|
MARTIN: |
I
haven't seen very much. I've been on deck, and I've seen the
Captain's quarters. |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
That isn't much. We have a whole city here. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
How
many men are on the ship? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
About six thousand. I don't know the exact number. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
May
I take a general tour? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
What do you know about aircraft carriers? |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Nothing. I don't know anything about aircraft carriers. |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
That's great. I can tell you anything I like. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
I
guess that's right. May I depend on some truth? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
I'll tell the truth when I know it. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Good. May we start at the bottom of the ship? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
I
don't mind. I think that's a good idea. Let's start with the men's
sleeping quarters. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
It's very crowded. |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
Yes. We don't waste any space. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
May
I try one of the bunks? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
Why
not? |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
It's a little small. |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
No,
you're a little big. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Do
all the men sleep here? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
No,
they sleep in different places. Most of the men are close to their
stations. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
What do you mean stations? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
Where they work. They can get to their stations quickly in an
emergency. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
May
I ask what kind of emergency? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
Well, we're a battle ship. Our emergencies usually mean a battle.
|
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
It's almost four o'clock. I'm meeting Major Armenian in the pilot's
lounge at four o'clock. |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
May
I show you the way? |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Please. I don't know the way. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
I'm
very happy to see you again, Major. |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
Thanks. What can I do for you? I heard you were coming. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Good. I'm working on a story about some of the men on this aircraft
carrier. Oh, excuse me, do you know Lieutenant Lucas? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
We've met. |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
We
met a long time ago. We went to school together. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
You
mean navy training of some kind? |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
No,
we went to high school together. |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
In
New Jersey. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Did
you plan to be on the same ship? |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
Oh,
no. I've only been here three months. I didn't know he was here.
|
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
I
saw him first. We were in the club. I saw him talking with some of
the other pilots. I couldn't believe it. |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
We
hadn't seen one another since high school, had we? |
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
Maybe once or twice. |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
Probably during holidays, Thanksgiving or Christmas, or something.
|
|
|
|
|
LUCAS: |
Sorry. You don't want to talk about us. |
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
No,
that's wonderful. I want to know how people live on this ship. I
want to know who your friends are. What you do. Everything. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTIN: |
Thanks for talking with me. I've enjoyed it. I think my listeners
will too. |
|
|
|
|
MAJOR: |
You're welcome. Talking is what I do best. |
|
|
|