Pacific Interlude Read Online Free PDF

bitch.”
    He paused and the men stared at him seriously, their faces tense.
    â€œOne reason I intend to enforce safety regulations strictly aboard this ship is that if she goes, we all go, including me,” he said. “I got a pretty wife waiting for me at home and I want to get back to her. So don’t mess me up just because you want a cigarette. I’m fighting for my life and so are you.”
    He paused and took a deep breath before adding, “Don’t get too discouraged. Gasoline has been transported all over the world for years and years in war and peace, usually without disaster. That’s because most tanker men learn their business and those who don’t learn don’t last long. They lose their jobs and any man who’s careless can lose his job here. Don’t think you can’t be transferred to a worse job than this one. I don’t know what the hell it would be, maybe a trawler in Greenland or some damn radio station lost in the tundra of Alaska, but the personnel officer told me he plans to make an example of anyone who fouls up on a gas tanker. He’ll find something rotten for any guy who’s transferred off of here. You can take my word for it.
    â€œOn the other hand we can make this ship a bearable place to live. We won’t be bored to death—I imagine we’ll see a good deal of the South Pacific. Like I said, I’m going to bear down hard on safety procedures, but I’ll try to use common sense about enforcing most regulations on a small ship like this. We won’t try to make her spit and polish, but we’ll try to make her clean and efficient.
    â€œNow there’s no need to worry too much about enemy action. It’s the job of the army and navy to keep gas tankers out of combat. The plane that hit this one was crashing anyway and picked this target instead of the sea. One protection this ship has is that she looks so small, so insignificant that I doubt she’ll ever be a primary target for any Jap.
    â€œBut don’t think we really are unimportant. The war in the Pacific is largely an air war. Planes can’t fly without gas, and that’s where we come in. Humble this ship may look, but no one in this war is more important than the sailors who bring the gas to the planes. You can’t have a party without booze, you can’t have a war without gas.”
    The men seemed to like that.
    â€œOur importance is increased by the fact that the army is short of these tankers,” Syl continued. “They need us soon and they need us bad. I’ll kid you not: one reason there’s a shortage of tankers is because so many have blown up. The enemy did not sink them—so far as I know, this is the only army tanker which ever has been hit by a plane. Those tankers were blown up by their own crews. After a few months, those men got used to carrying gasoline. They forgot how dangerous it is and after a while somebody struck a match in the wrong place …”
    Syl was suddenly aware that he was losing the attention of the men. Turning, he saw Buller amble out from the deckhouse. The big man was wearing fresh khakis, but he had topped them with a huge white cowboy hat.
    â€œSorry to be late, skipper,” he said, “but I got caught in the head. Some things just can’t wait.”
    â€œThat’s all right, Mr. Buller. I was explaining the need to observe safety regulations. You’re an oil man. I take it that you know that gasoline can explode.”
    â€œIt sure can if you don’t treat it right.”
    â€œThere you have it. Thanks for your attention, men. We can make this a good ship if we all work together. I have asked Mr. Simpson to grant liberty to all but a duty section. Dis missed!”
    Turning on his heel, Syl strode to his cabin. His performance had left him feeling curiously exhausted and he wanted a few minutes to be alone, but Simpson followed him.
    â€œCaptain,” Simpson