OCR Text |
Show 119 WAS IN THE OFFING." He paused, his eyes yoking the two together. "MARRIAGE IS A GREAT SACRAMENT. COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED. ANY TIME SOON?" "As soon as possible. We've asked for permission." "TAKES A WHILE, OF COURSE. MUST BE PATIENT. I WONDER. . . ." His brow furrowed, and he bent closer. "I HAVE A BOOK - - " A tittering started nearby. Love, Powerful Love was one of the Captain's better-known offerings, and had at first been thought, erroneously, to concern Jesus. He had presented a copy to a staff-sergeant the night the latter's wife arrived in Yokohama, and according to rumors later, the gift made the trip so diverting that the couple had been ordered off the train. Kimiko now looked aside, and Bain was drawn to change the topic. "YOU SAY THE ARMY'S APPROVED?" "We* ve applied." "GOOD. WELL. BE SORRY TO LOSE YOU. BUT DELIGHTED AT THE EVENT. DELIGHTED. DELIGHTED." The plump little shape beamed upward, cupid in khaki, and only the arrival of the Murakamis spared the happy couple further felictations. Bain made his purchases and departed, and walking toward Headquarters fell in step with Sid. "AFTERNOON, CAPTAIN." "Afternoon. Back to the office?" "RIGHT. JUST LEFT THE PX." And matching his short steps to Sid's longer ones, Bain fell into stride. "HEARD THE NEWS. SPLENDID DEVELOPMENT. FINE GIRL. NOT A FLAW IN HER CHARACTER." |