LATER: He has returned, foiled!
APRIL 18TH. Nothing new. Working hard at signaling. Mr.
Schmidt says I am doing well and if he was an Officer he would
give me a job.
APRIL 19TH. Nothing new. But Doctor Connor had told Leila
that my father looks sick or at least not well. When I went to
him, being frightened, as he is my only Male Parent and very
dear to me, he only laughed and said:
"Nonsense! We're rushed at the Mill, that's all. You see,
Bab, War is more than Unaforms and saluting. It is a nasty
Business. And of course, between your forgetting The Emblem
until midnight, when I am in my first sleep, and putting it out
at Dawn, I am not getting all the rest I really need."
He then took my hand and said:
"Bab, you haven't by any chance been in my Dispach Case for
anything, have you?"
"Why? Is something missing?" I said in I startled tone.
"No. But sometimes I think--however, never mind about that.
I think I'll take the Case upstairs and lock my door hereafter,
and if the Emblem is an hour or to late, we will have to stand
for it. Eight o'clock is early enough for any Flag, especialy if
it has been out late the night before.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387