Greener Than You Think by Ward Moore

Author:Ward Moore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

“If George had a civilian position in an essential industry—say one holding a contract with the army for badly needed fieldrations....”

“I should like to meet your son,” I said. “I have been looking around for some time for a reliable manager....”

“George might consider it.” General Thario squinted his glass against the light. “I’ll have him stop by your hotel tomorrow.”

The little radio behind the bar, which had been mumbling to itself for hours, spoke loudly. “We interrupt this program to bring you a newsflash: Eire has declared war on the Soviet Union. I repeat, war has been declared on the Union of Soviet Republics by Eire. Keep tuned to this station for further details. We return you now to our regular program.”

There was an absent pattering of applause and General Thario stood up gravely, glass in hand. “Gallant little Eire—or, if I may be permitted once the indulgence of using the good old name we know and love so well—brave old Ireland. When the world was at war, despite every provocation, she stayed peaceful. Now that the world is disgracefully pacific—and you have all heard foreign ministers unanimously declaring their countries neutral—so fast did they rush to the microphones that they were still panting when they went on the air—when the whole world was cautious, Ireland, true to her traditions, joined the just cause. Gentlemen, I give you our fighting ally, Eire.”

Departing from his usual custom, he drank the toast in one gulp, but no one else in the room paid any attention. I considered this lack of enthusiasm for a courageous gesture quite unworthy and meditated for a moment on the insensitivity into which our people seemed to have sunk.

As the evening went on, the general grew more and more affable and, if possible, less and less reticent. He had, he assured me, been the constant victim, either of men or of circumstances. At the military academy he had trained for the cavalry only to find himself assigned to the tank corps. He had reconciled himself, pursued his duties with zeal, and was shunted off to the infantry, where, swallowing chagrin, he had led his men bravely into a crossfire from machineguns. For this he got innumerable decorations and a transfer to the Quartermaster’s Department. His marriage to the daughter of an influential politician should have assured peacetime promotion, but the nuptials coincided with an election depriving the family’s party of power.

Now another war had come and he was a mere brigadier pigeonholed in an unimportant office with juniors broadly hinting at his retirement while classmates were leading divisions and even army corps to glorious victory on the field of battle. At least, they would have been leading them to glorious victory if there had been any action at all.

“Invade,” insisted General Thario, becoming sufficiently stirred by his fervor to lapse into sober incoherence. “Invade them before they invade us. Aircraft out ... gentlemen’s agreement ... quite understand ... well ... landingbarges ... Bering Sea ... strike south ... shuttle transports .

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