Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-18
The Game Mutiny
By Herman Wouk

At 4:30 the next afternoon th'
officers of the Game were all seat
ed around the wardroom table.
Queeg laid fresh pack OF Gig
arettes and packet Of matches
in front of him, and looked arounC
with a smile as his officers tool
their seats. He tore open the pacl
deliberately, lit cigarette, ane
took the two steel balls out of hi
pocket. Rubbing them softly back
and forth in his fingers, he begar
to speak. q
"Well, gentlemen, I just thought
we ought to get acquainted. We're
going to be shipmates for a Ions
time. You're probably wondering
about me-. and I confess I'm a
little curious about you, though
I've formed some pretty good first
impressions. I think this is q
fine ship with splendid ward
room of officers. I think we'Fe
going to have a good cruise. and
hope, as Capt. de VriesS put it
some good hunting. intend tC
give you every cooperation, anC
expect the same in return. There
is such a thing as loyalty upward
and such a thing as loyalty down
ward. l desire and expect to gel
absolute loyalty upward. If I do
you'll get loyalty downward. If ]
don't-well, I'll find out why, and
I'll see to it that I do" He
laughed, indicating that this was
a joke, and the officers nearest him
smiled.
IT want you to remember one
thing" Queeg went on. Aboard
my ship, excellent performance is
standard. Standard performance
Is substandard. Substandard per-
Torrance is not permitted to exist
Now, Rome wasn't built in a
day, and this ship has been sailing
a hell of a long time without me,
and as I say, I regard you as a
splendid wardroom of officers. If
there's anything I want changed
IN anybody's department you'll
find out about it fast enough.
Meantime you will go on with your
duties as before, remembering, as
I say, that on my ship excellent
performance is Standard.
Keefer dropped the shred of
the cigarette slowly into his coffee
cup.
well. now that I've shot my
face off," said Queeg, "I1l give
any one else who wants to the
chance to do the same Nobody :?
Captain Departs.
He rose. picking up his cigar
cites. The officers stood. Don't
get up" he said. THANK you ALL"
He went into his cabin.
The officers looked around at
each other. After a moments
stiffness Gorton inquired, ANY
body got anything on his mind?"
When is the gig showing off for
the beach?" said Keefer.
"At 1900" said Gorton. "I'm
glad you asked, because you'll
have the gangway then"
I'm a pigs eye" said Keefer
genially. I'll be in the gig. I've
got me date with a college grad
uate from the owl Office. She
knows words of two syllableS. It
promises to be highly intellectual
evening, after life on the Came %
well, in words of one syllable.
you're a dead duck, said Gorton.
New understanding orders. Four
officers aboard at all times in
port. Me or the captain, and all
three-repeat, all three-otfcers
OF the duty section. I believe your
section has the duty?"
Ten minutes later Gorton poked
his head into the room.
Skipper wants to see you.
Put on your saddle and report to
the Sawdust ring"
With pleasure" growled Kee-
Ter, leaping out of his bed.
Captain Queeg was standing at
the washbasin in his room, shay
ing. Tell me, Tom," ne began,
what do you think of your as
sistant, Keith?"
Willie? He's a good kid"
II mean, as an officer?''
well, he has lot to learn. like
any ensign. He'll be fine"
I'm not interested in what he'll
be. AS of now, 1 agree with you
that he's nice kid-and also ex-
tremely immature. Particularly
Tor custodian of registered pub
Ecations."
Keefer said hastily, "Sir, I'm
certain Keith can handle that as
eignment to perfection"
The boy obviously knows moth
ing about classified stowage, Tom.
Why, secret pubs are damned. and
Topped around in that safe like
garbage. And he has pubs in the
radio shack, pubs on the bridge
not a single custody receipt to
show for them, either. Is that
your idea of registered stowage.
hey?"
Inherited Appalling Mess.
1t was exactly Keefer's idea. as
a matter of fact. Willie had in
aerited' an appalling mess, out the
novelist had airily laughed, saying,
This isn't a battleship, Willie.
Forget about that custody-receipt
malarkey. We're all pals together
. on the Game" The ensign had
1nnocently believed him.
Keefer said. well, of course,
sir. things could be a bit more
shipshape-I'll get on his TAIL
Nothing doing. You relieve
him"
Sir. pardon me, there isn't a
ship in this squadron with a full
lieutenant as custodian-it's an
ensign's collateral duty-always
is"
well. I don't want to be I'M
reasonable about it," said Qaeeg
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