Chapter 43 Chapter Forty-Three

"...Therefore, this evening I have issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency for an indefinite period of time and requiring the strengthening of our defenses to the fullest extent of our strength and authority..." "Excellent!" cried Pug Henry.He sat up, beating his palm with one fist, and stared at the radio. "He's doing it." Roosevelt's booming voice always had a dramatic echo on the radio.Then his voice rose, full of passion. "I repeat the words of the signers of the Declaration of Independence--that little band of patriots who were outnumbered many years ago, but who, like us, were sure of eventual victory: 'In God's providence, We pledge to each other our lives, our treasures and our sacred honor.'”

The radio wave crackled, and the announcer said in a respectful tone: "Just now you heard the speech made by the President of the United States from the East Room of the White House in Washington." "That's remarkable. Far beyond my estimates." Pug clicked off the radio. "He's finally doing it!" Rhoda said, "Is he up to it? That's ridiculous. I thought he was just sitting on the fence." "Neutral over the fence! Aren't you listening? 'We have our armed forces at our posts...we are going to use them to repel the enemy's attack...a state of emergency is indefinitely throughout the country...'"

"What does all this mean?" Rhoda yawned, stretching on the bench, kicking her legs, a slipper decorated with pink feathers fell from her bare foot. "Is this the same thing as fighting?" "It's only one step away. We'll be escorting right away. That's just the beginning." "That makes me hesitate," Rhoda pushed the obscene clothes up his lap. "Shall we still buy a house?" "Why not?" "If you go to war, Pug, they'll give you a job at sea." "Who knows. Anyway, we have to have a foothold." "I suppose so. Have you ever thought about which one to go to?"

Pug made a face.This had long been an embarrassment for him.Twice in the past they had bought larger homes in Washington that he couldn't afford—with Rhoda's money. "I like the one on N Street." "But, my dear, that means no guest rooms, and not much room for company." "Well, if you like the one on Fox Hall Road, that's fine." "Let's talk again, my dear. I'll take a look at both schools again." Rhoda stood up, stretched, and said with a smile, "It's so late, come to bed?" "In a minute." Pug opened a briefcase.

Rhoda swished away, murmuring happily, "Bring me a glass of whiskey and water when you come." Pug didn't know why he had regained her favor, or why he had lost it in the first place.He was too busy to care about these things.If the U.S. is about to convoy, his calculations for merchant ships are outdated.In fact, the transfer of ship ownership and other workarounds can be ignored as much as possible.The current situation is brand new, Pug thought, once the government made the decision to convoy, the whole country would become active.He made two glasses of whiskey and water, thick and delicious, and went upstairs humming.

The clerk's voice on the trunk sounded apologetic: "I'm sorry, sir. Are you speaking to Mr. Alister Tudsbury?" Victor Henry's desk was covered with documents, his shirt Drenched in sweat, he was supplementing the U.S.-U.K. joint escort plan compiled and archived a few months ago according to the latest situation before dark in accordance with the urgent request of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. "What? Okay, let's go on...Hi, I'm Henry." "Am I bothering you, old chap? You have a lot of voice." "No, no interruption. What's the matter?"

"What do you think of the president's press conference?" "I didn't know he held a press conference." "You're a busy man. Ask someone in your office to bring you the afternoon paper." "Wait, it's probably here." Pug's clerk brought him two newspapers that still smelled of ink.The headline above reads: Roosevelt said no escort and also President to Press: Radio Addresses Don't Mean Escorts 'Indefinite state of emergency' only warning; policy unchanged Pug skipped over the narrative.He saw Franklin Roosevelt snap back his entire radio address, declaring that the reporters had misunderstood him.The United States intends to intensify its operations neither in the north nor in the south of the Atlantic.He never suggested doing that.It's still the same as before: patrols instead of convoys.Not sending Army troops or Marines to Iceland or anywhere else.All he did was warn the country of the great danger.

"Hey, give me some encouraging news," said Tudsbury, who could hear newspapers flipping. "I thought I knew Franklin Roosevelt," grumbled Pug Henry. Tudsbury said, "What's going on here? Victor, we've got people ringing church bells and dancing in the streets for last night's speech. Now I've got to go to the radio and ask Speaking of this press conference." "That's enough for you to choke." "Can you come over for a drink?" "I'm afraid it won't work." "Please try to come here, Pam is leaving."

