Free The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk Page B

his head leaning wearily on an arm, his eyes closed.
    “Hello, Dad!”
    Dr. Keith opened his eyes and greeted Willie cheerfully, dispelling the picture of fatigue.
    “Where’s Mom?”
    “She had a patrons’ meeting at the museum. A few patients are pretty annoyed at me for canceling my office hours, Willie, but here I am.”
    “Thanks for coming, Dad. How’s your toe?”
    “The same- So, this is the good ship Furnald-”
    “Let’s walk around. I’ll show you the place.”
    “No. Just sit and talk. Tell me about it.”
    Willie explained the use of the alphabet flags hanging from the ceiling, rattled off his store of nautical language to describe the massive anchoring tackle laid out in a corner, and explained the workings of the five-inch gun decorating the middle of the lobby. Dr. Keith smiled and nodded. “You’re learning fast.”
    “It’s just a lot of talk, really, Dad. I’ll be lost on a ship.”
    “Not as much as you think. How are things going?”
    Willie hesitated. He felt glad of the chance to break the bad news to his father, rather than to his mother. He could not guess how she would receive the blow. He preferred to disclose his trouble to a man. He sketched his situation, keeping May’s part in it brief. Dr. Keith lit a cigar, and watched Willie as though his son’s face told him more than the words.
    “Pretty bad spot.”
    “Bad enough.”
    “Do you think you’ll make it?”
    “If it’s in me, I will. I used to think I was pretty sharp. Now I’m not sure what stuff I’ve got. I’m more curious than worried.”
    “Do you care about becoming a naval officer?”
    “I guess so. I can’t see myself as a new John Paul Jones, but I’d hate to be licked in this silly way.”
    “Did your mother tell you about Uncle Lloyd?”
    “What about him?”
    “His partner has gone into the Army as a colonel. Public Relations. Lloyd is almost sure they can pull you out of the Navy and get you an Army commission. Your mother has been looking into ways and means of transferring you from the Navy.”
    “I didn’t know.”
    “It came up over the week end. You know your mother. She’ll want to work it all out and hand it to you on a plate.”
    Willie glanced out through the window. Midshipmen were lounging in front of the building in the sunshine. “Could I still get an Army commission if I bilged?”
    “I gather that it wouldn’t make much difference. It might even expedite matters.”
    “Will you do me a favor, Dad?”
    “Of course.”
    “Tell Mom, as nicely as you can, to call off Uncle Lloyd.”
    “Don’t be hasty.”
    “That’s what I want, Dad.”
    “We can always keep it in reserve, you know.”
    “No, thanks.”
    “I doubt very much you’d go overseas in that billet.”
    “I wish to hell I’d known about it sooner.”
    “Suppose you bilge next week? One smudged collar will do it, Willie.”
    “If I bilge,” said Willie, “I’ll enlist as a sailor.” He had formed no such resolve. The words came to his tongue.
    The gong clanged. Dr. Keith looked around and saw other visitors moving to the door. He rose awkwardly, leaning on the cane. His movements gave Willie a twinge of anxiety.
    “You’re not in good shape, are you?”
    “I’ll live,” laughed the doctor. He took Willie’s arm, but didn’t lean on it, merely holding it as they walked to the entrance. “Well, farewell to the prisoner of Furnald. I’ll break it to your mother as gently as possible.”
    “She can still visit me here. I hope you will, too.”
    “I can’t help saying,” Dr. Keith remarked, stopping at the door, “that your devotion to the Navy surprises me.”
    “I’m not devoted to it. If you want to know, what I’ve studied seems to me a lot of rubbish. The rules, the lingo, strike me as comical. The idea of men spending their lives in this make-believe appalls me. I used to think it was preferable to the Army, but I’m sure now that they’re both the same kind of foolishness. I don’t