Chapter 51 Chapter 50

September 1941, Victor.When Henry went abroad, there was still peace at home, and despite the "Arsenal of Democracy" rhetoric, the isolationists and interventionists quarreled fiercely, and arms production was only a trickle: the military authorities watched with trepidation. The conscription extension was passed by a majority of only one vote; this was a non-rationing country at the time.Defense spending has created a boom in industry. From coast to coast, lights are brightly lit at night, and long-distance highways and city streets are still racing like cars. Now that he's back, looking down from the plane, San Francisco is a wartime scene: the unlit bridges, shadows in the clear light of a full moon, the deserted highways like gray strips. The long belt stretches, there are no lights up and down the hills in the residential area, and the high-rise buildings in the city center are pitch black.He was taken aback by the uniformed crowds in the dark, silent streets and in the blindingly lit hotel foyers.Not even Hitler's Berlin looked like such a military world.

The changes were reflected in the newspapers and magazines he read the next day on his flight east.The billboards are filled with martial patriotism.If it's not a majestic riveter, miner or soldier and their lover, it's a Japanese with a sweet tooth, a poisonous snake with a Hitler mustache, or a fat pig with a sad face and a Mussolini look. .News columns and year-end commentaries brim with exuberant confidence that, in Stalingrad and North Africa, the tide of war has been turned.The Pacific is just a brushstroke.Perhaps it is to blame for the Navy's reticence that, when referring to Midway and Guadalcanal, it does not mention the scale of the two battles at all.Pug knew that if news of the sinking of the Northampton were announced, no one would pay attention.This disaster in his life, the loss of a great battleship, puts a little stain on a picture that is full of optimism.

The change came too suddenly!In recent days, the island-crossing operation in the Pacific Ocean has begun.What he saw on the plane and in the waiting room were the well-thumbed magazines from a few months ago.They were all unanimous in bemoaning the sluggishness of the Allied war effort, the march of German cavalry deep into the Caucasus mountains, the pro-Axis riots in India, South America, and the Arab states, the Japanese advances in Burma and the Southwest Pacific.The same magazines are now cheering with one voice the inevitable downfall of Hitler and his associates in crime.Pug felt how frivolous this change in popular mood was.Even if a strategic shift is imminent, repeated battles on the battlefield are yet to come.America is just starting to die.It's no small feat for military families, if not for the columnist.He called Rhoda from San Francisco, and she said she hadn't heard from Byron.No news in wartime, especially about a son who served on a submarine, is not necessarily good news.

As the plane bumped through the gray winter sky, Pug ruminated over his order to report to Personnel and his conversation with Spruance.Dig.Brown was the person in charge of the appointment and removal of colonel-level officers in the Personnel Bureau, and he was a classmate of his at the Naval Academy.Brown's ability to learn languages ​​was poor, and Pug helped him practice German during his three years in military school, helping him get high marks in the exams, which improved his rank in the class and benefited his career in life. shallow.Pug hoped to be sent back to Pacific Command without further ado, because no one in the Navy had more weight than Nimitz and Spruance; He was also going to go to Brown with confidence and tell him his request.The dude couldn't refuse him.

What to do with Rhoda?What should he say at the moment of meeting?What about manners?He had been wrestling with these questions during his flight halfway around the world, and they still haunted him now. In the black marble foyer of the big house on Fox Hall Road, Rhoda wept in Pug's arms.His bulky navy bridge coat was snow-stained, and his embrace was a bit of a hindrance, but Rhoda snuggled up against his cold, damp blue cloth and bulging brass buttons, sobbing. Say, "I'm sorry, oh, I'm sorry, Pug. I didn't mean to cry, really, I didn't mean to. I couldn't be happier to see you. I'm sorry, dear! I'm sorry I've become such a crybaby." baby."

"Don't be sad, Ro. It's all right." In this tender moment of their long-lost reunion, Pug really felt that maybe everything would be all right.She snuggled into his arms, and he only felt her body was soft and warm.In the long years of their marriage he had seen his wife cry only a few times; for all her frivolity, she had a bit of self-control.She hugged Pug tightly, like a child seeking comfort, her big tear-filled eyes sparkling. "Oh, damn it, damn it. I was going to greet you with a smile and a martini. Maybe a martini would taste really good now, wouldn't it?"

"Drinking at noon? Well, maybe better." He threw his coat and hat on the stool.Rhoda led him hand in hand into the sitting room, where the flames danced in the fireplace, and the decorations on the large Christmas tree gleamed, filling the room with the joy of childhood and family fun. He took her hands. "Let me take a good look at you." "Madeline's coming here for Christmas, you know," she mumbled, "and without a maid to help, I think I might as well buy a tree early and trim this nuisance. And then—well, well Now, let’s talk about something serious.” She couldn’t make up her mind, she smirked for a while, and pulled her hand back, “You, the captain’s inspection makes me uncomfortable. What do you think of this broken ship?”

Pug almost looked at someone else's wife.Rhoda's skin was soft and clear, with almost no wrinkles visible.In the jersey bodice, her figure was as torturous as ever; if anything, she had lost a little weight.Her muscles and bones stand out.Her actions and gestures are still light, moving and delicate.She wags ten outstretched fingers playfully in front of him when she says "unpleasant," reminding him of her mischievous charm on their first dates. "You are so beautiful." The tone of praise made her face brighten up.Her voice was a little hoarse, but the tone was moving. "You like to say that. You're very handsome! It's just a little grey, old thing, and you're very nice."

He went to the fire and held out his hands. "so comfortable." "Oh, I'm so patriotic these days. And practical. Diesel is a problem. I turn down the thermostat, turn off most of the rooms, burn as much wood as possible. Why don't you get me from the airport A phone? You bastard! Made me walk around the house like a leopard." "The public phone booths are full of people." "No, the phone has been bugging me for a whole hour, and it keeps ringing. That fellow Sloter is calling from the State Department; he's back from Switzerland." "Slote! Any news of Natalie? Any news of Byron?"