"what?" "She's going home, leaving America on a boat tonight. She's been working on them for weeks to get back to England." "You wait for my call." He directed his clerk to Colonel Feller, an old colleague of his at sea, in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. "Hi, is that Sopei? I'm Pug. Hey, did you see the newspaper report about the press conference? . . . Yes, I agree. So, the next question is: this 'escort' —Appendix Four 'Do you still have to tonight? ... Hey, Sope, that's a half-baked suggestion, and such a big addendum. Besides, I hope this thing will come in handy someday... ...well, thanks." Pug rang the phone. "Get Tudsbury. I'll be right there."

"It's funny," Pug said to Tudsbury, "that Rhoda says he's neutral on the fence. And I believe it." "Maybe only women can understand his twists and turns," the reporter said. "Why are you so rude, Pam? Pug came here to say good-bye to you. Come in and drink your drink." "Wait a minute. My stuff is all in a mess." They could see Pamela running here and there in the corridor, carrying clothes, books, and traveling bags.The two of them were sitting in the small living room in the Tudsbury apartment on Connecticut Road.Despite the noise of afternoon traffic and sunlight streaming in through the open window, the room was hot and suffocating.

Tudsbury, wearing a suit of baggy, pleated cotton wool, sprawled on the sofa, raised one thick leg, and sighed deeply. "I'm alone again. There's a girl like that who just cares about herself, herself, herself!" "Family-inherited habits!" A pleasant voice came from an invisible corner. "Shut up! Pug please tell me what to say on this annoying broadcast." "I really can't think of anything." Tudsbury drank a glass of straight whiskey and shook his head vigorously. "What's up with Franklin Roosevelt! The Atlantic escort line is the lifeblood of civilization. Now the Germans are cutting it with a sharp knife. He knows the tons sunk in the past three months. He knows that when the Luftwaffe takes the When Crete and the Balkans are wiped out, they will turn around and attack us again, twice the size of last year, shouting for victory. What are they doing?" "Now I'm coming to drink," said Pamela, striding in. "Dad, should you go?" He handed her his tumbler. "One more drink. I've never been so afraid of going on the radio. I'm stage fright. My tongue will stick to the roof of my mouth and I won't be able to speak." "Oh, yes, as you are now." Pamela carried his and Pug's glasses to the bar on wheels. "Put more ice. I've got this decadent American habit. Our empire is over, Pug. We're just one of your outposts on the anti-German front. And yet we're 40 million people , an outpost of a mighty navy and a gallant air force. Well, man, we're your Atlantic Hawaii, only many times bigger, many times stronger, and many times more important. Ah, if only I could How nice it would be to go out and make a broadcast pointing out how ridiculous your policies are!" "Thanks, Pam," Pug said. "Tudsbury, I agree with what you say. So does the Secretary of the Army. So does Harry Hopkins. Both of them have made speeches urging an immediate convoy. I have no room to defend the President's policy. .It's a misfortune. Drink." "Drink. Yes, it's your misfortune. This war is between Germany and the United States. If you lose, you and mankind will be left to fate. We are too slow, too stupid, too late. But we finally did our best. In this last game, you don’t do anything.” He drank his wine and barely stood up. "In any case, we expect more from the U.S. Navy than you can, and I can tell you that." "The U.S. Navy is ready," Pug shot back. "I spend my days like a grandson drafting an order for a general convoy operation. When I saw that title, it was like my desk exploded in front of me." "Okay man, can I say that? Can I say that the Navy was ready to start escorts before this press conference?" "Are you crazy? If you say that, I'll shoot you." "I don't have to mention that you said it. Okay?" Pug shook his head. "May I say that your navy is ready for convoy operations at twenty-four hours' notice? Is that true?" "Of course it's true. We're there now. We've got the depth charges ready. The only thing we need is to take cover and reposition the guns." Tudsbury's bulging eyes came back again. Come alive and shine. "Pug, I want to say so." "How to say?" "It is said that the U.S. Navy is ready to deploy escorts at any time, and it is estimated that it will be deployed soon." Pug hesitated only for a second or two. "Ah, what the hell, go ahead. You can hear anyone in the army say that, from sergeant down. Who doesn't know the