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Show Flying - 203 "We have to look good tomorrow," he says, pausing just behind Arkwright. "That's the commander of the whole Sixth Army coming to look at us. Everyone nust do his best." "What good do a l l these inspections do, s i r ? " says O'Connell, whining a l i t t l e to make i t convincing. "They're what you might call a necessary e v i l , " says Wilberforce. "They keep us on our toes and give the general a chance to get to know his command," says Wilberforce the educator. He s t r o l l s fron bed to bed, looking at the displays of equipment, ready to praise or to condenn. The general nust not be disappointed. "The eye-pieces on your gas-mask are dirty, -Thompson," he says, holding up the rubber mask and looking through i t at the light. "Yes, sir," says Thompson. Wilberforce walks back to Arkwright's cot and picks up his carbine. A happy lieutenant involved in a necessary evil, and who has learned to love it. A nan doing his duty with the added moral spice of knowing that it is evil, and that it must be done. "Better run another patch down that barrel, Arkwright," says the moral man. "I can see a little dirt in there." O'Connell shambles over, all but touching his forelock, and sits on the edge of John Henry's bed, in the lieutenant's |