24 | John W. Warner IV After a few moments of silence, the president soothed. They must have put up a helluva fight, Winston. All of them, the Australians and New Zealanders too. What can we do to help? Winston mused the question carefully. Too much of a favor could sour their relationship. Sir, it seems Im the most miserable Englishman in America since Burgoyne. That said, we need tanks. Jerry has more and more every day. Army Intelligence and MI6 reports say new ones are to be supplied in a few months time to Tunisia, the upgraded and fearsome Panzer IVs. Tunis is swarming with supply ships. Roosevelt looked to Marshall. Lets send three hundred Shermans and a hundred artillery pieces, and by the fastest ships possible to the Suez and up to Egypt. Yes sir, that can be arranged quickly. Production has increased in Detroit, said the general, face pale, sitting across from Churchill in an easy chair. Suspicious eyes found their targets. Churchill looked Marshall over. He knew Roosevelt had probably picked him as a five-star chief of staff not because he had great experience in leadership hed been promoted throughout his career curiously fast despite being a substandard regimental commander, and had worked hard on the Presidents Civilian Conservation Corps projects as a loyal officerbut because he had sharp understanding of the deepest secrets. Churchill suspected it was Marshall who had cobbled up the idea of letting Pearl Harbor happen on purpose after the Japanese communique had been read, the idea being to quickly galvanize Americans behind the war effort, but that was ancient history now and probably for the best, he thought. Roosevelt reached out for Winstons hand. Together well beat them. Grind them into that hot sand. We have to. Cigar went limp. Indeed, sir. New command is needed in Egypt, and I know just the chap: Montgomery. Controversial, unpopular with the high command, but tough and inventive. Ill be in Cairo in August to personally oversee the transition; bad blood may flow. Tie Nah-zies cannot be allowed to win even in a limited capacity. If they capture the oil fields in the east the war will drag on for years and years, possibly decades. And we three all have a good idea what the Germans are really after in that desert region, one that stretches from Morocco to India, a parched paradise of hidden treasures. And Europe is currently theirs to manipulate, underground facilities for war production increase daily. The facilities I worry most about are built upon Ley Line