The Aviators

by W. E. B Griffin

  "I guess you pretty well have decided to stay with the Army, huh, Johnny?"

  "Pretty well."

  "What exactly have they got you doing? I mean, I know you're a pilot, but what exactly do you do?"

  Why do I suspect, Tom, that you really don't give a damn what exactly I do? "I'm an aide-de-camp, Tom," Johnny said. "What they call a dog-robber." "Interesting work?" There's the proof, Johnny thought. He didn't even ask what" a dog-robber is.

  "Fascinating."

  "What exactly does that get into?"

  "I work for a general, a man named Bellmon. He's the commanding officer of Fort Rucker;" Johnny said. "And what I do, or try to do, is keep him from wasting his time on details."

  "How does that tie in with you being a pilot?"

  "Sometimes when he has to go someplace, I drive."

  "I asked about being a pilot."

  "I meant to say 'fly," Johnny said. "I fly him around, Tom. "

  "Pretty good work, then?"

  "I think so." There was the glow of headlights against the dining room drapes, and the sound of wheels crunching the snow.

  "Well," Tom said, "I guess the girls are back. "

  "It would seem so." Shirley Oliver Chaney came into the dining room a moment later, still wearing her coat-a light blue, nylon, quilted affair that reached halfway down her thighs. She was a tall woman, a little plump. Her hair was cut short arid her only makeup was a slash of bright red lipstick. She wore glasses

  "stylish," with the earpieces mounted to the lower part of the glass frames.

  "Well, if you've started that," she said, indicating the whiskey, "then you're going to have to stay. I won't have it on my conscience that you skidded off a road half drunk on whiskey I gave you."

  "Hey, this is my first drink," Johnny protested. "And while we're at it, I'm a big boy, now, Shirley. I know when I've had too much to drink."

  "We really have to start thinking about getting back," Liza said.

  The ride around town must have been something less than unbridled joy, Johnny thought. You asked for this, lady.

  He beamed at her.

  "Nice ride?" he asked. "Get to see ye olde hometown?"

  "Look," Shirley said, "the baby's already sound asleep.

  Sitting up. Johnny, why didn't you put him to bed?"

  "He's a weird kid," Johnny said. "He likes to sleep like this."

  "That's a terrible thing to say," Shirley said. "He's not weird. He's precious."

  "You want me to take him, Johnny?" Liza asked.

  "He's fine, leave him alone," Johnny said. "But" Liza's right, Shirley. We should be getting back. Do you suppose I could have some more coffee, and then we'll go?"

  "I wish you weren't being so obstinate about not spending die night," Shirley said.

  "I wish you weren't being so obstinate about us staying," Johnny said. "Or is there something on your mind, Shirley?"

  "As matter of a fact, there is. I thought maybe Tom would have mentioned it while we were gone."

  "No. All we talked about was Tom's new Cadillac," Johnny said.

  "The accountant said to do that," Shirley said quickly.

  "He said that the government's really paying for most of it."

  "Yeah, it's not in my name," Tom said. "It's registered to the truck stop."

  This beating around the bush is beginning to piss me off.

  Cool it. Get out of here without a scene.

  "What did you think Tom might" have mentioned to me while you were gone, Shirley?" Johnny asked, smiling at her.

  "Well, I really hate to get into family business," Shirley said, "but since you insist on leaving, there's no help for it."

  "Would you like me to wait in the kitchen?" Liza asked.

  "No," Shirley said quickly. "The thing is, Liza, I don't know how much if anything Johnny has told you about this. . . ."

  "Why don't I Just go into the kitchen?" Liza replied. "Will this take long?"

  "Sit there," Johnny said, more forcefully than he intended. Liza looked at him in surprise, but she didn't get up.

  "The thing is, Liza," Shirley went on, "our parents were killed. Did Johnny tell you about that?"

  "Yes, he did."

  "Well, when that happened, and there was no place for Johnny to go, Tom and I, who were just married, of course took him in. We were glad to do it of course. "

  "John told me about that," Liza said.

  "Well, Dad had a business-a truck stop-' 'Shirley said.

  "I showed it to her," Johnny interrupted.

  "Which was left to the both of us," Shirley went on. "The children, I mean. And Tom went out there and worked himself nearly to death and made - something out of it. I mean, our living, and he built it up. You know what I mean?"

  "Yes, I think so," Liza said.

  "Well, all these years, 'we never did anything about it legally, if you know what I mean."

