Chapter 50 Chapter 50

At the Naval Base Amphitheater at Pearl Harbor, a slender brunette stepped onto the stage, removed her sunglasses, and squinted in the harsh morning sun.Her pale pink dress rustled as it moved, showing off her thighs in silk stockings, and there was a cheery whistle from all the sailors and sailors.The theater is full of seats, and there are not many vacant seats in the front row of folding chairs.Seated in the front row were the governor of Hawaii, the generals of the navy and army, and their wives, and the photographer's flash flashed light blue light on them.It was not yet eleven o'clock, a little early for the theater, but this first "Happy Hour" was broadcast to an evening audience on the Atlantic coast.The navy band sat on the bandstand, brass instruments gleaming in the sun.From the far side of the stage, several warships at anchor can be seen, lined up in two rows of gray towers.

In front of the loudspeaker, the girl stood there smiling, and waited until the excited commotion had subsided before holding up a brightly painted sign with two large black letters: "Applause."The audience gave warm applause. "Thank you, hello. I'm Mr. Cleveland's assistant, Madeleine Henry." A shrill, flirtatious whistle came from the top row of seats, causing laughter from the stands.She wiggled her fingers. "Be careful. I have two older brothers sitting here. One is a naval aviator and the other is a submariner. They are both tall and strong." This caused another burst of laughter. and cheers.

The audience was in a happy and excited mood, waiting for the show to begin.The important new radio show, performed at the naval base for the first time, has been rumbling the dead territory for days.Tired of the comfortable life, the small white families on the island competed with each other to entertain Hugh Cleveland; some even flew to Oahu to attend the banquet.The Navy had planned to hold a fleet exercise that assumed a surprise enemy attack, but it was postponed due to a conflict with the broadcast schedule.Local Honolulu newspaper headlines about the performance overwhelmed news that German forces had encircled several Russian regiments near Kyiv.

With a shy and charming demeanor, Madeleine explained the rules of this new show word by word in a deliberately awkward manner.She said only true combatants could compete in the amateur competition.Every participant will get five hundred dollars in defense bonds, and the performer who gets the most applause will get a special prize: flying his girlfriend or parents over for a week."Mr. Cleveland just hopes there aren't too many winners with girlfriends far away in Cape Town or Calcutta," she said, prompting a burst of laughter. "I think that's about it. Now let me introduce the man you're all waiting to meet, the star of the famous amateur show and now the 'Happy Hour' show, my wonderful boss, Mr. Hugh Kneverland "After speaking, she walked to the seat near the band, sat down solemnly, and wrapped her skirt tightly around her thighs.Cleveland walked up to the loudspeaker and cheered. "Okay, okay," he said slowly.This colloquial phrase, spoken in the nasal voice of a shepherd boy in the west, has become one of his trademarks, and it aroused another burst of applause. "Maybe I should just let Madeleine continue. I'm in charge of this show, but her looks and eloquence are better than mine." He shrugged his brows, and the audience laughed. "I might as well introduce her two older brothers and see how tall and strong they are. The Naval Airman is Lieutenant Warren Henry of the USS Enterprise. Where are you, Warren?"

"Oh my God," Warren said. "No, no." He said and shrank back into his middle seat. "Stand up, fool," Janice booed him. Warren stood up expressionlessly, and immediately sat down again, huddling even more. His figure in white was tall and thin. "Welcome, Warren. Now, let's introduce Byron Henry on the 'Squid'." Byron stood up and sat down again, muttering unhappily. "Hey, Byron! Their father was in the fleet too. Boys, they've got the seas, the seas, the air, and the bottom of the sea. Our country is strong and safe because we have a lot like Henry The same family.” The governor and admirals applauded enthusiastically with everyone.Byron bent over and curled up in the seat, a suffocating sound came out of his throat.

"Happy Hour," the premiere show, delighted the audience and looks set to be well-received.Cleveland has traveled all over the United States, and he can tell jokes that ordinary people in the backcountry can understand.He didn't use radio scripts, but he had all the jokes he had prepared in his head, which made people feel a light, cheerful atmosphere with a small town sense of humor.What is more important is the silent homesickness of the naval and army soldiers who performed on stage.Their little program was very much like a church gala, with the band playing a patriotic march, an hour that stirred American sensibilities.When Madeleine announced the scene with a joke, the awkward tone that she deliberately used was suitable for the atmosphere of hometown.

