Argentia-Bay

ArgentiaBayHermanWouk1.ArgemtiaBayGraypeacepervadedthewilderness-ringedArgentiaBayinNewfoundland,wheretheAmericanshipsanchoredtoawaitthearrivalofWinstonChurchill.Hazeandmistblendedallintogray:graywater,graysky,grayair,grayhillswithatintofgreen.Sailorsandofficerswentabouttheirchoresasusualontheseships,amidpipingsandloud-speakersquawks.ButaprimevalhushlayheavyinArgentiaBay,justoutsidetherangeofthenormalships’noises.　　Atnineo'clock,threegraydestroyerssteamedintoview,aheadofabattleshipcamouflagedinswirlsofcolorlikesnakeskin.ThiswasH.M.S.PrinceofWales,biggerthananyothershipinsight,bearingthegunsthathadhittheBismarck.AsitsteamedpasttheAugusta,abrassbandonitsdecksshatteredthehushwith"TheStar-SpangledBanner”Quietfell.Thebandonthequarter-deckoftheAugustastruckup"GodSavetheKing."　　PugHenrystoodnearthePresident,undertheawningriggedatnumber-oneturret,withadmirals,generals,andaugustcivilianslikeAverellHarrimanandSumnerWellesChurchillwasplaintoseenotfivehundredyardsaway,?anoddbluecostume,gesturingwithabigcigar.Thepresidenttoweredovereverybody,stiffonbracedlegs,inabigbrownsuit,onehandholdinghishatonhisheart,theotherclutchingthearmofhisson,anAirCorpsOfficerwhostronglyresembledhim.Roosevelt'slargepinkfacewasself-consciouslygrave.　　"GodSavetheKing"ended.ThePresident'sfacerelaxed."Well!I'veneverheard'MyCountry'TisofThee'playedbetter."Themenaroundhimlaughedpolitelyatthepresidentialjoke,andRooseveltlaughedtoo.Thesquealofboatswains'pipesbrokeupthedressparadeonthecruiser'sdeck.2.HarryHopkins　　AdmiralKingbeckonedtoPug."TakemybargeovertothePrinceofWales,andputyourselfatMr.HarryHopkins'sservice.ThePresidentdesirestotalkwithhimbeforeChurchill　　comestocall,soexpedite."　　"Ayeaye,sir."　　PassingfromtheAugustatothePrinceofWalesinKing'sbarge,overafewhundredyardsofstillwater,VictorHenrywentfromAmericatoEnglandandfrompeacetowarwasashockingjump.King'sspick-and-spanflagshipbelongedtoadifferentworldthanthestorm-whippedBritishvessel,wheretheaccomodationladderwassalt-crusted，thecamouflagepaintwaspeeling,andeventhemainbatterygunslookedpittedandrusty.Pugwasaghasttoseecigarettebuttsandwastepaperinthescuppers,thoughdrovesofbluejacketsweredoingananimatedscrub-down.onthesuperstructurerawsteelpatcheswereweldedherethere--stickingplasterforwoundsfromtheBismarck'ssalvos.　　"Ah,yes,CaptainHenry,"saidtheofficerofthedeck,smartlyreturningthesaluteinthedifferentBritishpalm-outstyle."Mr.Hopkinshasreceivedthesignalandiswaiting　　foryouinhiscabin.Thequartermasterwillescortyou."VictorHenryfollowedthequartermasterthroughpassage-waysquitelikethoseinAmericanbattleships,yetdifferentincountlessdetails:thesigns,thefittings,thefireextinguishers,theshapeofthewatertightdoors.　　"Hellothere,Pug,"HopkinsspokeasthoughhehadnotseentheNavycaptainforadayortwo,thoughtheirlastcounterhadbeenearlyinMarch,andmeantimeHopkinshadtravelledtoLondonandMoscowinablazeofworldwidenewspaperattention."AmIridingoverwithyou?"　　"Yes,sir."　　"How'sthePresidentfeeling?"Hopkinshadtwobagsopenonhisbunkinasmallcabinoftthewardroom.Inonehecarefullyplacedpapers,folders,andbooks;intheotherhethrewclothes,medicinebottles,andshoesastheycarnetoHopkinslookedthinnerthanbefore,abentfigurewithagraydouble-breastedsuitflappinglooselyonhim.　　"He'shavingthetimeofhislife,sir."　　