"He's very busy. Will call later. Natalie seems to be in Lourdes, and—" "What? France? How did she get to Lourdes?" "She stayed with our detained diplomats and journalists. That's all he said about her. Byron had been to Lisbon and managed to find transport back, that's the last Slote heard. News. He has orders to go aboard in a newly built boat." "Excellent! Where's the kid?" "Sloot didn't say. I've invited him to dinner. Do you remember Sim Anderson? He called too. The phone never stopped ringing." "The midshipman? The guy who made me run around the tennis court while Madeline was clapping and laughing, wasn't it?"

"He's a lieutenant commander now! What do you think, Pug? I bet any weaned baby can be a lieutenant commander now. He asked for Madeline's number in New York." Pug stared into the fire and said, "She came back with that Cleveland monkey, didn't she?" "Honey, I met Mr. Cleveland in Hollywood. He's not a bad guy." Seeing her husband's unhappy face, she hesitated a bit. "And what a fun job she has! The kid makes a lot of money!" The firelight in the fireplace casts broad shadows, on Victor.Henry's face flickered.Rhoda walked over to him. "Honey, how's that glass of wine? I'm literally shaking." He put an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "That goes without saying. Let me give Digger Brown a call first and ask why on earth I'm flying here at the top of the list." "Well, Pug, he'll just tell you to call the White House. Let's pretend your flight is late—what's the matter? What the hell is going on, my sweetheart?" "No, yes," she put her hand over her mouth at once. "Oh, my God! Lucy Brown's going to cut my head off. She made me swear to secrecy, but I thought you knew already." "Know what?" His voice changed.It's like talking to a quartermaster. "Rhoda, tell me what the hell Lucy Brown said to you and when?" "My God! Well--seems to say, the White House ordered the Office of Personnel to call you back here immediately. It was early November, before you lost the Northampton, Pug. I That's all there is to know. That's all Digger himself knows." Pug went to the phone and dialed a number. "Go and make a drink." "My dear, don't tell me Lucy told me. He'll simmer her." There was no answer from the switchboard of the Admiralty for a long time.Victor.Standing alone in the spacious living room, Henry slowly recovered from the shock.The White House was as much a magic word to him as it was to any American, but he had grown to feel the sour aftertaste of serving the President.Franklin.Roosevelt treated him like a borrowed pencil and used it; sent him to command the sleazy "California," a politician's trick!Victor.Henry has no complaints about the president.With him or without him, Victor.Henry was still in awe of the wily old cripple.But he was determined to do whatever it took to turn down any job the president gave him again.Following a big shot as a follower, running errands on land for nothing, can only ruin his life's career.He must go back to the Pacific. Digger wasn't there.Pug went to the fireplace and stood with his back to the fire.He didn't feel at home here, yet he was at home in Janice's humble cabin.How did that happen?He lived in this house for less than three months before going to Moscow.How big is this house!How could they have thought of buying such a big house at that time?Once again he had allowed her to spend part of her own trust money on it, because the kind of dignified life she was to lead was beyond his reach.Wrong, wrong.There was also talk of hosting many grandchildren.It's really hard to look back!What are you doing with summer covers on the furniture in a room that smells of Christmas in this freezing December?He didn't like the tacky florals on the green calico at all.Although he felt the fire warming his coat, the chill in the room seemed to penetrate his bones.It may be true that serving in the tropics thins the blood.However, in his memory, when he returned from serving in the Pacific, he was not as cold as he is now. "Here's the martini," cried Rhoda, coming in with a clinking tray in his hand. "What did Digg say?" "He's not in now." Pug took his first sip of the wine, and it went hot down his throat.He hadn't tasted alcohol for several months; after Warren's death, he was paralyzed