CAUTION AND COURAGE
PART THREE
The Captain aboard the Brighton had delayed departure from Guadalcanal by two hours hoping that the three sailors would return. He had placed his full trust in Will to carry out what should have been an easy assignment and wondered what had gone wrong. As any conscientious officer would, he regretted the loss of men under his command -- even as he wondered whether they were dead or alive. When he could wait no longer, he radioed Fleet Headquarters to report the missing seamen, hastening to explain that he had been ordered to dispatch a search party for the downed pilot. The response was what he expected: "Proceed to Vietnam immediately!" He also radioed the control tower at Guadalcanal's airport to request an air search of the small, nameless island.
"Again?" the Air Traffic Controller barked. "We've already done that and found nothing! There was no sign of the pilot."
After hearing the Captain's story, however, the Controller agreed but explained that he wouldn't be able to launch a search and rescue operation until he secured permission from his superior.
Infuriated, the Captain almost yelled, "Three lives are depending on your expediting the request and the search!"
"I understand," came the reply. "But I have to follow policy."
The Captain almost said, "Fuck the policy! DO IT!" but reminded himself that he was not the Controller's commanding officer. Instead, he said, "This is urgent! ANY delay might cost three young men their lives."
<><><><><>
The three stranded sailors awoke at dawn of their third day on the remote island. Will's fever had broken but his mobility was severely impaired. After munching on a few berries and some leaves, he said, "Listen, guys. There's a chance that a plane will have been sent to scout for us. If so, we've got to make sure they find us. Gather up some branches with plenty of green leaves. Take them down to the shore and lay them out in a triangle or an arrow -- the bigger the better -- so it's obvious it isn't natural. Have it point to us. Watch and listen for any sign of an aircraft. If you hear or see it, get your ass down to the shoreline where you can be seen and wave like crazy."
"We've been here two days!" Sean groused. "With no sign of any plane! What makes you think there'll be one now?"
Will lost his temper and yelled, "God damn it, Sean! I've had all I can take of your self-pity and whining! I can't stomach a quitter! Keep your fucking attitude to yourself and do as you're told!"
Sean's first reaction was anger. He thoroughly resented an engine room lackey being in charge and took Will's outburst as a personal affront. He rose from a sitting position, clenched his fists, and charged toward Will. There was fire in his eyes.
Billy jumped up and blocked Sean's path. "Ain't no good come from fightin' or feudin ' guys," he said more to Sean than Will. `Long as we's stuck here, best we get along."
Will spoke up as calmly as he could, "There may or may not be a search plane, Sean. But if there is we ought to do what we can to help them find us."
Billy's intervention and Will's appeasing tone defused the confrontation. Sean, still irritated, backed off and said, "Come on, Billy. Let's go get some branches."
Just before noon, while Billy and Sean were out gathering more berries, fruit, and leaves, Will heard the unmistakable wap-wap of a chopper. It was faint but growing louder. He limped down to the shoreline and desperately scanned the sky. Within a few minutes he saw it: a helicopter approaching from the southwest. Before it got close, Sean and Billy ran breathlessly out of the dense foliage and joined Will at the water's edge. They all waved frantically but their hearts sank as they watched it fly past them.
"FUCK!" Sean said, "They didn't see us. We're shit outa luck."
"CAN IT!" Will barked as he glared at Sean. "Enough of your shitty attitude! You're quick to conclude they didn't see us and assume the worst but we don't know whether they did or not."
"LOOK!" Billy screamed. "It's comin' back `round."
The chopper descended to about forty feet above the water near their position. It slowly eased in toward the shore. A harness and a cable lowered from an open doorway until it was within reach. "Get in, Will," Billy said.
"No," Will replied. "You two go first."
"But yur injured," Billy objected. "Ya oughta be the first one up so's they can take care o' ya."
"NO!" exclaimed Will. "Get your ass into the harness. That's an order!"
