Dave had been watching for an opportunity to deflect the conversation toward the study of his own special predicament. But Kennebec appeared from the direction of the piled ammo boxes.
“Well,” Kennebec announced, “I don’t know whether it will stick or not, but the colonel just made me an officer.”
“That’s great, Jack!” Carmen said.
“Promotion in the field!” Dave was genuinely impressed and for Kennebec’s sake he sounded absolutely awed. “That’s twice as good as the ordinary kind.”
“Well”—Kennebec, pleased but embarrassed, invited their forgiving raillery—“I hate to think what young Henry would have said.”
“Now do we get to call you sir?” Dave asked.
Kennebec looked properly uncomfortable. “Not till I get my bars up. And then only when there are strangers around.”
Kennebec started aw