"Icanimagine.So'sChurchill.Churchill’slikeaboygoingonhisfirstdate.Well,it'squiteahistoricmoment,atthat."Hopkinspulleddirtyshirtsfromadrawercrammedtheminthesuitcase."Almostforgotthese.IleftafewintheKremlinandhadtoscroungemoreinLondon."　　"Mr.Hopkins,whatabouttheRussians?Willtheyhold?"　　Hopkinspaused,astackofpapersinhishand,andpursedhismouthbeforespeakingdecisively."TheRussianwillhold.Butit'llbeanearthing.They'llneedhelp."Heresumedhishurriedpacking."WhenyouflyfromArchangeltoMoscow,Pug,ittakeshoursandhours,oversolidgreenforestsandbrownswamps.Oftenyoudon'tseeavillagefromhorizontohorizon.Hitler'sbittenoftabigbitethistime."Hewasstrugglingwiththeclaspsonhissuitcase,andPuggavehimahand."Ah,thanks.Whatdoyousup-poseStalinwantsfromusmostofall,Pug?"　　"Airplanes,"VictorHenrysaidpromptly."'Cloudsofairplanes.'SameastheFrenchwereyellingforlastyear."　　"Aluminum,"saidHarryHopkins."Aluminumtobuildair-planeswith.Well,letmecorrectthat--hisnumberoneitemwas　　anti-aircraftguns.Nextcomesaluminum.WantsalotofArmytrucks,too.Stalinisn'tplanningtogetbeateninthreeweeks,orsixweeks,orthreeyears."Hopkinstidiestthepapersinthesmallercase,andclosedit."Let'sgo　　AsHopkinsshakilysteppedaboardKing'sbargefromtheaccomodationladder,thesternrosehighonaswellthendroppedawayfromunderhim.Helosthisbalanceandtoppledintothearmsofthecoxswain,whosaid,"Oops-a-daisy,sir."　　"Pug,I'llneverbeasailor,"Hopkinsstaggeredinside,settingwithasighonthecushions."Ifloppedonmyface　　boardingtheseaplanethatflewmetotheSovietUnion.Thatnearlyendedmymissionrightthere."Heglanced　　aroundattheflawlesslyappointedbarge."Well,well.America!Peacetime!So--you'restillinWarPlans.You'llattendthestaffmeetings,then."　."Someofthem,yes,sir."　　"Youmightbearinmindwhatourfriendswillbeafter.lt'sfairlycleartome,afterfivedaysatseawiththePrimeMinister."Hopkinsheldoutonewastedhandandtickedoffpointsonskeletalfingers."Firstthey'llpressforanimmediatedeclarationofwaronGermany.Theyknowtheywon'tgetthat.Butitsoftensthegroundfortheseconddemand,therealreasonWinstonChurchillhascrossedtheocean.TheywantawarningbytheUnitedStatestoJapanthatanymoveagainsttheBritishinAsiameanswarwithus.Theirempireismightyricketyatthispoint.Theysuchawarningwillshoreitup.Andthey'llpressforbigwarsuppliestotheirpeopleinEgyptandtheMiddleEast.BecauseifHitlerpokesdownthereandclosesthecanal,theEmpirestrangles.They'llalsotry,subtlybuthard--andIwouldtoo,intheirplace--foranunderstandingthatingettingAmericanaidtheycomeaheadofRussia.NowisthetimetobombthehelloutofGermanyfromtheWest,they'llsay,andbuildupforthefinalassault.StuffWegiveRussia,itwillbehinted,maybeturnedaroundandpointedagainstusinafewweeks."　　VictorHenrysaid,"ThePresidentisn'tthinkingthatway."　　"Ihopenot.IfHitlerwinsinRussia,hewinstheworld.IfhelosesinRussiahe'sfinished,eveniftheJapanese,move.ThefightoverthereisofinconceivablemagnitudeTheremustbesevenmillionmenshootingateachother,Pug.Sevenmillion,ormore.”Hopkinsspokethefiguresslowly,stretchingoutthewastedfingersofbothhands."TheRussianshavetakenashellackingsofar,butthey'reunafraid.TheywanttothrowtheGermansout.That'sthewarnow.That'swherethestuffshouldgonow."　　"Thenthisconferenceisalmostpointless,"saidPugThebargewasslowingandclangingasitdrewneartheAugusta."No,it'satriumph,"Hopkinssaid."ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesandtheBritishPrimeMinisteraremeetingfacetofacetodiscussbeatingtheGermans.That'sachievementenoughfornow.”HopkinsgaveVictorHenryasadsmile,andabrlliantlightcameintohislargeeyes.Hepulledhimselftohisfeetintherockingboat."Also,Pug,thisisthechangingoftheguard."3.Churchillcalls　　WinstonChurchillcametotheAugustaateleveno'clock,whichsawthedramatichandshakeofRooseveltandChurchillatthegangway.Theyprolongedtheclaspforthephotographers,exchangingsmilingwords.　　InanoddwaythetwoleadersdiminishedeachotherTheywerebothNumberOneMen.Butthatwasimpossible.who,then,wasNumberOne?Rooseveltstoodafullheadtaller,buthewaspatheticallybracedonlifelesslegframes,clingingtohisson'sarm,hisfulltrousersdroopedandflapping.Churchill,abentPickwickinblueuniform,lookedupathimwithmajesticgoodhumor,mucholder,moredignified,moreassured.YettherewasatraceofdeferenceaboutthePrimeMinister.Byashadeofashade,RooseveltlookedlikeNumberOne.MaybethatwaswhatHopkinshadmeantby"thechangingoftheguard."　　Thepicture-takingstoppedatanunseensignal,thehandshakeended,andawheelchairappeared.TheerectfrontpagePresidentbecamethecripplemorefamiliartoPug,hobblingasteportwoandsinkingwithreliefintotheChair.Thegreatmenandtheirmilitarychiefslettthequarterdeck.　　Thestaffsgotrighttobusinessandconferredallday.VictorHenryworkedwiththeplanners,onthelevelbelowthechiefsofstaffandtheirdeputieswhereBurne-Wilkeoperated,andofcoursefarbelowthesummitofthePresident,thePrimeMinister,andtheiradvisers.Familiarproblemscameupatonce:excessiveandcontradictoryrequestsfromtheBritishservices,unrealplans,unfilledcontacts,jumbledpriorities,fouledcommunications.Onecardinalpointtheplannershammeredoutfast.BuildingnewshipstoreplaceU-boatsinkingscamefirst.NowarmaterielcouldbeusedagainstHitleruntilithadcrossedtheocean.Thisplaintruth,sosimpleonceagreedon,ranaredlineacrosseveryrequest,everyprogram,everyprojection.Steel,aluminum,rubber,valves,motors,machinetoolscopperwire,allthethousandthingsofwar,wouldgofirsttoships.Thissimpleyardstickrapidlydisclosedthepovertyofthe"arsenalofdemocracy,"anddictated--asamatteroffrighteningurgency--agiganticjobofbuildingnewsteelmills,andplantstoturnthesteelintocombatmachinesandtools.　　Throughallthetalkofgrandhypotheticalplans--hundredsofships,tensofthousandsofairplanesandtanks,millionsofmen--onepatheticitemkeptrecurring:animmediateneedforahundredfiftythousandrifles.IfRussiacollapsed,HitlermighttrytowrapupthewarwithaCrete-likeinvasionofEnglandfromtheair.RiflesfordefendingBritishairfieldswerelacking.ThestupendousmaterielfiguresforfuturejointinvasionsofNorthAfricaortheFrenchcoastcontrastedsadlywiththispleaforahundredfiftythousandriflesnow.4.Roosevelthobblesacross　　Nextmorning,boatsfromalloverthesparklingbaycameclusteringtothePrinceofWalesforchurchservicesOnthesurroundinghills,insunlightthatseemedalmostblindingafterdaysofgraymist,theforestsoflarchandfirglowedarichgreen.　　AnAmericandestroyerslowlynoseditsbridgealong-sidethebattleship,exactlylevelwiththemaindeck,andagang-plankwasthrownacross.Leaningonhisson'sarmandonacane,FranklinRoosevelt,inabluesuitandgrayhat,lurchedoutonthegangplank,laboriouslyhitchingonelegforwardfromthehip,thentheother.Thebaywascalm,butbothshipsweremovingonlongswells.Witheachstep,thetallPresidenttotteredandswayed.VictorHenry,likealltheAmericanscrowdingthedestroyerbridge,hardlybreathedasRooseveltpainfullyhobbledacrossthenarrowunsteadyplanks.PhotographerswaitingonthePrinceofWalesquarterdeckwerestaringatthePresident,butPugobservedthatnotoneofthemwasshootingthiscrippledwalk.　　