From Here to Eternity_ The Restored Edit - Jones, James [376]
Prew followed the fortunes of the engagement from the sidelines of Barrack Number Two with an openly frank anxiety that would have embarrassed him at any other time, and it was during those weeks that Jack Malloy without being asked came up and stood behind him.
Actually, Maggio was not in the Black Hole for thirty days. But outside of that, the plan of battle he had laid out was correct. He had only been in the Hole a few hours over twenty-four days, when they pulled him out and sent him up to the prison ward in the Station Hospital for mental observation. It was the guard Pfc Hanson who kept them informed of the progress of the contest. Hanson was usually the lockup man for Number Two after evening chow, and almost every evening he would pass on what had taken place during the day and the night before. Outside of that, they knew nothing, and Angelo Maggio might as well have passed clear out of existence for all they knew. No word from Maggio himself ever reached them out of the dark depths of the Black Hole.
Hanson did not know or even guess at the calculated plan behind the action. Hanson really believed Maggio had gone crazy. It did not decrease his admiration for The Wop.
“You ought to see him,” he would tell them, as he locked the barred doors on the crowd gathered to hear the news. “He’s terrific. You’d have to see it to believe it. Boy, if thats crazy, its a pity there aint more madmen in the world.
“He’s the first one they’ve had since I’ve been here,” he explained. “I’ve heard them talk about the old ones, but this is the first one I’ve ever really seen. You were here when one of the old ones was in the mill, werent you, Jack?”
“Two,” Malloy said. “Both of them during my first stretch.”
“Well, this is my first one,” Hanson said, shaking his head again in admiration, “and boy, its really an experience. Its unbelievable, thats all. You cant tell me any man gets guts like that just from going crazy, any more than he can get it from a bottle. Guts like that is born in a guy, he’s either got them or he aint, and thats all.”
“I think I’d agree with you,” Malloy said.
“Its a shame the Army has to part with guts like that,” Hanson said. “Guts like that is what Armies needs the most.”
“I think I’d agree with you on that one too,” Malloy said.
“You goddam right,” Hanson said. “You cant tell me. This is Fatso’s first one, too, you know. Fatso wasnt here when them last ones blew.”
“Thats right,” Malloy said through the doors. “We had an old Master/Sgt then. Fatso didnt come in till after he was retired.”
“Fatso thinks he can beat it,” Hanson said. “He claims he can bring him out of it. He says he’s never seen a man yet, crazy or not, that he couldnt make walk the chalkline if they give him a free hand.”
“Maybe he’ll do it,” Malloy suggested.
“I dont think so,” Hanson said. “Somebody else maybe, but not The Wop. You guys aint seen it like I have. Its out of this world, thats all.”
“He was a good man, all right,” Malloy said.
“He still is,” Hanson said. “Crazy or not.”
“Whats Father Thompson got to say about it?”
“Nothing,” Hanson said. “He’s letting Fatso handle it; except for killing. He’s laid it out flat to Fatso there cant be no killing, or he’ll have Fatso on the inside lookin out. He’s dead set there cant be no killings. But outside of that its up to Fatso. But Fatso’ll never make it. Take it from me.”
They would always have to ply him for the latest details. He wanted to go on telling his amazement and his admiration, and it would take