corporal kolodny learned about it first in a phone call from group and was so shaken by the news that hecrossed the intelligence tent on tiptoe to captain black, who was resting drowsily with his bladed shins up on thedesk, and relayed the information to him in a shocked whisper.
captain black brightened immediately. “bologna?” he exclaimed with delight. “well, i’ll be damned.” he brokeinto loud laughter. “bologna, huh?” he laughed again and shook his head in pleasant amazement. “oh, boy! ican’t wait to see those bastards’ faces when they find out they’re going to bologna. ha, ha, ha!”
it was the first really good laugh captain black had enjoyed since the day major major outsmarted him and wasappointed squadron commander, and he rose with torpid enthusiasm and stationed himself behind the frontcounter in order to wring the most enjoyment from the occasion when the bombardiers arrived for their map kits.
“that’s right, you bastards, bologna,” he kept repeating to all the bombardiers who inquired incredulously ifthey were really going to bologna. “ha! ha! ha! eat your livers, you bastards. this time you’re really in for it.”
captain black followed the last of them outside to observe with relish the effect of the knowledge upon all of theother officers and enlisted men who were assembling with their helmets, parachutes and flak suits around thefour trucks idling in the center of the squadron area. he was a tall, narrow, disconsolate man who moved with acrabby listlessness. he shaved his pinched, pale face every third or fourth day, and most of the time he appearedto be growing a reddish-gold mustache over his skinny upper lip. he was not disappointed in the scene outside.
there was consternation darkening every expression, and captain black yawned deliciously, rubbed the lastlethargy from his eyes and laughed gloatingly each time he told someone else to eat his liver.
bologna turned out to be the most rewarding event in captain black’s life since the day major duluth was killedover perugia and he was almost selected to replace him. when word of major duluth’s death was radioed backto the field, captain black responded with a surge of joy. although he had never really contemplated thepossibility before, captain black understood at once that he was the logical man to succeed major duluth assquadron commander. to begin with, he was the squadron intelligence officer, which meant he was moreintelligent than everyone else in the squadron. true, he was not on combat status, as major duluth had been andas all squadron commanders customarily were; but this was really another powerful argument in his favor, sincehis life was in no danger and he would be able to fill the post for as long as his country needed him. the morecaptain black thought about it, the more inevitable it seemed. it was merely a matter of dropping the right wordin the right place quickly. he hurried back to his office to determine a course of action. settling back in hisswivel chair, his feet up on the desk and his eyes closed, he began imagining how beautiful everything would beonce he was squadron commander.
while captain black was imagining, colonel cathcart was acting, and captain black was flabbergasted by thespeed with which, he concluded, major major had outsmarted him. his great dismay at the announcement ofmajor major’s appointment as squadron commander was tinged with an embittered resentment he made no effortto conceal. when fellow administrative officers expressed astonishment at colonel cathcart’s choice of majormajor, captain black muttered that there was something funny going on; when they speculated on the politicalvalue of major major’s resemblance to henry fonda, captain black asserted that major major really was henryfonda; and when they remarked that major major was somewhat odd, captain black announced that he was acommunist.
“they’re taking over everything,” he declared rebelliously. “well, you fellows can stand around and let them ifyou want to, but i’m not going to. i’m going to do something about it. from now on i’m going to make every sonof a bitch who comes to my intelligence tent sign a loyalty oath. and i’m not going to let that bastard majormajor sign one even if he wants to.”