HisfoottouchedthedeckofthePrinceofWales.Churchillsalutedhimandofferedhishand.Thebrassbandburstforthwith"TheStarSpangledBanner."Rooseveltstoodatattention,hischestheaving,hisfacestiffwithstrain.Then,escortedbyChurchill,thePresidenthitchedandhobbledallthewayacrossthedeck,andsat.　　TheBritishchaplain,hiswhiteandcrimsonvestmentsflappinginthewind,histhickgrayhairblowingwildly,readtheclosingRoyalNavyprayer:"?-Preserveusfromthedangersofthesea,andfromtheviolenceoftheenemy,thatwemaybeasecurityforsuchaspassupontheseaupontheirlawfuloccasions"-andthatwemayreturninsafetytoenjoytheblessingsoftheland,withthefruitsofourlabors…andtopraiseandglorifyThyHolyName;throughJesusChristourLord…"AfewBritishsailorscautiouslymovedoutofranks.Onethenanother,sneakedcamerasfromtheirblouses.Whennobodystoppedthemandthetwoleaderssmiledandwaved,arushbegan.Camerasappearedbythedozens.Thesailorsswarmedintoalaughing,cheeringringaroundthetwomen.PugHenry,watchingthisunwonteddisorderonawarshipwithmixedfeelingsofamusementandoutrage,feltatouchonhiselbow.ItwasLordBurneWillie."Hellothere,mydearfellow.Awordwithyou?"5.ArequestfromtheBritish　　Burne-Wilke'scabinhadthedark,warm,comfortablelookofalibraryden."Isay,Henry,whatisyourpositiononshipboarddrinking?Ihaveafairbottleofsherryhere."　　"I'mforit."　　　"Good.You'redryasaboneinyourservice,aren'tyou?YetlastnightthePresidentserverusanexcellentwine."　　"ThePresidentisthesourceofallNavyregulations,sir,andcantailorthemtohisdesires."　　"Ah?Jollyconvenient."Burne-Wilkelitacigar,andtheybothsippedwine."Isupposeyouknowthatthisshipcrossedtheoceanwithoutescort,"theaircommodoreresumed."OurfirstnightoutofEngland,weranintoawholegale.Ourdestroyerscouldn'tmaintainspeed,sowezigzaggedonalone."　　"Sir,Iwasappalledtohearaboutit."　　"Really?RathersportingoftheBritishPrimeMinister,don’tyouthink,togivetheHunafairshotathimontheopensea.Threethousandmileswithoutaircoverorsurfaceescort,straightthroughtheentiresubmarinefleet."　　"Youhadyourgoodangelsescortingyou.That'sallIcansay.”　　"Oh,well,atanyratehereweare.Butitmightbeprudentnottooverworkthosegoodangels,what?Don'tyouagree?Onourwayback,everyU-boatintheAtlanticwillcertainlybeonbattlealert.Weshallhavetorunthegamut."Burne-Wilkepaused,studyingtheashonhiscigar."We'restretchedthinforescorts,youknow.We'veroundedupfourdestroyers.AdmiralPoundwouldbehappierwithsix."　　VictorHenryquicklysaid,"I'lltalktoAdmiralKing.”　　"Youunderstandthatthiscannotbearequestfromus.ThePrimeMinisterwouldbedownrightannoyed.He'shopingwe'llmeettheTirpitzandgetintoarunninggunfight."　　"Letmestartonthisnow,sir."Pugdrankuphissherry,androsetohisfeet.　　"Oh?Wouldyou?"Burne-Wilkeopenedthecabindoor."Thanksawfully."　　Ontheafterdeck,thephotographingwasstillgoingon.Officerswithcameraswerenowshoulderingsailorsaside,asthetwopoliticianscheerfullychatted.Behindthemstoodtheirglumchiefsofstaffandcivilianadvisers.Hopkins,squintingoutatthesunnywater,woreapainedexpression.Themilitarymenweretalkingtogether,exceptforAdmiralKing,whostoodwoodenlyapart.Pugwalkeduptohim,saluted,andinthefewestpossiblewordsrecount-edhistalkwithBurne-Wilke.ThelinesalongKing'sleanJawsdeepened.Henoddedtwiceandstrolledaway,withoutaword.Hedidnotgoanywhere.Itwasjustagestureofdismissal,andaconvincingone.　　