From Here to Eternity_ The Restored Edit - Jones, James [121]
Then he dropped the whole thing utterly and went back to work, speeding up his pace to meet the supper stuff that began to come in shortly.
It grows dark quickly on islands, or anywhere near the sea. Sunset is a matter of minutes. One minute it is clear up and still full daylight, the next its down and it is night. Standing on the western beaches you can actually see the sea’s deep throat swallowing the golden cracker. Ritz Cracker, he thought, while in the Blue Ridge and the Smokies the sunless mountain twilight lingers bronzely on for hours. You’ve seen a lot of this world, Prewitt, he told himself, feeling his eyes blinking scratchily trying to adjust to the fading light, thats one thing you’ve done anyway.
The Company ate its baked beans and franks under the electric lights and laughingly, talkingly took its time to drink its coffee. In garrison the evening is the finest time of day for the soldier because it is his own time and he can waste it. He can spend it prodigally in one great splurge, or he can dole it out like pennies in a candy store, so much for this, so much for that, two jawbreakers, four nigger babies, one licorice stick, and I’ve still got two cents of my nickel left, to keep.
Anderson and Friday Clark stopped on their way out to ask him if he wanted to sit in when they got the guitars out, later on, Andy who was on guard bugler wearing the web pistol belt and long black holster with the lanyard from the butt up over his shoulder passing under the tucked in tie, and the bugle that he must never let out of sight while on guard hanging down his back.
“I’m tied up at the Guardhouse till nine,” he said. “The Corprl wants to go to the show and I got to take his place. But after I blow Tattoo I’m off till Taps. Thats when we figured.”
“Okay with me,” Prew said, wanting to get done now more than ever. “Me and Angelo fixing to play some pool after we get off here anyway.”
“I’ll sweat the pool game out?” Friday said. “If you let me, Prew? I cant go over to the Guardhouse since the OD run me off this afternoon.”
“You can play if you want.”
“Naw, I had rather watch. I aint good enough for you guys.”
“Okay, then you can sweat them. But right now take off, will you? And let me get done up.”
“Come on,” Andy said disgustedly. “Cant you see he’s in a hurry? You always fiddlefuck around.”
“Lay off of me,” Friday said, as they left. “You neednt ack like such a big shot. If you wasnt on guard tonight you’d be downtown with Bloom anyway, chasin queers, and your git-tar locked up in your wall locker.” It was the greatest condemnation Friday knew.
With supper over things began to move now all over the Company, the few guys with money calling for a taxi to town, the many guys without money walking out to go to the gate on the highway and hitchhike down, or getting ready to go to the show or to the gym to watch the 35th basketball champs play an exhibition game with the Fort Shafter squad. Prew could hear the groups of voices on the darkened porch discussing all the things to do, and he worked harder listening to them talk.
While he was washing down the sinks Stark came around again.
“I’m going to town tonight, Prew,” he said. “You want to go along?”
“I’m broke,” Prew said. “Flat.”
“I dint ast you you had money. I got the money. I awys save out enough for a big one at the end of the month. I awys make my best one then, when theres nobody much in town, instead of tryin to go down Payday when you cant even get in a bar, let alone a whorehouse.”
“Its your money,” Prew said. “If you want to spend it on me I should worry. What time?” He was seeing sudden pictures of white, hair shadowed flesh swelling out loud flashy gowns in dim rooms and reflecting jukebox colored lights, the old womanhunger held in check so long rising in him, making his voice thick.
“After Taps is the best time,” Stark said. “Its more fun if you got somebody with you,” he e