按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
be recognized。
His dad didn't mind doing publicity…he often posed on the set of the MGM Tarzan pictures; with Hollywood's current apeman; Johnny Weissmuller…when it was structured; a part of his work。 When he went out socially; he abhorred the kind of attention the local reporters would stick him with; if they spotted him。
Typically; Pop had lain back when Hully escorted Marjorie to the gangway; knowing that the photographers would be snapping at her heels like hungry dogs。 Marjorie Petty…who for the last five glorious weeks Hully had been dating…was the daughter of pinup artist George Petty; she was; in fact; a living Petty Girl right out of the pages of Esquire; since she was her father's model。
It had been an innocent romance; a few kisses exchanged under the gold moon in a purple sky。 But Marjorie…enjoying a Hawaiian vacation as a college graduation present…was almost constanty chaperoned by her mother (Petty's previous model); who looked somewhat askance upon the ten…year age difference between the Petty girl and the Burroughs boy。
Hully had dared a kiss before she boarded…for once; her mother didn't frown…and; a spring in his step; the young Burroughs rejoined bis father; who was standing with the friend he was seeing off; the reason Tarzan's (and Hully's) daddy had braved the Boat Day crowd。
Colonel Frank Teske of the Army Signal Corps had already seen his wife and infant son aboard to their first…class stateroom; and had returned to invite the Burroughses to join them for refreshments till the 〃all ashore〃 was sounded。
〃No thanks;〃 the elder Burroughs said in his husky baritone; as Hully fell in beside him。 〃I'm off the sauce; and; anyway; I couldn't take those corridors reeking with damn leis; it's like dimestore perfume。。。 not to mention the cigarette smoke。〃
Pop had quit drinking and smoking recently; and was of late displaying a reformer's intolerance for the second habit; if not for the first As for the leis; personally Hully got a charge of the full; fragrant ropes of yellow ilima; the sweet…scented loops of mountain maile; not bad for a quarter apiece。
Colonel Teske was only one of many friends Hully's pop had in military circles。 O。 B。 relished the army bustle of Fort DeRussy; Fort Ruger; Fort Shatter; and Schofield Barracks; a flier himself; he took any excuse for a trip over to Hickam Field。 As for the Navy at Pearl Harbor; the elder Burroughs had on the very day Hully arrived taken his youngest boy to Battleship Row for a personal tour of the California; courtesy of its captain。
Hully had soon learned that his father was thick with most of the brass on Oahu…Hawaii was easy duty for officers; who had lots of time on their hands; and were more than willing to mix with civilians; particularly one as famous as Hully's pop。
Thirtyish; a knife blade of a man with a pencil mustache; just another white linen suit in the crowd; Colonel Teske said; 〃I appreciate you ing down like this; Ed。 I'm sure going to miss our poker games。〃
'I'm going to miss winning your money;〃 O。 B。 said。
In the shadow of his own Panama; the colonel's eyes were tight; and he spoke so softly his words barely registered above the din。 〃I only wish you'd take my advice and get the hell back to the mainland。〃
〃e on; Frank;〃 O。 B。 replied; in his typical staccato fashion。 〃You know a Jap attack here is a long shot This entire island is a fortress! Every point; every headland fortified。。。 Navy and Army and Navy Air Corps; twenty…five thousand troops! I refuse to worry。〃 〃Get yourself on the next boat; Ed。〃 A smirk dimpled Burroughs' cheek。 〃Well; if a skinflint like you springs for traveling first class; you must mean what you say。〃
Shaking his head; Teske said; 〃First Class was the only acmodation available。 There's a record number of passengers on this trip…seventy of 'em assigned to cots in the main lounge!〃
O。 B。 pawed the air goodnaturedly with a big blunt hand。 〃I don't deny war's ing。 But Honolulu is one of the safest places under the Flag。 Teske; you're a damn pessimist!〃
Hully wasn't so sure he agreed with his father。 After all; me Matsonia…the Lurline's sister ship…had been recently converted to a troopship; today was the first time in two weeks transportation to California had been available; excluding a few seats on the Pan Am clippers。
〃No offense; Colonel;〃 Hully said; 〃but you told us there'd be an attack by Thanksgiving; and nothing happened。 What makes you think…〃
〃You'll probably be all right till Christmas。 Oh hell; who knows?' Teske put a hand on O。 B。's shoulder。 〃You may be right; Ed…or why else would the brass order me to San Francisco?〃
〃What are you doing; heading out there; Colonel?〃 Hully asked。 〃If you can say 。。。〃
〃Same thing I was supposed to be doing hoe…install radar installations; and run simulated attacks by carrier…based planes。〃
〃Now that makes sense;〃 Burroughs said。 〃The San Francisco Navy Yard; there's a target〃
Teske shrugged。 〃Anyway; I'm glad to get out of this madhouse。。。。 Ed; thanks for the send…off。 I'll see you in the States。〃
〃One of these days;〃 Burroughs said。
Father and son did not wait around for the Lurline's actual departure; avoiding the hoopla of whistle blasts and a brassy 〃Aloha Oe;〃 hoping to beat the crowd。 They had parked three blocks away; noting more police in evidence than usual…further sabotage fear?…and Fort and Bishop streets were jammed with traffic; it was getting as bad as back home in California; Hully thought。
Pop drove; as usual…he loved to drive…and they both tossed their Panamas on the floor in the backseat; as otherwise the wind would have whisked the hats away; the top was down on the sporty white '37 Pierce Arrow; a twelve…cylinder with chrome wheel covers。 They were heading Waikiki way along the Ala Moana (Sea Road); and traffic had let up some。
As they glided by the United States Army Transport docks; across from which was the Hawaiian General Depot and the Air Depot; Hully asked; 〃What exactly does Colonel Teske do?〃
His blacksmith's hands gripping the steering wheel; O。 B。 glanced over at his son; blue eyes hard。 〃Besides talk a lot of pessimistic baloney? He's with the Army Signal Corps。 mander of the Army's aircraft warning system in Hawaii。〃
Hully had not been privy to the conversations between Teske and his father; but he knew the colonel had arrived only about a month ago; and was a recent addition to the roster of his pop's military pals。
〃So what's this about radar?〃 Hully asked。 They were passing the Myrtle and Healani Boat Clubs。
〃Well; you know what it is; don't you?〃
〃Sure。〃
〃Frank brought radar to the islands; and it's a damn good idea; too。 Look at the role it played in the Battle of Britain。〃 O。 B。 shrugged; wind whipping the white linen of bis jacket。 〃And I guess I can't blame Frank for his attitude…both the military and the civilians have given him one load of horseshit after another。〃
〃How so?〃
〃Well; General Short thinks mobile radar stations aren't worth operating on a twenty…four…hour basis。 To him; they're just a good training tool for the lower ranks。〃
Rather enjoying the wind rustling his hair; Hully asked; 〃What good does radar do if you're not