Chapter 10 Chapter Nine Catherine

Catherine had quit her job with William Fraser from the morning after she married Larry.The day she returned to Washington, Fraser invited her to lunch. His face was wrinkled and haggard, as if he had aged suddenly. Catherine felt a pang of pity for him.She felt that sitting opposite her was a tall, handsome stranger, whom she had a crush on, but could hardly imagine now that she had ever considered marrying him. Fraser gave her a bleak smile. "Then you are a married woman," he said. "A real married woman, no one in the world can be as happy as me." "It must have happened all of a sudden. How I -- how I wish I'd had a chance to compete."

"I haven't had a chance to think about it," Catherine said honestly. "It just--it just happened." "Larry is a good guy." "yes." "Catherine," Fraser hesitated, "you don't know much about Larry, do you?" Catherine straightened her body unconsciously. "I know I love him, Bill," she said quietly, "and I know he loves me. That's a good start, right?" He sat still, frowning, and was silent for a moment, looking hesitant. "Catherine—" "what?" "be careful." "Be careful about what?" she asked.

Fraser spoke very slowly at this time, carefully choosing the appropriate words, for fear of irritating the other party. "Larry - different." "How is it different?" she asked, not realizing his difficulty at all. "I mean, he's not like most men." He noticed the look on her face. "Oh shit," he said. "Don't listen to what I'm saying." He finally smiled. "You've probably read that fable by Aesop about me. The fox says the grapes are sour." Catherine took his hand tenderly. "I'll never forget you, Bill. I hope we're still friends."

"I hope so," Fraser said. "Are you sure you don't come to the office anymore?" "Larry asked me to quit my job. He's a bit conservative. He thinks a husband should support his wife." "If you ever change your mind," Fraser said. "Just tell me." During this lunch time they also discussed business and who would fill Catherine's place.She knew she would miss Bill Fraser terribly.She believed that a man who got a woman's virginity would have a special place in that woman's life, but Bill meant much more to her than that.He was a dear man, a good friend.His attitude towards Larry makes Catherine uneasy.Bill seemed to be about to warn her about something before he stopped, fearing that his words would ruin her happiness.Or is this just, as he said, the fox calling the grapes sour when he can't eat them?Bill Fraser was no villain, no envy, and he certainly wanted her to be happy.Catherine was sure, however, what he wanted to say to her.There was a vague foreboding in her heart.But an hour later, when she saw Larry smiling at her, she forgot all about it and felt a burst of ecstasy at being married to this incredible, cheerful man.

Being with Larry gave Catherine more pleasure than anyone else could.Every day has new adventures, and every day seems to be a festival.Every weekend they drove to the countryside, lived in small inns, and went to the county fair to hunt for novelties.They went tobogganing on Lake Plessit and boated and fished in Montauk.Catherine was afraid of water because she had never learned to swim, but Larry told her not to worry.She felt safe with him. Larry loved her so much, was so considerate to her, and paid no attention to his attraction to other women.Catherine seemed to be everything he could want.When they were on their honeymoon, Larry found a silver bird in an antique shop, and they began to collect all kinds of handicraft birds ever since.One Saturday night, they drove to Maryland to celebrate three months of marriage and had dinner at the same diner where they ate for the first time.

※※※ The next day, Sunday, December 7, the Japanese launched an attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States declared war on Japan at one thirty-two the next morning, less than twenty-four hours after the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor.On Monday, Larry went to Andrews Air Force Base.Catherine found it intolerable to be left alone at home, so she took a taxi to the Houses of Parliament to see what was going on there.The sidewalks by Congress Square were packed, with a dozen pocket radios scattered among the crowd, and people clustered tightly around the radios.Catherine saw the president's motorcade speeding along the driveway and stopped before the exit south of the Capitol.Standing very close, she saw the door of the car open, and President Roosevelt got out of the car with the help of two assistants.Dozens of police officers stood at every corner, just in case.Catherine felt that indignation seemed to predominate in the crowd, like a mob eager to lynch.

