Jungle Rules by Charles W. Henderson Read Free Book Online Page A

extinguish the flames of his anger.
    “Captain Kirkwood,” Dickinson said, looking at the quiet officer who had taken several steps toward the wall and busily read the posterboard sign attached to it.
    “Yes, sir,” Kirkwood responded, wheeling on his toes and striding quickly back to the major’s desk.
    “I see your wife has gotten herself a job teaching junior high social studies at the Department of Defense School System on Okinawa,” Dickinson said, looking at a yellow note paper-clipped to the manila cover of Kirkwood’s Officer Qualification Record.
    “Correct, sir,” Kirkwood said. “Her father knew some people with the DOD school system, and they made some arrangements for her to work there. Hopefully, occasions will arise where I may have cases that take me to Okinawa, and might afford us the opportunity to be together for a day or two during my thirteen months here in ’Nam. Just a hope, sir. You know.”
    “Any Okinawa junkets are plums that I award to only our stellar performers, Captain,” Dickinson said. “Defense section has yet to show me any stellar performances, so you will have a precedent to set if you hope to get to Okinawa anytime soon.”
    “I think I understand, sir,” Kirkwood said, choosing to keep any potential for argument to himself while trying not to show his stirring emotions and his immediate dislike for the major.
    “Like I said,” Dickinson said, and faked a laugh, “I get paid to be the asshole at this office.”
    “I understand, sir,” Kirkwood repeated.
    “Your father-in-law is quite the man, isn’t he, Captain Kirkwood?” Dickinson said, running his finger down the note and then looking up at the flush-faced captain.
    “Sir?” Kirkwood said carefully.
    “Political power broker in California, Captain,” Dickinson bellowed. “He and Governor Pat Brown are like Frank and Jesse James. They run the California Democrat machine. Bernice Layne Brown, the state’s first lady, is your wife’s godmother. Don’t play so coy with me, Captain, you’re quite well connected.”
    “Sir,” Kirkwood said, “as you obviously know, Governor Ronald Reagan, a Republican, succeeded Edmund G. Brown this very year. So that California Democrat machine does not appear to have as great a head of steam as you might regard. Besides, if I have such clout, what am I doing in Vietnam?”
    “Good question, Captain,” Dickinson said. “I’m all ears.”
    “Sir, I got drafted,” Kirkwood began to explain. “Rather than face two years as a private in the army, I opted to join the Marine Corps.”
    “Right, right, right,” Major Dickinson said, waving his hand as he looked back at the folder, turning off what might develop into a long-winded explanation that he cared nothing to hear. Then the major rocked back on his chair and looked up from his desk at both captains. “Gentlemen, to get along here I ask only that you keep out of trouble, and abide by my rules, posted on yon wall.”
    “Your infamous list of Don’ts,” O’Connor said.
    “Correct, Captain,” Dickinson said in a hot voice, “the infamous Don’ts. Read them, make notes of them, learn to recite them by heart if needed, but above all, abide by them. I’m not here to get you to like me, and I am not your buddy. Ever. Don’t make the mistake of believing something otherwise.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that, sir,” Kirkwood said, now grabbing the opportunity to mouth off before O’Connor took it.
    “Don’t leave our offices without first checking out,” Dickinson said. “Rule number one. Don’t use the overseas telephone without obtaining a chit from me first. That’s rule number two. Most importantly, don’t ever, and I mean ever, take the colonel’s jeep. Colonel Prunella’s vehicle and his driver are exclusively off-limits to all hands. We have a staff jeep. Use the staff jeep. No exceptions. No excuses. Period!”
    “What if it’s out and we have an emergency?” O’Connor