@@@@@ It had been no accidentHearn had dropped
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It had been no accidentHearn had dropped the board purposely, or at the very least it had been only a partial accident, Cummings was certainAnd in reassurance his heart began to thump powerfullyPerhaps he had even wanted it to happen; there had been a certain alertness to Hearn, an awareness of him, when he had told him to bring over the map-boardCummings shook his headIt was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thingHe understood himself and it was best to let it go at thatAlthough he had awakened only a few minutes previously, his mind was painfully clear, and beneath the threshold of speech he was containing anxiety
He would transfer HearnIt would be dangerous to keep him under his thumbThere would be further episodes, further rebellions, and it might come to a court-martial, which was always messy, always unpleasantThat time with the cigarette butt, he would have carried it through, as he would now if anything developed, but the appeal could be nasty for himThey would never override him in higher echelons, but it could be a black mark
Hearn would have to goCummings was feeling a mingled triumph and frustrationHe could move Hearn where he wanted, and yet there was still an area of rebellion he had not been able to override completelyHe squinted his eyes against the glare of the lantern, turned it down a trifle, and then kneaded his thigh with one of his hands, realizing with annoyance it was one of Hearn's gestures
Where should he send him? It was not terribly important; that reconnaissance platoon Dalleson had mentioned would do well enoughAnd it would keep Hearn in headquartersHe would have an idea of what was happening to HearnIn any case he could take care of that in the morningWhen he saw Dalleson about the I Company outpost, he could maneuver it so that the decision seemed to come from DallesonIt would be better that way, less apparent
Cummings lay down again, his hands clasped under his head, staring once more at the ridgepoleAs if it were mocking him, he could see the map of Anopopei superimposed on the canvas, and he twisted over uncomfortably, feeling again the frustration and anger he had suffered when he received the message that he would probably get no Navy sup