The stern command shocked Billy who now regarded Will no longer as team leader but as his lover. But he reluctantly obeyed and was hoisted into the chopper. Sean did not have to be told he was next. He eagerly fastened himself into the harness and soon joined Billy in the chopper. When Will was safely aboard, the rescue helicopter ascended and flew toward Honiara, Guadalcanal.
<><><><><>
On the bridge of the Brighton, a radioman said, "Message for the Captain, Sir." He handed the First Mate a transcription of a shortwave radio message from Honiara Air Traffic Control.
The officer grunted, "He's in his cabin. Is it urgent?"
"No, Sir. But I think he'll want to see this right away."
"I'll take it to him. Return to duty." Before leaving the bridge, the First Mate said, "Helmsman! I'll be back in a few minutes. Maintain present course."
The First Mate knocked on the Captain's door and was invited in. "Message for you, Sir. Sparks said you'd want to see it right away."
The skipper grudgingly took the paper, not pleased with the interruption. Upon reading it, he exclaimed enthusiastically, "THANK GOD!"
"Good news, Sir?" the First Mate asked.
"The best possible news!" came the reply. "Here. Read it yourself." "3 men airlifted to Honiara per request. Benson in National Referral Hospital with minor injury. Simpson, Wilcox examined, released. Boat hit mine, sunk. Await your instructions."
The Captain wrote out a reply: "Will notify Fleet HQ and request authorization for transfer of 3 men to San Diego to await return of Brighton." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Thank you."
<><><><><>
Sean and Billy agreed on a first priority as they walked out of Will's room in the hospital: REAL FOOD! They asked the receptionist at the front desk for directions to a restaurant. She thought the two disheveled sailors would not be welcomed in any of the places she normally recommended to the occasional jet set tourist that sought medical attention while vacationing. "Walk west along the highway," she said. "When it crosses the Mataniko River it becomes Mendana Avenue. You'll find several small cafes within a kilometer or two."
They found a small, clean, and inexpensive (they hoped) restaurant. They gorged themselves in an attempt to make up for the deprivation they suffered while awaiting rescue.
"It's good to be back in civilization," Sean said. "If you want to be generous and call this place civilized."
Billy, perhaps because he was still sensitive to his growing up poor in a rural environment, cringed inwardly at the implied insult to the local people and customs, replied, "It's a furr-in country. Folks are different here. That don't mean they's no good."
Sean was about to defend his opinion of Guadalcanal in particular and anything "non-American" in general but in a rare flash of good judgment merely grunted.
As they left the cafe, they faced another decision: where to spend the night -- or nights -- until Will was discharged from the hospital. They counted the remaining cash in their wallets and realized that a hotel was beyond their means. They would have to save what little money they had for food. "No big deal," Billy said. "We just spent three days in the open. We can do it again. They gotta have a park or somethin' `round here. We can sleep there. Maybe the hospital will release Will t'morro' and we can figger out what to do next."
"And maybe they won't," Sean objected. "We're stuck here. With no place to stay. And very little money to eat. What's more, we're AWOL. We're up shit creek with no fucking paddle!"
Billy's patience was drained and he confronted the negativity, "Gee-zuz, Sean. Hows come yur always complainin'? Why can't ya never see how lucky we is? We's alive ain't we? Ya put me in mind o' my cousin. Nobody never liked him `cause he was such a whinin' baby. Will was right when he said quitters never win."
Billy walked away without waiting for a reply. Sean, seething from what he thought was a lecture from a country hick, caught up to Billy and said, "Okay. If you're so damn smart, what the fuck are we going to do?"
"Don't know yet," Billy grunted. "But I sure as shootin' ain't gonna quit!"
