Chapter 6 Moondoggie

This time I was awoke to find Olivia still asleep in her bed next to mine. Not wanting to wake her and knowing she needed the sleep for when she took over her shift, I quickly and quietly dressed and slipped on my shoes. The German Shepherd started to give me a pitiful whine as my hand touched the doorknob. I looked over my shoulder at him. "Shhh…." I put my finger to my lips. He whined louder and Olivia shifted in her sleep. I looked around the room and finally spotted what I needed. I fashioned a short leash with a belt that was lying rolled up on the dresser.

We left the nurses' quarters and I led him outside into the fresh air. I love mornings. The base was already bustling as I headed over to Col. Laird's office. Maybe now I could ask him about the dog. Surely he had to belong to somebody! And we couldn't keep him in the nurses' quarters forever. I hesitated at the door and looked down at Major, who was wagging his tail and panting happily. I couldn't leave him out here…but then again…it probably wouldn't be a very good idea to take him inside. Aw, what the heck. I opened the door and my furry friend shot in ahead of me, nearly knocking me out of the way. Well…it wasn't supposed to happen exactly that way. I sighed and followed after him.

Lt. Herringbone sat at her desk smiling at the dog. He had positioned himself as close as possible to her cramming himself in between the desk and the lieutenant's legs. He was happily panting in her face and his tail was making sweeping wags back and forth under the desk.

I came over and took hold of his collar, knowing he hadn't the foggiest notion of the word 'come'. Oh sure, he would respond when he felt like it but I didn't think this time counted. "Mornin', Lieutenant." I nodded to Lt. Herringbone.

"Good morning." She answered still looking at Cody.

"Is the colonel in?" I asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure. Just a minute I'll see if he's busy." She got up form her seat and went over to Col. Laird's inner office door. She rapped lightly with her knuckles on the frosted glass. "Col. Laird, sir?"

"Yes, what is it?" A muffled voice came from the other side of the door.

"Lieutenant Burdette to see you, sir."

There was a slight pause. "Ohhhh! Lieutenant Burdette! Yes, of course. Send her right in."

I thanked Lt. Herringbone and made my way into the inner office. The Shepherd decided he wanted to stay with Herringbone and it was probably for the best. I don't think Col. Laird was one much for dogs. At least not this particular one anyway.

I found Col. Laird sitting behind his desk with some papers set out in front him, a pen poised just above the paper. I must've interrupted him. The papers were upside down. He looked up in a very phony startled reaction. Hehe! He reminded me of a new actor who was overdoing his role.

"Why, Lt. Burdette! How wonderful to see you!" I almost grimaced at his false gushiness.

"Yes, sir."

He shoved his papers to the side. "I'm sorry I haven't welcomed you to our base upon your arrival. I understand your plane crashed."

Oh my beautiful new plane! Sunk into the briny deep! "Yes, sir. A Japanese Zero sort of zeroed in on me." Even I thought it was corny.

He frowned. "Yes, well…you say you're with the Air Force?"

Uh oh. I knew he'd start asking questions sooner or later but I had kinda hoped it'd be later. Sentences and words I was supposed to say flashed across my mind. "Yes, sir. I'm on special assignment."

"I see. And just what sort of an assignment is this?"

"Top secret…sir." I made it very clear.

He frowned again. "Yes, yes, so I've heard, but you see I really must know what goes on around my base. If I don't…well…there's just no telling how many people, spies even, would walk in and out of here everyday claiming that they're on a top secret mission that even I am not supposed to have knowledge of. You see, I just couldn't run this base."

I decided to give him, hopefully, a better act than what he had given me when I came in. I looked over both my shoulders and then walked over to the door and opened it a hair and peeked out. I walked back over to Col. Laird's desk and sat down in the chair across from him. I leaned forward and motioned for him to lean closer. He did. Then I whispered, "I'm working for the O.S.S.," I said it slowly so it would sink in, "and I'm delivering some very important blueprints. It's top priority and extremely hush-hush." He nodded intently as I went on, his eyes wide. "Now that I've told you, sir, I need a solemn promise that word will not get out about this. If it does…well, let's just say it might throw the end of the war forward several more years." I looked into his eyes and hoped that I looked much more confident than I felt.

He must've fallen for it. "Oh yes, of course."

"Now not a word…"

"Oh no, no! Of course not. I wouldn't dream of it!"

I nodded approvingly. "Good. Colonel Laird, sir, the reason I came down here this morning is to ask you about the dog…"

"Dog?" He looked puzzled for a moment, then he remembered. "Oh yes…the corporal's dog…"

"Corporal, sir?"