Byron was so bored that he sat listlessly throughout the performance, arms folded, staring dreamily at his toes.Once, Janice nudged her husband lightly, narrowed her eyes, and tilted her head toward Byron.Warren made a gesture of a pregnant woman's belly. When the show was over, the stage was packed with people.The governor, his entourage, and senior officers surrounded Cleveland.Brother Henry couldn't squeeze in even if he wanted to. "Did you know," said Byron, "that Blanche Huban is here too." His handsome submarine captain, standing between the two admirals, was shaking Cleveland's hand and talking like an old friend. talking.

"Are you at odds with Blanche Huban?" Warren said. "He's a good fellow, Blaney." "It's him who is at odds with me." "Hey, two tall and strong brothers! Come up." Cleveland spotted them and waved to them with a smile. "Oh, who else dares to bully Madeleine? Janice, the governor asked me to have lunch just now, but I declined. I said you are still waiting for me." Janice was stunned and said, "No, please do not." The governor smiled at her. "Never mind. Hugh's going to Washington Square later. I didn't know beforehand that Senator Ragucho's daughter was still hiding among us. I'll have you to dinner soon."

Janice plucked up her courage and said, "Would you like to join us for lunch, Governor? Just out on the garden lawn. A little beef steak and beer. No other treats, but we'd love you to come." "Okay, steak and beer on the grass, that sounds really nice. Let me find my lady." Warren and Blanche Huban were teasing each other about having a big belly when they didn't have one at all, and about how much the other looked like an elderly married man.Byron had no expression on his face, and stood there with gloomy eyes.He broke in and said, "Excuse me, Captain, my sister-in-law has invited me to lunch, may I come?"

Warren said, "Hey, does this mean that your subordinates are being punished and restricted?" "Oh, Braney and I have a little conflict. Of course, Braney, you and Warren and Jenny Let's go to lunch with Ruth. I'm reporting back to the team at fifteen." "Ah, ah, sir. Thank you, sir." In response to Byron's impolite tone, Warren shook his head slightly. Janice came home in the governor's limousine, Madeline and Byron in Warren's old midsize jeep.A double wreath of pink and yellow flowers on the younger sister's hair was fragrant in the car.She said happily: "Okay, okay, just the three of us, when was the last time we were together?"