Later that day Billy and Sean returned to the hospital to visit Will. They were surprised and pleased to see him out of his hospital gown and fully dressed. "They're releasing me!" Will exclaimed with obvious delight. "I've still got a bandage on my leg and it's still a bit sore but I'm outta here today. But the best news is this." He handed a sheet of paper to his comrades. It was a message from Fleet HQ: "This authorizes Willard Benson, Sean Wilcox, and Billy Simpson to secure immediate commercial air transport to San Diego per terms of the DOD Military Air Transport contract MAT-65-19435. They are to report to the San Diego Naval Base upon arrival for further assignment. /s/ Adm. R. M. Johanson, USN."
Billy's shout of "HOT DAMN!" conveyed his high spirits over the news.
Sean was equally delighted and bellowed, "FANTASTIC!"
Using Will's credit card, they bought civilian clothes and discarded their torn and very dirty uniforms. They proceeded immediately to the airport to book a flight back to San Diego.
<><><><><>
The trip back to San Diego was exhausting -- more than 13 hours on three separate flights and another ten hours spent waiting in the Honiara, Honolulu, and Los Angles airports. But the spirits of the three sailors were high as the plane touched down in San Diego just after six in the evening.
"'Spose we oughta check in at the Naval Base?" Billy asked as they disembarked from the plane.
"We could," Will replied, "But there's not much to accomplish at this late hour. First thing in the morning will be soon enough."
"So what do we do until then?" Sean asked, finally if only implicitly deferring to Will as the leader of the team.
"We could mosey out to the Base." Billy suggested. "They maybe got rooms in Base housin'. Don't know `bout y'all but I sure could use a hot shower and decent bed."
Will had other ideas for the first night back from the ordeal they had been through. "I don't think so," he said. "First of all, we don't know if they've got rooms for us. I think we should find a nice restaurant and get a good meal. Then we can find a hotel for the night. Early tomorrow morning will be a good time to report to the Base."
"And how are we going to pay for all that?" Sean asked, displaying again his tendency to focus on the negative.
"My treat," Will said. "In appreciation for all you guys did on our unlucky mission ... or shall we say `adventure'. How about it?"
None of the customers in the restaurant enjoyed their meal as much as the three young men whose misfortune had brought them close to death. Only Billy objected to Will's paying for three hotel rooms but his objections were overruled by Will saying, "Remember what you learned in church? It's better to give than to receive. Allow me the satisfaction of giving us all a good night's rest."
Rest was not at the top of Will's priority list as Billy would learn when he answered a knock on his door an hour after checking in to the hotel and saw Will's face glowing with a broad smile.
<><><><><>
Billy knew why his boyfriend had appeared at his hotel room door. Or at least he fervently hoped he knew the reason. He stood unable to say anything. Perhaps it was a surprise because nothing had been said about an overnight visit. Or perhaps it was because the anticipation of an experience he'd wanted for too long but never enjoyed. Or perhaps it was apprehension of the unknown: his first sexual experience.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" asked Will.
"Sure nuff," Billy managed to say. "Come right in."
"If you'd rather get a good night's sleep, I'll go back to my room," Will joked.
"NO SIREE!" Billy exclaimed as he stood back to allow Will into the room.
"Remember back on the island?" Will asked. "When we found out for sure that we're both gay? I recall that you wanted us to show our love for each other right there and then. But I said it wasn't the time or place. I wanted it to be beautiful. And without any fear of being caught. Well ... it seems this is the right time and the right place. And it WILL be beautiful."
Billy impulsively if somewhat awkwardly seized Will in an embrace and laid his head on his lover's shoulder. "I reckon there ain't nothing I want more than to be with ya, Will. I've hankered for this for a coon's age. But I was scared to let ya know. Scared I'd insult ya and lose ya as a friend."
They clung to each other for a long time as if the moment so long in coming might evaporate if they dared to loosen their grip on each other. Will's thoughts included the image of an unschooled farm boy with a delightful Deep South accent but whose unmistakable ambition, excellent character, and -- to be truthful -- appealing body had somehow emerged from an impoverished background. Or perhaps been forged by it. Billy's thoughts, understandably, were of the sensual delights that he had only experienced in his fantasies and yearned for in his real life. There was also room in his thoughts, however, for gratitude that fickle fate had brought Will to him and, more significantly, that Will was not only gay but felt a strong affection for him.