Five minutes after President Roosevelt entered the Capitol, his voice came over the radio.He is addressing a joint session of Congress.His voice is strong, powerful, full of anger and determination. "America will remember this attack...the forces of good will prevail...we will prevail, help us God." Fifteen minutes after Roosevelt walked into the Capitol, House Resolution 254 passed, officially declaring war on Japan.Congress passed the resolution unanimously, with the exception of Janet Rankin of Montana, who voted against the declaration of war, by a vote of 388 to 1.President Roosevelt's speech lasted exactly ten minutes—the shortest declaration of war speech ever delivered to the United States Congress.

There was a cheer from the waiting crowd, their throats let out in howls of approval, anger, and their determination to revenge.The United States finally acted. Catherine watched carefully the men and women standing near her.The man had the look of excitement on his face that she had seen on Larry's face the day before, as if they belonged to the same secret club.The members of this club seem to find war an exhilarating entertainment.Even the women seem to be infected by the spontaneous enthusiasm that sweeps through the crowd.But Catherine wondered what the women would feel when their husbands and sons were gone, and they waited alone for news of them.Catherine turned slowly and walked home.Around the corner, she saw soldiers with guns, bayonets attached.

She thought, it won't be long before people all over the country will wear military uniforms. Things are moving faster than Catherine expected.Almost overnight, Washington was completely transformed, filled with fresh enlisted soldiers in khaki uniforms. There was an air of excitement in the city, making more and more people feel that something frightening was happening.Peace seems to be a kind of narcolepsy, a kind of miasma, which makes people feel bored, and it seems that only war can inspire people to live vigorously. Larry was at the Air Force base sixteen or seventeen hours a day, often overnight.He told Katherine that the situation at Pearl Harbor and Hickamfield was much more serious than the government authorities were saying.The Japanese sneak attack was very successful and destructive.In terms of actual combat capability, the U.S. Navy and a large part of the aviation regiment have been destroyed.

"Are you saying we might lose this war?" Catherine asked in surprise. Larry looked at her thoughtfully. "It depends on how long we can be ready for war," he replied. "Everyone thinks the Japanese are ridiculously short people, and you can see their timidity in their eyes. Bullshit. They're tough, they're not afraid to die. We're not strong enough." ※※※ In the months that followed, the United States seemed unable to stop the Japanese invasion.Daily newspaper headlines exclaimed Japanese victory: They are attacking Wake Island...they are bombing the Philippines in preparation for an invasion...they are landing on Guam...on Borneo...on Hong Kong.General MacArthur declared Manila an open city, and American troops trapped in the Philippines surrendered.

