Bell for Adano, A - John Hersey [84]
Farley came back with the order in his hand. “It’s secret, sir, equal to British ‘most secret.”‘
“Okay,” Commander Robertson said, and he began to read the message to himself. “Let’s see, Corelli, Corelli. Here it is.” He smiled.
He looked up. “Major, I think well get you your bell.” Major Joppolo stood up. “Gee,” he said, “I didn’t expect action like this. If you think you could...” Commander Robertson said: “Leave it to me, Major. III get all the details from Livingston here.”
Major Joppolo turned to Livingston: “I don’t know how to thank you,” he said.
Lieutenant Livingston said: “Well, it’s all the Commander’s doing. But I’m glad it’s working out the way you wanted.”
Major Joppolo left quite abruptly.
Commander Robertson said: “If that bugger thinks the Navy is efficient, he’s really going to get a surprise this time. We’ll get him that bell within a week. The Corelli’s putting in day after tomorrow at that port just up the line, I never can pronounce it, begins with a V.”
“Vicinamare,” said Lieutenant Livingston, mispronouncing it.
“That’s the place,” the Commander said. “We’ll have time to run up there while these teapots are unloading here, and maybe we can bring the bell right back with us.”
“Do you really think you can get it?” Lieutenant Livingston said.
“From Toot Dowling?” The Commander laughed. “Hell, he’s a pushover.”
Chapter 30
THE IDEA of a party for Major Joppolo grew up in a peculiar way. It came up partly because of real affection for the Major. But it was also partly because Captain Purvis wanted to see if he couldn’t make some time with one of the daughters of Tomasino.
Giuseppe the interpreter stopped in to see Captain Purvis at the M.P. command post one afternoon. Giuseppe was just keeping his butter evenly spread. “How’s a thing, a Cap?” he asked. He called Purvis Cap because his tongue always tripped on Captain.
“Okay,” the Captain said.
“You like Adano?”
“Okay,” the Captain said.
“You like a little more fun?”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“Why you don’t a go see Francesca no more?”
“There’s nothing there, Giuseppe, the family’s always hanging around.”
“I’m a no so sure. You don’t a try very hard.”
“Besides, I think the Major’s falling for the blonde. He’s a good guy, I wouldn’t want to mess him up any.”
“How you mess him up? You fool around a Francesca.”
“No, Giuseppe, I think the Major’s serious. I don’t know, he didn’t say anything, I just got a hunch. If I fooled around with those girls, it would be strictly for fish. No, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“You mean a Mister Major, he’s a fall in a love?” “I don’t know. Maybe. I think so.”
“What a for? Can he have a no fun without a fall over like a that?”
“Doesn’t look to me like you can have much fun with a whole bunch around, including you, Giuseppe, and having to eat that godawful candy, and the old lady sitting there. No, Giuseppe, if I play house with a little dolly, I like a little privacy.”
“Giuseppe’s a fix.”
“I doubt if you could.”
“Never mind. Giuseppe’s a fix. I tell a you something. These a girl, these a Tomasino’s girl, she’s a not, uh how you say uh -not a scrupulous. All a three, nobody’s a scrupulous. You know those a two little a babies in a house?”
“You mean those little girls?”
Giuseppe nodded. “Belong a sister. She’s a you know.” Giuseppe winked.
“You mean she takes in washing and that’s not all?”
“She’s a bad a girl. Rome.” Giuseppe nodded and winked at the same time.
“Francesca’s not a scrupulous. Tina’s not a scrupulous. You can have a some fun. “
“How? What can you fix, Giuseppe?”
“Fix a party.”
“There you go with a crowd again. Hell no, let’s have a little privacy.”
“How about a Major?”
“Yeah, I suppose we got to think of him. You know, Giuseppe, he’s a funny guy. Sometimes I think he’s an awful wet