Explosions slapped behind him. He spun around as another explosion banged across the water. A white fountain spouted from the far side of theArizona. Smoke, gray turning black, billowed over the ship. Shock froze Butler for an instant.

"Call Army headquarters. Order Colonel Patton to full alert."

Butler was breathing heavily from his charge down the interior steps of the tower as he jumped into the rear seat of his open staff car. "Customs dock."

Smedley's aide and Army liaison, Major Shaw, asked, "General, what's happened?" Shaw's gaunt face showed his concern.

Butler gripped the top of the door as the car bounced down the cobbled street. "Explosions onArizona. Can't tell if the Navy blew themselves up or if the Turks are attacking." The blast of the car's horn forced a way through the crowd of European and Turkish pedestrians. The third and fourth stories of the stone and wooden houses loomed over the Rolls Royce as it slid around a sharp corner onto Istiklal Street. The driver swerved, just missing a small red trolley car, and accelerated toward the water.

The explosion twisted the deck ofArizona from under John Pershing, hurling him against the aft turret. He dropped to one knee but refused to fall further. A cloud of oily smoke swept across the battleship's fantail. Pershing pulled out a handkerchief and tied it over his nose and mouth. "Damn little good this will do."

"General Pershing, sir, are you hurt?"

The concerned face of an ensign hovered above the general. "I don't think so, son." Pershing stood slowly, testing his balance, feeling his sixty years. He coughed deeply, trying to clear the smoke from his lungs, but only drawing in more. "How is the ship?" He reached to straighten his hat and found it missing.