OSU Libraries
Oregon State UniversitySpecial Collections & Archives Research Center
Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

The Dream and The Reality of Violence

Page 100

That was very close. Richie had begun to persuade himself that it was normal for someone like him to be making friends with a nine-year-old girl. Sometimes he almost forgot about the original purpose. He actually liked the girl.

They got a fix on him on Tuesday, and by Thursday had pictures of him with Nancy -and of him and his car out at the barn.

Mitch talked with them on Friday. He studied the pictures silently, tossed them back on Ralph's desk. The word on the base was that this was the way he behaved when he was viscerally angry. The three other men did not speak. Mitch reached over, again picked up the photos, thumbed through them, tossed them back again.

"Now what?"

"That's the question. I'm not sure, Mitch. The barn business suggests he is thinking kidnap, but he hasn't done anything yet. You got any ideas?"

"Maybe. Give me a set of those pictures and let me think on it...."

"No one-on-one, Mitch. That won't help the girl or you or anybody else."

"Give you my word, Ralph."

Mitch walked down to the maintenance hangers and wandered around until he found Mr. Hank. Handed him the pictures.

"That the man?"

Mr. Hank spit down at the ground, caught the tip of his shoe and shined it on the back of his work pants.

"That's him; makes you sick, don't it?"

Marsh laughed. "We used to do that on purpose for inspection at Annapolis."

"It works, don't it."

"Yes, Mr. Hank, it does. Now what do you suggest? We got a common interest in this...."

"More'n that, Commander...."

"Mitch."

"I know. Just hard to break the stupid habits."

"Well, for now, you keep this quiet. I'll work on it and come back."

"Don't go...."

"Damn, you people are all over me thinking I'm some kind of nut. I just promised Security...."

"Just you rest easy, Mitch. We cares for you."

"Sir. Thank you."

Mitch went back to his office and called Caroline and told her that he'd be late.

"Take Nancy and yourself to a movie."

"Mitch...."

"Promise."

Then he began a search for The Reverend. Finally he parked in the man's driveway. Dozed off.

Griff bumped him forward just enough to clear what passed for a sidewalk, walked over and banged on the window.

"You getting' pushy, white boy."

"I need your help."

"Come along while I get my special wine for confessions."

Mitch relaxed. "I'll take three fingers, you old bastard."

"So who's old and who's not?"

Mitch talked it out: "So what do I do?"

"What do we do? This ain't you against some submarine, Commander. This is us on that lonesome road."

Mitch remembered. "You know, Reverend, I never really understood -let alone believed- those words about the Grace of God till your sermon."