Cadet 3 by Commander James Bondage Page A

all?” asked the bewildered Captain. “Dad, I have to tell you,
I would need to see some pretty powerful evidence before I…”
    “I’m saying that it doesn’t matter ,”
Admiral Hall interrupted. “I’m saying that the good of the country
has to be put ahead of the good of any individual, no matter who it
is.”
    “Bernie Cafferson recommended her to
be the next CGS, Captain, and if somebody didn’t take a hand, she
was going to be it ,” Murchinson put in. “Do you really want
Cafferson’s fuck-toy, an empty-headed little cunt, running the
entire country?”
    Admiral Hall glared at his colleague. “What
the General means is that we can’t afford to risk having someone
young and unreliable at the controls, especially now. The
international situation requires experienced, proven leaders, men like General Murchinson and myself, if we have any hope
of holding off the Reds. Sometimes in an emergency it is necessary
to go outside the rules, and take certain steps that you would not
normally want to. The good of the country has to come before any
other consideration. That is the true meaning of duty.”
    Jodie had recovered enough to sit upright on
the ground. She had obviously been following the conversation.
“That’s the true meaning of bullshit,” she said. “And the first
time I’ve ever heard anybody claim that duty and treason were one
and the same. But putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t make it a
supermodel, Admiral. How does it feel, Captain Hall, to find out
what kind of crowd you’re working for?”
    Admiral Carroll rushed over to Jodie. “How
does this feel, cunt?” he asked, as he drew back his foot
and kicked her hard on her lower ribcage.
    Jodie gave a great cry, and fell over on her
side.
    Captain Hall’s hand fell to his sidearm. He
stepped between the writhing Jodie and her assailant.
“Respectfully, sir, I’m going to have to ask you to stay away from
my prisoners from now on, Admiral Carroll, sir,” he said, his jaw
muscles twitching.
    Admiral Hall jumped up from behind the desk,
and went to put a restraining hand on his son’s arm. “Of course he
will,” he said. “Admiral Carroll is just so worried about the
country that he got a little carried away. Isn’t that right,
Admiral?” The expression on his face suggested that his subordinate
would be unwise to disagree.
    “Ah, yes, of course, my apologies, Captain
Hall,” Carroll said quickly. “I just got a little… er… excited, as
your father said. I didn’t intend to interfere with your
prisoners.”
    “Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to
take a break yourself, take some time to think things over, to
remember exactly who you are and where your loyalties lie,” Admiral
Hall suggested. “We need some time alone with General Lawrence, to
see if we can’t reach some kind of accommodation with her that will
serve the best interests of the country.”
    Captain Hall did not appear to like this idea
very much. “Sir, my duty requires…”
    “If you’re worried about your prisoners, you
have my word that they will be treated with the respect they
deserve,” the Admiral cut in smoothly. “Now go get a cup of coffee.
I’ll call you in an hour or so, when our discussion here is over.
That’s an order, Captain.”
    Captain Hall looked at the three prisoners,
and then turned to face his father again. He saluted, said, “Yes,
sir,” and made a parade-ground about-face, then left the room. As
soon as the door closed behind him, Murchison and Carroll let out
withheld breaths.
     

Chapter Eight: “What’s long and round and
soft…”
     
    “Jesus, for a second there, I thought he was
going to shoot me!” Rear Admiral Carroll said.
    “Are you a hundred percent certain he is
reliable, Clarence?” Murchinson asked. “Did you see the expression
on his face when you told him the stork doesn’t bring the babies?
He’s not exactly politically sophisticated, is he? And if he
decides to go off the