Will whispered into Billy's ear as he tightened their hug, "You have no idea how much I've wished for this time together. I felt the same way. I was frightened, too. I didn't have the courage to say anything to you. Funny thing about courage. It's doing something in spite of the risks -- daring to take a chance. But courage has to be tempered by caution. You can't be foolish. You have to use good judgment. And we had to be cautious, didn't we? The risks were too great -- if we were caught, the Navy would spit us out like rotten fruit."
"We don't have to be cautious now, do we?" Billy purred.
When the swelling in their crotches became noticeable, Will asked, "Shall we get into bed? May I offer myself to you and show you how much I love you?"
"Shore `nuff," Billy grinned.
Their eagerness caused them to shed their clothes quickly and strew them haphazardly on the floor. They had seen each other naked many times in the shower room and it had fueled their lust. This was completely different because they would not be constrained by social taboo. Instead, the nude bodies before them were available to them to admire without restraint, to explore freely, and to make intimate, sensual love. No sooner than they were totally naked, they impulsively embraced, pressing their bodies together and feeling a rush of erotic delight. Very soon, that's not all they felt. Their cocks were rapidly inflating and intensifying their lust and love. Will grasped Billy's ass cheeks to pull his hips even more snugly against his own. Billy, almost subconsciously, did the same to Will.
While they ground their crotches together, Will gave Billy a long, passionate kiss, which was welcomed by the virgin gay and returned wholeheartedly. Breaking the kiss, Will guided Billy onto the bed and lay beside him.
"Will?" Billy asked ambiguously.
"What, Billy? Your're not having second thoughts are you?"
"NO! NEVER! It's just that ... well ... I'm scared, Will."
"Of what?"
"I used t' be scared o' lettin' ya now how I ached t' be with ya. It's somethin' else now. It's been gnawin' at me since we was on the island. I ain't never done this afore. I'm scared I'll do somethin' stupid. Or I'll disappoint ya."
"Trust me, Billy. There's nothing to be afraid of. I doubt very much that you'll do anything stupid. And there's only one thing you could do to disappoint me. That's if you were to tell me to get the hell out of your room. You're not going to do that are you?"
"NOPE! I want this more than anythin'. I want ya here more than anythin'. Not just now, neither. Forever!"
"We both want the same thing, Billy. I'm yours as long as you'll have me. And as for not knowing what to do, let me show you. You're a quick learner so don't worry about disappointing me."
The implication of what Will said was not lost on the perceptive Billy who, without thinking of the wisdom of being polite, asked, "Y'all's done this before?"
"I'll be honest ... now and in the future. Yes, I've had gay sex. With kids in boarding school. We were just fooling around. And with a couple of guys in college. But -- and I'm being honest -- it was just sex. Nothing more. With you it's different. We love each other. That makes sex much more precious. Do I know how to do stuff with guys? Yes. But it was never about anything but sexual gratification. With you, Billy, it's far more meaningful because it's another way of expressing my love and receiving yours. So let's do it. Let me give you an experience you'll never forget. Just relax and enjoy it."
Will gave Billy another long, probing kiss while massaging his chest and toying with his nipples. He then kissed his neck and moved downward to give his chest a tongue bath. He suckled on one nipple and the other until both were standing out firmly from his hairy chest. His mouth moved down toward its goal slowly and evocatively, which caused Billy to gasp and moan with erotic delight. Simultaneously, he gently rubbed his lover's inner thigh, being careful not to touch the hairy, wrinkled ball sack or twitching flesh pole. His progress was paused while he lapped and explored Billy's navel with a hungry tongue. By this time Billy was writhing in delight and anticipation.
