Page 24

'Are you a windy son of a bitch?'

'No, sir.'

'Goddammit, you are trying to pick a fight with me. For two stinking cents I'd jump over this big fat table and rip your stinking, cowardly body apart limb from limb.'

'Do it! Do it!' cried Major Metcalf 'Metcalf, you stinking son of a bitch. Didn't I tell you to keep your stinking, cowardly, stupid mouth shut?'

'Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir.'

'Then suppose you do it.'

'I was only trying to learn, sir. The only way a person can learn is by trying.'

'Who says so?'

'Everybody says so, sir. Even Lieutenant Scheisskopf says so.'

'Do you say so?'

'Yes, sir,' said Lieutenant Scheisskopf. 'But everybody says so.'

'Well, Metcalf, suppose you try keeping that stupid mouth of yours shut, and maybe that's the way you'll learn how. Now, where were we? Read me back the last line.'

' "Read me back the last line," ' read back the corporal who could take shorthand.

'Not my last line, stupid!' the colonel shouted. 'Somebody else's.'

' "Read me back the last line," ' read back the corporal.

'That's my last line again!' shrieked the colonel, turning purple with anger.

'Oh, no, sir,' corrected the corporal. 'That's my last line. I read it to you just a moment ago. Don't you remember, sir? It was only a moment ago.'

'Oh, my God! Read me back his last line, stupid. Say, what the hell's your name, anyway?'

'Popinjay, sir.'

'Well, you're next, Popinjay. As soon as his trial ends, your trial begins. Get it?'

'Yes, sir. What will I be charged with?'

'What the hell difference does that make? Did you hear what he asked me? You're going to learn, Popinjay--the minute we finish with Clevinger you're going to learn. Cadet Clevinger, what did--You are Cadet Clevinger, aren't you, and not Popinjay?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Good. What did--'

'I'm Popinjay, sir.'

'Popinjay, is your father a millionaire, or a member of the Senate?'

'No, sir.'

'Then you're up shit creek, Popinjay, without a paddle. He's not a general or a high-ranking member of the Administration, is he?'

'No, sir.'

'That's good. What does your father do?'