both physically and mentally, and he hadn't had a drink since then. "Very well," he said, but he regretted approving the martini.He had to stay awake and go to the Personnel Bureau.Rhoda brought him a plate of sandwiches without a lid, and he put on an enthusiastic tone, "Yes, Caviar! You really do spoil me, don't you?" "You don't remember," she said, smiling boldly and flirtatiously, "that you brought them from Moscow. A colonel brought me six, and this note from you." Scrawled on a piece of crappy Russian paper: "Save for our reunion, martinis, caviar, fire lit, and . . . and especially . . . ! Love .Pug." Now he remembered it all: Harriman and his party were shopping in a then-open hotel store at the National Hotel on a blissful afternoon a few months before Pearl Harbor.At that time Pamela said all the shawls and blouses were useless.She had said at the time that it would be nondescript for a woman as elegant as Rhoda to wear such tacky things.Those fur hats seem to be specially made for female giants.So he bought the caviar and hastily scribbled this crazy note. "Smell, this caviar is really not bad, I didn't say anything." The enthusiasm revealed in the corners of Rhoda's brows and eyes is seductive.Situations like this have happened many times in Victor.It appeared in Henry's mind: the captain who had experienced many battles at sea returned home, and Odysseus and Panero walked to the couch together.Her voice is melodious and alluring. "You look as if you haven't slept in days." "It's not that serious," he rubbed his eyes with both hands, "the journey is too long." "Haven't you come all the way back! What does lovely America look like to you, Pug?" "Very different, even more so from an airplane at night. Total blackout on the West Coast. You don't start to see the lights until you get inland. Chicago is as bright as ever. After Cleveland, the lights start to fade, and when we get to Washington, It's pitch black again." "Saki, the layers are really clear! Nothing is accurate now. The lack of supplies has become chaotic, and people are talking about rationing! Sometimes there is, sometimes not! It makes people dizzy. Now it's blowing up again. Hoarding, Pug. Why, look how clever they boast of hoarding tires and meat and sugar and fuel oil, I can't tell. We're a spoiled hog-like people, indeed." "Rhoda, it's best not to have too high expectations of human nature." This remark left his wife speechless, bewildered, and speechless, until she put her hand on his. "Honey, would you like to talk about the 'Northampton'?" "We were torpedoed and sank." "I heard from Lucy that most of the officers and soldiers were saved." "Jim Greg did a great job. But we still lost a lot." "You yourself got away with it, didn't you?" There was a look of longing and anticipation on her face, but Pug made no move because he didn't feel the urge to make love.He began to tell the story of the loss of his warship.He stood up and walked slowly, and when he started, his words flowed freely.The passion of that dreadful night came back to me.Rhoda's eyes were shining, and he listened intently.The phone rang, interrupting Pug's train of thought. His eyes were wide open, as if awakened from sleepwalking. "I guess it's Digg." Colonel Brown's enthusiastic booming voice: "Hoo, hoo, Pug. Back, eh? That's great." "Dig, did you get a cable about me from Pacific Fleet Command?" "Hey, don't talk about business on the phone, Pug. You and Rhoda have a nice reunion today. It's been a long time, and there's no need to talk. Hey! Let's talk tomorrow. Tomorrow at nine o'clock." Chung called me." "Are you free today? Can I come now?" "Well, come when you want." Pug heard his old friend sigh. "I can tell from your words that you must be very tired." "I'll be right there, Digg." Pug hung up, strode up to his wife Yu, and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm still trying to figure out what's going on." "Okay." She held his face in both hands and kissed his mouth for a long time. "You go in that Oldsmobile." "Can it still go? Excellent." "Maybe you'll be asked to be the President's naval adjutant, Lucy guesses. That way we'll be together for at least a while, Pug." She walked to a small desk and took out the car keys.Rhoda's unintentional grievances in these few