Will seized the opportunity to visually examine the impressive genitalia that had captured his interest in the showers at boot camp. This was far better than those discrete glances. He had never seen Billy's cock hard, erect, and seemingly begging for attention. It had grown to almost twice its flaccid size and loomed like a cannon over a dense thicket of curly black pubic hair. From its tip, a string of precum fell downward into a pool inches below the navel and barely above the top of the pubic bush. Will had intended to prolong the foreplay in order to bring Billy to the heights of arousal but the precum's silent beckoning was irresistible. He lapped it up with his tongue. He had tasted precum before -- his own and others' -- but this was infinitely better because it came from one whom he indisputably loved. Its effect was more than pleasant, more than euphoric, it was a potent aphrodisiac that inflamed his passion as nothing had done before. Unable to adhere to his planned regime of continued arousal, he enveloped his lover's manliness with his mouth. The effect on Billy was an explosion of sensual delight as attested by his primal scream. The effect on Will was hardly less because he knew that he was giving something uniquely valuable to someone he adored.
The sensations emanating from Billy's groin radiated throughout his body and obliterated awareness of everything beyond his body. He had honed an ability to prevent an erection in the shower at boot camp (which was a singular achievement when surrounded by several naked young men) but he was powerless to stop the compelling need for orgasm. He instinctively bucked his hips, which forced even more of his cock into the warm, moist cavern of a waiting mouth. He shot multiple volleys of cum after only a few moments of stimulation, accompanied by involuntary screams of erotic delight. They blasted the back of Will's throat and were swallowed with grateful gusto.
When Billy descended from orbit and became aware of Will lying next to him, he seized his lover in an almost suffocating embrace and exclaimed, "That was fabulous, it was. Ain't never been happier than right now. I love ya, Will. Yur the bestest thing that ever happened to me. Ain't nothing I can imagine better than bein' with ya."
"I love you, too, Billy. You may not believe this but it's true. I got as much pleasure as you did because I was able to make the most important person in my life happy."
"Nope," Billy said. "I don't believe it. I wish I had the words to explain how I felt but it was ... well ... like I said ... fabulous. But maybe yur right. Only one way to find out. If'n I do the same thing to ya."
"I'd like that," Will replied.
"But ya gotta be patient with me. I ain't never done it afore. Ya'll hafta tell me if'n I does somethin' wrong."
"Not much chance of that," Will replied. "Because I know you paid attention to what I did. At least until your orgasm took over your senses."
Billy grinned and said, "Yur showin' yur courage. Lettin' me suck on yur cock, I mean. But I'll take care of the caution part and be mighty careful."
It was not Will's first blow job but it was infinitely better than all the previous ones combined. Yes, Billy was tentative and sometimes awkward but the emotional bond between the two lovers overshadowed any minor deficiency in Billy's skill.
By four in the morning, the two lovers had cuddled, redundantly reaffirmed their commitment to each other, and enjoyed three more orgasms -- two in bed and one in the shower. Reluctantly, Will said, "I wish we could stay here in the room longer but we have to meet Sean in the lobby at six, have breakfast, and report to the Base."
"Shucks!" Billy groused. "I'd like to run away with ya ... away from the Navy ... to some place where we could be together. Forever. But I know yur right."
<><><><><>
"Where were you last night?" Sean asked Will as the trio met in the lobby just before six. "I tried to call your room a couple of times but there was no answer. I figured you didn't want to be disturbed because you had trolled the neighborhood and found a hooker to spend the night with."
Will was normally prepared for contingencies but not this time. He had been too eager to spend the night with Billy. He replied with the first excuse that came to mind, "Sorry. I'm a sound sleeper. I guess I didn't hear the phone. Was it something important?"
"No," Sean said. "I just wanted to see if you had a razor I could borrow. I got one from the front desk. It took a bit of persuasion but the desk clerk finally gave in."