situation?" "Who? The English don't know. You saved me," Tudsbury scolded his daughter. "But you told me not to call him, you stupid girl! Oops, I'm late." The fat man lumbered out."That's not news," Pug told Pamela. "Oh, he's got to work on the script. He's gotta sound like something. He's a little bit desperate for straws." She sat there with her back to the window.The sun hit her brown hair and formed a halo around her pale, brooding face. "Why didn't you ask him to call me?" She looked a little embarrassed. "I know how stressful you are at work." "It's not that nervous." "I was going to give you a call before I left," she said, looking down at her crossed fingers, before handing him a typed document from the coffee table. "Have you seen this?" It was a notice from the British Ministry of Defense to civilians on how to deal with the German invaders.Pug turned the pages and said, "I saw a lot of this last autumn. When you start to imagine the Germans marching in from Kent and marching through Trafalgar Square, it's like a nightmare." Like. But it's not going to happen." "Are you sure? After that press conference?" Pug flipped his palms up. Pamela said: "They've revised the brochure since last year to reflect the new situation. The tone is calmer and more practical now. It's even more frustrating to read because of that. I can imagine what's going to happen." Everything. After Crete, I do think anything can happen." "It's really brave of you to go back like this." "Not at all. I can't stand being here. I'm choking on your steak and ice cream. I feel guilty inside." Pamela clutched her fingers in her lap. "I ain't gonna go back. There's this girl in the office—would you have another drink? Don't you?—Oh, the silly girl's crazy about a married man, an American; and She's got another fiancé in the RAF. I don't talk to her about it. She just tells me. I've got to live with this sentimental man, and I'm tortured. It's worn out." "What does this American do?" "You'll understand then," she said, curling her lip, "he's a clerical worker. I can't think of what she's attracted to him. I've seen him once. A tall, thin, baggy The guy. Wearing glasses, with a puffed belly, and a high-pitched smirk." They sat there speechless.Pug rattled the ice back and forth in the glass. "Funny, I know a guy," he said. "A navy man. Take him. He's been married twenty-five years, and he's got a good family, and so on. But he met this girl in Europe. On a ship, actually, and a few times later. He couldn't forget her. He didn't do anything about it. His wife was fine and there was nothing wrong. But he just kept thinking about the girl. But he just He will never hurt his wife. He loves his grown children. See him, and you will call him the most sober of sane citizens. Since his marriage, he has not been with any other Women have been involved. He doesn't do it and doesn't want to try. That's the guy's story. Just as stupid as your girlfriend, except he doesn't talk to people. There are millions of them ’” said Pamela Tudsbury: “A naval officer, you mean?” "Yes, he's a naval officer." "Sounds like someone I'd like." The girl's voice was pure and kind. Through the sound of cars outside came a faint but better sound, which came closer and closer until it was finally identified as an accordion. "Ah, listen!" Pam stood up quickly and ran to the window. "How long ago did you last hear this stuff?" "Washington always has a few flying around." He stood beside her, looking down from the fifth floor—the violin player was almost invisible, surrounded by the children.She quietly gave him her hand to hold, and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Let's go down and see the monkeys, there must be one." "certainly." "Let me kiss you goodbye first, I'm embarrassed on the street." She put her slender arms around him and kissed him on the mouth.Far downstairs, the accordion was playing melodiously. "What song is this?" she said, the warm breath still lingering on his lips. "I can't hear it. It's kind of like Handel's Messiah." ① Handel (1685-1759), a German composer, "Misanya" is one of his religious compositions. "It's called 'Yes, We Don't Have Bananas.'" "How touching." "I love you," Victor Henry said.He was rather surprised to himself. She stroked his face, her eyes fixed on him affectionately. "I love you too. Come on." In the street, in the blazing sun, a monkey with a red cap tightly fastened on its head and on a light chain was somersaulting, and children were screaming.The accordion was still playing the song.The monkey ran up to Victor Henry, balanced itself on its long, curved tail, then took off its hat and held it up in front