"Look, Blaney," Warren said, "Blanche Huban's an old friend of mine. What's up? Maybe I can help." "I drew a picture of an air compressor for my officer's textbook. He didn't like it. He asked me to redraw it, but I didn't do it. If I didn't draw it well, he wouldn't let me move freely." "How ridiculous." "I think so too." "I said you were ridiculous." "Warren, after we set off from San Francisco, the compressor failed due to the freezing of the pumping cylinder, and the squad leader fell ill. I overhauled the compressor and eliminated the fault." "That's all right. But have you finished the picture?" "The picture is not good, but I fixed the compressor." "That's another question." "That's the problem." "No, the question of who is nominated for the Dolphin Medal is in Blanche Huban's hands." "I don't care about getting the Dolphin medal." "Fuck you, you don't care," Warren said. "You see, Warren, I was tricked into the Squid. I've been ordered to join the new submarine Tuna, but my mate and Huban at Submarine Command Pacific have imposed Not only that, it turned out that it was not my own choice to enter the submarine school. My father mainly pushed me in to prevent me from marrying Natalie. So she went to Italy and is still stuck in the Can't get out of there. It's because I went to submarine school that my life is a mess. God knows when I'll see my wife again, and my baby, if I have one. She's in labor on the other side of the world ...I was thinking about that, not some dolphin medal." "You are in the navy now, do you want to be transferred ashore?" "What's wrong? The working hours on the shore are better, and the communication is more accurate." "Oh shit. Excuse me, May." "It's boring, and it's like the old days. Anyway, you should listen to Hugh's talk. Ouch!" she screamed, and Warren's car drove off the road and into the grass, avoiding a sudden oncoming car. Wrecked green Buicks collide.Warren said calmly: "It's really worrying about these Hawaiians driving." "And that guy doesn't interest me, that Cleveland," Byron said. "How did you get involved with him, Xiaomei?" "I'm not with him," Madeleine snapped. "I'm working for him." Byron said, smiling kindly, "I know, sister." "He did a good job," Warren said. "The show went well." Byron said, "What? Hey, the whole show is so contrived! It's not his own jokes, he's reciting them." "You're absolutely right about that," Madeleine laughed. "Obviously, he sang a slick, dry play. He reminds me of Blanche Huban." "Blanche is not a contrived person," Warren said. "He's been doing a great job, Blaney. And you'd better not forget that he's the leader of the submarine." "Of course he's a leader, of course he's doing a great job, and of course I'm restricted in my movements, but if I had to draw another picture of an air compressor, unless the sun was out in the west. When I heard that Natalie had When I got back to Italy to have my baby, I made a report and asked to be transferred to the Atlantic Ocean. Our subs are often in and out of the Mediterranean Sea. I may also have a chance to meet her and maybe even pick her up. I told him all. He taught me a lesson I paused and said that I put personal life issues ahead of the navy! Well, I said that I still have to apply anyway. He had to pass it on, so he approved it as "Intending not to agree" and passed it on." Warren looked at the road and said, "You are only on the boat for three months, and the normal period is two years." "The average ensign doesn't have a pregnant wife stuck in Italy." "Don't get me wrong, it's not the Navy's fault." "I don't blame the Navy, I'm just telling you why I'm not in a hurry to please Blanche Huban." Madeleine suddenly interrupted their brief conversation with a burst of laughter, and she said, "Neither of you thought , Dad suddenly learned Russian?" "Russian!" Warren called. "What are you doing?" "He's going to Russia. I don't know how and when he's going to go." Madeline said with a smile, "Mom is suffocated, and Dad is now taking a crash course, ten hours a day. She never sees him , unless people come to play tennis or watch a movie, she is alone in the big new house." "Dad better hurry up," Warren said, "if he wants to get into Moscow before the Germans." Byron took Madeleine's wreath and put it around his neck. "Oh, it's rich red jasmine. God knows when the three of us will be together again as we are today. I'm in a bad mood right now, but I love you both. How much stout do you have in the house, Warren?" "Ninety-seven percent, just added." "Great, I'm going to give you 50% of the rest." "totally agree." When Byron arrived at Warren's house, he found the new airline edition of "Time" and sat on a bench between the roots of a banyan tree to read it. At this time, Warren, Janice and the guests were eating Snacks, drinking sweet wine, the interest is strong.After two weeks at sea, Byron heard only sporadic news. The luncheon went on for a while, when a grinning valet played a banjo, the guests danced a hula to the music, and Warren began to grill meat over a smoky smoke.Hugh Cleveland and Madeleine danced a barefoot hula, the Navy and locals clapped and laughed, and photographers from the social pages of the newspaper took pictures.Byron watched grimly as his sister's white feet rolled in the grass, and her pink silk skirt writhed with it.He didn't know who had lost his composure, himself or this merry crowd.According to Time, the Germans are sweeping Russia just as they swept Poland two years ago.It was also September.Judging by the pictures of the battle, the announcement by the jubilant Germans seemed plausible.Pictures showed burning villages, Luftwaffe planes in the dark sky, refugees crowding roads in the