Cold is the Sea Read Free Page B

learn.”
    â€œThat’s not true, Admiral,” said Richardson. “I’m willing to give it all I’m capable of, if you’ll let me have the chance. None of the nuclear power books gives the operational know-how needed, anyway. They’re all theoretical. The only way anyone can get that is through your program. You’re the only person or organization which has ever built an operational nuclear power plant.” Trying to guess how the interview would go, he and Laura had decided that a little flattery would do no harm. “There’s bound to be a lot of nuclear stuff in New London that I’ll have to deal with. Personal ambition has nothing to do with it. With or without nuclear training, I’m already designated for the squadron up there. All I want is to be able to do a better job.”
    â€œAll I’ve got to do to keep you from commanding Squadron Ten is to say I don’t want you up there. What do you think of that? Did the Chief of Personnel send you over here to beg?”
    There had been an ever increasing bite to Brighting’s words, and now the insult direct. Rich could feel his adrenaline flow increasing. But he had anticipated this. He would not succumb to Brighting’s famous baiting tactics. He was willing to become a supplicant, was one already. He had already decided he would beg, if necessary. If Brighting insisted on it. He would choke, but he would do it. “Admiral,” he said evenly, as evenly as he could, “please! Nobody knows I’m here. I came over here on my own, to beg your help. I am begging. If you’ll give me a chance, I guarantee you’ll be pleased with my performance, both in training and in New London afterward.”
    â€œWhat makes you think your performance one way or the other means anything to me?”
    There was pressure on the back of Richardson’s neck. He would not be able to stand this much longer. “Admiral, when I first came over to talk about this, you told me you agreed that ComSubRon Ten should get nuclear training. What has happened, sir? Won’t you at least tell me what changed your mind?” This would have to be his final effort.
    â€œI don’t have to tell you anything. I didn’t ask you to come over here. You might consider that it costs thousands of dollars to put one man through my course. I’m responsible for the proper use of that money. You have only a few more years of service before you either retire or they make an admiral out ofyou. Either way, you’ll have no further use for anything we could teach you. After thinking it over, I decided it would be a waste of government funds.”
    â€œBut Admiral,” Rich began desperately, “you told me it was going to be your policy from now on that commanders of nuclear squadrons would be nuclear-trained—”
    â€œThank you for coming to see me,” Brighting interrupted. He made one last penciled mark in the loose-leaf binder, put it down, picked up another book from his desk, leaned back in his chair and began to read.
    â€œI don’t know how I got out of there without saying something really disrespectful,” Rich told Laura. “He was arrogant and contemptuous. I can’t remember when I’ve been so mad!”
    Laura was lying with her arms around him, her head pillowed on his chest. “He was brutal to you,” she agreed, “but there’s more to it than that.”
    â€œHe had his mind made up before I got there, that was obvious, and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t have much use for me. After today, I don’t have much for him, either. That won’t worry him a great deal, but I sure agree with you. There’s more to it, and he’s a strange character. I wasn’t even sure he was completely serious, at least not until near the end. For a while I thought he might be testing me somehow, sort of working me over to see how I’d react.