From Here to Eternity Read Free

him out to put the pressure on you, any time." "So have I," Prew said. "I just guess he never found out I was here." "He wont miss it on your Form 20 when you're in his compny. He'll want you for his boxing squad." "Theres nothin in the ARs says a man has got to jockstrap when he doesnt want to." "Come on," Red taunted. "You think the ARs'll bother him? when the Great White Father wants to keep that championship? You think he'll let a fighter who's got the rep you have just hibernate? in his own company? without fightin for the Regment? just because you decided once you wouldnt fight no more? Even a genius like you cant be that simple." "I dont know," Prew said. "Chief Choate's in his compny. Chief Choate use to be the heavyweight champ of Panama." "Yes," Red said. "But Chief Choate's the Great White Father's fair-haired boy because he's the best first baseman in the Hawaiian Department. Holmes cant pressure him. But even so, Chief Choate's been in G Compny four years now, and he's still a corporal." "Well," Prew said. "If the Chief would transfer out, he could make Staff in any other compny. I guess if it gets too rough I can always transfer out myself." "Yeah?" Red said. "You think so? You know who the top kicker of George Co is?" "Sure," Prew said. "I know. Warden." "Thats right, man," Red said. "Milton Anthony Warden. Who use to be our Staff in A Compny. The meanest son of a bitch in Schoneld Barricks. And who hates you worse than poison." "Thats funny," Prew said slowly. "I never felt that Warden hated me. I dont hate him." Red smiled bitterly. "After all the run-ins you've had with him? Even you cant be that green." "It wasnt him," Prew said. "It was just that that was what his job was." "A man is his job," Red said. "And now he's not a Staff; he's got two rockers and a diamond now. Listen, Prew. Everything's against you. You're movin into a game where every card is in the other hand." Prew nodded. "I know that," he said. "Go up and see the Old Man," Red pleaded. "Theres still time this morning. I wouldnt steer you wrong. I've had to play politics all my life for what I wanted. I can sense the way a thing is going. All you got to do is see The Man, and he will tear them papers up." Prew stood up then, and standing, looking down into the anxious face of him who was his friend, he could feel the energy of sincerity that was pouring from Red's eyes, pouring over him with a firehose concentration whose name was sincerity. And somehow it was a thing that startled him, that it should be there, and that he could see it, pleading with him. "I cant do it, Red," he said. As if for the first time he was really giving up, was actually believing it, Red slumped back in his chair, the concentrated pouring dispersed and dissipated against this wall he did not understand. "I hate to see you go," he said. "I just cant help it, Red," Prew said. "Okay," Red said. "Have it your way, kid. Its your funeral." "Thats whats the matter," Prewitt said. Red ran his tongue over his teeth slowly, probing. "What do you aim to do about the git-tar, Prew?" "You keep it. Its half yours anyway. I wont have no use for it," Prew said. The other coughed. "I ought at least to pay you for your half. Ony I'm broke right now," he added, hastily. Prewitt grinned; this was the Red he knew again. "I'm giving you my half, Red. No strings attached. Whats a matter? Dont you want it?" "Sure. But?" "Then keep it. If your conscience hurts you, you can say its payment for helping me to pack." "I hate to do that," Red said. "Figure it this way," Prew said. "I'll come back over now and then. I'm not going Stateside. I'll come over and use it, every now, and then." "No, you wont," Red said. "We both know you wont. When a guy moves, he moves it all. The distance doesnt matter." Before this sudden honesty Prew had to look away. Red was right and Prew knew it, and Red knew he knew it. Transferring in the army was comparable to a civilian moving from one city to another. His