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Yes, a corporal came in yesterday morning on his way home. The problem was, they couldn't take both him and the dog on the flight back to the States so he was forced to leave the dog behind." He waved his hand in a helpless gesture. "I don't know what I'm going to do with a dog. Especially a wild animal like that." I wanted to correct him on the 'wild animal' part but thought better of it and listened further. "Corporal Haynes wanted me to see that the dog got a good home. The only reason he had come into possession of the animal was because the dog was couldn't get through his training at the facility."

"Sir, if I may?"

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Perhaps I could care for the dog while I'm here and maybe I could take him along when I leave Vella la Cava. If that might be possible, sir." I suggested.

Colonel Laird rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then after a moment, looked back up at me. "I'll see if that can be arranged, if it doesn't interfere with your mission that is."

"Oh no, sir! Not at all. I find him to be very companionable as well."

"Fine" - he gave a decisive nod - "You can keep the dog with you, but I don't want him causing any trouble on this base or interfering with your mission. And he's YOUR responsibility now."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." I saluted him and he returned it. I turned and left his office.

I thanked Rhida for keeping an eye on our four-legged friend and left the office with the dog. We wandered around the base for a while. I would have loved to take a spin in one of the planes they had on the base, but none of them could be spared. I must say, my new charge was behaving very well. Much better than I had expected. He had a reasonably good heel, much better than my own dog's as a matter of fact. He watched everything with great curiosity but for the most part minded his manners. Once or twice he startled at a jeep roaring past us. But other than that he was the perfect gentleman. I had assumed from I'd been told and what I'd seen yesterday, that the dog knew next to nothing from his training. I didn't know how his recall was but maybe I'd have a chance to try him out later.

As we walked, I wondered if Pappy had found anything on the Omni thingy yet. And also found myself thinking about what the General and Pappy had talked about yesterday. About the spy. A spy? From what I had seen, security was very tight. I was thinking about how I had gotten thrown back in time and how I'd get back, when we found ourselves down at the beach.

It was beautiful. And so peaceful. Being here you'd never know there was a war going on, except for the occasional plane flying over. The beach was empty, and outside of the drone of a plane or two leaving or coming into the base, the only sounds heard were the waves and the trees branches being swayed by the wind.

I sucked in a deep breath trying to get my mind off of my dilemma. I looked down at the German Shepherd who was watching the waves crash against one another. "Do you wanna run, boy?"

He looked up at me briefly and then looked back out at the sea.

"You oughta have a name now that I'm taking care of you. How 'bout…Duke."

The dog sat down and whined.

"No? Alright…what about Cody?"

He groaned and lay down with his head on his paws.

"Sheesh, fine. I thought it was a good name. What do you think of 'Moondoggie'?" I asked.

He barked and sat up again.

"You like it then?"

He barked and tugged at the makeshift leash.

"Okay, fine. Go play," I told him while releasing him.

He immediately ran toward the surf and began splashing in it. I picked up a piece of driftwood and threw it a ways down the beach. Moondoggie, or whatever he was gonna end up being named, dashed after the stick. He didn't bring it back. Instead he went back into the water and began playing with it. Every time the surf came closer he would run away, and when it went back he chased after it.

He was having a blast and I was tempted join him in the water when a voice spoke from behind me.

"Nice dog."

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I turned to face who had spoken. "What's the big idea sneakin' up on me like that?!" I half shouted, half yelped. My heart was thumping madly as I glared at the stranger. If there was one thing I hate is someone sneaking up on me. Scares the dickens out of me.

He was a Major, tall - but not too tall, and he had a nice smile…Did I just say that? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

Having somewhat gotten over being upset, I shrugged and accepted his apology. "No harm done." I turned my head to see what Moondoggie was doing.

"He yours?"

"Hm? Oh yeah, well I'm sort of taking care of him 'til he finds a home."

"Say, you're that courier that was shot down aren't you?"

"Yep, that's me," I said without much enthusiasm. Being shot down was NOT my cup of tea.

"I'm sure it must've been a horrific experience."

I shrugged and said nothing, still watching Moondoggie play. Even though this Major did have a nice smile and he was terribly polite, I found myself wishing he'd go away. I wanted to play with Moondoggie.

He spoke again. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

THAT caught me off guard. I looked at him and for a few seconds no words would come out of my mouth. "Eh…well, I uh…I don't think so."

"I wonder if you'd care to join me for dinner at the officer's club?"

"Uh…sure. Sure, thanks."

"Splendid! Then I'll see you this evening. How's 7 sound?"

"Fine," I answered dumbly.

"Good day, Lieutenant." He tipped his hat and turned on his heel, walking back up the beach.

Why did I say I wasn't doing anything? I was supposed to keep a low profile, for Pete's sake! And I don't even know who that guy is! What a dope. Me, I mean. I plopped down on the sand and put my head in my hands. "Think before you speak, Hope," I groaned aloud.