Across the Pacific Page #5

...but I wouldnt see too much,

or it might be your last case.

- What do you mean?

- Youre getting a bad burn, you know it?

- I dont feel like I am.

- I'dd go inside and put stuff on.

Oh, its all right.

Remember the bread pudding.

Stick them up.

I was only kidding, Oki.

Dont get sore. Some joke, huh?

Mr. Leland.

- May I come in?

- Yeah. Come ahead.

Well, who won the gin rummy?

As Mr. Totsuiko put it,

I was skunked four times.

- Sit down.

- Thanks.

- Have a drink, doc?

- Thank you.

Amusing fellow, Joe.

Quite.

A little of him goes a long way.

- To your health.

- No, to yours.

- Younger men have more to live for.

- Well, that is if theyre lucky.

Its been my experience,

one has to be smart to be lucky.

Then I hope Ill be smart.

Im interested in you, Mr. Leland.

Especially since you saved my life.

Youre too modest.

Look, if you feel that calls

for some dough...

That isnt my idea,

though it might be worth some help.

Such as?

One night, you told me about your

troubles in the Army.

Id like to hear more about that.

I got in a jam with a dame.

Yes?

I needed some dough.

I had access to the regimental funds...

...so I borrowed it,

intending to put it back, of course.

- Of course.

- But they found out first.

The brass hats couldve given me a chance

if they'dd wanted, but they didn'tt.

They tied me up with pink ribbons

and threw me to the wolves.

You can write your own finish.

Whatever that is to be,

youll need some money.

You can have more when you want it,

within reason, of course.

Whats my part of the deal?

I never discuss

being a traitor with a man.

Youll find it easier if you

don'tt think about that part of it.

- Go ahead.

- Very well.

In a day or two, youll talk to me

about certain installations...

...in the vicinity of

both Balboa and Cristobal...

...with particular reference

to antiaircraft emplacements...

...railway guns and ammunition dumps.

All you have to do

is to remember accurately.

That ought to be worth quite a lot.

Youll find me quite generous.

Youre not only interesting to me now,

you'rre also valuable.

But that shouldnt cause you any anxiety.

Do you mind if it does?

If...

If you were to apply for life insurance,

stating all the facts...

...the companys actuaries might decide...

...there were certain imponderables

existent in your position.

For instance,

having committed yourself...

...I wouldnt want you

to change your mind.

It might turn out to be most unfortunate.

All right.

Remember what I said, Mr. Leland.

About it being easier

not to entertain certain thoughts.

Ms. Marlow burning up.

She say please come quick, put out fire.

Should-a Be.

Oh, boy, oh, boy. Well...

You certainly are a girl of many colors.

First your legs get blue,

then your face turns green...

...now youre red all over.

I never knew what suffering was

until I came on this pleasure trip.

Your trouble is, you know all the answers

till the results are posted.

I knew you couldnt resist

at least one "II told you so. "

Its true. Seeing me in pain

does give you pleasure.

- No, precious, it isnt that.

- Then what are you so happy about?

Well, I just got some money from

Dr. Lorenz for saving his life.

Rick, you didnt actually take

money for saving a man'ss life?

Is there any other reason you know of

why I should take money from Dr. Lorenz?

But Rick...

Oh, Rick, youre not

much account, are you?

I think Ill make a career

out of saving lives.

Listen, precious,

if that bothers you so much...

...youre in for a real shock

when we get to Panama.

How?

Well, youre going to hear some

things about me that aren'tt very nice.

What kind of things?

I believe Ill leave that to the people

who'lll get fun out of telling you.

Will what they tell me be true?

Yes.

Then I wont listen.

Now I know you didnt

come from Medicine Hat.

- Whats all that about?

- Judo is more than a mere contest.

Its devotees form a brotherhood.

Similar, in many respects,

to our Western freemasonry.

It, too, has its degrees

and its secrets...

...as well as its religious, or should I

say, philosophical background.

Come again?

Its an Oriental concept

that destructive force acts upon itself.

And there you have

the principle of jujitsu.

To turn the power

of ones antagonist upon himself...

...and by so doing, vanquish him.

Thats the art of the thing.

How would all that

stack up against a right cross?

Throw one at me, Rick.

- What?

- Go ahead, throw one at me.

- You mean that, Joe?

- Sure I mean it. Sock me one.

All right, you asked for it.

Better get rid of those glasses.

Oh, Rick.

No hard feelings?

- Unfortunate. Most unfortunate.

- Something wrong, doctor?

The canal is being put into repair...

...so far as ships flying

Japanese colors are concerned.

- This ship cant go through?

- Precisely. It'lll have to sail around the Horn.

We shall be forced to get off at Cristobal

and await another boat.

Unless we are prepared to add another

...which I most certainly am not.

So sorry to cause you this inconvenience.

Excuse, please.

Money will be refunded, of course.

Where will you stay, Mr. Leland?

The Pan-American.

Very quiet and respectable.

- That aint for me.

- Where you going?

Ill have to find someplace

where they have a 40-cent lunch.

I know the guy that owns

the Pan-American. Hell give you a rate.

- Perhaps Ill try the Pan-American.

- I hate to recommend places.

Im sure our tastes will be similar.

I see I aint got any folks to meet me.

- Can I give you some directions?

- No, thanks, Rick. Ill find my way.

Its been nice knowing you kids.

I'lll be seeing you one of these days.

Keep your dukes up.

Sayonara, captain.

- Goodbye, captain. Thank you.

- Goodbye.

Here you are. Thank you.

You see a big wave coming, cap,

dont forget to duck.

- Five dollars?

- Forget it. Im a rich man.

Goodbye, captain.

I do not know, but I think I might have

saved Dr. Lorenz some trouble on my boat.

I think he will have

very bad luck with you.

Skipper, everybody has bad luck with me.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Hello, Leland.

What are you doing back here?

You ought to have more

sense than to come back.

- Its a free country, isn'tt it?

- It sure is, for guys like you.

Sam, this is Ms. Marlow

and Dr. Lorenz.

Very nice you come here.

Pan-American need beauty.

Sam, this lady is very poor...

- Dont mind my parading your poverty?

- Not if it does the trick.

...and I told her that I had

a pull with you.

- Can you take care of her cheap?

- Can do.

I would like a room with

northern exposure, if you please.

All same floor, all close together.

Your room not quite ready.

Maybe so have tea while wait.

Maybe so. Ill be right along.

Office.

- Whats the matter you, Rick?

- What'ss the matter me, Sam?

All the time people say you no good.

Big smell from up north.

Whats the matter you come back?

Too much Army here. Everyone know.

You through with Panama.

Panama through with you.

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