"I go for your theory, Barbara," Duke offered. "It accounts for the facts. Squeezed out like a melon seed. Pht!"
"And we landed here."
Duke shrugged. "Let it be known as the Barbara Wells Theory of Cosmic Transportation and stand adopted. Here we are; we're stuck with it-and I'm going to bed. Who sleeps where, Hugh?"
"Just a second. Folks, meet the Rationing Officer. Take a bow, Duke." Hugh explained the austerity program. "Duke will work it out but that's the idea. For example, I noticed a bent nail on the ground in the powder room. That calls for being spread-eagled and flogged. For a serious offense, such as wasting a match, it's keelhauling. Second offense-hang him at the yardarm!"
"Gee! Do we get to watch?"
"Shut up, Karen. No punishments, just the miserable knowledge that you have deprived the rest of something necessary to life, health, or comfort. So don't give Duke any back talk. I want to make another assignment. Baby, you know shorthand."
"That's putting it strongly. Mr. Gregg wouldn't think so."
"Hugh, I take shorthand. What do you want?"
"Okay, Barbara, you are historian. Today is Day One. Or start with the calendar we are used to, but we may adjust it; those were winter stars. Every night jot down the events and put it in longhand later. Your title is Keeper of the Flame. As soon as possible, you really will be Keeper of the Flame; we will have to light a fire, then bank it every night. Sorry to have held you up, Duke."
"I'll sleep in the tank room, Hugh. You take a bunk."
"Wait a minute. Buddy, would you stay up ten minutes longer? Daddy, could Barbara and I use the tank room for a spit bath? May we have that much water? A girl who digs privies needs a bath."
"Sure, Sis," Duke agreed.
"Water is no problem," Hugh told her. "But you can bathe in the stream in the morning. Just one thing: Whenever anyone is bathing, someone should stand guard. I wasn't fooling about bears."
Karen shivered. "I didn't think you were. But that reminds me, Daddy- Do we dash out to the powder room? Or hold it all night? I'm not sure I can. But I'll try-rather than play tag with bears!"
"I thought the toilet was still set up?"
"Well.... thought, with brand-new outside plumbing-"
"Of course not."
"I feel better. Okay, buddy boy, give Barb and me a crack at the john and you can go to bed."
"No bath?"
"If we bathe, we can bathe in the girls' dorm after the rest of you go to bed. Thereby sparing your blushes."
"I don't blush."
"You should."
"Hold it," interrupted Hugh. "We need a 'No Blushing' rule. Here we are crowded worse than a Moscow apartment. Do you know the Japanese saying about nakedness?"
"I know they bathe in company," said Karen, "and I would be happy to join them. Hot water! Oh, boy!"
"They say, 'Nakedness is often seen but never looked at.' I'm not urging you to parade around in skin. But we should quit being jumpy. If you come in to change clothes and find that there is no privacy-why, just change. Or take bathing in the stream. The person available to guard might not be the sex of the person who wants the bath. So ignore it." He looked at Joseph. "I mean you. I suspect you're sissy about it."
Joe looked stubborn. "That's the way I was brought up, Hugh."
"So? I wasn't brought up this way either, but I'm trying to make the best of it. After a sweaty day's work it might be that Barbara is the one available to stand bear watch for you."
"I'll take my chances. I didn't see any bears."
"Joe, I don't want any nonsense. You're my deputy."
"I didn't ask to be."
"Nor will you be, if you don't change your tune. You'll bathe when you need it and you'll accept guard service from anybody."
Joe looked stubborn. "No, thank you."
Hugh Farnham sighed. "I didn't expect dam foolishness from you, Joe. Duke, will you back me? 'Condition seven,' I mean."
"Deelighted!" Duke grabbed the rifle he had carried earlier, started to load it. Joe's chin dropped but he did not move.
"Hold it, Duke. Guns won't be necessary. That's all, Joe. Just the clothes you were wearing last night. Not clothes we stored for you, I paid for those. Nothing else, not even matches. You can change in the tank room; it was your modesty you insisted on saving. But your life is your problem. Get moving."
Joseph said slowly, "Mr. Farnham, do you really mean that?"
"Were those real bullets in that gun you aimed at Duke? You helped me clamp down on him; you heard me clamp down on my wife. Can I pull on them anything that rough- and let you get away with it? Good God, I'd get it from the girls next. Then the group would fall apart and die. I'd rather it was just you. You have two minutes to say good-bye to Dr. Livingstone. But leave the cat here; I don't want it eaten."
Dr. Livingstone was in the Negro's lap. Joe got slowly to his feet, still holding it. He seemed dazed.
Hugh added, "Unless you prefer to stay."
"I can?"
"On the same terms as the rest."
Two tears rolled down Joe's cheeks. He looked down at the cat and stroked it, then answered in a low voice, "I would like to stay. I agree."
"Good. Confirm it by apologizing to Barbara."
Barbara looked startled. She appeared to be about to speak, then to think better of it.
"Uh... Barbara. I'm sorry."
"It's all right, Joe."
"I'd be... happy and proud to have you guard me. While I take a bath, I mean. If you will."
"Any time, Joe. Glad to."
"Thank you."
"And now," said Hugh, "who's for bridge? Karen?"
"Why not?"
"Duke?"
"Bed for me. Anybody wants the pot, step over me."
"Sleep on the floor by the bunks, Duke, and avoid the traffic. No, take the upper bunk."
"You take it."
"I'll be last to bed, I want to look up a subject. Joe? Contract?"
"I don't believe, sir, that I wish to play cards."
"Putting me in my place, eh?"
"I didn't say that, sir."
"You didn't have to. Joe, I was offering an olive branch. One rubber, only. We've had a hard day."
"Thank you. I'd rather not."
"Damn it, Joe, we can't afford to be sulky. Last night Duke had a much rougher time. He was about to be shoved out into a radioactive hell-not just to frolic with some fun-loving bears. Did he sulk?"
Joe dropped his eyes, scratched Dr. Livingstone's skull- suddenly looked up and grinned. "One rubber. And I'm going to beat you hollow!"
"In a pig's eye. Barbie? Make a fourth?"
"Delighted!"
The cut paired Joe with Karen and gave him the deal. He riffled the cards. "Now to stack a Mississippi Heart Hand!"
"Watch him, Barbie."
"Want a side bet, Daddy?"
"What have you to offer?"
"Well- My fair young body?"
"Flabby."
"Why, you utterly utter! I'm not flabby, I'm just deliciously padded. Well, how about my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor?"
"Against what?"
"A diamond bracelet?"
Barbara was surprised to see how badly Hugh played, miscounting and even revoking. She realized that he was groggy with fatigue-why, the poor darling! Somebody was going to have to clamp down on him, too. Or he would kill himself trying to carry the whole load.
Forty minutes later Hugh wrote an I.O.U. for one diamond bracelet, then they got ready for bed. Hugh was pleased to see that Joe undressed completely and got into the lower bunk, as he had been told to. Duke stretched out on the floor, bare. The room was hot; the mass cooled slowly and air no longer circulated with the manhole cover in place, despite the vents in the tank room. Hugh made a note that he must devise a bear proof-and cat proof-grille in place of the cover. Later, later- He took the camp lamp into the tank room.