Caine Mutiny, The - Herman Wouk [200]
“Left to 180, helmsman.”
“Hold it, Stilwell,” said Maryk.
“Mr. Maryk, fleet course is 180.” The captain’s voice was faint, almost whispering. He was looking glassily ahead. “Captain, we’ve lost contact with the formation-the radars are blacked out-”
“Well, then, we’ll find them- I’m not disobeying orders on account of some bad weather-”
The helmsman said, “Steady on 000-”
Maryk said, “Sir, how do we know what the orders are now? The guide’s antennas may be down-ours may be-call up Sunshine and tell him we’re in trouble-”
Butting and plunging, the Caine was a riding ship again. Willie felt the normal vibration of the engines, the rhythm of seaworthiness in the pitching, coming up from the deck into the bones of his feet. Outside the pilothouse there was only the whitish darkness of the spray and the dismal whine of the wind, going up and down in shivery glissandos.
“We’re not in trouble,” said Queeg. “Come left to 180.”
“Steady as you go!” Maryk said at the same instant. The helmsman looked around from one officer to the other, his eyes popping in panic. “Do as I say!” shouted the executive officer. He turned on the OOD. “Willie, note the time.” He strode to the captain’s side and saluted. “Captain, I’m sorry, sir, you’re a sick man. I am temporarily relieving you of command of this ship, under Article 184 of Navy Regulations.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Queeg. “Left to 180, helmsman.”
“Mr. Keith, you’re the OOD here, what the hell should I do?” cried Stilwell.
Willie was looking at the clock. It was fifteen minutes to ten. He was dumfounded to think he had had the deck less than two hours. The import of what was taking place between Maryk and Queeg penetrated his mind slowly. He could not believe it was happening. It was as incredible as his own death.
“Never you mind about Mr. Keith,” said Queeg to Stilwell, a slight crankiness entering his voice, fantastically incongruous under the circumstances. It was a tone he might have used to complain of a chewing-gum wrapper on the deck. “I told you to come left. That’s an order. Now you come left, and fast-”
“Commander Queeg, you aren’t issuing orders on this bridge any more,” said Maryk. “I have relieved you, sir. You’re on the sick list. I’m taking the responsibility. I know I’ll be court-martialed. I’ve got the conn-”
“You’re under arrest, Maryk. Get below to your room,” said Queeg. “Left to 180, I say!”
“Christ, Mr. Keith!” exclaimed the helmsman, looking at Willie. Urban had backed into the farthest corner of the wheelhouse. He stared from the exec to Willie, his mouth open. Willie glanced at Queeg, glued to the telegraph, and at Maryk. He felt a surge of immense drunken gladness.
“Steady on 000, Stilwell,” he said. “Mr. Maryk has the responsibility. Captain Queeg is sick.
“Call your relief, Mr. Keith,” the captain said at the same instant, with something like real anger. “You’re under arrest, too.”
“You have no power to arrest me, Mr. Queeg,” said Willie.
The shocking change of name caused a look of happy surprise to appear on Stilwell’s face. He grinned at Queeg with contempt. “Steady on 000, Mr. Maryk,” he said, and turned his back to the officers.
Queeg suddenly quit his grasp on the telegraph stand, and stumbled across the heaving wheelhouse to the starboard side. “Mr. Keefer! Mr. Harding! Aren’t there any officers out there?” he called to the wing.
“Willie, phone Paynter and tell him to ballast all empty tanks on the double,” Maryk said.
“Aye aye, sir.” Willie seized the telephone and buzzed the fireroom. “Hello, Paynt? Listen, we’re going to ballast. Flood all your empty tanks on the double- You’re goddamn right it’s about time-”
“Mr. Keith, I did not issue any orders to ballast,” said Queeg. “You call that fireroom right back-”
Maryk stepped to the public-address system. “Now, all officers, report to the bridge. All officers, report to the bridge.” He said aside to Willie, “Call Paynter and tell him that word doesn’t apply to him.”
“Aye aye, sir.” Willie pulled the phone from the bracket.
“I said once and I say again,