James Salter - Cassada

“Looks like you finally got the idea,” Isbell told him.

“Not bad,” Phipps said. “What did you do, close your eyes?”

“I just did what they tell you to do.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

He didn’t reply. It had been early, the first mission of the day, the others hadn’t come down to the line after breakfast yet, but they would. They would see the target hanging there. The word would spread. He was elated, filled with fresh energy.

“You firing green?” Wickenden asked.

“Yes, sir.”

Wickenden nodded. Not even a word of approval. It hardly mattered. Cassada was smiling to himself. He felt like dancing. There were nine days of gunnery to go.

In the tent area they had a five-gallon container filled with ice, grapefruit juice, and vodka on a table in the sun. The closing party. Pilots in dirty flying suits. The heat of the day.

“Hey, Wes,” Isbell called. “Have a drink.”

“No, thanks, Captain,” Harlan said.

“Join the fun.”

“I can have enough fun just watching everybody make a fool of themselves.”

“Come on.” Isbell was unsteady on his feet.

“No, thanks.”

“Ah, you’re missing the best part.”

“I don’t know about that,” Harlan said.

“That’s what we come down here for. To eat soup together.”

“Soup?”

“That’s right. Eat soup and drink screwdrivers.”

Gunnery was over. The pickup carrying the target had come in after the last flight and as it slowed the airman in the passenger seat had given a thumbs-up sign, many hits. A crowd watched as it was being unfolded. Near the front end was a great scattering of red. Cassada. Mixed in was blue which was what Phipps had been firing. In the middle of the target, relative emptiness. Harlan stood with the onlookers. His highest score had been a forty percent accomplished during the first weeks and his overall average was impressive, in the low thirties. Dunning had only one score out of the twenties because he insisted on flying his own aircraft which was not a good gunnery ship as the rest of them knew. They would moan when scheduled to fly it.

Isbell was counting the holes. “Red. Red. Two reds. Blue,” he called out. “Another blue. Red. Two more blues.”

Cassada was almost holding his breath, hoping madly. It was the final mission and his last chance. There were not many reds in the middle but at the tail end of the target was a great, redeeming burst.

Dunning came up puffing on a cigar and with his shirt off. Immense and white-skinned, to Harlan he confided, “You might be having a little trouble, Lieutenant.”

“No trouble, Major,” Harlan said as if he were sure.

“He said he’d outshoot you.”

“We’ll see. He hasn’t come close yet.”

He could hear the annoying hits being called out, blue, red, red, three reds…

“I don’t know now,” the major said.

Harlan said nothing, waiting. He was not watching Isbell or Cassada, he was looking at the tail of the target. The light made it hard to see from where he stood.

“Lot of red there,” Dunning said. He seemed to be enjoying it. Harlan was counting to himself. It looked to be a high score, one that could go down to the last hole.

There was a crowd around as Isbell added. It was not quite forty. It was thirty-six percent.

At the party, Cassada came around the side of one of the tents, his sleeves rolled up and the cup of his mess kit almost full. Browned and slender, hair paled by the sun, he looked like a veteran. He found Grace and some others standing in a group. Harlan was among them, his back turned. Cassada walked up to them. He looked at Harlan.

“I guess I owe you some money,” he said.

It was as if Harlan didn’t hear.

“I don’t have all of it, I just have part of it now.”

Harlan turned. Very deliberately he said, “The bet was for a month’s pay.”

“I’ll have to give you the rest later.”

“You were ready to bet but you can’t back it up?”

“Take this. I’ll give you the rest after payday.” He held out a check. Harlan made no move to accept it. Cassada tried to put it in Harlan’s hand but Harlan made no attempt to take it. The check fell to the ground. The others were watching.

“You don’t have the money.” Harlan said. “I could of guessed it.”

“There it is.”

“Where? I don’t see it.”

“It’s right there,” Cassada said. “Better pick it up. It’s the only time I’m going to be paying.”

“What’s all that about next payday, then?”

“That’s the other part.”

“I don’t want parts. Where’s the money?”

Cassada, face burning, pushed the oblong piece of paper towards Harlan with his foot. There was a terrible silence.

“Hell, Wes,” Grace said, “go on and take it.”

Harlan’s broad face filled with scorn and also defiance.

“Why don’t you just say, I don’t have it, buddy?” Harlan said to Cassada. “I just don’t have it.”

Phipps, who was watching, bent down and picked up the check. He passed it to Harlan. “Why don’t you guys act like grown-ups?”

Harlan took the check, folded it, took out his wallet and put it inside. Godchaux had his arm around him.

“Don’t hide it away. Aren’t you going to buy everyone drinks at the club?”

“I don’t think anybody needs more drinks.”

“Come on,” Godchaux said.

“Go ahead and win your own money.”

“I think we ought to have a pool next time,” Grace said, “and the top three split it. Half to the high scorer and on down.”

“All right with me,” Harlan said.

“If we could get ‘A’ Flight to join in we’d clean up,” Grace said. “I see myself getting first place, then maybe Godchaux, then you.”

“I’m third?” Harlan said.

“I’d put you first except for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You don’t drink,” Grace said, seemingly serious.

“Shit.”

Near the showers a wrestling match had broken out and they were calling for Dunning, who was in his tent, to come and show how he had played end at Auburn. The party was becoming disorderly and also spreading past the tents to other squadrons having parties of their own.

Sometime after dark Dumfries came into the tent and turned on the light. Cassada was lying on his cot. Dumfries thought at first he was asleep, but he had merely closed his eyes against the light.

“I didn’t know anyone was in here,” Dumfries said. “Aren’t you going over to the club?”

“No.”

“I’m not either. I only had one cup of that stuff. I think it was doggone strong. Some of them are really drunk. Did you have a lot?”

“No.”

“I don’t know what-all was in it.”

Cassada rolled over onto his side and closed his eyes. “Why don’t you turn off that light?” he said.

“I just want to get undressed,” Dumfries said. He sat down on his footlocker and began to unlace his boots. “You still have your shoes on.”

“I know.”

There was noise from the major’s tent and from between the tents, shouting and singing. Dumfries had taken off one boot. He was talking about big fraternity parties he remembered although that was all beer, he said. Mostly beer. Cassada seemed not to be listening.

“Gee, it was too bad to lose that bet,” Dumfries said.

Cassada’s thoughts seemed elsewhere.

“I used to bet a lot myself,” Dumfries said, “at school. Mostly on football games, the World Series, things like that. After a while I really had a reputation, as a matter of fact. You probably wouldn’t believe it, the way I am now. They used to call me Little John. After John Cuneo. Of course, it was only kidding. He’s a real big gambler over in Sacramento. Maybe you’ve heard of him, John Cuneo.