Caine Mutiny, The - Herman Wouk [281]
“Well, I would have liked to see Tokyo,” Keefer said. “I think they will write on my tombstone, Almost, but not quite. What movie have we got for tonight?”
“Roy Rogers, Captain.”
“Why does God go to so much trouble just to make me feel lousy? I think I’ll fast for a month and try to get the answer in a vision.”
So the Caine swung to its rusted, mossy anchor in an almost empty harbor, and the officers and crew listened to the surrender ceremonies over the radio.
The new point system came out almost exactly when Willie had anticipated it would, early in September. It was a workable, fair plan. It released half the crew of the Caine, and also the captain. Willie’s exit date was the first of November. When Keefer saw the AlNav he became tremendously excited. He summoned the executive officer to his cabin. “Ready to take over the ship, Willie?”
“Why-why sure, sir, but who’ll give it to me? I’ve barely got two years at sea-”
“Hell, Willie, you’re more qualified than De Vriess was when he got the Caine. Two years of war cruising is like fifteen years of peacetime duty. I say you’re qualified. I said so in the June roster of officers. It’s a cinch. We’ll get MinePac to send a despatch to BuPers-if you’re willing. If I wait for the Bureau mill to grind out a relief for me I’ll still be in Okinawa when the war with Russia starts.”
“I-well, sure, I’d like to take over, sir-”
The officer personnel section aboard the Terror was filled with a milling mob of captains and execs on errands similar to Keefer’s. The language of the AlNav was plain. It was an explosively sensitive reaction of the Navy to a squall of public opinion. Release was mandatory except in cases which endangered the security of the United States. Every exception had to be reported to the Secretary of the Navy in writing, signed by the admiral heading the fleet or force involved.
When the turn of Keefer and Willie came, the personnel officer hastily leafed through the papers and snapped at Willie, “Two years of sea duty and you think you can handle a DMS?”
Keefer interposed, “It’s been pretty intensive duty, sir.”
“Well, all right, that’s not the point. I’m in one hell of a squeeze play, that’s the point. I have to recommend these reliefs, and I take the rap if some silly young red-hot runs his ship up on a rock. And the admiral says don’t recommend anyone who isn’t qualified, or else, and the department says don’t hold back anyone who’s got enough points for release, or else.” He mopped his brow with a handkerchief and glanced at the growling line of officers behind Keefer. “I’ve been getting this double talk all day. Naturally you say he’s qualified, Keefer, you’re all on fire to go home. I’m staying in this outfit. I’ll have to answer for it-”
Keefer said, “He’s up for a Navy Cross, if that’s any help.” He told how Willie had saved the ship-in the Kamikaze disaster. “Well, he sounds like he might be able to handle it at that. I’ll send the despatch. The rest is up to the bureau.”
Three days later the morning Fox sked produced an action message for the Caine. Willie had been haunting the radio shack. He carried the sheet to the wardroom and broke the code hastily.
He was captain.
Keefer was all ready to leave; he had been packing since the day the AlNav arrived. Ten minutes after the despatch came the crew was at quarters for the ceremony of transfer of command. Ten minutes after that Willie and Keefer were at the gangway with the