Donny strode down Troop Walk, aware of the growing number of eyes upon him. He had a fleeting impression of men running to catch a glimpse of him going, even, across the way, when he passed by Center House, the base's BOQ, a couple of off-duty first lieutenants came out onto the porch in Bermudas and T's to watch him pass by.
He turned into the parking lot, where a tan government Ford, with a squid driving, waited by the steps, he then turned left, climbed and walked across the porch and into the first sergeant's office, which led to Captain Dogwood's office. The first sergeant, holding a cup of coffee with Semper Fi emblazoned on the porcelain, nodded at him, as orderlies and clerks scurried to make way.
'They're waiting on you, Fenn.'
'Yes, First Sergeant,' said Donny.
He stepped into the office.
Captain Dogwood sat behind his desk, and Bonson and Weber, in their summer khakis, sat across from him.
'Sir, Corporal Fenn, reporting as ordered, sir,' Donny said.
'Ah, very good, Fenn,' said Dogwood.
'Did you misunderstand the uniform of the day? I--' 'Sir, no, sir Donny said.
'Sir, permission to speak, sir! Another moment of silence.
'Fenn,' said the captain, 'I'd consider carefully before--'
'Let him speak,' said Bonson, eyeing Donny without love.
Donny turned to face the man fully.
'Sir, the corporal wishes to state categorically that he will not testify against a fellow Marine on charges of which he has no personal knowledge. He will not perjure himself, he will not take part in any proceedings involving the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Sir 'Fenn, what are you pulling?' asked Weber.
'We had an agreement.'
'Sir, we never had an agreement. You gave me orders to investigate, which I did, against my better instincts and in contravention to every moral belief I have. I did my duty. My investigation was negative. Sir, that is all I have to say, sir 'Fenn,' said Bonson, fixing him with a mean glare, 'you have no idea what forces you're playing with and what can happen to you. This is no game, this is the serious business of defending the security of our nation.'
'Sir, I have fought for our nation and I have bled for our nation. No man who hasn't has the right to tell me about defending our nation, whatever his rank, sir} Finally, sir, may I sincerely say, sir, you are an asshole and a creep and you haven't done one thing for the United States of America, and if you want to meet me out back, let's go. Bring Weber. I'll kick his ass too!'
'Fenn!' said Dogwood.
'All right, Captain Dogwood,' said Bonson.
'I see this is the kind of Marine you have here at Eighth and I. I'm very disappointed. This reflects on you, Captain, and my report will so state. Fenn, if I were you, I'd start packing.
Don't forget your jungle boots.'
He turned and walked out.
'That was stupid, Fenn,' said Weber.
'Fuck you, Weber, you ass-kissing creep.'
Weber swallowed and turned to Dogwood.
'Restrict him to quarters. His orders will be cut by four.'
Then he turned and walked out.
Dogwood went to the phone and talked in an intimate voice with someone. Then he hung up.
'Sit down, Fenn,' said Dogwood, turning back to Donny.
'Do you smoke?'
'No, sir.'
'Well, I do.' Shaking a little, he lit up a Marlboro and went to the door.
'Welch, get in here!'
Welch scurried in.
'Yes, sir.'
'You have until four, Welch, to get liberty papers cut for Corporal Fenn, get 'em back here for my signature.
Seventy-two hours. If you have to run over to personnel at Henderson Hall, you take my car and driver. Don't stop for traffic. Do you understand?'
'Uh, well, sir, I, it's highly irregular, I'm not--' 'You heard me, Welch,' said the captain.
'Now get going.'
He turned back to Donny.