  "No, I don't," Liza said.

  "Well, let me put it this way. Legally, the property is still owned by Dad's estate. I mean, it was never turned over to us the way the will said, when Johnny turned twenty-five. But now he's twenty-five and it's time we took care of that."

  "I don't know what that means," Johnny said.

  "It means-" Tom Chaney began. His wife interrupted him.

  "What we have done, Johnny, is start the paperwork. I mean, we've come up with what we think is a fair price for your share of the" business. I mean, you don't want to work there, with you being in the Regular Army and all, "and Tom has worked out there all these years. You know how hard he's worked-"

  "I've washed a trailer or two out there myself," iohnny said.

  "But you had none of the responsibility," Shirley said.

  "You know that Johnny." He didn't reply. "Now we want to be fair, just as fair as we can," she went on. "And see that you get what's rightfully yours. There's a lot of money, Johnny. More than I think you understand. Your share would come to almost three hundred thousand dollars."

  "Jesus Christ!" Johnny said.

  "I would appreciate it if you didn't take Jesus's name in vain," Shirley said.

  "Sorry," he said. "But that's a lot of money."

  "It's an awful lot of money," Shirley agreed. "But Tom and I want to be fair." She looked at him a moment and smiled. "Tom, go get those papers from the lawyer." Tom got up from the table and went into the living room, where there was a roll top desk. He opened it.

  "Now I don't want to-put my nose in where it doesn't belong," Shirley said, "but if anybody just happened to be thinking of marriage, that much money would be a real nice nest egg to get started."

  Liia smiled wanly but said nothing.

  Tom returned with a very large manila envelope.

  "Now, Johnny," Shirley said, "just to make sure in your mind that everything's on the up and up, I'm going to suggest that you don't sign anything right now. Get yourself a lawyer, or somebody you trust, and have him read all that over before you sign it. If you have any questions, just call, and we'll explain what you don't understand-"

  What she means with all that reasonableness, Johnny thought, is that I will be an ungrateful sonofabitch if I don't sign that right now, without even reading it.

  "Johnny," Liza said, "we have to go."

  "OK," Johnny said. "I'll check it over and I'll be in touch. "

  "Take all the time you think you need," Shirley said.

  As soon as they got on the highway back to Northfield, it began to snow. The flakes were large and wet and stuck to the car, so that the windshield, except for the wiped area, was covered.

  Liza rode slumped down in the seat, her arms folded on her chest. Johnny took his eyes from the road several times to look at her, but she didn't look back.

  "If I didn't know that you have the temperament of a saint," Johnny said, "I would harbor just the faintest suspicion you're pissed about something."

  "You bet your ass I am," Liza snapped.

  "Hey, you wanted to come over here, I didn't."r />
  "If I hadn't gotten you out of there when I did, you would have signed whatever she put in front of you. "

  "You underestimate me, baby," Johnny said calmly.

  "Whenever my sister is sweet and kind, I grow very suspicious. "

  "Huh! "

  "I figure if she offered me three hundred thousand," Johnny said, "it's worth four. And she never got into an accounting of how much it cost her to raise me, vis a vis how much she got from the estate to pay my bills. Nor a profit and-loss statement for the business, all these years."

  Liza didn't reply for a moment.

  "That place is worth at least a million five, maybe two million," she said finally. "Half of a million five is seven hundred and fifty thousand."

  "Ah, come on."

  "It's on an interstate highway. It's the only one I saw. It's bigger than the truck stop I sold in Troy, and that wasn't even on an interstate. That went for one point six million."

  "Jesus H. Christ!'"

  " 'I would appreciate it if you didn't take Jesus's name in vain,' " Liza quoted Shirley bitterly.

  "Hey, she's not all black," Johnny said. "There are considerable areas of gray. She did raise me. And Tom has always run the place. And we don't know it's worth as much money as you say."

  "You're a goddamned fool."

  "Hey, why are you really so mad?"

  "You told me your fantasy," Liza said slowly, softly, after a moment. "So I'll tell you mine. When we get back from this trip, you realize that Allan and I are more important to you than the Army. Your obligation is over in December. I explain how much money there is to be made in real estate if you know what you're doing. And I tell you I have enough for both of us to go into business together, get a couple of hundred acres I have my eye on-"

  "And me sell real estate?" he asked, gently sarcastic.