words tugged at Pug's heartstrings more than all her flirting.Living alone in such a deserted house, and suffering the pain of loss, it was her firstborn son—they never talked about him, and his picture was smiling on the piano stand; her husband After leaving for more than a year, she hurried out to attend to her own business as soon as she returned home, and she behaved very well in all of this.Her slender hips twisted mesmerizingly.Pug wondered that he had no desire for her.He couldn't wait to drop the navy coat he was wearing and hold her in his arms.But Dig.Brown was waiting for him, and Rhoda was naughtily tossing the key into his hand. "We have to eat at home anyway, okay? Just me and OJ?" "We must go home for dinner, just the two of us. I believe there must be wine, and—" He hesitated for a moment, then raised his eyebrows, pretending to be obsessed, "especially." The light in her eyes suddenly flew across the gap between the two. "Get on your way, sailor boy." From the outside, the old Navy Building is still the same, a long row of gloomy "temporary" buildings left over from the last war, which still spoils the entire view of Constitution Road.But inside, there is a different atmosphere: hurrying around, mixed noise, groups of women serving in the navy and childish staff officers in the corridor.Around the dusty walls hung brightly colored oil paintings, which seemed to be still fresh.On the screen are some fierce air battles over aircraft carriers, night artillery battles, bombing of tropical islands, etc.Throughout Pug's time in the Navy, the wall decorations had been commemorative pieces from the Spanish-American War or the Battle of the Atlantic in 1918. Digger looked the same from top to bottom: tall, big, strong, gray-haired, with a year's command of a battleship (service in the Atlantic, good enough), and now Hold the highest position in the Personnel Bureau.Digger's title as a general was a sure thing, and Pug couldn't make up his mind what he would look like to Brown.But he had never, and still does, feel humbled in front of his old friend who made it big.As they shook hands and looked at each other, they took in a lot of words that were waiting for each other.In fact, Pug reminded Colonel Brown of the oak tree in his back yard, which, though struck by lightning, was still alive and well, and every spring it was dead with new green branches. "Warren was heartbreaking," Brown said. Henry suppressed his emotions and lighted a cigarette with difficulty.Brown had to go on: "And the 'California,' and then the 'Northampton,' by God!" He squeezed Pug's shoulder in resigned sympathy. "Please sit down." Pug said, "Yeah, sometimes I say to myself, I didn't sign up for life, Digg, I did. But I'm all right." "Where's Rhoda? How do you think she's feeling?" "very good." "Where's Byron?" "Returning from Gibraltar, assigned to newly built submarine, I hear so." Pug looked up to face his old friend, squinting through the smoke. "You are really proud of Qingyun." "I never heard the roar of a cannon." "There are still many places that lack people to fight." "Pug, I'm afraid your emotions will inevitably be criticized, but I hope your thoughts are correct." Colonel Brown put on his horn-rimmed glasses, began to flip through the telegrams on the folder board, and took out a copy to pass to Pag. grid. "I think that's what you're asking about, isn't it?" Sender: Pacific Fleet Headquarters Attention: Personnel Bureau requests to appoint former Northampton Captain Victor Henry, USS 4329, as the staff officer of this headquarters. Pug nodded. Brown peeled off a piece of gum. "I need to quit smoking. High blood pressure. It's killing me." "Come on, Digg, have I been sent to Pacific Fleet Command?" Handsome B, is this telegram a trick on your way back to China? " "I didn't play tricks. Spruance suggested it to me out of the blue. I was taken aback myself. I thought I'd lost the ship, and I should have been flattered." "Why? You were sunk during the battle." Under Pug's inquiring gaze, Brown kept chewing gum, and his tall body moved with the swivel chair. "Pug, according to Joko Larkin, you resigned last year as a staff officer at Pacific Fleet Command." "Last year was last year's situation." "Have you ever considered why you should take the