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Show 191 to stand golden in a cerulean deep. And each night the General returned from his exploits tired, thirsty, buoyant. His great body had always needed action, and at the end of action alcohol, and if deprived •f either had a way of striking out at his nearest and dearest; consequently she was careful to have a few drinking-buddies in each evening, with whom he could work off his exhaustion by staying up until three. The next morning he was off again. So it went for several days. A good tactician, she let the routine lull him into euphoria before attacking tha main fort - - and even then approached it indirectly. One evening before the guests arrived she spoke up casually, with apparaat lack of guile. "Enjoying yourself?" "Oh sure. Quite a place, Oji." He slid down in his chair, to give his stomach room. "Yes, she repeated. "Quite a place." He glanced at her briefly; he had not been her brother for sixty years without nothing an altered tone. "What's wrong?" She shrugged. "The wind, the bay, the post." "Here's where they put it." "It - - if you mean the school - - is all right. The house ..." He glanced about without interest. "Looks okay to me. Anyhow, I can't help; not my bailiwick. If the reassignment came through - - " "Is it likely?" |