One day in April, Larry called Catherine from base and asked her to meet up downtown to celebrate with her at the Willard Hotel. "Celebrate what?" Catherine asked. "I'll tell you tonight," Larry replied, "and you'll find out then." He spoke in a tone of great agitation. After hanging up the phone, Catherine was filled with a terrible premonition.She tried desperately to find every possible reason for Larry's celebration, but her thoughts kept coming back to the same reason, and she felt that she had not the courage to face the possibility. At five o'clock that afternoon, Catherine got dressed, sat on the bed, and stared at the mirror of the dressing table dreamily. "I must be wrong," she thought to herself. "Maybe he got promoted. That's what we're celebrating. Or else he just got good news about the war." Although Catherine thought so in her heart, she didn't believe her thoughts were true.She looked at herself carefully in the mirror, evaluating herself as objectively as possible.She calmly came to the conclusion that her body was beautiful and her curves were very attractive. Although it would not make Ingrid Bergman sleepless with jealousy, she was attractive enough. "You are bright, cheerful, gentle, kind, and a charming woman," she thought. "How could a normal, athletic man long to leave you to go to war and sacrifice his life?" ※※※ At seven o'clock in the evening Catherine entered the dining-room of the Willard Hotel.Before Larry arrived, the head of the restaurant showed her to a table.She said don't bother and doesn't want to drink.After a while she uneasily changed her mind and ordered a martini. The waiter brought the wine.Catherine picked it up and was about to drink it when she realized her hands were shaking.She looked up, and suddenly her eyes lit up, and she saw Larry walking towards her.As he passed between the tables, he exchanged greetings along the way.There was that unbelievable energy about him, that charisma that made everyone's eyes turn to him.Catherine watched him, recalling the day he had walked toward her table in the MGM studio cafeteria in Hollywood.She realized how little she knew about him then, and wondered if she really knew him now. He walked over to her table and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "I'm sorry I'm late, Cathy," he said apologetically. A glass of martini.Although he sensed that Catherine was also drinking, he said nothing. Catherine cried to herself: Tell me, what unexpected news you have; tell me, what are we celebrating?But she was silent.There is an old Hungarian proverb: "Only a fool is eager to hear bad news".She took another sip of her martini.Well, maybe it's not the way the old Hungarian proverb says it should be, but a new Catherine Douglas-style proverb that saves her from misfortune when she has a premonition.Maybe the martini got her a little tipsy.If her hunch is correct, she will be very drunk before dawn.Yet looking at Larry, she saw his face glowing with love for her.Catherine realizes that her guess cannot be true.Just as she could not bear to leave him, he could not bear to leave her.She was just having an unfounded nightmare.From the cheerful expression on his face, she judged that he did have good news for her. Larry leaned towards her and took her hand, his boyish smile on his face. "Cathy, you'll never know what it is. I'm going abroad." Catherine felt as if a thin curtain had fallen, making everything seem so vague, so unreal.Larry was sitting next to her, his lips were moving, but his face was blurry and clear, and Catherine couldn't hear him at all.She glanced behind him and saw that the walls of the dining room drew in, then receded again.She stared blankly. "Catherine?" Larry shook one of her arms.She focused her eyes on him, his image gradually became clear, and everything returned to normal. "Are you sick?" Larry asked concerned. Catherine nodded, suppressed her emotion, and said in a trembling voice, "I feel good. Good news always makes me feel that way." "You know I have to go, don't you?" "Yes, I understand," said Catherine, but she had something else on her mind: -- my dear, I wouldn't understand it if I lived to be a million years old.But if I tell the truth, you'll hate me, won't you?Who wants a nagging wife?The wives of heroes should send their husbands into battle with smiles on their faces. Larry watched her tenderly and lovingly. "You are crying." "Not crying," Catherine said angrily, but then was surprised to find that she was crying. "I—I had to get used to this new situation." "They put me in command of my own squadron," said Larry. "Really?" Catherine tried to sound a proud tone in her voice.His own flying squadron.When he was a kid, he likely had his own train set.Now that he's a grown man, they let him fly a squadron of planes.These are the real thing, sure to be shot down, causing blood and death. "I'd also like a glass of wine," she said. "of course can." "You—when do you have to start?" "Not until next month." He spoke in a tone that gave the impression that he was in a hurry to leave.She felt that this was the end of their marriage.How terrible it is! On the bandstand, a singer is crooning ": . . . fly to the moon with wings like veils..." Tulle--she thought to herself--it is the material that binds our marriage together.Exactly, tulle.The singer Cole Porter knew it all. "We've got a lot of time to spend together before I leave," Larry said. "What do you have a lot of time for?" Catherine asked painfully in her heart. "Lots of time to build our family, take the kids to ski in Vermont, live together, grow old?" "What do you think we're doing tonight?" Larry asked. Catherine's heart answered: I want to go to the county hospital and ask the doctor to amputate one of your toes, or puncture the eardrum in your ear. "But she said: let's go home." ※※※ After this, four weeks slipped by without knowing it.As in Kafka's nightmares, the clocks whizzed by, the day shortened to an hour, and the hour shortened to a minute, until finally Larry was in Washington. The last day has come. Catherine drove him to the airport in a car. He looked very talkative, happy, and happy, but she was so sad, so calm, and so miserable. It's dizzying how fast