"He wasn't supposed to be anywhere near Stanleyville," Marjorie said.

"I heard whispers about that, come to think of it," Geoff said. "But it's no longer a problem. All is forgiven, so to speak."

"And I can't go to Florida," Marjorie said.

"Why not?" Jack asked, shocked. "I want you to meet my parents. "

"Well, I have a job, for one thing."

"Screw the job. Let's get married."

Geoff Craig laughed.

"That will certainly rank high on the list of never-to-be-forgotten romantic proposals," he said. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Sergeant, but I think you are supposed to make propositions of that nature on your knees."

"Let's get married, Marjorie," Jack repeated. "As soon as we can."

She looked at him but didn't say anything.

"Oh, Jesus," he said. "Okay."

He got up from the table and dropped to his knees.

Marjorie, sobbing, fled the room. Patricia Hanrahan chased after her.

"Somehow, Jack, I get the feeling you didn't handle that very well," General Hanrahan said.

[ FOUR ].

Office of the Commanding General The Army Aviation Center Fort Rucker, Alabama 1545 3 December 1964 Captain Richard Hornsby, a rather good-looking, very natty young man of twenty-five, who was wearing for the first time the insignia-a shield bearing two stars on his lapels, and an aiguillette hanging from his epaulette-identifying him as the aide-de-camp of a major general, looked up from his desk, first with idle curiosity and then with greater interest as a sergeant wearing fatigues entered his office.

For one thing, the sergeant had a large bandage covering his nose. For another, he was a Green Beret, and there were no Green Berets, as far as Hornsby knew, stationed on Fort Rucker.

"Can I help you, Sergeant?" Captain Hornsby asked.

"Sir, I'd hoped to see Captain Oliver," the sergeant said.

"Captain Oliver has been reassigned," Hornsby said. "How can I help you?"

"I'd like to see General Bellmon, please, sir."

Captain Hornsby's last instructions in that regard, that very morning, were "Dick, an important, very important part of your job will be to shield me from people who want to see me who really don't have to. You'll be astonished at the number of idiots who want to waste my time." "Dick, an important, very important part of your job will be to shield me from people who want to see me who really don't have to. You'll be astonished at the number of idiots who want to waste my time."

The sergeant didn't look like an idiot, but the odds were, whatever he wanted, Hornsby could do it, and without disturbing General Bellmon.

"The general's tied up at the moment, Sergeant. Perhaps I can help. What's on your mind?"

"It's a personal matter, Captain," the sergeant said, a little uncomfortably. "I think if you tell him I'm out here-my name is Portet-he'll see me."

"Think of me as the guardian of the portals, Sergeant," Captain Hornsby said, not unkindly. "I have the duty of deciding who can have some of the general's time, and as I'm sure you can understand, there's a hell of a demand for his time."

"Yes, sir."

"But whatever it is, Sergeant, I think it's even money that I could be of some help."

The sergeant didn't respond for a moment, and then he shrugged.

"Captain, would you believe me if I told you that if I told him I came to see him and you wouldn't let me in, he would be pissed?"

"No, Sergeant, I don't think I would," Captain Hornsby said, just a little testily.

Sergeant Portet opened his mouth as if to say something else.

The door to General Bellmon's office opened and General Bellmon came through, holding a sheaf of paper in his hands. Only after a moment did he raise his eyes and see the sergeant.

"Can I have a couple of minutes, General?" Sergeant Portet asked.

"Sir, I explained to the sergeant that you're tied up," Captain Hornsby said.

"Go on in," General Bellmon said, nodding with his head toward his office. He handed the sheaf of paper to Hornsby and added, "We'll get to this in a minute, Dick," then went into his office, closing the door behind him.

"Welcome home, Jack," General Bellmon said, offering his hand.

"Thank you, sir."

"We saw your picture in the paper," Bellmon said. "What happened to your nose? Is it serious?"

"Not serious. I took a dive off a truck in Stanleyville," Jack said. "General, I want to marry Marjorie."

"Actually, Marjorie saw it first. She said, 'That's my Jack, and that's his sister.' It was on the front page of every newspaper in the country."

"Yes, sir. General, I want to marry Marjorie."

Bellmon took a moment to reply.

"I've been expecting this, Jack, but now that I'm faced with it, I find myself collecting my thoughts."

"Yes, sir."

"Presumably, you've asked her?"

"Yes, sir. This morning. In General Hanrahan's house."

"What did you do, drive straight back here?"

"No, sir. We're in Colonel Lowell's Cessna."

"Lowell loaned you his Cessna?"

"No, sir. He sent it after me. I'm headed for Florida. My parents are there. I want to take Marjorie with me, to meet them."

"I have no objection to that," Bellmon said. "Where in Florida?"

"Someplace called Ocean Reef," Jack said.

"I've been there. Lowell owns a house there. So does his cousin. Lieutenant Craig's father?"

"Yes, sir, but speaking of objections . . ."

"Is Lieutenant Craig there, with his parents?"

"No, sir. I mean he's here at Rucker. He and Pappy . . . Major Hodges . . . were flying the Cessna. I'm going to fly it to Florida. His wife and the baby are there. His parents, too, I think."

"I see," General Bellmon said. "Well, all's well-including this nightmare-that ends well, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir."

"No objections, Jack, to you and Marjorie getting married. I really don't have much choice, do I?"

"I'd like to have your approval, sir."

"Well, you have it, Jack," General Bellmon said. "And I know Mrs. Bellmon shares my high opinion of you."

"Thank you, sir."

"When were you thinking of getting married?"

"I thought right away, sir."

Bellmon's voice was cold when he asked: "Is there some reason you feel you should get married right away?"

"Yes, sir, now that you bring it up, there is."

"Well, those things happen. It certainly won't be the first time in recorded history, will it? Has she seen a doctor?"

"Sir?" Jack asked, confused, and then comprehension dawned.

"It's not what you're thinking, General," he said. "What I was thinking was that I realize this whole situation is a little awkward for you-"

"What situation is a little awkward?" Bellmon asked.

"I'm an enlisted man, and she's a general's daughter," Jack said.

"Why should that be awkward?" Bellmon challenged.

Jack looked at him helplessly.

"What I thought was that it would be easier for everyone all around if we got married right away, in a quiet ceremony, in Florida, just my family, and of course you and Mrs. Bellmon. . . ."

"Is this what Marjorie wants?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask her."

"You don't think she'll have an opinion?"

Jack didn't reply.

"Mrs. Bellmon and I were married in the Cadet Chapel at West Point," Bellmon said. "As were our parents. Both sides."

"I didn't go to West Point," Jack argued. "But if that's what she wants, why not?"

"Mrs. Bellmon will probably think of Chapel One here at Rucker," Bellmon said. "With a reception at the club."

"General, I'm a sergeant. I don't belong to the officers' club."

"Incidentally, I did notice the stripes. Congratulations. When did that happen?"

"Just before we went to Europe."

"And what are those, Belgian paratrooper's wings?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I guess you earned them the hard way, didn't you?"

Jack didn't reply.

"Jack, I am not the rambling idiot I sound like," Bellmon said. "I had no idea that facing the fact of Marjorie getting married would scramble my brains like this."

"General, I love her, and I'll take good care of her."

"Yes, I'm sure you will," Bellmon said.

He put out his hand.

They shook solemnly.

"Where is she?" Bellmon asked.

"At your house, asking permission to come to Florida with me."

"There would be room in the Cessna for Mrs. Bellmon, wouldn't there be?" Bellmon asked, distractedly, obviously thinking out loud. "I could get an L-23 over the weekend, take Bobby. . . ."

"Yes, sir," Jack said hesitantly.