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.He was prepared to go along with practicallyanything Chester recommended in the matter of the assault upon Colonel Tim F.Brandon.Macmilian was no child.In this, he was going to have to take hislumps."No, sir," Chester said."I presume the general is referring to thatunfortunate business at Rucker?""What do you think should be done?" Black asked.Page 111 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"It's not an easy one, sir," General Chester said, seriously."On the onehand, it's black and white officers do not assault other officers but on theother hand, there are very important public relations considerations.""And have you a recommendation?" Black asked."There really hasn't been time to give the situation the consideration itdeserves, General.I have, of course, several options to offer."That does it, you paper-shuffling sonofabitch.This isn't a decision aboutwhere to invade the Asian landmass.It's what to do about two unimportantofficers.If you can't make a decision like this in ten seconds flat, youshouldn't be an officer, much less a major general."I'll tell you what we're going to do, General," General Black said."You're going to get on an airplane and go to Rucker and tell your colonel tocount his blessings.He's lucky Macmillan didn't kill him, and he's lucky thatI don't order his court-martial on charges of conduct unbecoming.If he wantsto stay lucky, he is not even to think about pressing charges againstMacmillan.You understand me?""Sir, I understand Colonel Brandon is the aggrieved party," General Chestersaid.Black was surprised that Chester dared argue with him.His opinion of Chesterrose a little."I know he is, Tom," Black said."But, of all people, Brandon should know whatan embarrassment this could be for the army.""That's true, sir.""He's just going to have to swallow his injured pride.If you think it willmake him any happier, you may tell him that I have already ordered Macmillan'stransfer.""We couldn't really leave him at Rucker, could we?""No more than we could court-martial him, and give everybody a good laugh atour expense," Black said."When would you like me to go to Fort Rucker, General?""I was hoping that your schedule would permit you to go today," General Blacksaid."Will it?" General Chester looked thoughtful."With a little shuffling, yes, sir," he said, finally."Good boy, Tom," General Black said."I knew I could count on you.After General Chester had left his office, General Black sat down at his desk.He took a battered telephone book from a drawer, found a number, and picked upthe telephone."Bill this to me personally," he said, when the operator came on the line.Andthen he gave her the number.The phone was answered on the second ring.Page 112 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Let me talk to him, Roxy," he said.Roxy knew his voice.Mac was on the line in ten seconds."Yes, sir?""Pack your bags, you dumb sonofabitch," General Black run COLONELS said."Andwrite this on the palm of your hand so you won't fi, rget it: This is the lasttime I am going to save your ass." "Where'm I going, General?" Macmillanasked."This is the last time, Mac, the last time.Get that through your thick head."Then he hung up."That left only one thing to resolve.He had no idea where he was going to sendMacmillan.He sipped at his drink, and then smiled broadly.He had the answer to thatone.It was so simple he wondered why he hadn't thought of it sooner.He dialed the operator again."Get me Colonel Paul Hanrahan at the Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg," hesaid.Paul Hanrahan had just gotten an eagle earlier than he would have gotten onewithout the personal intervention of the President and he'd gotten command ofthe Special Warfare School.Mac was a paratrooper.Let Hanrahan sit on the stupid sonofahitch.Let him work off Macmillan'sexcess energy by running him around and around in the boonies at Bragg.(Five) Quarters No.3004 Fort Rucker, Alabama 1500 Hours, 1 January 1959Only officers and senior civilians (and their wives) assigned to the U.S.ArmyAviation Combat Developments Office were invited to the commanding officers'New Year's Day reception.It wasn't much different from the regular unitget-tog ethers that Bellmon held frequently during the year, differing only inthat this one would be the last one Bellmon would give before moving toWashington and in that Mac Macmillan, who was in charge of Bellmon's officialsocial calendar, was absent.Belimon's quarters were not nearly as crowded as General iiggs's had been, andthough there was a punch bowl, there was also a bar with a wide assortment ofwhiskey, which meant that much of the punch would eventually be thrown out.There was a sense of relief when Lowell came in with Jean-Philippe Jannier.Everybody would much rather gather around to meet Jannier than to discussLieutenant Colonel Rudolph G.Macmillan, whose punching out of Colonel Brandonhad made him invisible, Lowell thought, if not yet officially a nonperson
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