Lion, Tiger, Bear | 159 strumpets were calling us nasty McMaster snapped: Be quiet, all of you, while I think. Twenty minutes of snoring went by while McMaster shuffled and signed papers. Honestly… Sergeant Tillings knocked and entered. Theyre here, sir. The Map Room upstairs. Very well. The Brigadier walked lover to Bea, asleep on her arm, nose dripping. Rise and shine, Private Lassie! On the top floor of the well-furnished townhouse, Churchill, a general, and a colonel were waiting on plush couches, both officers subordinates of Montgomery, both in the armored corps. Large maps festooned the opulent silk walls, and an ivory- inlaid round table filled the center of the ancient circular Persian carpet with, ironically, reverse Hindu swastikas. Somewhere down the hall, a local servant had lit fragrant incense. Thick sweet Egyptian coffee was served, lots of it. Slightly swaying, Bea, Alice, and Bernie all saluted. Churchill rose with the help of his cane. Ah-h-h-h-h, the newest members of the vaunted Hellfire Club, Cairo chapter, one gent and two filliesbare of foot and in formerly posh frocks. My hearty congratulations, my dears. Talk of the town, and thats quite an achievement in its own right. Reminds me of the Sudan War and Kitchener when I was a young man m self here in Cairo, dueling with fisticuffs and whiling away hours in the perfumed bazaar admiring the indigenous beauties. Bernie neared the table. Prime Minister, sirs, I take full responsibility for our actions last night. If I may be able to Churchill waved his cane. Never mind that! This city puts Sodom and Gomorrah to shame, ditto the officer corps. All charges by Allied officers and old General Phillipslost a tooth or two, poor old doghave been dropped on my order to the provost marshal. Someone claimed it was you that hit the general, Rodgers, a real nose-ender. Bernie tried unsuccessfully to repair a ripped pocket. Not me, sir. But I admit I popped just about everyone else. My best Joe Louis. Bea stepped forward. My apologies, sir, you see wed been done by rather harshly by these two heroin harlots that Never you mind, snapped Churchill. Lay it out, Robinson. The colonel opened a file on the big table and poured its contents out for all