Jeffrey Archer - Sons of Fortune

‘Return to university, sir, and continue with my studies.’

‘Exactly what I thought you’d say,’ said the colonel, ‘so that’s exactly what you’re going to do.’

‘But the new term starts next week,’ said Nat, ‘and as you pointed out, the paperwork alone

‘Unless you were to sign up for another six years, then you might find that the paperwork moves surprisingly quickly.’

‘Sign up for another six years?’ repeated Nat in disbelief. ‘I was hoping to get out of the army, not stay in it.’

‘And you will,’ said the colonel, ‘but only if you sign up for six years. You see, with your qualifications, Nat,’ he added as he stood up and began to pace round the room, ‘you can immediately apply for any course of higher education and what’s more, the army will pay for it.’

‘But I already have a scholarship,’ Nat reminded his commanding officer.

‘I’m well aware of that, it’s all in here,’ said the colonel, looking down at the open file in front of him. ‘But the university doesn’t offer you a captain’s pay to go with it.’

‘I would be paid to go to university?’ said Nat.

‘Yes, you would receive a full captain’s pay, plus an added allowance for an overseas posting.’

‘An overseas posting? But I’m not applying for a place at the University of Vietnam — I want to return to Connecticut, and then go on to Yale.’

‘And so you will, because the regulations state that if, and only if, you have served abroad, in a war sector, and, I quote,’ the colonel turned another page in his file, ‘then an application for advanced education will be given the same status as your last posting. I’ve decided I now love lawyers,’ said the colonel looking up, ‘because, can you believe it, they’ve come up with something even better.’ Tremlett sipped his coffee while Nat remained silent. ‘Not only will you receive your full captain’s salary as well as an overseas allowance,’ the colonel continued, ‘but because of your injury, at the end of six years, you will automatically be discharged, when you will qualify for a captain’s pension.’

‘How did they ever get that through Congress?’ asked Nat.

‘I don’t suppose they worked out that anyone would qualify in all four categories at the same time,’ replied the colonel.

‘There has to be a downside,’ said Nat.

‘Yes, there is,’ said the colonel gravely, ‘because even Congress has to cover its backside.’ Once again, Nat didn’t bother to hold him up. ‘First, you will have to return to Fort Benning every year for two weeks’ intensive training to bring you up to scratch.’

‘But I’d enjoy that,’ said Nat.

‘And at the end of the six years,’ said the colonel, ignoring the interruption, ‘you will remain on the active list until your forty-fifth birthday, so in the event of another war, you could be called up.’

‘That’s it?’ said Nat in disbelief.

‘That’s it,’ repeated the colonel.

‘So what do I have to do next?’

‘Sign all six documents that the lawyers have prepared, and we’ll have you back at the University of Connecticut by this time next week. By the way, I’ve already spoken to the provost, and he tells me that they’re looking forward to seeing you on Monday week. He asked me to inform you that the first lecture begins at nine o’clock. Sounds a bit late to me,’ he added.

‘You even knew how I would respond, didn’t you?’ said Nat.

‘Well, I admit,’ said Tremlett, ‘that I did think you would consider it a better alternative to brewing my coffee for the next twelve months. By the way, are you sure you won’t join me?’ the colonel asked, as he poured himself a second cup.

‘Will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?’ intoned the bishop of Connecticut.

‘I will,’ said Jimmy.

‘Will you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?’

‘I will,’ said Joanna.

‘Will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?’ repeated the bishop.

‘I will,’ said Fletcher.

‘Will you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?’

‘I will,’ said Annie.

Double weddings were a rare event in Hartford, and the bishop admitted that it was the first he’d ever conducted.

Senator Gates stood at the head of a long receiving line, smiling at each new guest. He knew almost all of them. After all, both his children were being married on the same day.

‘Who would have thought Jimmy would end up marrying the smartest girl in the class?’ said Harry proudly.

‘Why shouldn’t he?’ asked Martha. ‘You did. And don’t forget, thanks to Joanna, he also managed cum laude.’

‘We’ll cut the cake, just as soon as everyone is seated at their tables,’ announced the maitre d’, ‘and I’ll need the brides and grooms in front, and the parents behind the cake when the photographs are taken.’

‘You won’t have to round up my husband,’ said Martha Gates. ‘If a flashbulb goes off, he’ll be on the other side of the camera within moments — it’s an occupational hazard.’

‘How right she is,’ admitted the senator. He turned his attention to Ruth Davenport, who was looking wistfully at her daughter-in-law.

‘I sometimes wonder if they aren’t both a little too young.’

‘She’s twenty,’ said the senator, ‘Martha and I were married when she was twenty.’

‘But Annie still hasn’t graduated.’

‘Does it matter? They’ve been together for the past six years.’ The senator turned to greet another guest.

‘I sometimes wish...’ began Ruth.

‘What do you sometimes wish?’ enquired Robert, who was standing on the other side of his wife.

Ruth turned so that the senator couldn’t overhear her. ‘No one could love Annie more than I do, but I sometimes wish they, well,’ she hesitated, ‘they had both dated more.’

‘Fletcher met lots of other girls, he just didn’t want to date them, and by the way,’ said Robert, allowing his champagne glass to be refilled yet again, ‘how often have I gone shopping with you, only to find you end up buying the dress you first looked at?’

‘That didn’t stop me considering several other men before I settled for you,’ said Ruth.

‘Yes, but that was different, because none of the others wanted you.’

‘Robert Davenport, I would have you know...’

‘Ruth, have you forgotten how many times I asked you to marry me before you finally accepted? I even tried to make you pregnant.’

‘You never told me that,’ said Ruth, turning to face her husband.

‘You’ve obviously forgotten how long it was before you eventually had Fletcher.’

Ruth looked back at her daughter-in-law. ‘Let’s hope she doesn’t have to face the same problem.’

‘No reason why they should,’ said Robert. It’s not Fletcher who is going to have to give birth. And my bet is,’ he continued, ‘that Fletcher, like me, will never look at another woman for the rest of his life.’

‘You’ve never looked at another woman since we’ve been married?’ said Ruth after shaking hands with two more guests.

‘No,’ said Robert, before he took another gulp of champagne, ‘I slept with several of them, but I never looked at them.’

‘Robert, how much have you had to drink?’

‘I haven’t counted,’ Robert admitted, as Jimmy broke away from the line.

‘What are you two laughing about, Mr Davenport?’

‘I was telling Ruth about my many conquests, but she refuses to believe me. So tell me, Jimmy, what are you hoping to do when you graduate?’

‘I’ll be joining Fletcher at law school. It’s likely to be a tough ride, but with your son to get me through the day, and Joanna the night, I might just about manage it. You must be very proud of him,’ said Jimmy.