demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第74部分

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　A　lot　of　people　sobbed。
　I　whispered　to　Karl；　〃The　chaplain　fucked　her；　too。〃
　Karl's　jaw　dropped　this　time。　The　day　still　had　possibilities。
　
CHAPTER　THIRTY…FIVE
　
　The　simple　service　proceeded　with　prayers；　organ　music；　and　a　few　hymns。　Senior　military　officers　are　great　churchgoers；　of　course；　it　es　with　the　territory　of　God　and　Country。　But　they　tend　to　be　nondenominational；　which　is　safe；　gray；　and　nondescript；　like　most　of　their　careers。
　The　upside　of　this　at　military　weddings　and　funerals　is　that　you　get　to　pick　and　choose　the　best　aspects　of　each　denomination's　liturgy；　hymns；　and　prayers；　and　you　can　make　it　short。　I　can　tell　you　from　experience　that　a　Catholic　funeral　mass　can　be　long　and　arduous　enough　to　kill　off　a　few　of　the　old　folks。
　Anyway；　at　the　designated　time；　Colonel　Fowler　mounted　the　lectern　to　deliver　the　eulogy。
　Colonel　Fowler　acknowledged　the　presence　of　family；　friends；　fellow　officers；　coworkers；　and　Midland　dignitaries。　He　said；　〃In　our　chosen　profession；　more　than　in　any　other　profession；　we　see　and　hear　of　the　untimely　deaths　of　young　men　and　women。　We　do　not　grow　accustomed　to　death；　and　we　do　not　bee　hardened　to　death；　but　rather　we　cherish　life　more　because　we　know　and　accept　the　fact　that　Army　life　puts　us　in　harm's　way。　When　we　took　the　oath；　we　fully　understood　that　we　could　be　called　upon　to　risk　our　lives　in　the　defense　of　our　country。　Captain　Ann　Campbell　understood　that　when　she　accepted　her　mission　from　the　Military　Academy；　she　understood　that　when　she　went　to　the　Gulf；　and　she　understood　that　when；　at　an　hour　when　most　people　are　safe　in　their　homes；　she　volunteered　to　go　out　and　see　that　all　was　secure　at　Fort　Hadley。　This　was　a　pletely　voluntary　act；　not　specifically　related　to　her　duties；　but　the　sort　of　thing　that　Ann　Campbell　did　without　being　told。〃
　I　listened；　and　it　occurred　to　me　that；　if　I　didn't　know　better；　I'd　buy　it。　Here　was　a　gung…ho　young　female　officer　volunteering　for　night　duty　officer；　then　taking　the　initiative　to　go　out　to　check　the　guard　and　being　murdered　while　she　was　doing　a　good　deed。　How　sad。　That's　not　the　way　it　happened；　but　the　truth　was　even　sadder。
　Colonel　Fowler　went　on；　〃I'm　reminded　of　a　line　from　Isaiah　21：11…'Watchman；　what　of　the　night？'　〃　He　repeated　it；　〃　'Watchman；　what　of　the　night？'　and　the　watchman　replied；　'Morning　is　ing。'　And　aren't　we　all　watchmen？　This　is　our　calling　in　life；　as　soldiers；　to　stand　the　watch；　each　day；　each　night；　eternally　vigilant　so　that　others　may　sleep　peacefully　until　morning；　until　the　day　when　it　pleases　God　to　call　us　into　His　Kingdom；　and　we　need　not　stand　the　watch；　nor　fear　the　night。〃
　Fowler　had　a　good；　deep　speaking…voice；　and　his　delivery　was　flawless。　Clearly；　the　man　could　have　been　a　preacher；　or　a　politician；　if　he　weren't　so　obsessed　with　right　and　wrong。
　I'm　not　a　good　public　listener；　and　I　tend　to　drift。　So　I　drifted　to　Ann　Campbell's　open　casket；　her　face；　the　sword；　and　her　folded　hands　around　the　hilt；　and　I　realized　what　was　wrong　with　that　picture：　someone　had　slipped　a　West　Point　ring　on　her　finger。　But　was　it　her　ring？　And　if　it　was；　who　had　put　it　there？　Fowler？　General　Campbell？　Colonel　Moore？　Colonel　Kent？　Where　did　it　e　from？　But　did　it　make　any　difference　at　this　point？
　Colonel　Fowler　was　still　speaking；　and　I　tuned　back　in。
