But the ensign from the Leyte Gulf, who was supervising the salvage detail in this part of the ship, tried to answer as many as he could because Davidson was one of the few men off the Astoria who’d shown any inclination to be friendly. And his buddy, Molloy, he could carry a goddamn Xerox all on his own. Ensign Carver was glad to have them. They’d been no trouble at all, really, and had mixed in well with the rest of the work detail. He’d just made a mental note to talk to their Chief Mohr, and tell him what a good job they’d done, when shouting and the sound of something like a brawl reached them.

“What the hell is that?” said Carver.

“Sounds like a brawl,” said Davidson.

The officer swore and told his team to keep working. Then he headed for the door.

Slim Jim resisted the urge to pocket another handful of the small, pencil-like objects they called data sticks. He was here to learn, and to establish his bona fides as a stand-up guy.

“Come on,” he said, swatting Moose on the back. “He’s gonna need some help.”

“But he told us to stay here,” a young female sailor protested. Quite a cutie, too, thought Davidson. These guys really knew how to fit out a ship.

“Yeah, well he won’t be telling nobody nothing when he gets his fucking teeth kicked in. Listen up, would you? That’s a real fucking fight out there, toots. Come on, Moose.”

The sound of bedlam seemed to swell. There could be no doubt that a pitched brawl was under way. Slim Jim grabbed a small crowbar and dived out through the door, with Moose close behind on his heels. The three remaining sailors, all of them from the Leyte Gulf, hesitated for just a moment before following.

Slim Jim and Moose joined a general rush toward the mess where the fight had broken out.

“Watch my back,” said Davidson. “But keep an eye out for that officer, too. We don’t want him getting hurt.”

“Why not?” Moose asked.

“Just fucking do it, okay.”

They had to step on it. The melee had spilled into the passageway, and Carver was already at the edge of the fighting. Davidson could see that he didn’t have the first idea about mixing it up in a real street brawl. He was actually trying to haul a couple of guys off someone.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” muttered Slim Jim.