man of G.o.ddard's background and reputation would be invaluable to

you not only for his technical knowledge, but also as a public

relations weapon.'

'Well, we'll just have to get along without him.'

'I guess so,' Bradley said.

The sound of hammering from outside momentarily distracted the

general and made him glance out the window. Following his gaze,

Bradley saw some men in coveralls kneeling on the roof of the

adjoining building as they expertly nailed down some more beams.

When these buildings were completed, they would house the new

National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics as well as a branch of

the still too informal army air force intelligence. General Taylor was

currently the head and Bradley was an increasingly enthusiastic, but

unofficial, agent of the intelligence unit.

'It's interesting that he should be so concerned with German rocket

development,' the general said, returning his thoughtful gaze to

Bradley, 'since that's also what we're concerned with right now.' 'The Pentagon isn't,' Bradley replied. 'Since the White House has

adopted an isolationist stance regarding Europe, there's no Pentagon

interest in German weaponry.'

'I can't speak for the whole of the Pentagon, let alone the White

House,' Taylor said, 'but I think I can say with confidence that we in

military intelligence are concerned with the growing militarism of

Germany particularly since Hitler was elected chancellor. It's not our

belief that America will be involved in European politics per se, but

there's certainly been enough concern to cause the air force to

informally gather information on aeronautical developments in Hitler's

new Germany and, especially, on any further developments regarding

the...' The general glanced down at the notes on his desk... 'The

Verein fur Raumschiffart, or VfR,' he read, then looked up again. 'Right,' Bradley said. 'The German amateur rocket society.' 'It's wonderful,' the general said with a slight, sardonic smile, 'how

bright boys like you can bring back such interesting information from

their vacations in Europe.'

Bradley knew what the general was getting at. He, Bradley, had

been a highly decorated pilot during the Great War, but had left the