almost overnight the glorious loyalty oath crusade was in full flower, and captain black was enraptured todiscover himself spearheading it. he had really hit on something. all the enlisted men and officers on combatduty had to sign a loyalty oath to get their map cases from the intelligence tent, a second loyalty oath to receivetheir flak suits and parachutes from the parachute tent, a third loyalty oath for lieutenant balkington, the motorvehicle officer, to be allowed to ride from the squadron to the airfield in one of the trucks. every time they turnedaround there was another loyalty oath to be signed. they signed a loyalty oath to get their pay from the financeofficer, to obtain their px supplies, to have their hair cut by the italian barbers. to captain black, every officerwho supported his glorious loyalty oath crusade was a competitor, and he planned and plotted twenty-fourhours a day to keep one step ahead. he would stand second to none in his devotion to country. when otherofficers had followed his urging and introduced loyalty oaths of their own, he went them one better by makingevery son of a bitch who came to his intelligence tent sign two loyalty oaths, then three, then four; then heintroduced the pledge of allegiance, and after that “the star-spangled banner,” one chorus, two choruses, threechoruses, four choruses. each time captain black forged ahead of his competitors, he swung upon themscornfully for their failure to follow his example. each time they followed his example, he retreated with concernand racked his brain for some new stratagem that would enable him to turn upon them scornfully again.
without realizing how it had come about, the combat men in the squadron discovered themselves dominated bythe administrators appointed to serve them. they were bullied, insulted, harassed and shoved about all day longby one after the other. when they voiced objection, captain black replied that people who were loyal would notmind signing all the loyalty oaths they had to. to anyone who questioned the effectiveness of the loyalty oaths,he replied that people who really did owe allegiance to their country would be proud to pledge it as often as heforced them to. and to anyone who questioned the morality, he replied that “the star-spangled banner” was thegreatest piece of music ever composed. the more loyalty oaths a person signed, the more loyal he was; tocaptain black it was as simple as that, and he had corporal kolodny sign hundreds with his name each day sothat he could always prove he was more loyal than anyone else.
“the important thing is to keep them pledging,” he explained to his cohorts. “it doesn’t matter whether theymean it or not. that’s why they make little kids pledge allegiance even before they know what ‘pledge’ and ‘allegiance’ mean.”
to captain piltchard and captain wren, the glorious loyalty oath crusade was a glorious pain in the ass, sinceit complicated their task of organizing the crews for each combat mission. men were tied up all over thesquadron signing, pledging and singing, and the missions took hours longer to get under way. effectiveemergency action became impossible, but captain piltchard and captain wren were both too timid to raise anyoutcry against captain black, who scrupulously enforced each day the doctrine of “continual reaffirmation”
that he had originated, a doctrine designed to trap all those men who had become disloyal since the last time theyhad signed a loyalty oath the day before. it was captain black who came with advice to captain piltchard andcaptain wren as they pitched about in their bewildering predicament. he came with a delegation and advisedthem bluntly to make each man sign a loyalty oath before allowing him to fly on a combat mission.
“of course, it’s up to you,” captain black pointed out. “nobody’s trying to pressure you. but everyone else ismaking them sign loyalty oaths, and it’s going to look mighty funny to the f.b.i. if you two are the only oneswho don’t care enough about your country to make them sign loyalty oaths, too. if you want to get a badreputation, that’s nobody’s business but your own. all we’re trying to do is help.”
milo was not convinced and absolutely refused to deprive major major of food, even if major major was acommunist, which milo secretly doubted. milo was by nature opposed to any innovation that threatened todisrupt the normal course of affairs. milo took a firm moral stand and absolutely refused to participate in theglorious loyalty oath crusade until captain black called upon him with his delegation and requested him to.
“national defense is everybody’s job,” captain black replied to milo’s objection. “and this whole program isvoluntary, milo—don’t forget that. the men don’t have to sign piltchard and wren’s loyalty oath if they don’twant to. but we need you to starve them to death if they don’t. it’s just like catch-22. don’t you get it? you’renot against catch-22, are you?”
doc daneeka was adamant.
“what makes you so sure major major is a communist?”
“you never heard him denying it until we began accusing him, did you? and you don’t see him signing any ofour loyalty oaths.”
“you aren’t letting him sign any.”
“of course not,” captain black explained. “that would defeat the whole purpose of our crusade. look, you don’thave to play ball with us if you don’t want to. but what’s the point of the rest of us working so hard if you’regoing to give major major medical attention the minute milo begins starving him to death? i just wonder whatthey’re going to think up at group about the man who’s undermining our whole security program. they’llprobably transfer you to the pacific.”
doc daneeka surrendered swiftly. “i’ll go tell gus and wes to do whatever you want them to.”
up at group, colonel cathcart had already begun wondering what was going on.
