CHAPTER 3“AT EASE, CHIEF,” the captain said. “Dr. Gresham is here because the story in the ship’s paper attracted attention, shoreside.”
“Captain, I sure hope that little old girl wasn’t any Typhoid Mary.”
“No, Chief,” the doctor said, “the Navy’s having a personnel problem, and you may help us solve it.”
“I heard about it, sir. Are the women on strike, Commander?”
Gresham opened his briefcase. “That’s as good an answer as any.” He pulled out a pipe, a tobacco pouch, and a clipboard with a sheet of graph paper attached. “We think it’s a boycott as part of a woman’s peace movement. The Chinese missile threat seems to have frightened the ladies.” He thumbed the tobacco into the pipe. “We hope you can help us isolate elements which make up male s*x appeal.” He lighted his match and sucked
