From Here to Eternity_ The Restored Edit - Jones, James [388]
“Take him down to the gym,” the Major said. “I dont want to dirty the barracks up any more than necessary. Some of you men clean this mess up.”
Fatso took Berry by the arm and started to lead him to the door but Berry jerked his arm loose and said, “Keep your fat paws off of me. I can still walk,” and walked to the door by himself. The guard outside unlocked the door. Berry walked through it. Fatso and the Major and then the two guards followed him.
“The crazy son of a bitch,” Jack Malloy said contortedly. “Thats not the way to handle them. I told him thats not the way to handle them.”
“Maybe he’s tired of handling them,” Prew said narrowly.
“He’ll be tireder,” Malloy said unforgivingly. “They’re serious.”
It was the first time any of them had ever heard a man scream when he was in the gym getting a work out. The fact that it was Blues Berry whom they heard screaming proved they were serious, that this time the Major and Fatso were out to make it or break it, showdown or else. In Number Two they cleaned up the floor and settled down to wait. It was already after nine-thirty, and the fact that the lights were still on showed this was really going to be an occasion. They managed to find out from Pfc Hanson who passed by the door under arms hurriedly, that it was one of the guards up on the cliff who had seen him.
It was eleven-thirty when Major Thompson, wearing his sidearms, came for them with the guards. There were ten guards, each wearing sidearms and carrying a riotgun.
They were lined up in a column of twos and marched down to the gym. The guards were spaced along the walls with their riotguns at port arms. More guards lined the walls of the gym. Apparently, every guard on the place had been called out tonight. The column from Number Two was marched into the gym and distributed around three of the walls with the guards in back of them.
Blues Berry stood against one of the side walls in his GI shorts under the lights, still trying to grin with a mouth that was too swollen to do more than twist. He was barely recognizable. His broken nose had swollen and was still running blood in a stream. Blood was also flowing out of his mouth, whenever he coughed. His eyes were practically closed. Blows from the grub hoe handles had torn the upper half of both ears loose from his head. Blood from his nose and mouth, and the ears which were not bleeding much, had spotted his chest and the white drawers.
“He’s dead,” somebody whispered behind Prew with finality.
Fatso and two other guards, Turnipseed and Angelo Maggio’s old friend Brownie, all looking exhausted, stood near him. Major Thompson, wearing his sidearms, stood off by himself near the corner.
“We want to show you men what happens to men who think they can run the Army,” he said crisply. “Sergeant,” he nodded.
“Turn around,” S/Sgt Judson said. “Put your nose and toes against the wall.”
“You better kill me, Fatso,” Berry whispered. “You better do a good job. If you dont, I’ll kill you. If I ever get out of here, I’ll kill you.”
S/Sgt Judson stepped up and drove his knee up into Berry’s testicles. Berry screamed.
“Turn around,” S/Sgt Judson said. “Put your nose and toes against the wall.”
Berry turned around and put his nose and toes to the wall. “You son of a bitch,” he whispered, “you fathog son of a bitch. You better kill me. If you dont, I’ll kill you. You better kill me.” It was as if it was the one solitary idea he had left and he had fixed his mind on it to keep something with him. He said it over and over.
“Did you break Murdock’s arm for him, Berry?” S/Sgt Judson said.
Berry went on whispering his passion to himself.
“Berry, can you hear me?” S/Sgt Judson said. “Did you break Murdock’s arm?”
“I can hear you,” Berry whispered. “You better kill me, Fatso, thats all. If you dont, I’ll kill you. You better kill me.”
“Brown,” Fatso said. He nodded at Berry. “Take him.”
Cpl Brown stepped into position like a man stepping into the batter’s box at the plate and swung his grub hoe handle with both hands