Evening star., 1952-09-17

with two ana a han gold stripes
rose along the ladder railings. fol
lowed by the face and form of 1t
Commdr. Queeg. He put dow1
the apple. splitting out a seed, ane
walked to the ladder. Commdr
Queeg saluted the colors, and ther
lsaluted Harding. Request per.
mission to come aboard, SIR" hi
said politely.
Permission granted" Harding
gave bare flip of a salute, Caine.
style.
The new captain smiled slightly
and said, MY name is Queeg.
He held out his hand.
Harding stiffened, gulped, pulled
up his belt. saluted again, anC
I tried to return the handshake. but
Queeg had put his hand up to re.
turn the salute, so that Harding
grasped empty air. Then the
handclasp was fumblingly accom-.
plished, and Harding babbled, TIN
sorry, Captain-I didn't recognize
you"
mo reason you should. You've
never seen me before"
mo, Of course, sir-Capt. de
Vriess wasn't expecting you, Cap
tain" He whirled on the gangway
petty officer, Winston. who was
staring at Queeg as though try
ing to see into his soul. go tell
the captain the new captain is
here"
MY name is Harding. SIR" said
the officer Of the deck. Assistant
first lieutenant"
Been aboard long, Harding?"
"Just about three weeks, sir"
81 see." The new captain turned
and watched the gig crew strug-
Cling up the ladder with his gear.
BY the time Winston reappeared,
he had frightened his shoes, and
snatched a clean white cap from
somebody. He saluted the officer
of the deck smartly. Capt. de
Vriess coming now, SIR"
Very we'll" Harding returned
the unexpected salute, feeling like
a hypocrite.
Picture Of Old and New.
De Vriess emerged from the
pasSageway, greeted the new COM
manding officer, and shook hands
affabiy. They made a neat picture
of the old and the new: De Vriess
tieleSs and comfortable in faded
khakis. Queeg correct in stiff
white collar and fresh campaign
ribbons. Had your breakfast?"
said De Vriess.
"Yes, thank you"
would you like to come to my
Icabin?"
Fine"
Let me lead the way-or do
you know these 1,2O0-tonners?"
You'd better lead. I know more
about the Bristol class"
The two commanding officers
sat in De Vriess's cabin, drinking
coffee.
Kind Of sudden, this whole
DEAL" said De Vriess.
well, didn't much like being
yanked out of anti-submarine
school" said Queeg. It'd moved
my wife and family down to San
Diego and we were all set for
six good weeks. anyway. First
shore billet I'd had in four years"
II guess they want you some
where in pretty much of a hurry,
too. New construction, I suppose?"
Il don't know. I hope they give
me supply depot in the middle
Iof Utah. Some place with no
water. Have you had much to
do with minesweeping?"
Not a hell of a lot. Seems to
me they might have sent me to
Mine Warfare School. But I guess
somebody in the Bureau had his
pants on fire for some reason"
We'll, hell, you know as much
as I did when I came abroad. Not
Ia whole lot to it-More coffee?"
mo. thanks"
De Vriess took Queeg's cup and
set it on the desk. Queeg reached
into his pocket. De Vriess. ex-
Ipecting him to pull out cigarettes.
picked UP a packet of matches.
But Queeg brought out a couple
LOT bright steel ball bearings the
size OF marbles, and began rolling
them absently between the thumb
and fingers Of his left hand. IT
imagine" said Queeg casually.
that it's mainly a matter of tow
ing rigs of one sort and another"
That's about all there is to it."
said De Vriess, even more casually.
I"All the dope is in BuShips 270.
the Minesweeping Manual. You
might take a look at it one of
these days"
I've read it. Seems simple
enough"
ooh. it is. Pure routine. The
boys back aft are pretty fair hands
lat it. And your first lieutenant.
Maryk, is a crackerjack. You
won't have any trouble. We Just
ran off a very satisfactory exer-
else last week. Sorry you weren't
|aboard."
"Maryk," )" said Queeg. "Regular?"
mo. There are only two regu-
lars beside yourself
Queeg stopped rolling the steel
balls. and began rafting them
slowly in his fist. Good bunch? ?".
mot bad. Some good, some So
So"
Made out thelt fitness reports2.
YES"
Might I have a look-see?"
Tries to Avoid Request.
De Vriess hesitated, casting
about for diplomatic way to re-
fuse the request. but none &C.