War and Remembrance Read Online Free PDF Page A

call or cable my father?” Pug shot a sharp glance at his daughter-in-law. “He’ll get some quick action from the State Department, if anyone can.”
    “Hm! What time is it in Washington? Is he there now?”
    “There’s five hours’ difference. He’s probably just leaving his Senate office. Try him at home a little later.”
    “That’s a good notion, Janice.”
    When Warren helped Pug carry out the footlockers, Janice was bathing the baby. Little Victor was gurgling and splashing at her; she was a flushed, happy, sexy young wife, unabashed at the show of her breasts through the soaked halter. Recollection flashed upon Pug of Rhoda bathing Warren injust this way, in their bungalow on the San Diego base. A quarter of a century and more, gone like a breath! And an infant the image of this one had metamorphosed into the tall hard-faced young man in the flying suit, smiling down at his own baby son. Pug shook off an awed sad sense of passing time, made a joke about having drunk all of Janice’s liquor, and kissed her wet smooth cheek.
    “Come back whenever you’re in port, Dad. Your room will be ready, and the bar will be stocked.”
    He held up a flat palm. “I’m back on the wagon while I’ve got a sea command.”
    Warren drove the pool jeep downhill with one hand. Cigarette bobbing in his mouth, he said after a silence, “Is the
Enterprise
going all the way to Wake Island, Dad?”
    “What makes you think so?”
    “You’re in a big hurry to take over the screen flagship.”
    “And you’re spoiling for a fight, are you?”
    “I didn’t say that.” Warren looked sidelong at him through cigarette smoke. “I have my doubts about barrelling off with our last flattop. I don’t trust the Army Air Corps all that much to protect this base, and my wife and kid. Well? Not talking?”
    “I just don’t know, Warren.”
    “It’s all over the
Enterprise
that Halsey’s screaming bloody murder up at Cincpac so we can get to go.”
    “Could be. How are your new pilots checking out?”
    “Dad, they’re green.
Green.
They haven’t put in the hours. The squadron needs them, so they’ll break their necks on the barriers, or drown, or learn. While we’re in port, I’ll drill the ass off them.”
    “You’re an instructor now? That happened fast.”
    “My CO gave me the detail. I didn’t argue. He’s recommended me for instructor duty in the States, too, but I’m yelling plenty about
that.
This is no time to leave the Pacific.”
    Warren dropped his father at the telephone exchange, saying he would take the footlockers to the fleet landing. Their parting was almost as casual as if they expected to dine together, but they shook hands, which they seldom did, and stared for a moment in each other’s eyes, smiling.
    The small smoky telephone exchange was crowded with waiting sailors and officers. The chief operator, a buxom lady of forty or so with a heavy Southern accent, brightened when Pug mentioned Lacouture. “Now
thah’s
a great man! If he’d been President, we wouldn’t be in this mess, would we, Captain? Ah’ll do mah best to put you through.”
    Within a half hour Senator Lacouture was on the line, in his Georgetownhome. Astounded to hear from Pug, quickly grasping the situation, he put a few terse questions. “Right. Right. Okay. Got it. I remember her from the wedding party. Maiden name again? Right. Jastrow, like that famous uncle of hers. Natalie Jastrow Henry. Dark girl, very pretty, quick tongue. Being Jewish may create problems. Still, Italy isn’t bad in that regard, and travelling with a famous writer ought to be a help. Why, even I’ve heard of Aaron Jastrow!” Lacouture hoarsely chuckled. “She’s probably all right, but it’s best to be sure. How do I get back to you?”
    “Just call Captain Dudley Brown at BuPers, Senator. He’ll put the word on a Navy circuit. Make Byron an addressee on the
Devilfish.
“
    “Got that. And you’re commanding the
California,
right?”
    “The