of him.He tossed in a quarter.The monkey took the silver coin in his hand, held it in his mouth, lifted his cap, and somersaulted up to its owner, and dropped the coin into the box.It sat on the accordion, grinned, squeaked, and kept taking off its hat to people. "If the little guy could be taught to salute," said Victor Henry, "he'd have a great career in the Navy." Pamela looked up into his face and took his hand. "You've done as much for this accursed war as anyone I've ever known—anyone, anyone." "Best trip, Pam, then." He kissed her hand, and walked away quickly, leaving her among the laughing children.Behind him, the accordion played "Yes, We Don't Have Bananas" again out of breath. Two days later Victor Henry received an order to escort one of the oldest Navy veterans who had served in the Civil War to Memorial Day. review.The task seemed strange to him, but he set aside a whole lot of work to carry out the order.He went to the Veterans' Nursing Home to pick up the man and ride with him to the reviewing stand on Pennsylvania Road.The man was dressed in a battered army uniform, like an old theater costume, with a thin, weather-beaten, sunken face and a pair of dim eyes that were still alert. ① Every May 30th is the day to commemorate the soldiers who died in the American Civil War (1860-1865). President Roosevelt was sitting in an open car next to the reviewing stand. His white linen suit and white straw hat gleamed in the bright sun.He shook the hand of the old man Longzhong vigorously, and shouted into his hearing aid: "Wow, wow, old man. Your complexion is stronger than mine. I believe your spirit is also better than mine." "I don't have as many troubles as you," said the old soldier tremblingly.The President threw back his head and laughed. "Will you come to review with me?" "That's better than—hey—better than being in a parade." "Come on. Come on, Pug, and you sit with me." In the sun, the old soldier fell asleep quickly, and not even the banging of the brass band could wake him.Roosevelt saluted and waved.Whenever a flag passed, he put his straw hat on his chest and smiled kindly, so that the crowd People crowded next to the veteran sleeping next to the president for newsreel and photo ops. "I'm partial to the Navy," he said to Victor Henry as the young faces of the Annapolis troop in their high hats and blue uniforms passed him with staring salutations. "They just do better than the West Point cadets. But don't tell the Army people I said that! Hey, Pug, by the way, look who I can send to London to lead our convoy. ?” Pug was taken aback by his question.Since that press conference, the president has insisted on saying no escort. "What? You can't think of anyone? Of course, before these things start, give him a 'Navy Special Observer' or something." The president's chauffeur, his naval adjutant sitting up front, and the plainclothes security guards who screened his car couldn't hear him as the brass band blared. "Sir, shall we escort?" "You know full well that escorts are required. Escorts are necessary." "When, Mr. President?" The President gave Pug a weary smile when he heard Pug's relentless questioning.He fumbled in his pocket. "I had an interesting conversation this morning with General Marshall. That's what came out of that conversation." He showed Victor Henry a small note in his own scribbled handwriting: Combat Readiness - 1 June 1941 Ground Army Forces………13% (Major lacks: various weapons; rapid expansion; incomplete training; the Selected Service Act is about to expire.) Army Air Corps………0% (All relevant units are being trained and expanded) As American flags flew past him and the Navy Brass Band blared "The Star-Spangled Banner" loudly, Victor Henry read these frightening numbers.Meanwhile, Roosevelt was searching for another note.He handed Pug another note as he accepted the salute from the sailors who swaggered past him.Here's another guy in green ink, with the last line circled in red: Public Attitudes to War - May 28, 1941 Participate if "there is no other way to win"... 