Free Ice Brothers by Sloan Wilson Page A

myself forward, but I’ve been stuck here for five nights running and I got a wife in Gloucester.”
    â€œThen take off. Mr. Green and I will take tonight and tomorrow.”
    â€œI already talked to Mr. Green about that. Maybe you ought to have a few words with him. He seems kind of worked up about it.”
    Paul found Green in the wardroom, as the cabin where the officers slept was called. He was sitting at the table with his head in his hands and his long face looked more morose than ever.
    â€œMr. Schuman,” Green said, jumping to his feet. “I have to talk to you. Mr. Farmer asked me to take the deck—to be in charge here tonight. I have to explain to you that I don’t know a thing in the world about ships. There’s been some terrible mistake. It would be immoral of me to take responsibility for something I don’t know anything at all about.” There was a pause before he wearily added, “Now I know you’re going to ask me how in the world I got a Coast Guard commission and why I wear a gold stripe.”
    â€œYou took a twelve-hour examination,” Paul said.
    â€œNo. I didn’t even have to take an examination. I am an electronics specialist. I graduated from Brooklyn Tech, R.P.I., and I was working for General Electric. We were doing a lot of work for the navy. When we got in the war I wanted to do my bit, and I tried to get a commission in the navy. They didn’t want me, but told me to try the Coast Guard. They took me as soon as they saw my record. I assumed they were going to put me in charge of installing radar or big communications systems, but suddenly I’m communication officer on a fishing boat bound for Greenland. There’s no more equipment here than a third-class radioman can handle, but they told me at Headquarters that now I’m commissioned, I’m supposed to be a regular deck officer, not just a specialist. I’m not trying to rat out, but how can I take responsibility for a whole ship and a crew yet, when all I know about a ship is that the sharp end is supposed to be called the bow? I know we’re just lying at the dock, but what if they wanted us to move? What if there was a fire? I could be court-martialed for gross incompetence, so I’m telling you I’m incompetent now!”
    â€œYou shouldn’t feel too bad about that,” Paul said. “We’re all beginners. We’re all in the same boat.”
    â€œVery funny. How the hell are we going to get this thing to Greenland or even across the harbor?”
    â€œOur skipper will be an expert. Mr. Farmer knows a lot and so do some of the petty officers. The real reason they commissioned men like us is that they figure we’re smart enough to learn fast.”
    â€œI don’t even know how to start learning. The most boat I’ve ever been in was a rowboat in Central Park.”
    â€œI can give you some books to start you off. Or maybe you could get your orders changed if you want. I know a guy up at the district office …”
    â€œNo!” Green said fiercely, bringing his fist down on the table. “They sent me here and I’m not going to beg off. I’m not going to pretend I know something I don’t know, either. If they want to keep me here knowing I don’t know a damn thing about anything except electronics, that’s up to them. I won’t go begging off.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Paul said. “Tomorrow I’ll give you some books and show you what to do if a fire starts. Have you got a wife ashore?”
    A look of pain crossed Green’s face, but was quickly controlled.
    â€œMy parents have come to see me,” he said. “They’re waiting for me up at a hotel. I haven’t even called them because I don’t know what to say.”
    â€œYou can go ashore now and you’ll probably have every third night for a couple of weeks at least. Be back at eight in the