plane back first?" "Go ahead." Brown put on an inscrutable look, and said slowly: "That... Your Excellency... The White House... Dad." Then he said in a low voice: "Good guy! It's the big boss himself. You have to go there immediately He reported, with Indian feathers and expedition paint." Brown couldn't help laughing at his own humor. "what is the problem?" "Oh shit, give me a cigarette, thanks." Brown puffed on, his eyes bulging. "I think you know General Standley. Ambassador to Russia." "Of course I do. Last year I went to Russia with Harriman on his delegation." "Exactly. He has returned home to consult with the President. Even before the sinking of the Northampton, Rear Admiral Cotton called us from the White House anxiously to inquire about you. Standley has also been asking if you could Get out. That's why you're given top priority." Pug tried not to sound restless in his voice. "Nimitz should have more weight here than Standley." "Pug, I have to follow the instructions from above. You should go to Russ Carton and make an appointment with the President." "Does Carton know about the call from Pacific Fleet Command?" "I didn't tell him." "Why didn't you tell him?" "No one asked me to tell him." "Okay, Digg. Then please give Carton the contents of Pacific Fleet Command's cable. Tell him today." The two stared at each other for a moment.Digger took a sharp drag on his cigarette and said, "You're not telling me to get out of line." "What? If you don't report to the White House that the Pacific Fleet Command wants me, it will be a waste ship." "Ridiculous, Pug, don't talk nonsense to me. The big man on Pennsylvania Avenue just twirls his fingers, and we'll have to go around here. Nothing else matters." "But it's just Bill. Old man Standley had a whim, you said." "It's hard to say. When you meet Russ Carton, tell him about the Pacific Fleet Command yourself." "No. He must be notified by the Personnel Bureau to count." "Who said he must be notified," Colonel Brown avoided his sight with a warm face. Victor.Henry said word by word as if he were practicing language: "I must, you must, and he must." Brown twitched his lips, smiled wryly, and continued in this tone: "We must, you must; they must." "We must, Digg." "We have to. I never learned German, did I?" Brown took a deep breath from his cigarette, which he stubbed out. "Ah, it tastes good. Pug, I still think that you should first find out what this great White House father wants to do." He resentfully set the buzzer with his hand. "Do as you say. I'll send Russ a copy right away." It's getting warmer in the house.Pug heard a man talking in the sitting room. "Hi," he greeted loudly. "Oh Hai!" Rhoda's happy voice said, "You're back so soon?" As Pug entered the sitting room, a dark-skinned young officer was already on his feet.A mustache tugged at his mouth and he lost recognition for a moment, then he saw his fair hair and the half-gold bar of a brand new lieutenant commander. "Hello, Anderson." While pouring tea on the table by the fireplace, Rhoda said, "Sim has just arrived and dropped by with a Christmas present for Maddy." "I did some random shopping in Trinidad," Anderson pointed to a beautifully wrapped box on the table. "What are you doing in Trinidad?" Rhoda served them tea and walked away, and Anderson told Pug about his destroyer's mission in the Caribbean.In the waters around Venezuela and Guyana, in the Gulf of Mexico, German submarines have eaten a few times, including oil tankers, bauxite carriers, cargo ships and passenger ships.Taking advantage of the advantage, he became more courageous. The captain of the German submarine even dared to surface and sink the passing ships directly with artillery fire, so as to save torpedoes.In order to deal with this threat, the US and British navies have now formed a joint escort system; Anderson is going to perform this escort mission. Pug knew only vaguely about the German submarine problem in the Caribbean.Anderson's words reminded him of two large photographs in the Navy Building.In one, fur-wrapped Eskimos watching a Catalina-style seaplane load in a snowstorm; in another, a Polynesian naked except for a narrow strip of cloth, Watch an identical Catalina seaplane parked in the brown towering lagoon on the shore.This war is spreading