From Here to Eternity_ The Restored Edit - Jones, James [474]
“Well,” Lt Ross said when he finished. “That boy had a pretty good batting average himself. He managed to violate just about every AW in the book. He managed to just about ruin the reputation of my organization; and I dont even remember ever having seen the man, to recognize him.”
“Sir,” Pete said from the door, “if the Company Commander will excuse me now, I will leave. I can be of no further use to the Company Commander and 1st/Sgt in this matter.”
“Sure. Go ahead, Sergeant,” Lt Ross said. “Get some sleep. We both need it.”
“Yes, Sir,” Pete said. “Thank you, Sir.” He came back to his slow precision of attention, making that same beautiful salute as he did so, and aboutfaced slowly and perfectly.
As he went out through the blackout flap, he whispered to Warden.
“I got a couple bottles up at Schofield, today, Milt. They’re extra. Come down to the tent after.”
“What the hells the matter with him,” Lt Ross said when he had gone. “He dont have to be formal with me. Hell, I did the best I could for him.”
“You dont understand him,” Warden said.
“I sure as hell dont.”
“He’s being a soldier,” Warden said. “He’s proving he’s still a soldier. Its got nothing to do with you, Lieutenant.”
“Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever understand any of you guys,” Lt Ross said. “Or the Army.”
“Dont push it,” Warden said. “You try to push it too hard. You got plenty time yet.”
He leaned back deep in his chair and began to brief him about Lt Col Hobbs of the Provost’s office, and how he had fixed it so all Ross had to do was keep his mouth shut and look agreeable.
“But I thought Prewitt didnt have any relatives?” Lt Ross said.
“He dont. But it will make it easier all the way round, this way. And in addition,” Warden said pointedly, “you will not have any mention of a dead deserter on your Company’s records, Lieutenant.”
“I see,” Lt Ross said. “You can count on me.” He rubbed his hand over his face again. “This is sure going to make a swell report to send in to Col Delbert; after today. I think its just about as well we’re finally rid of this man Prewitt.”
“Just about,” Warden said.
“I guess you think thats calloused?” Lt Ross said quickly.
“No.”
“My first responsibility is to this Company as a whole,” Lt Ross said. “Not to the individuals in it. And any individual who threatens the security of the whole threatens my responsibility. I still say, I think its just as well we’re finally rid of him.”
“You dont have to justify yourself to me, Lieutenant,” Warden said.
“No, but I have to justify myself to myself,” Lt Ross said.
“Well, then just dont use me as your punching bag then, will you?”
“You thought a lot of this Prewitt, didnt you, Sergeant?”
“No. I thought he was a good soldier.”
“Yes, he sure as hell sounds like it,” Lt Ross said bitterly.
“I think he was nuts. He loved the Army. Anybody who loves the Army is nuts. I think he was crazy enough to have made a good paratrooper, if he wasnt so small, or commando. He loved the Army the way most men love their wives. Anybody who loves the Army that much is nuts.”
“They sure are,” Lt Ross said.
“In a war a country needs every good soldier it can lay hands on. It cant have too many.”
“One soldier more, or less, dont matter much,” Lt Ross said tiredly.
“You think not?”
“Production is what wins wars,” Lt Ross said.
“Thats why a man who loves the Army is nuts,” Warden said.
“I guess thats right,” Lt Ross said. “Well, you’ll be out of it, before long, anyway. Out of this, anyway.” He rubbed the same grimy hand over the same face, that was smeared now, and then got up and collected his carbine and his helmet.
“I have to go out and take a look at Makapuu yet before I turn in, Sergeant Its going to be rough on Cribbage with Sgt Karelsen out. They’re going to have a hard time for a while. If anything comes up, you’ll know where to find me.”
“Send Anderson