"Jack, I've been pulling every string I know how to pull, and I can't get you released from this SWPOA assignment. Until I can, I can't just order you to go with McCoy."
"Sir, you can order me to go with McCoy..." Koffler said.
"I'm aware of that, Sergeant Koffler, thank you very much," Pickering said.
"... and Mr. McCoy can't paddle the boat by himself."
Stecker smiled at Koffler, then the smile faded as he turned to Pickering.
"I can't imagine why they won't release me," he said. "God knows, there's fifty officers I can think of who could set up for the Division coming here. And since I'm already on somebody's shit list..."
"What makes you think you're on somebody's shit list?" Pickering asked.
"I'm in limbo. I am neither fish nor fowl nor good red meat. What does that look like to you?"
I don't have an answer, Jack, goddamn it!
"Two minutes," McCoy announced, "Any bubbles?"
"Not a goddamn bubble," Koffler announced triumphantly. "I knew it would work."
"Hold it down for another three minutes," McCoy ordered. "That'll prove it, one way or another."
"I have something to tell you," Stecker said.
"Which is?"
"I sent a personal to General Vandegrift," Stecker said. "I asked him, if he wouldn't release me to you, would he let me resign my commission."
"There's no way they'll let you do that," Pickering said. "Christ, Jack, you commanded a battalion-and goddamned well. When did you send the message to Vandegrift?". "Yesterday."
"Did you mention this operation?" Pickering asked.
"I said I knew of a billet where I could make a contribution as a master gunnery sergeant. Nothing specific."
"Well, resigning your commission is out of the question," Pickering said. "I'm working on this, Jack. All I can tell you is trust me."
"This is important," Stecker said, pointing at the bathtub. "What I'm supposed to be doing isn't."
I completely agree, but I can't tell you that.
"In other words, you don't care if half the First Marine contracts the clap?" Pickering asked. "Because you failed to provide adequate prophylactic stations for them?"
"Now that you ask..." Stecker said.
"General?" Hart's voice called from the living room.
"In here, Hart," Pickering called back. "We're all playing with McCoy's rubber duck."
Hart came in and handed Pickering a large manila envelope.
"I thought you'd want to see this right away, Sir. It just came in."
Pickering ripped the envelope open and started to read it.
"Koffler, what the hell are you doing?" Hart asked.
=SECRET=
URGENT - VIA SPECIAL CHANNEL
NAVY DEPARTMENT WASH DC 2115 18NOV42
FOR: SUPREME COMMANDER SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA
EYES ONLY BRIGADIER GENERAL FLEMING PICKERING, USMCR
1. FOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM SECNAV TO BRIG GEN FLEMING PICKERING USMCR:
DEAR FLEMING:
THE FOLLOWING IS ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL. THE PRESIDENT IS SENDING THE NAME OF MAJOR GENERAL ARCHER VANDEGRIFT TO THE SENATE FOR THEIR ADVICE AND CONSENT TO HIS PROMOTION TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, TO TAKE EFFECT AT SUCH TIME AS MAY BE AGREED UPON BY GENERAL VANDEGRIFT AND GENERAL HOLCOMB.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE ASSUMPTION OF HIS NEW DUTIES GENERAL VANDEGRIFT HAS ASKED FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY PROMOTION OF AN OFFICER HE FEELS HE MUST HAVE ON HIS PERSONAL STAFF. IN THE BELIEF THAT THIS OFFICER WAS ON THE BRINK OF EXHAUSTION, GENERAL VANDEGRIFT HAD ARRANGED FOR HIM TO PURSUE PHYSICALLY UNTIRING DUTIES IN AUSTRALIA.
I WILL TODAY ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF LT COL JACK NMI STECKER, PRESENTLY ASSIGNED SUPREME HEADQUARTERS SWPOA, TO COLONEL. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT, UPON GENERAL VANDEGRIFT'S ACCESSION TO COMMANDANT USMC, HE WILL SUBMIT COLONEL STECKER'S NAME FOR PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL. I WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSE SUCH A RECOMMENDATION.
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY INFORMED ME THIS AFTERNOON THAT TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S CONFIDENTIAL FUND HAS BEEN CABLE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT AT THE BANK OF AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE.
THE PRESIDENT HAS DIRECTED ME TO INQUIRE THE STATUS OF YOUR CAMPAIGN TO HAVE THE OSS RECOGNIZED BY THE SWPOA AS A MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
PLEASE PASS TO LIEUTENANT MCCOY, 'GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK!'
REGARDS
FRANK
END PERSONAL FROM SECNAV
BY DIRECTION:
DAVID HAUGHTON, CAPTAIN, USN
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
=TOP SECRET=
"Well, I'll be a son of a bitch," Pickering said.
Koffler turned. "General?"
"I think you had better read this, Sergeant Major Stecker," Pickering said. "General Vandegrift has been heard from."
Stecker scanned the sheets, his eyebrows rising. "I don't think you were supposed to show me this," he said. "It says-"
"I know what it says. Show it to McCoy and Koffler, Colonel. Consider that an order."
Koffler had to read it last. As the other men stood dumbfounded, he looked at Pickering.
"Sir, if the Colonel's not going, then-"
"Sergeants are supposed to speak only when spoken to, Koffler."
"-then you're really going to need somebody who knows how to paddle a rubber boat."
Pickering stared at him for what seemed the longest moment of Koffler's life. Then a deep laugh rumbled out of his throat, and rolled on and on.
Behind him, the black plastic pack bobbed in the bathtub.
The End
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