like leprosy all over the world. "By the way, Anderson, did you and Dick Parsons study an advanced security device in the Bureau of Ordnance, the anti-aircraft gun radio proximity fuze?" "Yes, sir." "Then why put you on an old four-chimney ship in the Caribbean?" "Because of a lack of surface officers, sir." "The fuze is very nice, Sim." The bright blue eyes shone brightly in Sim's dark face. "Ah, has the fleet been used already?" "I saw a shooting performance of an aircraft target on the sea of ​​Nouméa. It was like massacre. Within a few minutes, all three aircraft targets fell to pieces. The anti-aircraft artillery shells exploded close to the target every time. Come on, it's incredible." "We worked hard." "How on earth did Dick Parsons fit the entire radio signal into the shell of the flak? And how is this signal immune to muzzle vibrations, five hundred rotations per second at range?" "Well, sir, we've got the numbers all figured out. The industry guys said, 'Yes,' and they did.Actually, right now I'm getting ready to go to Anacostia to see Colonel Parsons. " Of those fools who went after Madeleine, none ever got Victor.Henry's favor, but he thinks this one is not bad, follow Hugh.When Cleveland compares, he feels even better. "Could you come and join us for Christmas dinner sometime? Madeleine will be back." "Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Henry, for inviting me, too." "Really? That's great! Say hello to Dick, please. Tell him the whole South Pacific unit is in awe of that fuze." In a stuffy office in the Naval Laboratory, William.Colonel Parsons admired Anderson's tanned complexion as he looked out the window at the mudflats stretching out to the river.To Pug's greeting, he just nodded and said nothing.He was over forty years old, his forehead was pale and wrinkled, and he was beginning to bald.There is nothing outstanding in appearance, but among all the bosses Anderson has followed, he is the most diligent and outstanding one. "Do you know uranium, Sim?" When Anderson heard it, he felt as if he had stepped on a conductive rail. "I have not studied radioactivity, sir, nor neutron bombardment." "You must be aware that some very interesting developments are being made in the study of uranium." "Well, that was back in 1939 when I was a graduate student at Caltech and heard a lot of talk about the German work on atomic fission." "What are the discussions?" "Ramblings, Colonel. Superbombs, propulsion, etc., purely theoretical." "Do you think we've stopped there? Just a theoretical possibility? Just a promising anomaly? While those German scientists are working day and night for Hitler?" "I hope not, sir." "follow me." They went outside, facing the cold wind blowing from the river, shrinking their necks and rushing towards the main building of the laboratory.Even a little way away from the laboratory, I heard a strange hissing sound.Once inside, the noise was deafeningly loud.The interior is lined with long, free-standing tubes that almost touch the roof, and the steam overflows, making the place permeated with the humid warmth of the Caribbean.People in shirts or overalls swing by pipes and dashboards. "Thermal diffusion," Parsons said loudly, "is used to separate uranium-235. Do you know Phil Abelson from Caltech?" Parsons pointed to a lanky man in a shirt and tie, about his age and Anderson did the same, standing with his hands on his hips in front of a wall of dashboards. "I don't know, but I've heard of it." "Come and meet him. He works with us as a civilian." Amid the deafening noise, Parsons raised his voice and introduced to Aibelson that Anderson had studied radio proximity fuzes. Aibelson listened and looked at the lieutenant commander. "We have a problem in chemical engineering," Aibelson said while gesturing to the pipes, "Are you a major in this?" "Exactly, no. I'm a physicist without the uniform." Abelson smiled and turned to face the dashboard. "I'm just showing you the set," Handsome B Sens said, "Let's go." " It was as cold as the arctic outside.Parsons buttoned his navy coat up to the neck, put his hands in his pockets, and strode toward the river, where gray warships moored. "Sim, you're familiar with the workings of the Clausius tube, aren't you?" Anderson was struggling to remember. "Is