Amidmuchwininganddining,theconferencewentonfortwomoredays.OnenightChurchilltookthefloorintheAugustawardroomafterdinner,anddeliveredarolling,richwordpictureofhowthewarwouldgo.Blockade,evergrowingairbombardment,andsubversionwouldintimeweakenthegripofNaziclawsonEurope.RussiaandEnglandwould"closearing"andslowly,inexorablytightenit,IftheUnitedStatesbecameafull-fledgedally,itwouldallgomuchfaster,ofcourse.NobiginvasionorlonglandcampaignwouldbeneededintheWest.Landingofafewarmoredcolumnsintheoccupiedcountrieswouldbringmassuprisings.Hitler'sblackempirewouldsuddenlycollapseinrubble,blood,andflame.FranklinRooseveltlistenedwithbright-eyedsmilingattention,sayingnothing,andapplaudingheartilywiththerest.　　Onthelastdayoftheconference,justbeforelunch,AdmiralKingsentforPug.Hefoundtheadmiralinunder-shirtandtrousersinhiscabin,dryingfaceandearswithatowel."TaskUnit26point3point1,consistingoftwodestroyers,theMayrantandtheRhind,hasbeeformed,"Kingsaidwithoutagreeting."ItwillescortthePrinceofWalestoIceland.YouwillembarkinthePrinceofWalesasliaisonofficer,disembarkinIceland,andreturnwithourtaskunit."　　"Ayeaye,sir."　　"You'llhavenowrittenorders.Inconfidence,we'llsoonbeconvoyingallshipstoIceland.Maybebynextweek.Hell,ourownmarinesareoccupyingtheplacenow.ThePresident'sevensendingayoungofficeralongasanavalaidetoChurchillwhilehetoursourIcelandbase.Ensign　　FranklinD.Roosevelt,Junior."Kingspokethenamewithanexpressionlessface.　　"Yes,sir."　　"Now,Henry,howareyouatlanguages?"　　"It'slongtimesinceItriedanewone,Admiral."　　"Well,amilitarysupplymissionwillgototheSovietUnioninSeptember.IfRussia'sstillinthewarbythen,thatis,Mr.Hopkinshasbroughtupyourname.Heappearsimpressed,andthePresidenttoo,byyourexpertiseonlandingcraftandsoforth.Nowyourservicerecordhasbeenchecked,anditseemsyouclaima'poortofair’knowledgeofRussian.Hey?Howisthat?That'sveryunusual."　　"Admiral,IputthatdownwhenIenteredtheAcademyin1911.Itwastruethen.Idon'tremembertenwordsnow."Henryexplainedthecircumstancesthathadgivenhim:Russian-speakingchumsinhisSonomaCountyboyhood.　　"Isee.Well,it'sthereontherecord.UponreturningfromIcelandyouwillbedetachedfromWarPlanstopre-pareyourself,withanintensiverefreshercourseinRussian,forapossibletriptotheSovietUniononspecialdetachedduty.You'llhaveinterpreters.Butwithevenasmattering,yourintelligencevaluewillbegreater."　　"Aye,aye,sir."　　Kingputonhisuniformjacket,staredatVictorHenry,andforthefirsttimethatHenrycouldrecall,favoredhimWithasmile.　　"HaveyouheardthatextensionofthedraftpassedtheHouseofRepresentativesanhourago?"　　"Itdid?ThankGod."　　"Byonevote."　　"What!Onevote,sir?"　　"Onevote."　　"Whew!That'snotgoingtoencouragetheBritish,Admiral."　　"No,northePresident,butit'showtheAmericanpeoplefeelrightnow.Itmaybesuicidal,butthereitis.Ourjobistokeepgoinganyway."6.U-boatsightings　　Tobrassbandanthemsandboominggunsalutes,inabriskbreezesmellingofgreenhillsandgunpowder,thePrinceofWalesleftArgentiaBay.Thegreatconferencewasover.InthewardroomofthePrinceofWales,VictorHenrycouldsensethesubtlegloomhangingovertheship.WhattheconferencehadaccomplishedtoincreasehelpforEng-landremainedundisclosed;andinitselfthisclearlystruckthebattleship'sofficersasabadsign.Thesemen,veteransoftwocombatyears,ofairattacksandgunfights,hadasubdueddismalair,despitethegrandeuroftheirshipandthestuffyluxuryoftheirwardroom.ThepredicamentofEnglandseemedsoakedintheirbones.TheycouldnotBelievethatWinstonChurchillhadriskedthebestshipintheirstrainednavy,andhisownlife,onlytoreturnempty-handed.Thatwasn'tWinnie'sstyle.Butvaguehope,ratherthanrealconfidence,wasthenoteintheirconversation　　Major-GeneralTilletcameuptoVictorHenryafterdinnerthatevening,andlaidaleanhandonhisshoulder."Liketohavealookatthesubmarinesightingschart,Henry?TheprimeMinisterthoughtyoumight."　　