75% Think that sooner or later you will participate……… 80% Against us going right away... 82% "Give it back to me," Roosevelt said.He took the note away again. "Pug, these are the numbers specially collected the day after my speech." "Sir, escort is the task of the Navy. We are ready." "If we get into a war," the president said, smiling broadly and waving at a crowd of schoolchildren cheering him. "And once the escort is bound to be involved in the war-Hitler will immediately occupy French West Africa, he will transfer the Luftwaffe to Dakar, and from there he will jump to Brazil. In Brazil, he can open some new submarine repair yards. The Azores are in his pocket. People who are now calling for escorts can't see this at all. There is also an unforgiving fact It is this 82 percent—82 percent of the people in the whole country do not approve of war.Eighty-two percent! " Now the Navy veteran sat up straight, blinking his eyes, chewing his thin jawbones and his flabby, sunken mouth. "Ah, this military parade is really good! I still remember when I paraded in front of President Lincoln," Neng said softly. "The president is standing there. He himself is dressed in black." The old man glanced at President Roosevelt. "But you are wearing all white. You are still sitting, hehe." Hearing this, Victor Henry shrank back in embarrassment.But Roosevelt laughed heartily. "Well, you're right. Every president does it a little differently." He lit a cigarette on the long holder and exhaled.A troop of brown Boy Scouts walked by, their heads and bright eyes turned toward the President.He waved his hat at them. "Pug, so far we've produced twenty per cent more cars this year than last year, and it looks like Congress will never give me the mandate to stop it. Oh, how about London? You haven't brought up anyone yet What?" Victor Henry hesitantly mentioned three well-known rear admirals. "I know them," the president nodded. "The truth is, I was thinking of you." "That can't be done, Mr. President, we are sending general officers in the Royal Navy." "Oh, that's easy to arrange. We can temporarily promote you to rear admiral." From the accident, and perhaps from the hot sun, Pug felt dizzy. "Mr. President, you know that I will go wherever you send me." "Hey, Pug, don't do this yet. Honestly, I'd rather keep you in your current post. Deciding who should get what weapons and supplies is a big job. I'm glad you're doing it because you have an opinion. Still, you have to think about London." "Yes, yes, sir." Pug sent the veteran back to the nursing home and back to the desk full of work.He walked home from a heap of official business to give himself a chance to think.The city is in a festive silence.The Connecticut road was almost deserted.The night air is crisp and refreshing.Considering London! The young lovers on the DuPont Circus benches turned and smiled as the stocky man in a white navy suit stalked by, humming songs that were popular when some of them were not even born . "Hey, what's the matter?" cried Pug as soon as he entered the living room. "Champagne? Why are you all dressed up? Whose birthday is it?" "Whose? You old fool," Rhoda stood up.She was wearing a pink silk dress, looking glamorous and moving, with crystal clear tears. "You don't know? Can't you guess?" "I think I've lost track of the days." "It's Victor Henry's birthday, that's his birthday." "Are you drunk? My birthday is in March." "Oh my God, what stupid men are! Pug, at four o'clock this afternoon, Janice had a boy! Poor man, you're a granddad, and his name is Victor Henry. I A dying old granny too. But I'm so happy. I'm so happy. Ah, Pug!" Rhoda threw himself into his arms. They drank champagne--the bottle was drained in no time--and talked about the event.Janice and her dolls are fine.This little elephant weighed a good nine and a half pounds!Rhoda had rushed to the Naval Hospital to watch him through the glass. "He's exactly like you, Pug," she said, "a little rosy copy." "Poor boy," said Pug, "he'll be as unlucky as I am." "You can tell!" Rhoda said loudly, giggling bravely. "Aren't you lucky? Janice and the doll are going to live with us anyway. She's not going to take him back to Hawaii just yet. That way the house has to be decided sooner. Pug, Just today I cut that old lady on Fox Hall Road another five thousand dollars! Let's buy it, I say. That beautiful lawn, those old elm trees! Let's enjoy our old age, dear! .Grandma Henry and Grandpa, let's live a decent old age together. We'll always have plenty of room to spare for the grandchildren. Don't you think so?" Victor Henry stared at his wife for a while, and she began to wonder.He sighed deeply, and made a strange gesture with his left and right palms facing up. "Well, old woman, I tell you, I agree with you so much. We must move to Fox Hall Road, and we will spend our old age together. Well said." "Oh, how wonderful! I love you. I'll call the Charleroi agency tomorrow morning. Well, I'll see how dinner is going now." She swayed her slender silk-clad hips in a hurry. rushed out. Pug emptied the champagne bottle into his glass, but only a drop or two fell.He sang softly: But yes, we don't have bananas, Today, we have no bananas.Three weeks later, the Germans invaded the Soviet Union.