第39部分(第1/7 頁)

When　he　was　well　and　in　charge　of　himself；　not　distracted　by　worry　or　grief；　Hal　Moores　had　a　cutting　and　sarcastic　facet　to　his　personality；　his　subordinates　feared　that　side　of　him　even　more　than　his　anger　or　his　contempt；　I　think。　His　sarcasm；　usually　impatient　and　often　harsh；　could　sting　like　acid。　A　little　of　that　now　splashed　on　me。　It　was　unexpected；　but　on　the　whole　I　was　glad　to　hear　it。　All　the　fight　hadn't　gone　out　of　him　after　all；　it　seemed。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　taking　Melinda　out　squaredancing。　We're　going　to　do…si…do；　allemand　left；　and　then　tell　the　fiddler　he's　a　rooster…dick　motherfucker。〃

I　clapped　my　hand　over　my　mouth　to　keep　from　laughing。　Mercifully；　it　was　an　urge　that　passed　in　a　hurry。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃I　haven't　been　getting　much　sleep　lately。　It's　made　me　grouchy。　Of　course　we're　going　to　be　home。　Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃It　doesn't　matter；　I　guess；〃　I　said。

〃You　weren't　thinking　of　ing　by；　were　you？

Because　if　you　were　on　last　night；　you'll　be　on　tonight。　Unless　you've　switched　with　somebody？〃

〃No；　I　haven't　switched；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　on　tonight。〃

〃It　wouldn't　be　a　good　idea；　anyway。　Not　the　way　she　is　right　now。〃

〃Maybe　not。　Thanks　for　your　news。〃

〃You're　wele。　Pray　for　my　Melinda；　Paul。〃

I　said　I　would；　thinking　that　I　might　do　quite　a　bit　more　than　pray。　God　helps　those　who　help　themselves；　as　they　say　in　The　Church　of　Praise　Jesus；　The　Lord　Is　Mighty。　I　hung　up　and　looked　at　Janice。

〃How's　Melly？〃　she　asked。

〃Not　good。〃　I　told　her　what　Hal　had　told　me；　including　the　part　about　the　swearing；　although　I　left　out　cocksucker　and　rooster…dick　motherfucker。　I　finished　with　Hal's　word；　sinking；　and　Jan　nodded　sadly。　Then　she　took　a　closer　look　at　me。