Уловка 22

Nately’s Old Man

           Hestoodstockstillinrigid,catalepticastonishmentwhilethegirlsambledinandmadethemselvescomfortable.Thenheletoutapiercingshrieksuddenlyandboltedtowardthedoorinaheadlongdashbacktowardtheenlistedmen’sapartmentforhiscamera,onlytobehaltedinhistrackswithanotherfranticshriekbythedreadful,freezingpremonitionthatthiswholelovely,lurid,richandcolorfulpaganparadisewouldbesnatchedawayfromhimirredeemablyifheweretoletitoutofhissightforevenaninstant.Hestoppedinthedoorwayandsputtered,thewiryveinsandtendonsinhisfaceandneckpulsatingviolently.Theoldmanwatchedhimwithvictoriousmerriment,sittinginhismustybluearmchairlikesomesatanicandhedonisticdeityonathrone,astolenU.S.Armyblanketwrappedaroundhisspindlylegstowardoffachill.Helaughedquietly,hissunken,shrewdeyessparklingperceptivelywithacynicalandwantonenjoyment.Hehadbeendrinking.Natelyreactedonsightwithbristlingenmitytothiswicked,depravedandunpatrioticoldmanwhowasoldenoughtoremindhimofhisfatherandwhomadedisparagingjokesaboutAmerica.

           "America,"hesaid,"willlosethewar.AndItalywillwinit."

           "Americaisthestrongestandmostprosperousnationonearth,"Natelyinformedhimwithloftyfervoranddignity."AndtheAmericanfightingmanissecondtonone."

           "Exactly,"agreedtheoldmanpleasantly,withahintoftauntingamusement.

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