demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第93部分

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　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；　anything　goes　in　a　homicide　investigation。
　I　felt；　of　course；　that　Bill　Kent　was　on　the　edge；　and　anything　I　could　do　to　nudge　him　into　taking　that　last　step　into　the　great　abyss　was　right　and　honorable。
　The　crowd　was　thinning　as　people　made　their　way　to　their　vehicles。　I　noticed　the　Yardley　boys；　father　and　son；　with　a　woman　who　looked　enough　like　them　to　be　a　blood　relative　of　both；　but　who　was　probably　Burt's　wife…and　his　not…too…distant　relative。　I　suspected　that　there　weren't　many　branches　on　the　Yardley　family　tree。
　There　were　a　number　of　other　civilians　present；　including　the　town　mayor　and　his　family；　but　it　was　mostly　male　officers　and　their　wives；　though　I'm　sure　some　wives　chose　not　to　attend。　There　were　no　enlisted　personnel　present　except　the　post's　mand　sergeant　major；　who；　by　tradition；　represented　all　the　enlisted　men　and　women　at　certain　functions　such　as　these；　where　privates　and　sergeants　could　not　be　specifically　excluded；　but　where　their　numbers　might　present　logistical　problems。　Basically；　there　is　no　fraternization　between　officers　and　enlisted　personnel；　in　life　or　in　death。
　I　spotted　Karl　talking　to　Major　Bowes；　the　about…to…be　fired　CID　mander；　and　Bowes　had　his　heels　together；　nodding　vigorously　like　a　malfunctioning　wind…up　toy。　Karl　is　not　the　kind　of　guy　who　would　fire　somebody　on　Christmas　Eve；　or　at　the　person's　birthday　party；　or　wedding；　or　anything　like　that。　But　he　might　consider　it　at　a　funeral。
　Cynthia　was　speaking　to　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Fowler　and　General　and　Mrs。　Campbell；　and　I　gave　her　credit　for　that。　I　always　try　to　avoid　that　sort　of　situation；　which　I　find　awkward。
　Taking　stock　of　the　known　lovers；　I　also　spotted　Colonel　Weems；　the　staff　judge　advocate；　sans　wife；　and　young　Lieutenant　Elby；　who　was　clearly　out　of　his　depth　in　this　situation；　trying　to　look　both　sad　and　brave　while　keeping　an　eye　on　the　mass　of　brass　around　him。
　At　the　edge　of　the　thinning　crowd；　I　saw　Warrant　Officer　Kiefer；　dressed　in　her　officer's　uniform　now；　which　was　the　ticket　of　admission　to　this　event。　I　went　over　to　her；　and　I　filled　her　in　on　the　Batmobile。　Despite　the　occasion；　she　seemed　perky　as　usual；　and　I　suspected　that　she　was　always　perky。　Jerk　that　I　am；　and　needing　some　ego　reinforcement；　I　shamelessly　flirted　with　her。
　She　found　this　amusing　and　interesting；　and　we　made　indefinite　plans　to　have　drinks　here；　or　back　at　Falls　Church。
　Cynthia　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder　and　said；　〃We　should　be　going。〃
　〃Okay。〃　I　said　good…bye　to　Kiefer　and　walked　toward　the　parking　field。
　Colonel　Hellmann　fell　in　with　us；　and　we　ran　into　Colonel　Moore；　who　was　obviously　looking　for　me；　a　sheaf　of　typed　papers　in　his　hand。　I　introduced　Moore　to　Hellmann；　who　did　not　acknowledge　Moore's　extended　hand　and　regarded　him　with　a　look　that　I　never　want　to　see　directed　at　me。
　Colonel　Moore；　however；　was　too　dense　to　be　flustered；　and　he　said　to　me；　〃Here　is　the　report　you　asked　for。〃
　I　took　it；　and　following　my　manding　officer's　lead；　I　didn't　thank　Moore；　but　said　to　him；　〃Please　remain　available　today；　do　not　speak　to　the　FBI；　and　do　not　speak　to　Colonel　Kent。〃
　I　got　into　my　Blazer　and　started　it　up。　Cynthia　and　Karl　got　in　after　the　air…conditioning　got　cranking。　We　fell　in　with　a　long　line　of　vehicles　all　moving　south　on　Chapel　Road；　toward　Jordan　Field。　I　said　to　Karl；　〃I　promised　Colonel　Moore　immunity　if　he　cooperated。〃
　Karl；　in　the　rear；　said；　〃You've　given　more　immunity　this　week　than　a　doctor。〃
　Fuck　you；　Karl。
　Cynthia　said；　〃That　was　a　beautiful　service。〃
　Karl　asked　me；　〃Are　you　certain　about　the　chaplain？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Does　everyone　here　know　about　everyone　else？〃
　I　replied；　〃To　some　extent。　She　was　not　discreet。〃
　Cynthia　mented；　〃Do　we　have　to　talk　about　that　at　this　time？〃
　I　said　to　her；　〃Our　manding　officer　is　entitled　to　any　information　he　wants　or　needs　at　this　time；　or　any　other　time。〃
　She　looked　out　the　side　window　and　didn't　respond。
　I　glanced　at　Karl　in　the　rearview　mirror　and　saw　that　he　was　a　bit　taken　aback　at　my　curtness。　I　said　to　him；　〃T