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Back The Fall of Valor
Chapters (51)
  1. Introduction by Michael Bronski
  2. BEGINNING
  3. II
  4. III
  5. IV
  6. V
  7. VI
  8. VII
  9. VIII
  10. IX
  11. X
  12. XI
  13. XII
  14. XIII
  15. MIDDLE
  16. II
  17. III
  18. IV
  19. V
  20. VI
  21. VII
  22. VIII
  23. IX
  24. X
  25. XI
  26. XII
  27. XIII
  28. XIV
  29. XV
  30. XVI
  31. XVII
  32. XVIII
  33. XIX
  34. XX
  35. END
  36. II
  37. III
  38. IV
  39. V
  40. VI
  41. VII
  42. VIII
  43. IX
  44. X
  45. XI
  46. XII
  47. XIII
  48. XIV
  49. XV
  50. XVI
  51. About the Author

John Grandin wondered again where or how the Captain had been wounded. From the story of his long hospitalization and the fact that he was still on the sick list, the injuries must have been damaging indeed; yet there seemed to be no outward sign of them whatever. Considering the strenuous athletics in the sand, he was in the best of health. But as Hauman turned his face to the sun, he saw for the first time a thin scar that ran from the left ear down along the jawline to the chin; it was well healed, and must have required the best of surgical skill to leave so fine a scar. Only at the base of the chin, just underneath, reposed a small knot or lump of scar tissue. He wanted to ask about it, but he felt sure that Hauman would be embarrassed in the presence of the Howards; time enough later in the day when they were alone.

Billie was talking to Ethel in low tones; there was an oddly wistful note in her voice “. . . You’ve no idea how homesick I’ve been for that room ever since we left, isn’t it silly? Dad gave me the money to do it over only last month. It’s right next to Mother’s­ room but I have my own bath. We didn’t dream then that Cliff would be back so soon or—or that I’d be a married woman. The whole room is done in a real baby blue and it’s adorable. The dressing table has a mirrored top, of course, and on the tables I have the dearest little mirrored cigarette boxes. I don’t smoke but most of my girl friends do, and anyway they’re darling. The lamps next to my bed and the chaise have blue bows. On the bed, lined up against the bolster, are my dolls. I can’t wait to see it again. And you know? It’s an awful thing to say but I hate to give it up. . . .”

“I don’t see that you’ll have to,” Ethel said. “You and Cliff won’t be able to take a house together for some time.”

“Oh yes, we’re going to find a house just as soon as we get back.”

“But I thought Cliff was to report for duty again?”

“That’s just his talk. Wouldn’t it be silly when he can get compensation and all, for the rest of his life?”

Bill Howard roused himself (and roused them all) with a loud exaggerated yawn. “Going in swimming, Sadie?”

“Certainly not.”