RedsecrecywarningsblazedonthesteeldoorthatTilletopened.Dressedinaone-piecegarmentlikeamechanic'scoveralls,stoopedandheavy-eyed,ChurchillponderedamapoftheRussianfrontallacrossonebulkhead.OppositehungachartoftheAtlantic.Youngofficersworkedoverdispatchesatatableinthemiddleofthe　　room,inairthickwithtobaccosmoke.　　"There,"saidthePrimeMinistertoTilletandPugHenry,gesturingatthemapoftheSovietUnionwithhiscigar."Thereisanawfulunfoldingpicture."　　ThecrimsonlineofthefronteastofSmolenskshowedtwofreshbulgestowardMoscow.Churchillcoughed,andglancedatHenry."YourPresidentwarnedStalin.Iwarnedhimevenmoreexplicitly,basingmyselfonveryexactintelligence.Surelynogovernmenteverhadlessexcusetobesurprised."ThePrimeMinisterturnedandwalkedtotheotherbulkhead,withatotteringstep.AtArgentia,.Churchillhadappearedstrong,rubby,springy,andaltogethertenyearsyounger.Nowhischeekswereashy,withredpatches.　　"Hello.Don'twehaveadevelopmenthere?"　　Littleblackcoffin-shapedmarkersdottedthewidebluespaces,andanofficerwasputtingupseveralmore,inaclusterclosetothebattleship'sprojectedcourse.Farthersonstoodlargeclustersofredpins,withafewbluepins."ThisnewU-boatgroupwassightedbyanAmericanpatrolplaneattwilight,sir,"saidtheofficer.　　"Ah,yes.SoAdmiralPoundadvisedme.Isupposeweareevading?"　　"Wehavealteredcoursetonorth,sir."　　"ConvoyH-67isalmosthome,Isee."　　"Wewillbepullingthosepinstonight,Mr.PrimeMinister."　　"Thatwillbehappynews."Churchillharshlycoughed,puffingathiscigar,andsaidtoPugHenry,"Well.Wemayhavesomesportforyouyet.Itwon'tbeaslivelyasabomberriceoverBerlin.Eh?Didyouenjoythat,Captain?"　　"Itwasarareprivilege,Mr.PrimeMinister."　　"Anytime.Anytimeatall."　　"Toomuchhonor,sir.Oncewasplenty."　　Churchillutteredahoarsechuckle."Idaresay.Whatisthefilmtonight,GeneralTillet?"　　"PrimeMinister,IbelieveitisStanLaurelandOliverHardy,inSapsatSea."　　"Sapsatsea,eh?Notinappropriate!TheSurgeon-Generalhasorderedmetoremaininbed.Hehasalsoorderedmenottosmoke.IshallattendSapsatSea,andbringmycigars."　　PugHenry'senjoymentofSapsatSeawasshadowedbyanawarenessthatatanymomentthebattleshipmightreintoaU-boatpack.Gremanskipperswereadeptatsneakingpastdestroyerscreens.Butthefilmspuntotheenduninterrupted."Agaybutinconsequententertainment,"thePrimeMinisterremarkedinaheavy,rheumyvoice,asheploddedout.7."We'llhavetopaytheprice"　　ClementAttlee'sbroadcastthenextdaypackedthewardroom.Everyofficernotonwatch,andallstaffofficersandwarplanners,gatheredinthewardroomaroundonesingularlyancient,crack-voicedradio.Thebattleship,plowingthroughawildstorm,rolledandpitchedwithslowlonggroans.FortheAmericanguest,itwasabadhalfhour.Hesawperplexedlooks,lengtheningfaces,andhead-shakes,asAttleereadoftthe"AtlanticCharter."Thehigh-flownlanguagebespokenotashredofincreasedAmericancommitment.AbuseofNazityranny,praiseof"fourfreedoms,"dedicationtoafutureofworldpeaceandbrotherhood,yes;morecombathelpfortheBritish,flatzero.SomesentencesaboutfreetradeandindependenceforallpeoplesmeanttheendoftheBritishEmpire,iftheymeantanything.　　FranklinRooseveltwasindeedatoughcustomer,thoughtCaptainHenry,notespeciallysurprised.　　"Umph!"gruntedMajor-GeneralTilletinthesilenceaftertheradiowasshutoff."I'dventuretherewasmoretoitthanthat.Howaboutit,Henry?"　　AlleyesturnedontheAmerican.　　Pu