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t will have to have conformal antennas； 'smart skin' in the jargon of the trade。 Literally； the antennas will be part of the aircraft's skin so they won't contribute to drag or ever be broken off。〃
〃How much is that going to cost？〃
〃Won't be cheap。 Conformal antennae are under development； but they'll be new technology and aren't here yet。〃
〃Forget I asked。〃
Jake wandered over to where Tarkington and Moravia stood with mander L。D。 Bonnet； the manding officer of the A…6 Weapons System Support Activity； which owned the airplane。 All three saluted Jake as he approached and he returned the gesture with a grin。 〃So； L。D。； are you going to let these children fly your plane？〃
〃Yes； sir。 They appear sober and reasonably petent。〃
〃I appreciate your letting us borrow the plane and hangar for a few days。〃
〃Admiral Dunedin's very persuasive。〃
Jake flashed a grin。 L。D。 must have hesitated a few seconds before he agreed to the Old Man's requests。 〃Here's what I'd like to do。 Fritsche and Dodgers are going to take a day or two to install some little antennas on the left side of the plane。 They'll use glue and drill a few holes； then install a tiny fairing in front of each antenna。 They're going to need the help of a couple of good； capable airframe technicians who can keep their mouths shut。〃
Bonnet nodded。
〃Then Rita and Toad will fly the plane up to the Electronic Warfare range at Fallen since the EW range here at China Lake is out of service this week。 Fritsche and I will fly up there ahead of them。 Dodgers will stay here to work on the gear in the plane。 Rita； I want you to keep the plane under three hundred knots indicated to minimize the airflow stress on these antennas。 They're gang to be jury…rigged on there with a little bubble gum and Elmer's glue。〃
〃Aye aye； sir；〃 she said。
〃L。D。； I need you to loan me a couple of young officers with at least ten pounds of tact each。 They'll alternate duty； so that one of them will be with Dodgers day and night。 They're to escort him to work； stay with him all day； escort him to the head； take him back to the BOQ； eat with him； see that he talks to no one but them。 And I mean no one。〃
After discussing the details； mander Bonnet departed。 Jake Grafton explained to Rita and Toad exactly what he expected of his flight crew。 He finished with a caution。 〃This device； the project name； everything； is classified to the hilt。 Admiral Dunedin tells me he has cells reserved at Leavenworth for anyone who violates the security regs。 I don't want you to even whisper about this in your sleep。〃
〃I love secrets；〃 Toad said。
〃I know。 Just my luck； I get one of the world's great secret lovers。 Keep it zipped； Toad。〃
Jake went back to watch the installation process； so Toad and Rita set out on foot for base ops to plan their nights to and from Fallen； Nevada。 As they walked along； Rita asked； 〃What was it that Captain Grafton wanted you to keep zipped； Toad？ Your mouth or…〃
〃Never ask a question if you think you might not like the answer。 That's Tarkington's Golden Rule for survival in Uncle Sam's navy。〃
They grinned at each other。 Her hand slipped into his for a fleeting squeeze。 Instinctively they both knew to play it cool。 No hand…holding or huggy…squeezy or deep eye contact during duty hours。 No winks or sighs or casual touching。 If Captain Grafton saw any of that； the roof would fall in。
As Toad walked his shoulders were back and his head up。 He was acutely conscious of how good he felt； how pungently vigorous and healthy。 Takes a woman to do that for you； he told himself； and began whistling a lively little tune that seemed appropriate。 Life is good。
Toad's feeling of euphoric bonhomie lasted precisely one hour and thirty…seven minutes； just the length of time it took to plan the flights to and from the Electronic Warfare Range near Fallen； Nevada； fill out the flight plans； visit casually with the weather briefer about the long…range forecast for the next three or four days and make a pit stop in the head。 On the walk back to the hangar where Grafton and the wizards labored； Rita was quieter； more subdued than she had been the last few days。
〃Do you like me？〃 she asked finally； wearing a gentle semiserious look that Toad Tarkington； man of the world； recognized as trouble。
His jovial mood returned to earth with an unpleasant splat。 mitment time！ It's their hormones； biology maybe； something to do with genes； 〃Sure。 You're a very nice lady who's fun to be with。〃
〃Oh。〃
〃You know what I mean。 You're not one of those girls who write poetry until two in the morning and read Albert Camus in the cafeteria。〃
〃Uh…huh。〃
〃You're〃…and here Toad grinned broadly and arranged his features in what he always thought was his most sincere； let's…fuck…tonight look…〃you're the kind of girl a guy likes to be around。〃
〃I understand；〃 Rita said； nodding。 〃You like girls who open zippers with their teeth and wear crotchless panties。〃
He didn't like the way she said that； with lips parted but almost immobile； her eyes narrowing ever so slightly。
〃Rita； I try to avoid discussing serious relationships at mid…afternoon in parking lots。〃
〃Maybe if I shave my pussy and put four or five earrings in my left ear？〃
Oh； so she wanted a little blood； huh？ 〃Right ear。 Left ear is for lesbi…〃
〃You asshole！〃 She stalked away； her head down； braced against the hurricane。
〃Hey； Ginger。。。〃 Ginger was her nickname； what the other aviators called her。 She even had it on the name tag of her flight suit。
She spun around to face him； her hands clenched at her sides。 〃Don't you ever call me that； Tarkington。 Not ever。 Not you。〃
〃Hey…〃 he said； but he was talking to her back。 He raised his voice and shouted； 〃I'd like to get to know you。 But I'm not getting engaged in a parking lot； not even if you're the Queen of Sheba。〃
When she was fifty feet away； she turned to face him。 〃I wasn't asking you to get engaged；〃 she shouted back。
〃Oh yes you were！ Crotchless panties； shaved pussies； what the hell is wrong with you？〃
She was walking away again。 Toad turned back toward base ops。 Ten feet away a lieutenant mander stood looking at him； shaking his head。
〃You know； Lieutenant； when I discuss intimate apparel or personal hygiene with a lady friend； I usually try to find a slightly more private place。〃
Toad turned beet red。 〃Yessir；〃 he mumbled through clenched teeth and stalked by with his head down。
Samuel Dodgers forked his food without wasting an erg of precious energy。 The utensil bit into the mashed potatoes and peas in one swift； brutal motion； then soared aloft by the most direct route to the waiting depository； where it was wiped clean in the blink of an eye and dispatched down for another load。 A man working this hard should devote his attention to the job at hand； and Dodgers wisely did so。 If he heard the conversation around him； he gave no sign。
Toad Tarkington gave Rita a hopeful wink when her eyes shifted to him from Dodgers and his rapidly emptying plate。 Her eyes mapped down to her food。 She pressed her lips firmly together and inhaled deeply through her nose； which strained the cloth and buttons on her khaki shirt。 Toad sourly