Caine Mutiny, The - Herman Wouk [122]
“Stabbed, by God,” said Maryk.
“What does it mean?” said Willie. “No leave for the second section?”
Jellybelly paused in his pecking at the typewriter and, though he did not look up, his face seemed to grow appreciably longer.
“I hope not. Jellybelly, get the captain on the phone.”
The yeoman put through the call to Phoenix, while the officers fidgeted. “Sir,” he said, putting his hand over the mouthpiece, “it’s Mrs. Queeg. She says the captain was out late last night and is still asleep. She wants to know whether it’s urgent.”
Glancing at the wall clock, which showed a quarter past twelve, the exec said, “Tell her it’s urgent.”
The yeoman obeyed and hastily handed Maryk the receiver. After perhaps two minutes, Maryk heard Queeg’s voice, hoarse and cranky, “Hello? What’s the trouble now?”
The exec read the despatch slowly over the telephone. There was a pause during which he heard the captain breathing heavily. “Kay. Those are our orders. Carry them out,” said Queeg. “Notify the yard repair officer, and so forth. You know what to do-Or do you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I see no necessity for me to come up there, but I will if you think you can’t handle it.”
“I think I can, sir. I wanted to ask you about the leave situation.”
“Hm. Well, what about it? I can’t spare you, Steve. I’m sorry, it’s just one of those tough breaks-”
“Sir, I was thinking mainly about the. men. The way things are now the second section won’t get any leave at all.”
“Well, that’s not my fault. It’s just one of those things-”
“I only thought, sir, if we could get the first section back early, we might still give the others a week-at least most of them.”
“How the hell can you do that? They’re scattered all over the country.”
“Well, I have all their forwarding addresses. I’ll wire them.”
“Ha! You don’t know sailors. They’ll say they never got the wires.”
“Well, I’ll order them to acknowledge by return wire. The ones that don’t answer, I’ll telephone. The ones I don’t get by telephone, I’ll send special-delivery registered letters to.”
“Who’s going to pay for all these wires and phones and special deliveries?” said the captain peevishly. “We have no appropriation for-”
“We have a surplus in the ship’s welfare fund, sir.”
There was a silence. Then the captain said, “Well, if you want to go to all that trouble I have no objection. I want to see the men get their leave as much as you do, bearing in mind, however, that there are other important things to be done at this point, too. Go ahead with your wires and phone calls. For every man that comes back you can send one on leave.”
“Thank you, sir. How about the officers?”
“No, I’m afraid the officers are just out of luck. We’ll recommend extended leave for them whenever they get orders. How’s everything coming?”
“Well, this despatch will foul us up pretty badly, sir. But I guess it’ll just be a question of buttoning up again as fast as we can.”
“Those new officers reported aboard yet?”
“Two of them have, sir-Jorgensen and Ducely.”
“Well, get them started at once on their qualification courses. They’re to turn in an assignment a day, or no shore leave.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“All right. Don’t hesitate to call me if there’s any doubt in your mind about anything. Will we get those new radars installed?”
“Yes, sir. That work is more than half finished.”
“Well, good, that was the main idea, anyway. Kay. Good-by.”
“Good-by, Sir.”
The yeoman ran out clumsily, clutching a list of the sailors in the first section and a scribbled copy of the telegram dictated by Maryk to recall them. He brushed past Stilwell, who approached the desk, twisting his hat.
“Sorry to bother you, Mr. Maryk,” the gunner’s mate said in a shaky voice. “Hello, Mr. Keith.” He took a wrinkled telegram from his trouser pocket and gave it to the exec. Maryk frowned over it and showed it to Willie.
MOTHER VERY SICK. DOCTOR SAYS MAY NOT LIVE. COME HOME. PAUL.
“Paul’s my kid brother,