it a test tube with a circular cross-section?" "Yes. This is the kind of tube that Abelson installed. In fact, the two tubes are nested together, heating the inner tube and cooling the outer tube at the same time. If a liquid appears in the space between the two tubes , the lighter isotope molecules are about to start thermal motion. Thermal convective motion brings these molecules to the surface and you can scatter them. Abelson has put together many tall Clausius tubes in sequence , like a whole forest. The uranium 235 is slowly separated from here. The speed is too slow, but he has obtained a considerable amount of enriched uranium." "So what was the fluid he got?" "Uranium hexafluoride, that was his initial achievement. He further changed the properties of this liquid. It is difficult to control, but it is stable enough to operate. Now this matter has become very hot, and the Ordnance Bureau wants to send A ship commander is stationed here. I have recommended you. This is another land position. You young men, if you please, can always get a sea position." However, Sim.Anderson has no ambitions to travel thousands of miles.He went to the Naval Academy to get a high-quality education for free.The Annapolis Naval Academy had molded him into a standard soldier.On the bridge of the destroyer is just an ordinary ship officer, no different from other ship officers; but in this standard military duty that others can replace, the talent of a first-rate young physicist is prohibited .Now his chance to break through the copper ban came.Although the radio proximity fuze device is a progress in military equipment, it is not a breakthrough in exploring the fundamental mysteries of nature.And Abelson was catching a big fish with his criss-crossing steam pipes. 加利福尼亚理工学院的人士曾有过推测，说铀235 可以将整个一座城市夷为平地；并且说，只要用几公斤铀作为燃料，发动机就可以使一艘远洋客轮绕地球航行三圈。在海军人员中，议论的是一种登峰造极的潜艇，以及勿需空气助燃的动力装置。这是人类施展自己智慧的一个伟大的新领域。而吸引着年轻的安德森的是一种更大、然而更加现实的诱惑力。常驻阿纳科斯蒂亚，他就能比以前有更多的机会见到梅德琳。Henry. “先生，如果局里认为我合格，我没意见。” “好的。我准备接下来对你谈的事情，安德森，现在泡汤了。”帕森斯双肘搁在铁栅栏上，下面是陡峭的河岸。 “我说过，我们感兴趣的是推进器，但陆军在埋头研制一种炸弹。我们被关在门外。各有各的秘密。可是我们还是知道了。啪森斯扫了这个年轻人一眼，赶忙说：”我们的最初目标同陆军是一致的，即提取纯铀235.而他们下一步是制造一种武器。一组理论家已在着手这方面的研究。也许大自然的某种客观事实会阻止这种企图。谁也说不准。 " “陆军知道我们在干什么吗？” “糟糕透了。已经知道。他们刚开始使用的铀六氟化物就是我们给他们的。但是陆军认为热扩散法毫无意义。太慢而且浓缩的品位太低。他们的目标是打败希特勒，毕其功于一颗炸弹。真是个好主意。他们白手起家，设计也没经过试制，概念也是新的，而且据说这种新概念是条捷径。他们是在用工业生产的规模进行试验。象劳伦斯、康普顿、费米这些诺贝尔奖金的有分量的人物一直在给他们出谋献策。安德森，你知道，陆军下的本钱确实令人咋舌。他们不断地征用电力、水、土地和战略物资，大有搜尽刮光之势。他们正在这样干的时候，我们已经搞出了浓缩铀235，虽然浓缩度不高，还不能做炸弹的原料，但毕竟迈出了第一步。陆军雄心勃勃，摊子铺得也够大的。假使陆军摔跟头的话，那将是科学上和军事上的一个空前绝后的大失败。到那时候——不妨设想一下，你别忘了——到那时候就得由海军用原子弹来打垮德国了。原子弹就在这里，在阿纳科斯蒂亚制造出来。” “哎呀” 帕森斯咧嘴苦笑了一下：“不要紧张！陆军已使总统言听计从，世界上最伟大的智慧人物都在为此工作，而且他们的经费开支之大，和我们相比是百万对一。他们有可能造出一颗炸弹来，只要大自然确实不够严实，留下了这么个空子让我们钻。不过到时候我们还是继续烧我们的小洋铁罐。请记住万一出现的另一种情况。明天到人事局去接受命令。” "Yes, yes, sir." 在烛光下，罗达的脸蛋象个少妇。他们吃着罗达烘的甜点心樱桃馅饼，帕格困倦得好象掉进雾里一样，但仍在向罗达讲他回国途中在努阿美停留的情形。他们已经喝了两瓶酒，现在正喝第三瓶，所以帕格对赤道南面那块沉寂的法属殖民地因美国参战而带来的那片狂欢景象描绘得有点颠三倒四。他很想描绘一番设在一家古老得发臭的法国旅馆中的军人俱乐部里的那种可笑场面：穿着军装的军人外三层、里三层地围着几个海军护士和法国女人。上校们和中校们紧靠里因t 下级军官则围在外圈，目不转睛地盯着这些女人。帕格简直困乏极了，连罗达的脸看上去也好象在烛光中摇曳。 “亲爱的，”她柔声踌躇地打断了他的话，“我看你有点精神恍惚了。” “什么？哪儿的话？” “你刚才说，这些都是你同华伦亲眼看见的，而且华伦还开了个玩笑——” 帕格惊醒了过来。他在讲的时候，确实浑浑饨饨地打着吃，梦幻同回忆交织在一起，想象着中途岛战役之后很久，华伦依旧活着，出现在拥挤不堪、烟雾弥漫的努阿美俱乐部里，用他惯常的姿势举着一罐啤酒，说：“爸爸，那些姑娘全都忘了一旦脱光军服，军衔越高，就越没劲儿。”这纯粹是幻想，华伦生前根本就没去过努阿美。 “对不起，”他使劲摇了摇头说。 “咖啡就不喝了吧，”——她关切地看看他，“我送你上床去吧。” “见鬼，不行。我想喝咖啡。还有白兰地。我兴致正高着呢，罗达。” “也许炉火使得你想睡了。” 这幢古老的房子里，大部分房间都有壁炉。宽敞的餐厅里的雕木壁炉台，在忽明忽暗地跃动的木柴火光中那高雅的气派简直叫人吃不消。帕格已经变得和罗达的这种生活方式格格不入了。他本来就一向觉得那一套是太奢华了。他站起身来，感到头晕腿软，酒意很深。“可能是。我把红烧酒拿到里边去，你去弄咖啡吧。” “亲爱的，酒也让我给你拿去吧。” 他走进起坐室，倒在一把椅子上，旁边壁炉里已经结起了一层厚厚的灰烬。明亮的枝形灯给装点好了的圣诞树笼罩上一层商店橱窗似的花哨色彩。整幢房子都暖和起来了，室内散发着一种积满灰尘的散热器发出的热气味。罗达把恒温器的温度调高，同时跟他说：“我住惯了冷房子。难怪英国人认为我们象蒸海味一样蒸我们自己。当然，你是刚从热带回来的人。” 帕格觉得很奇怪，自己明明醒着，也会阴阳颠倒地看到华伦的形象。他头脑恍馆又怎么会想出那样的俏皮话呢？华伦的声音会那样熟悉，那样跟活人一样！“爸爸，一旦脱光军服，军衔越高，就越没劲儿！”完全是华伦的口吻；他本人和拜伦从来都不会说这样的话。 罗达把酒瓶和酒杯放在他的手边。“咖啡很快就好，宝贝。” 他呷着酒，感到如果他一上床，就能一动不动地睡上十四个小时。但是罗达操劳忙碌了那么一大阵，而晚饭又是那么丰盛可口：洋葱汤、少见的烤牛肉、酸奶油烤土豆、面包粉和干酪花菜；她的紧身红绸新装可以叫人看得目瞪口呆，头发梳妆得象是要去参加舞会，她的一举一动都在表明她诚心相爱，倾心承欢。用涅罗柏已经为远方归来的人儿做好了无微不至的准备，帕格也不想使自己的妻子感到扫兴和有失体面。但是不知道是因为上了年纪，还是因为疲劳，或者是因为何比的事情仍然悬而未决，帕格对她毫无情欲的冲动。丝毫没有。 他脸上现出一丝羞愧的神情，张开两眼，看到她正微笑地俯视着他。“我看咖啡也起不了多大作用，帕格。” “是啊，真泄气。” 准备上床了，他睡意却消失了一半。从浴室走出来，他发现罗达还是穿戴整齐，正在铺他的那张床。他觉得自己是个傻瓜。他想拥抱她，但她却象女学生那样笑嘻嘻地把他灵巧地挡开了。“我的心肝，我爱你爱得发痴，但我确实认为你力不从心。好好睡一夜，老虎会回来打食的。” 帕格睡意蒙肽地叹了声气，倒在床上。罗达轻轻地吻了吻他的嘴唇。“你回来了，我就高兴。” 罗达关灯的时候，帕格低声说：“真对不起你。” 