Nick Munson clambered aboard the junk. Dropping his bag, he wiped his forehead and sank into a chair. He spoke two words to the boatman in Chinese.
“I reckon you learned to speak Chinese in a United States plane factory,” Stan said, and his eyes locked with Munson’s.
“I picked up a few words along the waterfront in Frisco,” Nick answered.
The motorboat roared away and the junk moved on its slow course around a small island beyond which they could see a larger expanse of land. Stan sat back and watched Nick Munson who was giving O’Malley a big line about dive bombers. O’Malley was taking it all in and grinning amiably at Munson.
Presently they sighted low buildings on the island, then the gray and silver forms of several transport and bomber planes rose into view. As the junk moved closer they saw that the island was humming with activity. Malays and Chinese ran about and many white men mingled with them.
“Fine stuff,” O’Malley chimed in. “They got full armament.”
Allison leaned back and there was a sardonic look on his face. He puffed out his cheeks as he watched.
Nick Munson stood up, his eyes moving swiftly over the scene, taking in all the details. His lips curved into a smile.
“Ideal spot for an attack, no cover, nothing.” He spoke slowly as though pleased with the idea.
The air base on the island was temporary and would be abandoned within a few weeks. It had been laid out to shorten the trip of bombers delivered to China by way of Australia and Rangoon from the west coast of the United States. Stan and his pals hurried to a flimsy headquarters building where they were met by a number of officials. Nick Munson went along, though O’Malley made a number of discouraging remarks.
They presented their credentials and signed for uniforms and equipment. Tom Koo put in an appearance as the navigator who was to take them on the first leg of their journey, the hop to Rangoon. He did not say anything about the details of the flight, or the course, beyond running a finger across the map to show where they would fly across the Malay Peninsula.
O’Malley was in high spirits and even offered to share half a stale pie with Nick Munson. He had discovered the pie in a small canteen attached to headquarters. Munson refused, so O’Malley devoured all of it.