HEDY LAMARR<br/><br/>I listened intently to Steele's account of the dogfight, trying with some difficulty to untangle his West Virginia drawl. The mention of a torpedo surprised and shocked me though I kept that professionally hidden; the skills of an actress come in handy off the screen as well as on it. I hid my face partly behind a raised hand and my glass as Steele talked.<br/><br/>Johnston seemed unfazed by its mention, ignoring any reference to it, though he could not possibly have seen it either.<br/><br/><em>Cool customer.</em><br/><br/><strong>"Thank you, Mister Steele, that accords with what I was able to observe through the hangar deck vents, though the sighting from there is not the best. Next time, if you please, when you or your watch officers sight a torpedo launch, please inform me. Was that why you were manoeuvring so wildly?"</strong>I asked, as Mister Quinn entered the room.<br/><br/>I let Steele answer and as the talk concluded I greeted Quinn and shook his hand, introducing him to Johnston and Steele as passenger and navigator. Moments later the Louisianan woman and Dixie Mae came in, the young hillbilly lady unashamedly announcing her amazement a the lounge furnishings in what I was to come to know as her ridiculously innocent yet endearing style.<br/><br/>I caught the tail end of a conversation about shopping for outfits and then we were greeting each other.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Oh bonjour à nouveau Miss Lamarr and company. I must say after a fight like that one could use a drink, wouldn't you agree?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><strong>"Hello again to you, Miss Augustin. Mister Quinn you know by now of course…"</strong>I nodded in the direction of the male pilot,<strong>"And this is Mister Johnston, our only passenger on this flight, and this is Mister Steele, navigator. I think you met him at haven Tower as well? As for drinks…"</strong>I made a gesture indicating<em>'behind you'</em>where reliable old Benson had silently and thankfully materialized with a fresh tray of drinks. He does earn his pay.<br/><br/><strong><em>"Good evening Ma'am. And to you Ma'am. And Sir…"</em></strong>Benson gave small bows to each of the pilots in turn. In his white tux and bowtie and black pants and spit-shined shoes he looked quite the part and could be the prefect gentleman when needed, despite his frightening bulk.<strong><em>"Pre-dinner drinks? We do apologise for the limited choice. There is bourbon straight, on the rocks or as a tall drink with either lemonade or creamed soda fresh from the refrigeration room."</em></strong><br/><br/>Benson was inventive too.<br/><br/>I waited while my guests selected drinks and we engaged in small talk. I wanted to wait for our fourth man to join us before we moved through into the dining room.