middle of cornfields, groups of unshaven and sullen Russian captives behind barbed wire fences.This scene made Byron vividly recall those days when he and Natalie were together: fleeing from Krakow to Warsaw in an old car, his injury, a child lying on the side of the road on her mother's smashed face Crying on the ground, red flames, bombs whistling harshly, Natalie in the chaotic and crowded hospital, and the sound of autumn insects in no man's land, all these are vivid in my mind. Warren sat down on the grass next to him with two plates of thinly sliced ​​steak and fried potatoes, and said, "Eat as much as you can, my boy." Byron said, "Thank you. The Times reported that the situation is very serious." serious." "Fuck him, Blaney, you knew the Germans would beat the Russos, didn't you? The Russians are tough fighters, but the Bolshevik government is a motley bunch of half-lunatic politicians. Stalin in March 8 shot half of his officers in 1999, including professional soldiers left over from the tsarist era. You can't conduct a war without experienced officers. So the Germans are ahead of us in this. Their General Staff It has been going on for a hundred years. They were defeated in the last war, and they immediately collected maps and intelligence to prepare for this war. This is a kind of knowledge armed. Drink some wine? The quality of California red wine shipped here is still very good .” "Of course." Warren came back with a big purple bottle and said, "Well, there's a good thing too. If Hitler takes Moscow, the Japs will jump out from the north and take the other side of Siberia. That'll give us a little respite." Time. Otherwise, they must come south soon. Their gasoline is getting less and less. We are definitely not ready yet. It will take a year to strengthen the stronghold in the Philippines so that we can hold it Prepare." Byron threw away the copy of "The Times" and asked: "I remember, have you read your father-in-law's latest speech? He asked us to test whether we can reach some agreements with the Germans." "I know. Well, he's so unrealistic at this point. Hitler doesn't want to make any deals right now, and he won't when he's winning big battles. But at the end of the day, Braney, the Germans are probably easier to deal with than the little Japanese, they It's white." "Yeah, but maybe we'll have to shoot our Jews in the first place." Warren turned his bronzed face slowly to his brother, a shy smile on his thin lips. "Keep the Germans from killing their Jews, man, I guess their policy is disgusting enough, but—" "You don't know what they're doing. When I try to tell people here what the Germans are like, they always push me back. Blanche Huban thinks the war is Saxon culture against emerging trends in Asia, Russia People are Asians, we and the British need to be quick and smart and support the Nazis, because they are fighting for our common cause, this is the last chance for the white race. He got these ideas from a man named Holland from the books written by Marley's Madman. He read them over and over again, chief among them "Ignorant Courage" and the other "Saxon Times." ①Homer Leigh (1876-1912), an American soldier and writer, served as Sun Yat-sen's chief of staff. "I've read Homer Leigh," said Warren, looking at his watch. "He's a eccentric, but very interesting—oh, it's time for our friend little Vic, but Looks like Jean doesn't want to leave the governor just yet." "I'm going to feed the baby." "You like children, but for something else?" "I like this kid." While Victor lay on his uncle's lap to drink milk, Byron drank his California red wine, and both of them drained the bottle at about the same time.He put the baby back in the cot he had made on the side porch, and then went back out onto the grass.The breeze had died down, the weather was very hot, and the scent of the lemon trees made Byron feel melancholy.He fell asleep face down under the banyan tree.When he woke up, Captain Esther was pushing him with a wine glass in his hand. "Damn it," Byron said, sitting up, the taste of alcohol still in his mouth. "I'm supposed to be back by three o'clock, right? Are you here to handcuff me and send me home?" "Amnesty, you're free," Esther grinned. "You're also granted twenty-four hours of vacation. Just received it after a round trip from Rome via Lisbon, Washington, and San Francisco." He put The telegram was handed over to Byron, who sat cross-legged on the grass and read the telegram: Can Ensign Byron Henry of the American Squid choose a mother and son for a seven-pound boy? both safe and both love you nathalie and unnamed henry Byron bowed his head and covered his face with one hand.Like his father, he had a slightly religious air of simplicity.He murmured some prayers, thanking God for the miracle of giving birth to this child.The child, the result of their passionate love after a short time together in Lisbon, was now separated from each other, in the two furthest places on earth.After a pause, he raised his head and smiled slowly, with tears in his eyes. "How is it, 'ma'am'?" "Congratulations, Blaney." Byron stood up and stared dazedly at the luncheon crowd.none The radio played "Lovely Hula Dancer", Janice writhed her bare feet with the captain of the USS Enterprise, and the governor danced with Madeline, showing admiration for her hip-wiggling movements. Enjoy; Hugh Cleveland falsetto sings lascivious songs, eliciting roars of laughter from the men and squeals of delight from the women. "I guess I'll have to tell my brother and sister to go." Esther ambled beside him, shaking ice in a glass. "It's a lot of fun here. That's the governor, isn't it? Your sister-in-law is very nice. My drink is in my hand before I