Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-22
The Game Mutiny
XIII.
By Herman Wouk


When the despatch came. it was
New Yer's Eve, Fourth of July,
and every mans birthday and
wedding day aboard the Game.
Willie Keith wrote to May and to
his mother, limiting strongly to
May that her presence on the pier
when the Game pulled into San
Francisco would be an overwhelm-
ingly fine surprise Che omitted any
such hint to his mother.
The talk in the wardroom at
luch next day was warm and jolly
for the first time since the change
of command. Old jokes were re-
vived about romantic escapades in
Australia and New Zealand. In
the midst of the merriment Queeg
said. by the way, none of you
fellows have used up your liquor
ration at the club, have you? Or
# anyone has, say no." None of
the officers spoke up. That's fine
Anybody have any objection to
selling his ration to me?" Queeg
caught his officers off guard: with
varying shades of grumpiness they
all consented.
That same evening, therefore,
the Gaines officers. shepherded by
the captain, lined up at the liquor
counter of the club and bought
81 quarts of scotch and rye
whisky. Captain Queeg directed
them one by one. with many
thanks, as they came away from
the counter carrying armloads of
bottles, to a jeep that stood out
side in the gloom of the driveway.
Carpenters Mate Second Glass
Langhorne was summoned to the
captains cabin next morning at
seven-thirty and asked to fix up
q partitioned crate for 81 bottles.
Late that afternoon he came
staggering into Queeg's cabin. his
face pouring sweat, bearing on his
back a box made of fresh-sawed
white boards. Mopping his stream
ing face with a red bandanna, he
said, "Sir, them sheet-lead parti-
tons are heavy"
sheet lead?"
"Metalsmiths were fresh out of
sheet tin, sir"
But hell. lead. Good stiff card
board would have done just as
we'll"
II can rip them lead sheets out.
sir, and make it over"
mo, never mind" grumbled
Queeg. Get some excelsior and
pack away those bottles"
AYE aye, sir"
Nov hear this. General drills
will commence at 1400."
Captain Queeg came on the
bridge at two minutes before two.
squirting around in an irritated
way. Willie Keith was junior off,
Ger of the deck. At a nod from the
captain he walked to the red
painted general alarm handle in
the wheelhouse, and yanked it.
Then, while the whang- whang
shook the air. he inspected with
satisfaction his image in one Of
the bridge windowpaneS. Con-
fronting him was the sf1adowy
figure of World War II sea war;
rior, complete with dubious he'll
met. bulky gray kapok life jacket
and attached flashlight, and gray
flash burn paint on his face and
hands. Everybody on the bridge
was similarly dressed.
Elsewhere on the ship things
were different. Half Of the crew
appeared at their battle stations
minus either helmet or life jacket,
or both. Queeg peered here and
there. frowning horribly.
"Mr. Keefer!"
Eyes, sir?"
II want you to make the follow
ing announcement over the loud
speaker: Every man who is not
wearing a helmet or a life jacket
is docked one days leave in the
United States. Every man who is
wearing neither is deprived Of
three days leave"
The men at the gun stations,
hearing the words from the loud
speakers, could be seen turning
their heads toward the bridge,
their faces showing incredulity
and rage. Then a boiling activity
began among them, and helmets
and life jackets began to appear
magically, mushrooming all over
the ship and passing from hand
to hand.
Nov I want that knocked OFF,"
roared Queeg. II want the names
of those men and I don't want
any man putting on any jacket or
helmet until every single name
is turned in to the bridge! Mr..
Keefer, you announce that"
What shall I announce. sir?"
Don't be so damn stupid, sir!
Announce that they're to stop
putting on that damn gear and
report those names to the bridget
The words had scarcely died in
the speakers when the deluge of
gear stopped. 1t had served it's
purpose. however. There was gear
on the Lighthouses to spare for
all hands, and they were rapidly
dressing themselves.
Queeg peered around the ship,
with an angry baked glare. "Kay,"|
he said. Kay. I see these birds
think they have me licked"
He walked into the wheelhouse,
and picked up the microphone.
This is the captain speaking" he
said, and the angry tone filtered
through all the distortion of the
speakers. Nov, am displeased
to note that some misguided
sailors on this ship believe they
can pull fast one on their cap
tain. They are very much mis-
taken. I have asked for the