From Here to Eternity_ The Restored Edit - Jones, James [58]
“Are you listening to me?” Holmes said.
“Yes, Sir,” Warden said. He raised the papers up, as if displaying them. “We got a full staff of cooks, Capn,” he made it casual. “You’ll have to bust somebody to make room for this guy. Have you talked to Sgt Preem about it yet? He aint kicked about his present cooks as far as I know of.” But he didnt make it casual enough.
Holmes’s face lost its roundness of happiness and became severe, all planes and angles. “I dont think Sgt Preem will contest my decision, Sergeant.”
“Not,” Warden said, “if you give him a bottle of lemon extrack.”
“What?” Holmes said.
“I said,” Warden said, “not if he wants to keep on the right track.”
Holmes stared at him disbelievingly. “Preem and Stark cooked together in Bliss. And I have never yet found it necessary to bolster my judgment with the advice of subordinates.”
“Yes, Sir,” Warden said, staring back at him.
“I know what I’m doing, Sergeant. Just let me handle it. When I want advice I’ll ask for it.”
“Yes, Sir,” Warden said, still staring at him. Holmes would never get a better first sergeant, and Holmes knew it, and Warden knew he could get by with it.
Holmes stared back long enough to let himself feel he had not been intimidated, and then he dropped his eyes to his sharp-peaked hat and shook it again to get the water off, unable to face the thing in Warden that just did not give a fuck.
“My God,” he mumbled. “Its wet.”
“Yes, Sir,” Warden said. Watching Holmes sit down at his desk and begin to doodle, feeling he had triumphed momentarily, he decided to beard the destiny once more, while he had the advantage.
“Can this thing wait a couple days, Captain? Leva is way behind in his supply reports and I’ve been helping him out. I’ve got work to do thats imperative; and this thing can be fixed up any time.” In a couple of days he might cool off and forget his altruism. He had done it before.
Holmes laid his pencil down emphatically. “Whats the matter with Sgt O’Hayer?” he said. “He’s the supply sergeant isnt he?”
“Yes, Sir!” Warden said.
“Well then. Let him do it. Thats his job.”
“O’Hayer cant do it. Sir. He’s too goddam busy running his goddam gambling shed.”
“What do you mean he cant do it? He’s the supply sergeant. He has to do it. Are you questioning my judgment, Sergeant?”
“No, Sir!”
“All right then. Let O’Hayer do his own job. Thats what he’s paid for. As long as I’m Company Commander of this outfit every man will do his own job, and it will be run as I say. And I want those papers made out now.”
“Yes, Sir,” Warden said violently. “I’ll make them out right now, Sir.” And the supply and all the rest of it can go to hell, he thought. Now there would be five boys from Bliss to hamstring the outfit. He sat down at his desk and went to work, ignoring Holmes, and in the work belittling him.
“By the way, Sergeant,” Holmes interrupted coolly. “About that open Pfc. I want you to have Mazzioli make out a Company Order giving it to Bloom.”
Warden looked up from his typewriter, his eyebrows quivering. “Bloom!”
“Yes,” Holmes said tranquilly, “Bloom. Bloom’s a good man, he’s got the makings of a good noncom in him. Sgt Galovitch tells me he works harder and has more initiative than any private in the Company.”
“Not Bloom,” Warden said.
“Why, yes,” Holmes said, satisfaction in his voice. “I’ve had my eye on him for quite a while. I keep my finger on the pulse of this Company much more than you think. Good athletes, I’ve found, always make the best soldiers,” he said maliciously. “Bloom won four of his fights in the Bowl this year. Its not impossible that we’ll make a Division Champion out of Bloom next year. Sgt Wilson is going to work with him.”
Holmes waited, looking at him, demanding an answer with his eyes. “You have Mazzioli do that tomorrow, will you?” he insisted gently, but firmly.
“Yes, Sir,” Warden said without looking up. “Yes-sir, I’ll do that.”
“Thanks,” Holmes said. He picked his pencil up triumphantly.
Warden finished up the papers, wondering if Holmes really believed the things he said or just said them for the effect;