have my foot in the door." "Janice is good." "Is that her name, Janice? Pretty name. She's probably the best-looking white woman I've ever seen on this wretched island." "Don't say that, 'ma'am.'" "Hey Blaney, I adore her just like I adore Sunset or the Washington Monument." "Oh, Madeleine—" Madeline hurried toward the house behind Cleveland and the Hawaiian servants as she passed Byron.Pat him lightly with your hand. "The long-distance call from New York, my dear, is our backstage boss. I didn't expect it." Byron broke the news to Warren and Janice.Before he could tell her to stop, Janice had happily announced the news.The guests crowded around him, teasing him drunkenly, congratulating him, asking him how he was doing, and lamenting the fact that his wife was far away in Italy.The social columnist for the Honolulu Star, a lean, eagle-faced, blond-haired man named Patsy Peters, stood beside Byron, taking notes. He followed Madeleine into the house, wanting to be the first to tell her the news.The phone on a table in the hallway was already hung up.He heard a faint laugh, and he looked down the winding corridor, on the side porch where the sleeping child was, Hugh Cleveland was hugging Madeline.It was out of sight from the grass, and Cleveland held his sister's bottom with both hands, the back of her pink dress lifted to show her thighs and panties.She hugged him affectionately.Byron left the house and went out into the sunlight. "I think I'll have to go back to the Squid," he said to Warren. "What? I thought Blanche had given you twenty-four hours' leave." "I'm going to write to Natalie and the others, and maybe send a telegram or two." "Branney, the Governor just invited everyone here to join Cleveland for a reception in Washington Square." "Cleveland kissed Madeleine in the house. I said he kissed her and she held him tight." "Is she like that?" said the pilot with an unnatural smile. "I think their backstage bosses love the show." Madeleine hurried out of the house, radiant and disheveled, and ran up to her brother.Cleveland appeared behind her, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. "Hey, you know what, buddy?" Madeline cooed, "He talked to me too. He said I sounded fine! But it's nothing. We hit twenty-three on the spot check Five, we're only four points behind Fred Allen for our first show." Byron took the telegram from his top pocket and handed it to his sister. "Ah! Another good news! Well, Hugh, do you know? Byron's wife is born." "Hey, congratulations, Dad!" He held out his hand, and Byron ignored him, but he wasn't angry either. "Come on, Madeline, let's go and tell the governor what Chet Fenton said." Byron folded his arms on his chest, staring angrily at the backs of the two as they left. "Listen, Blaney," his brother said, "you're trying to mess things up, aren't you? You're going to make it hard for Janice." "What a smiley face, damn it," Byron murmured. "Forget it, she is over twenty-one years old." "He's a married man. If you don't want to talk, I'll tell Madeleine and see what she says. I might tell the bastard to stay away from Madeline if he doesn't want to get his pants full of shit. " Warren looked at his brother amusedly, and said, "He's bigger than you, and looks solid." "That's fine," Byron said. The radio broadcasts a signal for a news program.It was four o'clock, and the governor was sitting outside at the bar table, blowing up the little radio. "Berlin news. The German High Command announced that it had captured Kyiv, saying that this was the greatest victory in this war, perhaps the greatest victory in the history of world wars. According to German sources, four Russian regiments, nearly one million people, has been surrounded and has been divided into several sections. With the fall of Kyiv, the organized resistance in the big bag has come to an end. Berlin radio declared last night: 'The Soviet Union has no military strength, and the hostilities on the Eastern Front The end is in sight.' The news program will resume after a short pause. Now please listen to the introduction of 'Pepsi'." When the announcement suddenly changed to a girl's joyful, melodious voice, the Governor shook his glass and said, "Well, well, the Russo looks like he really got away, doesn't he?" "Where's Kyiv, Governor?" Petsy Peters asked. "Is that where the caviar is made? I hope we don't see caviar forever. Persian caviar is plentiful, but it's too expensive." "I think Kyiv is to the north," said the governor. "To be honest, I don't know much about Russian geography." After the Pepsi commercial was over, the announcer said in a theatrical voice: "The news program is now suspended to relay an urgent notice from the Hawaiian Islands Joint Navy and Army Command. The enemy is suddenly attacking Hawaii! This is a drill. An enemy fleet including battleships and aircraft carriers has entered the sea 450 miles northwest of Oahu .It's a drill." "Oh no!" said Patsy Peters. "Another drill. Four o'clock on a Sunday afternoon! What a pity! You keep us out of the streets for hours?" The governor put his finger to his lips and told him to be quiet. "All leave and freedom of movement will be cancelled, and all military personnel will return to the team immediately. Baseball game personnel between the Air Force Command and the Fleet are authorized to end the ninth inning, and those who watch the game can wait until the game is over before returning to the team. The actions of ordinary people are not affected. Restricted, I repeat, unrestricted." "Well, thank goodness for that at least," said Patsy Peters. "All ships in this area are to prepare for attack and report to the headquarters, but must not - repeat - set sail unless ordered. At 