission in 'Nam. So you're here, and we're starting to do what has to be done. Like soldiers. One more example of you getting hysterical like that, forgetting you're a soldier, and I'll have the Attache ship your ass out of here so quick your asshole won't catch up for a week."

  Geoff glowered at him. His mouth worked. "Yes, Sir," he said finally.

  "I'm telling you like it is," Pappy said. "I can't afford you if you can't control yourself."

  "I got the message, Pappy."

  "I hope so," Pappy said. He sounded tired.

  "What are you up to?" Jean-Philippe asked.

  Geoff looked at Pappy. After a moment Pappy nodded.

  "We're going to go to Kamina," Geoff said. "And then to Punia. There's four H-34s at Kamina plus a couple more supposed to be en route. We can stage them at Punia. Then we jump in the Berets near Stanleyville at night. They take the consulate and hold it long enough - thirty minutes ought to do it-for the H-34s to land and make the evacuation."

  "And what do you think the Simbas will be doing while you're doing this?" Jean-Philippe asked.

  "If we can we're going to pick up Father Lunsford and ask him," Geoff said. "It's feasible. Twenty guys who know what they're doing can accomplish amazing things."

  Wishful thinking, Jean-Philippe thought. But saying so will accomplish nothing.

  He looked at his watch.

  "The sooner I get airborne," he said, "the sooner Michael Hoare will have his money."

  (Six)

  Washington, D.C. 5 August 1964

  FLASH FLASH

  APWASH 8133 WASHINGTON-THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED At 2:13 PM THIS AFTERNOON THAT US NAVY AIRCRAFT OPERATING FROM A NAVAL TASKFORCE IN THE GULF OF TONKIN HAVE BOMBED NAVAL INSTALLATIONS IN NORTH VIETNAM.

  PRESIDENT LYNDON B., JOHNSON ORDERED THE 'SURGWAL' STRIKE" IN RETALIATION FOR THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TORPEDO BOAT ATTACK ON THE US NAVY DESTROYERS MADOOK, AND TURNER JOY IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS IN THE GULF OF TONKIN.

  SEVERE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO DOCKS AND FUEL STORAGE FACILITIES IN PORTS FROM
WHICH NORTH VIETNAM IS KNOWN TO OPERATE TORPEDO BOATS. ALL AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK RETURNED SAFELY FROM THE MISSION.