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."Page 119 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe corporal went up a ladder carrying Moore's bag and went aboard.GunnyZimmerman touched Moore's arm in a signal to stop.What the hell is going on? This thing is at least fifty feet long.Withoutquestion, by any definition, a yacht.A startlingly beautiful young woman wearing white shorts and a red T-shirtemblazoned with the insignia of the U.S.Marine Corps appeared at the sternrail.She had jet black hair cut in a page boy, and the baggy T-shirt seemedto do more to call attention to a very attractive figure than to conceal it."Hi!" she called down."The Lieutenant call, Miss Ernie?" Gunny Zimmerman asked."Yes, he did.And I told you the next time you called me 'Miss Ernie' I wasgoing to throw you in the harbor," she said.She looked at Moore."Hi! Comeaboard.I've been expecting you.""Go aboard.I'll be back for you in the morning," Gunny Zimmerman ordered."You want a beer, Zimmerman?" the girl asked."Got to get back, Miss Ernie," Zimmerman said."The Lieutenant said he mightbe a little late.""There, you did it again!" she said."Jesus Christ, Miss Ernie," he said uncomfortably, "you're the Lieutenant'slady.""Just don't stand close to the edge of the dock, Zimmerman," she said."You're warned."Zimmerman hid his face from the young woman."You watch yourself with thatlady, Moore," he said, with more than a hint of menace.And then he marched back up the pier to the truck.As Moore walked to the ladder, the corporal came down it."Nice!" he said, as he walked past Moore.The black-haired girl was waiting on the deck with her hand held out."I'm Ernie Sage," she said."As Zimmerman so discreetly put it, I'm KenMcCoy's 'lady.' Welcome aboard.""How do you do?" Moore said, taking the offered hand."I'm Sergeant Moore.""Have you got a first name?""John.""Would you like a beer, John? Or something stronger?""I'd love a beer.Thank you."As he followed her down the deck to the cabin, Moore observed that she wasjust as good looking from that perspective.Page 120 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlShe opened a refrigerator door and took out a bottle of beer."Mexican," she said."Ken says it's much better than the kind they make in'Diego.Would you like a glass?""The bottle's fine, thank you," he said."Where are you from?""Philadelphia," he said."Oh, I'm from Jersey.Bernardsville.I've spent some time in Philly.I usedto go with a guy-nothing serious-who was at U.P.""I went to the University of Pennsylvania," he said."And then you joined the Corps?"He nodded."Ken's from Norristown," she said."But he's only been back once since hejoined the Corps.""Oh," Moore said, aware that he was tongue-tied."I told Whatsisname, Zimmerman's driver, the one he won't let drive, to putyour bag in a cabin-second door to the right when you go below-so if you'dlike, when you finish your beer, you could have a shower.""I need one," Moore said."I've been traveling for forty-eight hours.""And you've been on The Lark," she said with a smile."Anyone who's been onThe Lark needs a long, hot shower."She smiled at him, and he smiled back.He had no idea who this young womanwas, but he liked her.Sergeant John Marston Moore, USMCR, came back in the cabin just as SecondLieutenant Kenneth R.McCoy, USMCR, entered it from the deck.Lieutenant McCoy, who was in dress green uniform, looked not unlike othersecond lieutenants Moore had seen.That is, he was young-about my age, Moorethought-and trim, and immaculately shaven and dressed.But there was onesignificant difference.Above the silver marksmanship medals which all secondlieutenants seemed to have- although McCoy seemed to have more of these, allEXPERT -he had five colored ribbons, representing medals.Moore had seen veryfew second lieutenants with any ribbons at all.Moore didn't know what all of them represented, but he did recognize two.Onewas the Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal.McCoy's had a tinybronze star, signifying that he had participated in a campaign.And on top wasthe ribbon representing the Purple Heart.This second lieutenant had alreadybeen to the war in the Pacific and had been wounded.Miss Ernestine Page kissed Lieutenant McCoy.It was a wifely demonstration ofaffection, Moore judged, although it had been made clear that whatever herrelationship was with Lieutenant McCoy, she was not his legal spouse."I'm Ken McCoy, Moore," he said."I'm a friend of Captain Sessions.ErniePage 121 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlbeen taking good care of you?" He put out his hand.His grip was firm, andthere was something about his eyes that made Moore decide that this was a goodman."Yes, Sir, she has.""Let me get a beer, Baby, and get out of this uniform," McCoy said."GiveMoore another one.""Aye, aye, Sir.Right away, Sir."McCoy patted her possessively on the buttocks."Be nice," he said."I'm always nice," Ernie Page said."How about eighty percent of the time?" McCoy said, and, carrying a bottle ofbeer, went below.By the time Moore had finished his second beer, McCoyreappeared, wearing shorts and a T-shirt.He looked even younger than he hadbefore.He caught Moore's eye."Why don't I loan you a pair of shorts and a T-shirt?" he asked."I don't want to trouble you, Sir.""You'll trouble me in your greens," McCoy said."Come on."He took two fresh bottles of beer from the refrigerator and led Moore belowagain.He sat on the double bed in the cabin as Moore changed out of hisgreens."Zimmerman tell you about Outshipment? The way those feather merchants handledifficult passengers like you?""Yes, Sir.""And that we figured out how to-fuck them-get you on your way to Australia?""Yes, Sir," Moore replied, and then took a chance."Is that where I'm going,Sir, to Australia?""Sessions didn't tell you? What the hell is the big secret? He told me youwere going to Australia when he called and asked me to make sure you got onthe plane.""No, Sir, he didn't tell me.""OK.Well, keep your mouth shut, about where you're going, and who told you.""Yes, sir.""You're going to Australia.You know the outfit?""My orders say 'Special Detachment 14.' I don't know what that means, Sir.""Well, I guess that's the reason for the secrecy.So I won't go into that.But your new CO is one of the good guys.His name is Major Ed Banning.I usedPage 122 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlto work for him in Shanghai.So did Captain Sessions.For that matter, so didZimmerman
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