Both Will and Billy were relieved that their love-making had gone undetected. Sean was just the sort of person who would condemn what he regarded as aberrant behavior and would surely report them to Navy officials.
The conversation over breakfast was mostly about what to expect when they checked in at the Naval Base but took an awkward digression when Sean commented, "It's sure good to be back in civilization again and not stranded on a godforsaken island or putting up with the heathen natives in Guadalcanal."
Will held his tongue but Billy lashed out, "I done tol' ya once, Sean. But I reckon it didn't sink in to yur thick skull. Them folks are diff'rent. That don't mean they's bad. Truth to tell, they's a sight better than people like you. Ya think yur better than anybody not like y'all are. Didn't they send out a chopper to get us? Didn't they help us find a place to eat? Didn't they fix Will up? They was friendly and helpful. That's a heap better in my book than bitchin' and complainin' and insultin' people."
Sean's blood was boiling at the morality lecture and anger was clearly evident in his expression. He pointed his fork at Billy and said, "Just what I'd expect from an ignorant farm boy. I don't need...."
Will interrupted by saying, "Hey, guys. Cool it! Before it gets out of control and you start throwing punches."
The two opponents sat silently for several minutes although Sean's macho drive toward aggression was barely contained and Billy's indignation continued to simmer. Their icy silence persisted in spite of Will's unsuccessful attempts to steer the conversation toward neutral subjects.
Other difficulties awaited them at the Naval Base.
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Sean was quiet during the cab ride to the Naval Base. He was consumed by thoughts of his misfortune -- sent on a mission with two undeserving, inexperienced, and inept team mates. He had three years experience at sea and resented the assignment of Will as team leader because (he had convinced himself) Will was an uppity son of wealth with only a few weeks of basic training. His antipathy was particularly strong toward Billy whom he regarded as an ignorant farm boy who dared to challenge him about attitude. Sean's ego, larger than warranted, was injured and that seduced his thinking into how to get revenge.
The guard at the main gate of the Base rightly challenged three men in civilian clothes who got out of the cab and walked toward the entrance. "Military personnel only, gentlemen," he said courteously but authoritatively.
"We're all sailors, sir," Will replied. "We've been ordered to report in as soon as we arrived back from the Pacific."
"Sure you are," the guard said with more than a hint of sarcasm. "Why is it you're not in uniform?"
Will gave a summary of their experience searching for a downed pilot, not returning to their ship before it left for Vietnam, and discarding their uniforms because they were torn and filthy. He concluded by saying, "We've got dog tags and ID."
As one, the three sailors showed their dog tags and retrieved their ID cards from their wallets They were crinkled from water damage but still legible. The guard examined the IDs closely and periodically glanced up at the faces of the suspicious trio.
"Looks okay to me, guys," the guard conceded. "But I'll have to notify HQ before I can let you in. Wait here." He stepped inside the guard house and made a phone call that turned out to be much longer than anyone expected.
Sean muttered, "Isn't that just like the fuckin' Navy? Gotta get permission from the brass before you can do anything. It's a fuckin' wonder we don't have to get permission to take a piss." Billy and Will scowled at him, unknowingly adding fuel to the angry resentment inside the pessimistic team member.
The guard returned and said, "A car will be here in a few minutes. You'll be escorted to Security HQ." He couldn't say more because he had to deal with several cars waiting to be cleared in.
"Probably got the AWOL report," Sean groused. "And will lock us up in the brig."
"Put a lid on it!" Will warned. "Nobody can stop you from thinking the worst but nobody wants to hear your constant complaining."
The admonition stoked the fire of Sean's anger but he said nothing.
Fifteen minutes later a brawny Officer in a Jeep arrived. "You three!" he barked. "Get in." The three slightly intimidated sailors settled into the Jeep with Sean in the front passenger seat. The Officer sized up his passengers and said, "I see you're not armed. I am. Don't try any stupid moves."
