ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
*******Lexington Reservoir, near Los Gatos, California, 23:30, August 9, 1943*******
A small motor launch approaches a beautiful, new PB2Y. Flawless aluminum shines in the full moonlight. The light is strong enough that one can make out the orange and gray paint scheme. There is a small brass plaque near the door that reads "Manufactured for Admiral Chester Arthur Nimitz, Consolidated Aircraft Company, Buffalo, New York, June 23, 1943". Her guns removed and extra tanks added, she was built to be the personal transport aircraft of CinCPAC. The reader might then assume the motor launch carries the Admiral. The reader would be wrong. The USN declined to take possession of the custom PB2Y. It was some embarrasing miscue over wing deicers or something of the sort. Instead whe was declared unflightworthy and sold for scrap aluminum for $380 to some lawyer from New York.
Two beautiful Fillipinas in grey and orange uniforms wait at the door. It has been a long day, the 8:15 flight from Honolulu after the Planning meeting, nearly 12 hrs. in the air, a dusk landing on the reservoir and now, another long flight planned. A third woman, no less beautiful, with Germanic features also waits at the door.
Beautiful woman with Germanic features: <calls out to the approaching launch> How did the meeting go Mr.Minderbinder?
Young man in fine linen trousers (now creased): Swimingly! He loves the story idea. I think the iceberg photos won him over.
Beautiful woman with Germanic features: <covers her mouth with her hand as she laughs>
Could this be our link to our Dana Wynter look-a-like. Hmmmmmm