18:30, the target drone with the weathervane will simulate the attack on the pearl harbour. All ships and shore batteries are to conduct a tracking and targeting exercise, but no--repeat--no live ammunition. Vessels in dock or docked for repair may continue to work and are exempt from this exercise. We repeat Once, there was a surprise attack on Hawaii. This is a drill. This announcement is going to be rebroadcast." The governor turned off the radio. "I don't know if they're still going to practice today. The original plan was for ten o'clock in the morning, Hugh, but that conflicted with 'Happy Hour.'" "Yes, sir. That's been very caring. My boss is about to write to the Army and Navy to say thank you." "That's a good idea." The invitation to a reception at the Governor's Mansion in Washington Square was cancelled.The lunch meeting also ended quickly.Before long, only Cleveland, Madeline, Janice, and the two submariners were left with the governor and his wife on the disheveled grass.Esther and Byron are not in a hurry to leave, because the "Squid" is being repaired at the dock. "Why don't you come with us to Washington Square for a drink, Janice?" the governor asked. "Hugh and Madeline are coming too." "Oh, I'm not going without a man, thank you, Governor," Janice said. "The Navy has an old rule against asking for trouble, Janice," Esther said aloud with a charming smile. "But I don't know when I'll have the chance to go into the mansion again. I'd like to go with you." Janice smiled. "Ah, it's up to you, Captain. Give me three minutes, Governor." Byron took Madeline aside and told her he could take her to Washington Square in Warren's car. "It's very good news about your child, Braney," Madeline said as the car pulled away. Byron looked at the road ahead and said, "I went to the house to look for you before, and I saw you and Cleveland." The sound of the car starting silenced him for a moment, and he glanced at her, and she frowned in displeasure over her large black eyes.She looked lovely, but stubborn, much like their father. "Are you going to drive me to the governor just for that? Teach me a lesson? Thank you, honey." "He's a married man, Madeleine. It would bother Ma and Pa if they knew what I saw." "Don't tell me I'm bothering Ma and Pa. I haven't married a Jew yet." After saying this, the two of them fell silent. The car drove to Washington Square, and Madeline opened the door. "I'm sorry, Blaney. You've said it so harshly. Do you deserve to blame me for something inexplicable? I have nothing against Natalie. I like her." Byron ran his hand over her lap and slammed the door shut hard.His face was pale and his eyes were terrible. "Wait a minute, you tell Hugh Cleveland, you must tell him, Madeleine—if I ever find out what he did to you again, I'll beat him to the hospital." There were tears in the girl's eyes. "Oh, dare you? You're so cruel, and you have a mean heart. You really think I'm messing around with married people? You know, 'Happy Time' was my idea, Mr Fenton told us I was so excited after the score, I'd kiss anyone around me. You're a disgrace, Byron." She took a handkerchief from her handbag and wiped her eyes. "Well, I didn't mean to make you cry." "Do you believe me?" Madeline said softly and thoughtfully, smiling through her tears. "My God, I thought we knew each other, we used to. I admit that Hugh would sleep with me if he could. I think it's disgusting that he can sleep with anyone. He's just a Pervert, his wife is the unluckiest woman alive. I appreciate your concern for my reputation. You're just as prim and sweet as Daddy. But you don't have to worry about Madeleine. Excuse my sarcasm, dear .I'm so happy about the baby." She kissed him on the cheek, and he felt tears on her skin.She got out of the car, shook her finger at him, and ran into Washington Square. When Byron returned to the naval base, a target drone with a long red wind vane fluttering behind it had already appeared in the sky over the harbor.The gunners yelled and pointed their cannon barrels high into the sky, but there was no sound of firing. The excited scene seemed to be following orders, which was ridiculous. The "Squid" lay high on the dragon skeleton, and there was no one there except the workers and guards.From a drawer Byron took out the letter envelope and the record of Portuguese folk songs he and Natalie had heard in Lisbon.He put the record on the record player and started writing my dearest, Just got the news about the baby -- The broken stylus began to crackle, and after the banjo strings, the song followed.He put his head on his arms, trying to figure out what his wife and the new baby would look like, perhaps like Victor.But as soon as he closed his eyes, all he saw was his sister's thighs and garter belts with her dress lifted. Byron parked the record and spent an hour drawing a diagram of the air compressor.Using colored pencils and pens, he produced from memory an accurate and clear diagram suitable for use in a textbook.When he was done, he pinned a letter, typed on a typewriter in his long-disused, musty-smelling office, formally requesting his transfer to the Atlantic.He added a few words to the note in scribbled pencil: Captain: I am deeply grateful to you for releasing me and granting me leave. The only thing I want to do in the world is to see my wife and children and get him out of Europe.I think you can understand. The next morning, Blanche Huban congratulated Byron on the drawing, explaining to him that he was sorry that no more people could be removed from his roster, and that he was confident that Natalie and the child were safe in Rome, He also said he would forward Byron's request, but still "plans not to agree."