罗达一点也不动气，反倒松了口气。她脱下红绸衣服，披上一件宽舒的家常便服，下楼去把这顿晚饭和已经过完的这一天的残迹收拾干净。把起坐室里的烟灰缸倒掉，把炉灰铲进灰桶，堆好明天早晨用的壁炉柴火，把炉灰和垃圾倒到外面。在过道里那一刻呼吸的冰冷空气、瞥见闪烁的繁星和积雪在她拖鞋下发出的嘎吱嘎吱的响声，都使她觉得乐滋滋的。 在梳妆室里，罗达手边放着一杯白兰地，放热水准备洗澡；在炫目的灯光照射下，在几面大镜子中间，她开始卸妆。把胭脂、口红、眉膏和一直涂到锁骨的润肤油统统抹去了。她赤身裸体跨进了热气腾腾的浴缸。由于几个月来坚持减少进食，身体显得纤瘦，几乎青筋毕露。她的肋骨明显得失去了任何诱惑力；幸好腹部平直，臀部也不臃肿，乳房虽不大，但样子还过得去。至于脸蛋儿，哎呀，少女的容颜已荡然无存。但她认为，哈里森。彼得斯上校仍旧会觉得她有魅力。 在罗达看来，不管怎样，欲念这个东西十之八九取决于男人的心思，女人本身就在于促进男人的这种要求，只要她觉察到了这种要求而又配得上她胃口的话。帕格喜欢她瘦一些，因此为了他们的这次团聚，她把自己弄得可真够瘦的了。罗达心里明白，她的处境不妙，但她并不担心自己在性欲方面所具有的对丈夫的诱惑力。如果说帕格对爱情是忠贞不贰的话，那么这就是他们婚姻的一个牢固基础。 她全身泡在温水里，感到惬意舒适。尽管她表面一直很镇静，但整个晚上她却象一只受惊的猫，心里非常紧张。帕格的拘谨有礼、无所责难、举止谦恭和感情冷淡，便已表明了一切。他的沉默比其他人用语言更能说明问题。毫无疑问，他已宽恕了她（不论这可能意味着什么）。可是他甚至还没开始把这件事忘掉，虽然他似乎不打算提起那些匿名信。尽管如此，她的第一天过得还算顺利。事情总算过去了，他们避免了那种一触即发的局面，处于一种相互可以容忍的地步。她曾一直害怕第一夜在床上的接触，因为那样太容易出乱子了。只要几分钟的别别扭扭动作就可能增加隔阂。性交作为寻欢作乐，此时此刻她已全不在乎。她还有更忧心的事呢。 罗达是个有条理的女人，习惯于有计划地办事，或是写下来，或是在脑子里盘算好。洗澡的时间就是她回顾思考的时间。今晚要考虑的第一桩事就是她的婚姻本身。尽管帕格的来信十分和善；尽管华伦牺牲后出现了高涨的和解感情——既然他们现在也见面了，事情能否就此得到挽救呢？总的来看，她认为是可能的。他们的见面已产生了直接的实效。 哈里森。彼得斯上校对罗达着迷得神魂颠倒。他每逢星期天总要到圣约翰教堂来，就是为了同她多见面。起先，她弄不明白他看中了她什么，因为（据她听说）华盛顿有的是放荡不羁的姑娘，如有需要，他垂手可得。现在她知道了，因为他已经告诉了她。她就是他梦寐以求的那种军人太太：漂亮、忠实、端庄、虔诚、高雅，而且勇敢。他钦佩她在丧子之痛时的表现。在他们两人相会的时候——她从同柯比的事中吸取了教训，因此见面次数始终不多，要见面也是在大庭广众之中——他有意引她谈论华伦的事，有时他自己也要揩揩眼泪。这个男子汉生性倔强，身居要职，在陆军中干着某种高度机密的工作；但在日常生活中，他却是个五十多岁的孤独单身汉，对于花天酒地的瞎胡闹他已感到厌倦，要想好好娶妻成家，年纪又太大了，然而却渴望安顿下来。就是这么个男人，只要她愿意，便可到手。 但是，只要能把帕格牢牢抓住，她便心满意足了。帕格是她的生命。她同巴穆。打比的事情，纯粹是出于她的罗曼蒂克的欲望。离婚再结婚，即便是在最好的情况下，也难免闹得满城风雨。她的身份、声誉以及自尊心，都取决于保持住她的维克多。亨利太太的身份。搬到夏威夷去住实在是困难太大，麻烦太多；也许这未尝不是一件好事情，在她此次和亨利重新团聚之前，已过了一段时间，而且最新的创伤也已大体愈合。帕格不是个庸碌汉子。Victor.亨利是垮不了的。可不是，白宫又在召见他了！他的命运够糟的了，她自己的不端行为也包括在内；要是说有谁能经得起这种风浪的冲击，帕格就是。罗达以她自己的方式尊敬帕格，甚至爱帕格。华伦的死扩大了她那有限的爱心。破碎了的心如果修补好了，有时反而会扩大。 罗达泡在浴缸里，心里估量着当前的情况。照她的估计，似乎经过轻而易举的和解，他们就会重归于好。毕竟还有帕米拉。塔茨伯利这桩事。帕格也有需要宽恕之处，尽管她并不知道到底是怎么一回事。晚饭桌上，他们谈起塔茨伯利的死的时候，她曾仔细地观察过帕格的面部表情。“我心里挂念的是，帕米拉今后怎么办，”她鼓起勇气说，“你知道，我是在他ffl 经过好莱坞时和他们相会的。你收到我那封信吗？那个不幸的人在好莱坞露天会场发表了一次出色的演讲。” “我知道，你把演讲稿寄给了我。” “帕格，讲稿实际上是她写的，她亲口对我说的。” “是的，在他的晚年，帕姆一直为他代笔，写了不少槁子。不过，主意都是他的。”不知是因为疲劳还是别的什么原因，这个老狐狸丝毫不感到惊慌，声调听起来若无其事。 此事却也无关紧要。罗达对帕米拉。塔茨伯利在好莱坞的那番惊人的表白作过仔细分析，大体是这样看法：如果象她那样一位多情的妙龄美人——从外表看，就能知道她对男人懂得很多——没能在华伦刚死的时候勾引住帕格，这样看来，他们的婚姻还是牢靠的，何况当时帕格又是远离家人，有隙可乘，为了柯比的事而夫妻不和，肯定每晚要喝醉酒。如果她能保住帕格，她就可以把身高六英尺三英寸、仪表堂堂的哈里森。彼得斯上校置之脑后。哈里森对她的仰慕之情是一张车祸保险单。拿在手里，她很高兴，但是她希望永远不要求助于它。 在卧室的微弱灯光下，帕格脸上的那些严峻的线条在酣睡中却显得柔和了。罗达心中产生了一种不由自主的冲动——要不要悄悄地钻到他床上去？这些年来，她很少这样做过；全都是很久以前了，不是晚上饮酒过度，就是同别人的丈夫调情之后。她的难得的主动行动，使帕格感到受宠若惊，显得漂亮可爱。过去他们之间的一次次阳脑，只消一番床庆温存便都涣然冰释。 然而她却有些踌躇。一个安分守己的配偶向她作战归来的丈夫献媚，以慰渴望之情，这是一回事；但对她来说——还在接受考验，还要寻求宽恕——这样不就是另外一回事了吗？不就成了把自己的肉体当诱饵，有卑贱的肉欲之嫌了吗？当然，这些都不在罗达的盘算之列。这些念头按照一种女性的象征逻辑在她的脑子里急速闪过。她还是上了自己的床。 帕格猛地醒来，酒意已消，浑身不舒服，使他心头惊恐。罗达戴着一顶全是经把的发帽，沉睡方酣。翻来覆去还是不行。他得再喝点酒或是吃片安眠药，他在盥洗室里找到那件最暖和的浴衣披上，然后走到书房，活动酒柜就在那里。古色古香的书桌上，放着一大本皮面的剪贴簿，华伦的照片很仔细地镶嵌在封面上，照片下面是一行烫金的字：美国海军上尉华伦。亨利他用水兑了一杯烈性威士忌，一面象见了幽灵似的凝视着这本照相簿。他走出房间，关掉了灯；他又回房来，摸索到书桌旁，拧亮了台灯。他一手端酒站着，一页一页地翻着照相簿。在封面的里页是华伦小时候的一张照片，四周镶着黑边；在封底的里页，是《华盛顿邮报》上关于他的讣告，还有一张模糊不清的照片；在对面一页上，是海军部长用黑墨水粗体字签署的追授海军十字勋章的证书。 在这本照相簿里，罗达用照片排列了他们的头生儿子短暂的一生：第一次用红绿蜡笔在幼儿园粗糙的纸上学着写字——圣诞快乐；在诺福克读小学一年级的第一张成绩报告单——学习优，手工优十，品行中；孩子们生日聚会的照片，夏令营的照片，荣誉证书，运动员奖状，学校演出节目单，田径运动会照片，毕业照，反映书法和语言逐年进步的示范信件；海军学院的各种证件和照片，任职令、晋升令和调职令，其间还穿插了他在飞机驾驶舱、在军舰上的快照。他同杰妮丝。拉古秋订婚、结婚的照片和纪念品贴满了整整六页（有一张照片上娜塔丽。杰斯特罗穿着黑色服装，在阳光下站在全身白礼服的新婚夫妇身旁，这使帕格感到一阵揪心）；最后几页上贴满了这次战争的纪念品——他的飞行中队排列在“企业号”的甲板上，华伦坐在停在甲板上和飞在空中的飞机驾驶舱里的照片，登在军舰小报上一幅有关他对人侵俄国的演讲的滑稽漫画。最后两页也镶着黑边，中间是华伦给他母亲的最后一封信，用打字机在“企业号”信笺上打的，日期是三月，他牺牲前三个月。 看到了他死去的儿子所写的这些活生生的词句，帕格不觉为之一惊，象要把它吞下去似的读了起来。华伦一向最恨写信。在第一页上，他详细描述了维克说话如何聪明，动作如何可爱，以及在夏威夷的家务问题；在第二页上，他显得动感情了：妈妈，我就要去执行拂晓巡航，因此我最好停笔。我没经常给您写信，心里感到很抱歉。我们停泊在港口里的时候，我总是设法去看看爸爸。我想爸爸是经常给您写信，告诉您我们的情况的。关于我的工作，我也不能多写。 但是我要告诉您，每当我起飞掠过水面时，每当我返航在甲板上降落时，我总是庆幸，庆幸我在彭萨科拉学好了飞行。在这场战争中，海军航空兵为数不多。维克长大后，在他读着这一切、看着我这个白发苍苍、身为他爸爸的老家伙的时候，我想，他是不会为我的所作所为感到羞愧的。 当然，我希望在维克长大成人时，这个世界将会摆脱战争。我不知道，对于胜利者说来，这种操练是否一向就是一种乐趣，或者还是有利可图的事业。但我这一代人是能够从战斗中得到乐趣的最后一代人，妈妈，战争变得太不顾个人、太复杂、耗费太大、死人太多了。人们得要找出一种比较明智的方法管理这个星球。德国、日本这样的武装强盗，专门制造冲突，但从今以后就得不等他们动手，把他们扼死。 因此，我几乎不愿承认打仗是多么有趣。我希望我的儿子永远不会知道驾驶飞机迎着高射炮火向下俯冲的那种恐惧和荣誉感交织在一起的心情。战争简直是一种愚蠢到了极点的谋生之道。然而我现在L ＿正在干着这种蠢事。但我必须告诉您，就是把全中国的茶叶都给我一个人，我也决不肯错过这一机会。我希望看到维克将来能成为一个政治家，为了把这个世界整顿好而工作。当这一切会告结束的时候，甚至我自己也要尝试一下，为他开辟一条道路。拂晓巡航的时间到了。 爱您的华伦帕格合上照相簿，一口喝干了他的第二杯酒。他抚摸着粗糙的皮封面，就象在抚摸孩子的脸蛋。他关上灯，步履螨珊地走回楼上的卧室。华伦的母亲仍在酣睡，她仰卧着，好端端的侧影被那个奇形怪状的发帽弄得不成样于。帕格凝视着她，好象她是个陌生人。把这些照片收集成册的时候，她是怎么经受得住的呢？这件事，象许多她做过的事一样，也是一们。了不起的事。他到现在还不敢大声说出儿子的名字，而她竟做到了这一切，把这些纪念品搜寻出来，两眼看着它们，并有条不紊地把它整理装饰起来。 帕格上了床，脸扑在枕头上，让威士忌使他的头脑晕眩，好使自己再有几个小时忘掉一切。