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completely routed, and the Blue Anchor became the official hangout for G Company. The Chinese owner was warned by the MPs that one more disturbance would put his place Off Limits; he also had to buy a new screendoor and another gross of glasses and one table. But G Company was in possession and peace was assured.

It was one of the few times that anyone was included in Warden's business in town. He always went to town alone and nobody knew where he went, so it was a big thrill to be in on a fight with him, even though most of the fighters did not like him much. It was not esprite de corps that sent them down any more than it was love for Warden. It was the prospect of excitement in the midst of the boredom of drill and the monotony of fatigue. They went for a fight, they got it, and everybody was satisfied.

Wednesday night when a bunch went down to look over the scene of conflict Warden did not show up. And Rose was gone, had quit her job, lamented the Chinese Charlie. Just quit, gone; he had to do all the work himself until he could get another girl. No notice or nothing.

Prewitt followed the progress of the feud and wondered like the rest of The Warden had shacked up with Rose. He also wondered if he had been right in his estimation of Warden. He was touched lightly on the shoulder by the thing he had felt that night on the quad. An awareness that all men walk the same sand road, that the paths are many and the woods are dark, that each never sees the others cross nor does he hear the soft sad swish of pine needles in the

29
50/V

bogging sand and each plod on wondering when these woods will end
and where the road that he may walk with friends again. The night
was always black and there were always faces dim among the trees
like those who look out from behind barred windows. And it made
him shiver suddenly and he was obsessed by a great doubt. It made
him doubt his judgement of Warden and it made him doubt himself.

There was something he did not know, needed to know, and he wondered if other men had felt this thing and if any had ever known it.

He thought suddenly of Slade, the boy at Hickam, and wondered where
he was and why he was dissatisfied.

16/Ch 17

back at her.

"He said he'd fucked you," Warden said.

It spread out across the room like a shell burst and
he could have bitten off the tongue that said it. In the
sustained