Retreat, hell! by W. E. B. Griffin

Author:W. E. B. Griffin [Griffin, W. E. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: War stories, Historical fiction, Espionage, United States - History; Military - 20th century, 20th century, History; Military, General, United States, Marine Corps, Suspense, Historical, Fiction - Men's Adventure, War & Military, Korean War; 1950-1953, Fiction, Intrigue, United States.
ISBN: 9780399150814
Publisher: New York : Putnam c2004.
Published: 2004-01-06T05:00:00+00:00

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"So what happens to him when this war is over?" Jeanette asked. "Which it may be by the time I get to Korea, from what they're saying at the Dai Ichi Building."

"I wish I knew," Ernie said. "He doesn't say anything-good Marine offi-cers don't criticize the sacred Marine Corps-but he has to be bitter about what they did to him."

"What would you like to happen?"

"What almost did," Ernie said. "When we thought he was being 'involun-tarily released,' which is the euphemism for getting kicked out, we went to see Colonel Ed Banning and his wife, and the Zimmermans, in Charleston...."

"Who's Banning?"

"He and Ken and Ernie go all the way back to the 4th Marines in Shang-hai. He's the one who sent Ken to Officer Candidate School. They were together all through World War Two. Anyway, before this goddamn war came along, Banning-who was about to retire-and Zimmerman were going to develop an island...."

"Develop an island?" Jeanette parroted.

"You know, build houses on it and sell them. Their idea was to sell them to retired Marines. But I saw the island, and I think they could sell them to just about anybody. The island is just off the coast, and it's just beautiful. Anyway-"

"Where are they going to get the money to do something like that?" Jeanette interrupted.

"Banning owns the island; he has money," Ernie replied. "A lot of money. He was Ken's role model for living on Marine pay, but he doesn't have to play poor when he retires. And Ernie's wife has the King Midas touch. They own a half-dozen businesses outside Parris Island. Anyway, they asked Ken to go in with them. He seemed to think it was a good idea. But that was when his choices were going back to being a sergeant or the island. Now... now they gave him his golden major's oak leaf back. I don't know what he'll do."

"You want to do this island-building thing?"

"Oh, yeah, I want to do the island-building thing."

"Then tell him, 'I've been chasing you around for all this time, now it's your turn to do what I want for a while.' "

"He would, but it's not that easy. As you're about to find out."

"Meaning what?"

"You got the brass ring," Ernie said. "You will have succeeded-or will, as soon as Ken gets Pick back-in getting Don Juan Pickering to the altar, suc-ceeding where God only knows how many women have tried and failed. But its not going to be easy. You better win the Pulitzer prize now, because when you march down the aisle to the strains of 'Here Comes the Bride,' you'll have taken yourself out of the competition."

"Two questions, and no bullshit, please. Do you think Pick's coming back?"

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