The unexpected warning caused even Billy and Will to wonder whether Sean had been right about being locked up for being AWOL.
The Jeep pulled up in front of a Quonset building with a sign above the door: BASE SECURITY. The driver jumped out, put his hand conspicuously on the holster of his side arm and commanded, "Inside!"
Obediently and somewhat timidly, the three perplexed sailors walked to the door and entered the building. They were escorted to a small room. The officer unlocked the door and said gruffly, "Wait in here."
The young men entered the room to find concrete block walls, no windows, a small table, and six folding chairs. The sound of the door being locked surprised and worried Will and Billy but induced a sense of doom in Sean. Twenty anxious, almost wordless minutes later they heard a key turning the lock on the door, which opened to reveal a fortyish but fit officer who immediately said with a smile, "Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Captain Wilson. Which of you is the senior seaman.
"I am," Sean immediately replied, ready to grab command of the team.
"And you are?"
"Seaman Sean Wilcox, Sir."
"Come with me, Wilcox. I have a few questions for you."
Will and Billy looked at each other as Sean strode out of the room. Questions without answers coursed through their minds. Finally Billy asked, "What's goin' on? Why is it they wanna talk to Sean and not us?"
"I don't know," Will replied. "Unless ... unless they think we're planning on doing something illegal. It's a common technique in law enforcement. They separate suspects, talk to them individually, and try to uncover discrepancies in their stories."
"Then why'd they leave us here ... t'gether? If we was up to no good, we could shore 'nuff make up a story to stick to. Then it'd be us two against Sean."
"I don't know that either," Will said. "Unless...." He put his finger to his lips to cue Billy's silence. He looked all around the room, under the table, and under the chairs. Finding nothing, he continued, "Unless they bugged this room to record what we said." Responding to Billy's worried look, he added, "But we've got nothing to be afraid of, do we? We both know what happened and why. We're going to be all right." Will then made a circle with his thumb and fingers, pretended to jerk off, and shook his head vigorously.
Billy understood the meaning -- no mention of being gay. He grinned, blew his lover a kiss, and said, "Yur posilutely right 'bout that!"
Meanwhile, Captain Wilson was using his skill as an interrogator in a far more comfortable room. The first task was to establish rapport by being cordial. He achieved that goal relatively quickly. The next task was to gather facts while paying careful attention to any signs of stress or dishonesty as shown by facial expression or body language.
After almost an hour of direct questioning and jotting notes on his clipboard, the Captain said, "I get the feeling that there's something else you haven't told me, Sean. Is there anything more that will help me understand what happened?" He conspicuously put his clipboard aside and added, "Off the record, of course. I have all the important details of what happened."
That was just the opening Sean was hoping for but he would have to proceed carefully in voicing his grievances. "Well, sir. I don't know if it's important."
"Let me be the judge of that. Feel free to speak candidly."
"I hate to get a fellow sailor in trouble, sir, because Will Benson is fresh out of Basic Training. I'm sure he means well but ... How can I put this? I don't think he was the right choice for team leader. I think some of his decisions and orders were not right. A more experienced sailor would have avoided the mine and prevented the loss of the launch. When he was injured, he demanded that Simpson piss on the wound. He claimed it was the right thing to do but it seems to me to be just plain sick perversion! He even ordered us to drink our own piss ... possibly to punish us for questioning his orders." Sean was carried away with his criticism, which resulted in further condemnation of his team mates. "What really bothered me, sir, was Benson's attitude. It was like he was drunk with power. He constantly reminded me and Simpson that he was in charge and demanded that we do what he said." Sean was on a roll, encouraged in no small measure by Captain Wilson's attentive interest. "Letting Simpson stack leaves on the wound was idiotic. And then there's Simpson. How he ever got into the Navy is a mystery. He's an ignorant farm boy but acts like he knows more than anybody else. He was constantly sucking up to Benson to prove his loyalty and win trust. In short, sir, the mission was doomed from the beginning ... by assigning Benson and Simpson to the team."
