160 | John W. Warner IV to witness. Aerial photographs by low-flying Spitfire reconnaissance. He made several passes on the deck three days ago at full chat in the early morning hours with a new high-resolution, fast-firing camera; woke em up proper. Jerry never even heard him coming till it was too late. Took some small caliber ack-ack fire for it from rooftops. No disappointments on all counts. What? Beas imagination clearly showed the Spitfires scalding pass in her minds eye. Bernie picked one up. May I? It showed two Tigers in the mosques square being repaired under tarps, and there was no mistaking them for lesser tanks. Ill be damned! Look at the size of them compared to the others. Long high-velocity barrels, definitely Pak-88s. Other photos showed destroyed tanks, trucks, and buildings. A Mark Ills scorched turret and gun were clearly visible attached to a crane in the repair depot amongst lines of tank tracks in repair. Off to one side was Tiger 101. Theyre cannibalizing one of the big ones for parts it looks like. That means these two Tigers are still operational. Bea and Alice crowded in, relieved and bewildered. Bea waved one at Churchill. Three days ago? Then yesterday you… The two British officers chuckled. Alice wrinkled up her nose. Looks like you flattened the mosque, old girl… Churchill soothed. My dear, I had all the faith in the world that you would perform beautifully in ffont of the stodgy high command. A part played well. Apologies for the duplicity, but we were hoping it would open some jaundiced eyes, which it most assuredly did. My visit here was to get their attention on the war in the west, not the King Tut-worthy festivities hereabouts in biblical Tartarus. They needed a jackboot in the arse. Monty was in on the game, a good sport. Im also here to sing his praises and raise morale. Well done, madam, breathed the general with emotion, a tank brigade commander himself. Bea hugged Churchill, regulations be damned. Loathe you. Then slowly turned to McMaster. Why you brass-hatted, tin-horned, son-of-a-whore… He raised his palms in defense. Sorry. For your own good. Especially after last nights debacle. You may be a civilian at present, but you still work for this branch. I expect professionalism, m lady. Tell me.. .you didnt havefan running riot over the generals. You and those brassy Madras peg boys can bugger off to