　He　said；　〃I　knew　Ann　as　a　child…a　very　precocious；　high…spirited；　and　bratty　child。〃　He　smiled；　and　there　was　subdued　laughter。　He　became　serious　again　and　continued；　〃A　beautiful　child；　not　only　physically　but　spiritually　beautiful；　a　special　and　gifted　child　of　God。　And　all　of　us　here　who　knew　her　and　loved　her　。。。〃
　Fowler；　smooth　as　he　was；　couldn't　slide　over　that　double　entendre；　but　it　was　only　a　momentary　breath　pause；　noticed　solely　by　those　who　had　known　her　intimately　and　loved　her　well。
　〃。。。　all　of　us　will　miss　her　deeply。〃
　Colonel　Fowler　had　a　lot　of　people　sobbing　now；　and　I　could　see　one　reason　why　the　Campbells　had　asked　him　to　deliver　the　eulogy。　The　other　reason；　of　course；　was　that　Colonel　Fowler　had　not　slept　with　the　deceased；　putting　him　on　the　short　list　of　potential　eulogizers。　But　I'm　being　cynical　again。　Fowler's　eulogy　was　moving；　the　deceased　had　suffered　a　great　wrong；　a　wrongful　and　untimely　death　had　occurred；　and　I　was　feeling　like　crap　again。
　Colonel　Fowler　did　not　mention　specifically　how　she　died；　but　did　say；　〃The　battlefield；　in　modern　military　jargon；　is　described　as　a　hostile　environment；　which　it　most　certainly　is。　And　if　you　expand　the　meaning　of　battlefield　to　include　any　place　where　any　soldier　is　standing　and　serving；　then　we　can　truthfully　say　that　Ann　died　in　battle。〃　He　looked　out　over　the　crowd　and　concluded；　〃And　it　is　only　proper　and　fitting　that　we　remember　her　not　as　a　victim；　but　as　a　good　soldier　who　died　doing　her　duty。〃　He　looked　at　the　casket　and　said；　〃Ann；　that's　how　we'll　remember　you。〃　Colonel　Fowler　came　down　from　the　lectern；　stopped　at　the　casket；　saluted；　then　took　his　seat。
　The　organ　began　playing；　and　the　service　continued　for　a　few　more　minutes。　Chaplain　Eames　led　the　mourners　in　the　Twenty…third　Psalm；　everyone's　favorite；　and　concluded　with　a　benediction　that　ended　with　〃Go　in　peace。〃
　The　organist　played　〃Rock　of　Ages；〃　and　everyone　stood。
　All　in　all　a　good　service；　as　funeral　services　go。
　The　eight　honorary　pallbearers　stood　in　the　front　left　pew　and　filed　into　the　aisle　at　the　foot　of　the　casket；　while　the　six　casket　bearers　took　up　their　positions　on　either　side　of　the　casket。　I　noted　that　the　six　casket　bearers　were　all　young　male　lieutenants；　picked；　perhaps；　for　their　youth　and　strength；　or　perhaps　for　their　lack　of　involvement　with　the　deceased。　Even　Lieutenant　Elby；　I　noticed；　whose　intentions　had　been　honorable；　had　been　barred　from　carrying　the　casket。
　Likewise；　the　honorary　pallbearers；　who　would　normally　be　high…ranking　associates　of　the　general　or　close　personal　friends　of　the　deceased；　were　obviously　chosen　for　their　clean　hands；　they　were；　in　fact；　all　female　officers；　including　the　general's　other　aide；　Captain　Bollinger。　An　all…female　contingent　of　honorary　pallbearers　seemed　appropriate　on　the　surface　of　it；　but　for　those　who　understood　why　senior　male　officers　had　been　excluded；　it　seemed　that　the　general　had　finally　gotten　his　way　in　keeping　his　daughter's　intimates　away　from　her。
　The　eight　female　officers　proceeded　toward　the　chapel　entrance；　and　the　six　casket　bearers　closed　the　top　half　of　the　lid；　covered　it　with　the　American　flag；　grasped　the　side　handles　of　the　casket；　and　hefted　it　off　the　catafalque。
　Chaplain　Eames　walked　in　front　of　the　casket；　and　the　Campbells　in　the　rear。　As　is　customary　when　the　casket　is　in　motion；　everyone　in　the　pews　who　was　in　uniform　faced　the　body　and　saluted。