"I see," the Captain said pensively. "And what do you think can be done about the situation?"
"I guess that's up to you, sir. But if it was my decision, I'd court martial Benson and assign Simpson to shore duty doing something that doesn't demand a lot of thinking."
"Thanks for your honesty, Wilcox. I'll take you back to the conference room now."
The Captain ushered Sean back to what the he had generously called the conference room and said, "Benson, I'd like a few words with you now."
Alone with Sean, Billy asked, "What happened? What'd he wanna know?"
"Just told him the truth," Sean lied. "What we were sent to do, the mine, the rescue, nothing else."
The routine was repeated with Will: establish rapport, gather facts, and watch for signs of stress or dishonesty. The facts were identical to what Sean had related but the Captain continued to exhibit interest and to take notes. Having heard the same account of the events, the Captain said, "Thank you, Benson. You've been a great help. Now I'd like to ask a few more questions -- not officially but out of pure curiosity. Why do you think you were selected as team leader when you're only just out of Basic Training? Off the record, of course."
"I can't say for sure, sir. All I know is that the Captain of the Brighton told me that he wanted to give me a chance. He was puzzled about my NROTC training -- which I didn't complete because I dropped out of school and enlisted -- and turning down OCS."
"That is unusual, Benson, but I suppose you had your reasons. So tell me what you think of your first leadership assignment."
"I guess you could say I learned a lot. The first task was choosing two men to be on the team. Simpson was an obvious choice because as a country boy he would be valuable in scouting the island. It turned out he was extremely helpful in identifying edible vegetation and a substitute for antiseptic. He doesn't have a lot of schooling but he's damn smart. Excuse me. He's VERY smart."
"And Wilcox?"
"I chose him because he was a muscular hulk and that might be useful if we found the downed pilot and had to carry him back to the launch."
"You think those were good choices then?"
"Yes, sir. At the time."
"Everything went well? I mean except for the accident with the mine."
"Mostly. As I said, Billy ... Simpson ... was a great asset to the team."
"And Wilcox?"
"He was a help also."
"I get the sense that you're not telling me everything. You've praised Simpson but said little about the contributions of Wilcox to the team. Did he perform up to your expectations?"
Will paused, debating with himself about whether to mention Sean's fatalism and negative attitude. "Well, sir, that's one of the things I learned from the experience. A man isn't always what he appears to be. Simpson can be taken for a dummy until you look beyond the exterior and find his keen mind. Wilcox seems to be a daring, capable guy but it's not what he's like." Will stopped, having second thoughts about what he was about to say.
"And what is he like if not daring and capable?"
"Well, sir, I had to try to lift his spirits when we got stranded on the island. He seemed convinced that we would die there. That didn't work. So I had to tell him to keep his negative thoughts to himself. I think he resented that. And resented that he was senior to me but wasn't chosen as team leader. And he disliked Simpson -- who he thought was ignorant and incompetent -- for confronting him about his complaining and bigotry."
The Captain requested and got examples of behavior that lay behind Will's judgments of Sean and Billy before escorting him back to the conference room.
Billy was interviewed next but it took less than half the time and focused exclusively on the events.
After nearly two hours of interrogation (skillfully disguised as interviews), the Captain told the three anxious sailors, "Thank you, gentlemen, for your help. I've received word that your status is as you claim. You're free to go. Report to Base HQ. It's about fifty yards down the road to your left as you leave the building."
They compared notes as they walked down the road. Neither Sean nor Will, however, revealed what they had said about each other. Sean hoped his comments would be a basis for punishing Will and relegating Billy to some menial job on shore. Will was more judicious (and truthful) in what he said but chose not to irritate Sean any more than necessary.
To be continued
NOTE: Thank you, Iatia, for your valuable editing and suggestions.