Bell for Adano, A - John Hersey [94]
After some of the memoranda, the General would bellow directions to Colonel Middleton, sitting in the next room. After others he would roar: “The hell with ‘em. They’re no worse off than all the others. The answer is no.
Lieutenant Byrd picked up one of the memoranda and read: “To General Marvin for information etcetera etcetera, routing address, and so forth. Subject: mule carts, town of Adana.”
The General rumbled: “Goddam mule carts.” Lieutenant Byrd read: “On July 19, orders were received from General Marvin, 49th Division, to keep all -mule carts out of the town of Adana. Guards were posted at the bridge over Rosso River and at Cacopardo Sulphur Refinery. Order carried out...”
The General said: “Goddam right, stop the goddam carts. Lousy Italians trying to hold up the whole goddam invasion. They better carry out the goddam order.”
Lieutenant Byrd droned on, hardly noticing what he read: “On July 20, guards were removed on order of Major -’
Lieutenant Byrd suddenly realized what he was reading. He put the memorandum down and picked up the next.
But the General roared: “Finish it, goddamit, finish it.”
The Lieutenant read: “-were removed on order of Major Victor Joppolo, Civil Affairs Officer, town of Adano, because carts were essential to town and town was =‘
Now the General had forgotten about finishing the memorandum. “Joppolo,” he shouted, and his face was the color of distant mountains. “Joppolo.”
General Marvin’s memory worked in a peculiar fashion. “Middleton!” he shouted. “Come in here, Middleton.”
The Colonel came in.
“Middleton, remember the name of Joppolo, a lousy sonofabitching little wop named Joppolo?”
Colonel Middleton said, with a tired face: “Yes, sir. The carts.”
General Marvin bellowed: “I just remembered something. That goddam wop was out of uniform that day. You remember? He had on pinks and a goddam khaki shirt. You remember that, Middleton?”
Colonel Middleton said: “No sir, I had forgotten that.”
The General shouted: “Well, I remember it. I’ve had enough of that goddam little upstart. You know what_ he’s done now, Middleton?”
Colonel Middleton said with a tired voice: “No sir.” “Goddam him, he had the nerve to let the carts back in that town, what the hell was the name of that -” Lieutenant Byrd said: “Adano, sir.”
“Adano. Goddam upstart.”
Colonel Middleton said: “Perhaps there was some reason why he had to -”
“Goddam you, Middleton, you’re getting too goddam independent minded. “
Colonel Middleton said: “Yes sir.”
Lieutenant Byrd said: “It goes on to say here, sir: `carts were essential to town and town was in bad shape without same.”‘
The General stood up: “Goddamit,” he said. “I’ve had enough of that little wop. Middleton.”
“Yes sir,” the tired voice said.
“Make out an order recalling that Italian wop from that town, goddamit, what’s the name -”
Lieutenant Byrd said: “Adano, sir.”
“Order him to report back to Algiers for reassignment. Make out a separate report to Algiers explaining why. I’ll fix that little bastard. Get it off today, too, goddamit, none of your goddam delays, Middleton.”
“Yes sir,” the tired voice said.
Chapter 34
THE DAY before the party, the fisherman named Agnello and his men talked about it as they fished.
“Are you going, Merendino?” Agnello asked. Merendino, who was not one to commit himself too far, said: “I have been invited.”
Sconzo, the youngest of Adano’s fishermen, said: “I am going. You’d better go, Merendino. I hear that we fishermen are lucky. Mostly the guests will be officials and big people, but because of Tomasino -”
Agnello said: “And perhaps because the daughters of Tomasino are not pock-faced.”
Sconzo