things happen in the last few minutes: Larry checks in...they kiss goodbye in a hurry...Larry boards the plane that will take him away from her... Finally they waved goodbye. Catherine stood on the airfield and watched his plane gradually become a small dot in the sky until it disappeared.She stood there for an hour, and when it was dark, she turned away and drove back to the empty home. A year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Allies and the Japanese engaged in ten major naval and air battles.The Confederates won only three, but two of those battles were decisive: the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Midway. Catherine read the newspaper accounts of each battle word for word, and afterward asked William Fraser to find her more detailed information.She wrote to Larry every day, but it was eight weeks before she got his first letter.His letters are optimistic and full of uplifting words.Much of the letter had been expunged upon censorship, so that Catherine did not know where he had been or what he was doing now.Whatever he was doing, it seemed to her that he was having a good time.During the long night, Catherine lay alone on the bed, thinking hard, trying to find out what kind of temperament Larry had that made him accept the challenge of war and death.It wasn't that he wanted to die, for Catherine had never seen anyone so alive and full of life; but that might just be another aspect of his nature, that he loved life precisely because he faced death so often, To realize the value of life. One day she had lunch with William Fraser.Catherine knew he had signed up for the military, but the White House told him he could be more useful if he stayed in his post.He was very disappointed, but he never mentioned it to Catherine. Now Fraser was sitting across the dining table from Catherine, and he asked, "Have you got Larry's letter?" "A letter came in last week." "What did he say?" "Alas, the letter paints the war as a football game. We lost the first scrimmage, but now that we've fielded our strongest squad, we're making progress." He nodded. "That's the way Larry talks." "But that's not what war is," Catherine said quietly. "War is not football, Bill. Millions of people die before it's over." "Once you're in the fight, Catherine," he said mildly, "I guess you can easily think of it as a football game." Catherine realized she had to go to work.The Army created a unit specifically for women, the Army Women's Corps.Catherine wanted to join the army, but she felt she could do more important work than drive the car and answer the phone.She had heard--and this was the main reason for her reticence--that life in the Army Women's Corps was varied, and many of them were pregnant. Now, as she sits here at dinner with Bill Fraser, she says, "I want to work. I want to do my part." He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "I'll find out just the right job for you, Catherine. The government wants to sell war bonds. I see you can help them organize that." Two weeks later, Catherine went to work, organizing the sale of war bonds among celebrities.In theory, it seems like an easy job, but doing it is another matter entirely.She found that the stars were like children, very eager and excited to support the war, but it was very difficult to determine a time to meet them.Their schedules had to change frequently.In most cases, it's not their fault, as filming is often delayed or their schedules are full.Catherine had to travel back and forth between Washington, Hollywood and New York.She was used to leaving at an hour's notice, and before she left she had to pack enough clothes for each trip.She met with dozens of high-profile people. "Did you really see it?" her secretary asked her once, after returning from a business trip to Hollywood. "We had lunch together." "Is he really as charming as they say?" "If he could sell his looks," said Catherine solemnly, "he'd be the richest man in the world." ※※※ Things developed gradually, so that Catherine was hardly aware of the following.It had been six weeks before Fraser had told her that Wallace Turner was having trouble with a client at an advertising agency that Catherine had usually approached.At that time, she had launched a new advertising campaign in a humorous way, which made this client very satisfied.A few weeks later, Bill asked Catherine to assist them with another client.Before she knew it, Catherine was spending half her time on agency business.She was in charge of six clients, all of which went smoothly.Fraser paid her a good salary, plus handling fees. At noon on the day before Christmas, Fraser walked into her office.The rest of the office had gone home, and Catherine was putting the finishing touches on. "It's fun, isn't it?" he asked. "It's been a lot of fun," she said again, with a smile, "and a lot of money. Thank you, Bill." "Don't thank me. You've earned all your money—and there's more to come. That's what I want to talk to you about. I want you to be my partner." She looked at him in surprise: "Partner?" "Half the clients we've taken on in the last six months are due to you." He sat there, looking at her thoughtfully, without speaking.She understood how important it was to him. "I agree to be your partner," she said. He couldn't help beaming: "I can't express how happy I am." He held out his hand awkwardly.She shook her head, ignored his outstretched arm, walked to hug him tightly, and kissed him on the face. "Since we're partners," she teases. "I can kiss you." She felt him suddenly hold her tighter. "Cathy," he said, "I..." Catherine put her finger to his lips. "Keep quiet, Bill. It's better that way." "You know I love you." "I like you too." She said enthusiastically.There's a semantic difference here, she thought.There is an unbridgeable gap between "I like you" and "I love you". Fraser laughed. "I won't bother you, I promise. I respect your feelings for Larry." "Thank you, Bill." She hesitated. "But if there's anyone else I've ever felt like I had a choice, it's you. I don't know if I'll make you feel better by saying that." "It makes me feel better," he grinned. "It keeps me up at night."

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