Evening star., 1942-07-16


And Lanser looked coldly up at
him for long moment and did not
speak, and finally Lofts eyes wa
vered, and he said, Sir"
Thank you" said Lanser.
"You don't demand it of the 9TH
ers, SIR
They don't think about it. SO
1t isn't an insult. When you leave
it out, it's insulting"
Yes, SIR" said Loft.
Go on now. try to keep Prackle
in hand. Start your search. don't
want any shooting unless there's an
overt act, do you understand"
"Yes, sir" said Loft, and he sa-
luted formally and went out of the
room.
Hunter regarded Col. Lanser
amusedly. Weren't you rough on
him?"
Il had to be. He's frightened. I
know his kind. He has to be dis
ciplined when he's afraid or he'll 60
to pieces. He relies on discipline the
way other men rely on sympathy. I
suppose you'd better get to your
rails. You might as well expect that
tonight is the time when they'll
really blow them, though"
Hunter stood up and he said,
Eyes. 1 suppose the orders are COM
ing in from the capital?"
YES"
Are they"
"You know what they are" Lam
ser interrupted. You know what
they have to be. Take the leaders,
shoot the leaders, take hostages,
shoot the hostages, take more host
ages, shoot them"-his voice had
risen, but now it sank almost to
whisper-"and the hatred growing
and the hurt between us deeper and
deeper"
Hunter hesitated. "Have they con-
demned any from the list OF names?"
and he motioned slightly toward the
mayors bedroom.
Lanser Regains Poise.
Lanser shook his head. mo. not
yet They are just arrested so far
Hunter said quietly, Colonel do
you want me to recommend-maybe
you're oyertired, Colonel? Could /
you know-could report that you're
| overtired?"
| For a moment Lanser covered his
eyes with his hand, and then his
shoulders Strengthened and his face
grew hard. I'm not a civilian.
Hunter. We're short enough of Off
GERS already. You know that. Get
to your work. Major. I have to see
Corell."
Hunter smiled. He went to the
door and opened 1t, and he said out
of the door. yes, he's here" and
over his shoulder he said to Lanser,
TITS Prackle. He wants to see
you"
Send him in," said Lanser.
Prackle came in, his face sullen,
belligerent. Col. Lanser, sir, I wish
| To-"
"Sit down" said Lanser. "Sit
downsand rest q moment. Be -
good soldier, Lieutenant"
The stiffness went out of Prackle
quickly He sat down beside the
table and rested his elbows on it.
II wish"
And Lanser said, Don't talk for
q moment. I know what it is. You
didn't think 1t would be this way,
did you? You thought it would be
rather nice"
They hate u.s." Prackle said.
"They hate us so much"
Lanser smiled. II wonder If I
know what it is. It takes young
men to make good soldiers, and
young men need young women. Is
that it?"
Eyes, that's it."
well" Lanser said kindly, "does
she hate you?"
! Straight Talk.
Prackle looked at him in amaze
ment. II don't know, sir. Some
times I think she's only sorry"
"And you're pretty miserable?"
II don't like 1t here, sir"
mo, you thought it would be
fun, didn't you? 1t. Tonder went
to pieces and then he went out and
they got knife in him. I could
send you home. Do you want to
be sent home, knowing we need
you here?"
Prackle said uneasily, mo, sir, I
don't"
Good, Now I'll tell you, and I
hope you understand it. You are
not a man any more. You are a
; soldier. Your comfort is of no i'm
portance and, Lieutenant, your life
isn't OF much Importance. II you
live, you will have memories. That's
about all you will have. Meanwhile
you must take orders and carry
them out. Most of the orders will
be unpleasant, but that's not your
business. will not lie to you, Lieu.
tenant. They should have trained
you for this, and not for flower
strewn streets. They should have
: built your soul with truth, not led
1t along with lies" His voice grew
hard. But you took the Job, Lieu
tenant. Will you stay with it OF
> quit it. We can't take care of YOU
. SOUL
+ Prackle stood up. Thank you
y sir"
, And the girl" Lanser continued
> the girl, Lieutenant you may pro
I tect her, or marry her-that is of n,
Importance so long as you shoot he
when it is ordered"
" Prackle said wearily, Eyes, sir
,, Thank you, sir"
Il assure you 1t is better to know
| l assure n hof l. =.
know. Go now, Lieutenant, and i
2 Coren Is still waiting, send him in.
n And he watched 1t. Prackle ou
Of the doorway.
O Continued tomorrow.)
:. Copyright, 1912, by John steinbeck; pub
e lished by the Viking Press; distributed b
e United Features Syndicate, Inc.