　The　chaplain　led　the　procession　to　the　entrance；　where　the　eight　honorary　pallbearers　stood　at　attention　and　saluted　as　the　casket　passed　between　them。　At　this　point；　the　mourners　began　filing　out。
　Outside；　in　the　hot　sun；　I　watched　as　the　casket　bearers　secured　the　flag…draped　casket　to　the　old　wooden　caisson；　which　was；　in　turn；　hitched　to　a　humvee。
　Assembled　on　a　large　stretch　of　grass　across　from　the　chapel　were　the　escort　vehicles…staff　cars　and　buses　to　transport　the　family；　the　band；　the　pallbearers；　the　firing　party；　and　the　color　guard。　Every　veteran　has　the　right　to　be　buried　in　a　national　cemetery　with　full　honors；　but　you　only　get　all　this　hoopla　if　you　die　on　active　duty。　If　there's　a　war　on；　however；　they　may　bury　the　numerous　dead　overseas；　or；　as　in　Vietnam；　they　send　them　back　by　the　planeload　for　reshipment　to　various　hometowns。　In　any　case；　whether　you're　a　general　or　a　private；　you　get　the　twenty…one…gun　salute。
　People　mingled　awhile；　as　people　do；　speaking　to　one　another；　to　the　chaplain；　forting　the　Campbells。
　I　spotted　a　few　of　the　journalists；　who　were　trying　to　figure　out　whom　to　interview；　and　I　saw　the　Army　PIO　photographers　discreetly　taking　pictures　from　a　distance。　The　news　stories　to　date　had　been　guarded　and　vague；　but　hinted　at　things　that　I　thought　were　best　left　alone。
　I　noticed　a　young　man　standing　near　the　Campbells　who；　as　I　said；　I　recognized　from　the　family　album　as　the　son；　John。　But　I　would　have　recognized　him　anyway。　He　was　tall；　good…looking；　and　had　the　Campbell　eyes；　hair；　and　chin。
　He　looked　a　bit　lost；　standing　off　to　the　side　of　the　clan；　so　I　went　up　to　him　and　introduced　myself　as　Warrant　Officer　Brenner；　and　said　to　him；　〃I'm　investigating　the　circumstances　of　your　sister's　death。〃
　He　nodded。
　We　spoke　a　moment；　I　passed　on　my　condolences；　and　we　chatted　about　nothing　in　particular。　He　seemed　a　likable　guy；　well…spoken；　clean…cut；　and　alert。　In　many　ways；　he　was　what　we　called　officer　material；　but　he　had　not　opted　for　that　role；　either　because　he　didn't　want　to　follow　in　his　father's　footsteps　or　because　he　felt　his　free　spirit　might　be　a　hindrance。　He　may　have　been　right　in　both　cases；　but；　like　many　sons　of　the　high　and　the　mighty；　he　had　not　found　his　place　in　the　world。
　John　strongly　resembled　his　sister　in　appearance；　and　my　purpose　in　speaking　to　him　was　not　solely　to　express　my　sympathy。　I　said　to　him；　〃Do　you　know　Colonel　William　Kent？〃
　He　thought　a　moment；　then　replied；　〃Name　sounds　familiar。　I　think　I　met　him　at　some　parties。〃
　〃He　was　a　great　friend　of　Ann's；　and　I'd　like　you　to　meet　him。〃
　〃Sure。〃
　I　led　him　to　where　Kent　was　standing　on　the　sidewalk；　speaking　to　a　few　of　his　officers；　including　my　recent　acquaintance；　Major　Doyle。　I　interrupted　the　conversation　and　said　to　Kent；　〃Colonel　Kent；　may　I　introduce　Ann's　brother；　John？〃
　They　shook　hands；　and　John　said；　〃Yes；　we　did　meet　a　few　times。　Thank　you　for　ing。〃
　Kent　seemed　not　able　to　find　the　words　for　a　reply；　but　he　glanced　at　me。
　I　said　to　John；　〃Colonel　Kent；　aside　from　being　a　friend　of　Ann's；　has　been　a　great　help　in　the　investigation。〃
　John　Campbell　said　to　Kent；　〃Thank　you。　I　know　you're　doing　all　you　can。〃
　Kent　nodded。
　I　excused　myself　and　left　them　to　chat。
　One　could　criticize　the　appropriateness　of　introducing　the　suspected　murderer　to　the　brother　of　the　victim　at　the　victim's　funeral。　But　if　all's　fair　in　love　and　war；　let　me　tell　you；　any