Battle Cry - Leon Uris [48]
Ski threw his books on his bunk and lay down. “I got to relax more with the earphones on.”
“I’ve got to study after chow,” Danny said. “I’ll meet you after your late class. Need a few things at ship’s store. I…I’m going to phone Baltimore, too.”
“You going to blow a whole pay?”
“My dad wrote to me to reverse charges.”
Marion passed them with his washing gear. “Come on, let’s get cleaned up before chow call.”
Danny and Marion leaned against the wall outside Ski’s class, waiting for the evening session to end. Danny walked to a vending machine, inserted a nickel and caught a large, moist, juicy apple as it came tumbling out of the slot. An officer passed. They came to attention and snapped a salute. It was returned.
“This place is too damned GI,” Danny said.
“The Marine Base is a showplace for them,” Marion answered.
The base was built around a long, arcade-type construction, with Spanish archways and a walk which ran a mile alongside the parade ground. Beyond the parade ground, temporary tents and the sandy boondocks stretched to the bay. Along the archways, the barracks and buildings of the Base. Beyond these buildings was officers’ country, the PX, sports grounds and administration buildings laid out lazily in curved streets, in immaculately groomed lawns, palms, and gardens. At one end of the parade ground stood the Signal School and near it, the Field Music School. At the opposite end, the entrance to boot camp. Boot camp was a restricted area and no one cared. The base was the epitome of military custom and courtesy. A Marine there had to be starched, pressed, shiny, and cut his corners squarely.
Shining Lighttower and Ski walked slowly from the building, shaking the latest barrage of code out of their heads.
“Christ, I’m dizzy.”
“Come on, we’ve been waiting for you.”
“Damned if I can understand this white man’s way to send a message. Me and Major Bolger got to talk…I’ll show him how much easier smoke signals are,” the Indian said.
“We’re heading for the PX. You coming?” Marion asked.
“No, I’m going to the movies. They got a cowboy and Indian picture.” Lighttower cut down to the parade ground. “See you palefaces by the light of the rising sun.”
“That guy fractures me,” Ski said. “Always trying to make like an Injun.”
They fell in step and paced down the archway keeping their right arms loose for immediate action in the event of a passing officer. They strolled into the PX, made their purchases, and found three empty stools at the fountain.
“Order for me. I’m going to place my call,” Danny said, stepping into a nearby phone booth. He returned. “It will be a few minutes for a line to Baltimore.” They sipped their sodas.
Then all eyes in the PX turned and stuck to the tall, gaunt man who had entered. There was a hush. His gray eyes pierced and darted about as he walked to the counter and asked for some shaving gear.
“That’s Colonel Coleman, the boss of the Raiders,” Danny whispered.
“I hear he’s forming a new battalion,” Marion added.
“Brother, I sure hope he don’t look this way. I don’t want no part of them crazy bastards.”
“You can say that again.”
“Lucky Lighttower didn’t come,” Marion mused. “Coleman would have gotten himself an Indian scout for sure.”
“I hear them Raiders sleep on the floor. They don’t give them no bedding.”
“I came in from liberty last night about one o’clock and they were out boondocking. They don’t get shore leave, either.”
“Man, when a Raider walks toward me, I step aside. Ever see the knives and strangling gear they carry?”
“A guy would have to be nuts to volunteer into that outfit.”
Colonel Ed Coleman received his change and walked to the soda fountain. Marion, Ski, and Danny plunged into their sodas. He seated himself on a stool next to Hodgkiss.
“Evening, Marine,” he said slowly.
“Good evening, sir,” Marion muttered. “Well, I’ll see you fellows later.” He beat a hasty retreat from the PX.
Coleman gulped down a Coke and walked to the phone booth.
“Excuse me, sir,” Danny said, “but I have