  "It's not really like walking the streets," she said softly but sharply. "But, no. What I meant was supervising the contractors, handling the business end. I'll handle the sales.

  We could do it. And with seven, eight hundred thousand dollars in capital Johnny, we could be really rich!"

  "I'm a soldier, honey. I can't turn in my suit right now."

  "The Army needs you, right?" she asked sarcastically.

  "Yeah, right now it does."

  "That's what I meant. You're a goddamned fool," Liza said bitterly.

  "I like you, too."

  "Oh, screw you!" But a minute or two later she slid across the seat and cuddled up under his arm, and they drove that way back to Northwood.

  [ONE]

  Office of the Commanding General

  The Army Aviation Center & Fort, Rucker, Alabama

  3 April 1964

  "Captain Oliver," Sergeant Major Harrison James called very courteously across the room. "Telephone for you Sir"

  "There was a by-now familiar tone In Sergeant Major James voice that told Johnny Oliver the incoming call was at least unusual. . . and more likely a problem the Sergeant Major did not choose the deal with himself. Ordinarily James would just snap his fingers to catch Oliver's attention. When he had it, he'd point at the telephone.

  Even warned, Oliver was not prepared for what he got.

  "Captain Oliver, Sir," he said to the telephone"

  This is the White House, Captain, please hold for Colonel Felter."

  XIV

  [ONE]

  Office of the Commanding General

  The Army Aviation Center & Fort Rucker, Alabama

  3 April 1964

  "Captain Oliver," Sergeant Major Harrison James called very courteously across the room. "Telephone for you, Sir." There was a by-now familiar tone in Sergeant Major James's voice that told Johnny Oliver the incoming call was at least unusual. . . and more likely a problem the sergeant major did not choose the deal with himself. Ordinarily James would just snap his fingers to catch Oliver's attention. When he had it, he'd point at the telephone.

  Even warned, Oliver was not prepared for what he got.

  "Captain Oliver, Sir," he said to the telephone.

  "This is the White House, Captain, please hold for Colonel Felter."

  Oliver looked across the room at Sergeant Major James, who was beaming. Oliver heard, faintly but clearly: "Air Force One, we're ready for Colonel Felter." Then there was a pinging sound, and Felter's voice.

  "Felter. "

  "We have Captain Oliver for you, Sir," the White House operator said.

  "Oliver?"

  "Yes, Sir."

  "Sanford Felter, Johnny. I need a favor."

  "I'm at your service, Sir."

  "I just tried to get Mac McNair at the Board," Felter said.

  "He's out flying. And Annie Caskie, who's the only other one out there who knows what's going on, is out of the office. So you're elected."

  "Yes, Sir?"

  "A very clever sergeant named Gonzales in DCSPERS has come up with a very interesting PFC. Before he got drafted, he flew for a bush-aviation airline in the ex-Belgian Congo.

  Just the guy we need, I think. Anyway, I've arranged his transfer to the Board. He's at Benning, where he just graduated from jump school. As soon as you can, get to McNair and ask him to give this guy to Pappy Hodges. I mean, I don't want him mislaid. There's a chance Benning will send him back to Fort Knox before the DCSPERS TWX catches up with him: You still with me?"

  "Yes, Sir, I think so. "

  "His name is Portet, Peter Oboe Roger Tare Easy Tare, Jacques Emile. PFC. I don't have his serial number, damn it, but I don't think there's too many guys in jump school with a name like that. Got it?"

  "Yes, Sir."

  "So if PFC Portet doesn't show up there by tomorrow, call Benning and see what they did with him. If they sent him back to Knox, I think you'd better go get him. We're pressed for time, and this guy is apparently an encyclopedia of remote Congolese airfields. Can you handle this yourself or would you rather I spoke with General Bellmon?"

  "I'm sure I can handle it, Sir," Oliver said. "I'll get back to you, Sir."

  "Not necessary, unless there's a problem. If there is, call Warrant Officer Finton in my office in Washington. He can move mountains of paper if necessary. You've got his number?"

  "Yes, Sir. I'll call Mr. Finton either way, Sir."

  "OK, then. I appreciate this, Johnny. And it's important." There was a hissing noise, and then a voice said, "White House operator?" and Oliver realized that Felter had hung up without wasting his time on something unimportant like saying goodbye. Oliver put the phone down, then looked across the room at Sergeant Major James, who was staring at him quizzically. "Sergeant Major James," Oliver called, "do you think you could spare me a moment of your very valuable time?"