“it’s that idiot black off on a patriotism binge,” colonel korn reported with a smile. “i think you’d better playball with him for a while, since you’re the one who promoted major major to squadron commander.”
“that was your idea,” colonel cathcart accused him petulantly. “i never should have let you talk me into it.”
“and a very good idea it was, too,” retorted colonel korn, “since it eliminated that superfluous major that’s beengiving you such an awful black eye as an administrator. don’t worry, this will probably run its course soon. thebest thing to do now is send captain black a letter of total support and hope he drops dead before he does toomuch damage.” colonel korn was struck with a whimsical thought. “i wonder! you don’t suppose that imbecilewill try to turn major major out of his trailer, do you?”
“the next thing we’ve got to do is turn that bastard major major out of his trailer,” captain black decided. “i’dlike to turn his wife and kids out into the woods, too. but we can’t. he has no wife and kids. so we’ll just have tomake do with what we have and turn him out. who’s in charge of the tents?”
“he is.”
“you see?” cried captain black. “they’re taking over everything! well, i’m not going to stand for it. i’ll takethis matter right to major ---de coverley himself if i have to. i’ll have milo speak to him about it the minute hegets back from rome.”
captain black had boundless faith in the wisdom, power and justice of major ---de coverley, even though hehad never spoken to him before and still found himself without the courage to do so. he deputized milo to speakto major ---de coverley for him and stormed about impatiently as he waited for the tall executive officer toreturn. along with everyone else in the squadron, he lived in profound awe and reverence of the majestic, white-haired major with craggy face and jehovean bearing, who came back from rome finally with an injured eyeinside a new celluloid eye patch and smashed his whole glorious crusade to bits with a single stroke.
milo carefully said nothing when major ---de coverley stepped into the mess hall with his fierce and austeredignity the day he returned and found his way blocked by a wall of officers waiting in line to sign loyalty oaths.
at the far end of the food counter, a group of men who had arrived earlier were pledging allegiance to the flag,with trays of food balanced in one hand, in order to be allowed to take seats at the table. already at the tables, agroup that had arrived still earlier was singing “the star-spangled banner” in order that they might use the saltand pepper and ketchup there. the hubbub began to subside slowly as major ---de coverley paused in thedoorway with a frown of puzzled disapproval, as though viewing something bizarre. he started forward in astraight line, and the wall of officers before him parted like the red sea. glancing neither left nor right, he strodeindomitably up to the steam counter and, in a clear, full-bodied voice that was gruff with age and resonant withancient eminence and authority, said:
“gimme eat.”
instead of eat, corporal snark gave major ---de coverley a loyalty oath to sign. major ---de coverley swept itaway with mighty displeasure the moment he recognized what it was, his good eye flaring up blindingly withfiery disdain and his enormous old corrugated face darkening in mountainous wrath.
“gimme eat, i said,” he ordered loudly in harsh tones that rumbled ominously through the silent tent like claps ofdistant thunder.
corporal snark turned pale and began to tremble. he glanced toward milo pleadingly for guidance. for severalterrible seconds there was not a sound. then milo nodded.
“give him eat,” he said.
corporal snark began giving major ---de coverley eat. major ---de coverley turned from the counter with histray full and came to a stop. his eyes fell on the groups of other officers gazing at him in mute appeal, and, withrighteous belligerence, he roared:
“give everybody eat!”
“give everybody eat!” milo echoed with joyful relief, and the glorious loyalty oath crusade came to an end.
captain black was deeply disillusioned by this treacherous stab in the back from someone in high place uponwhom he had relied so confidently for support. major --- de coverley had let him down.
“oh, it doesn’t bother me a bit,” he responded cheerfully to everyone who came to him with sympathy. “wecompleted our task. our purpose was to make everyone we don’t like afraid and to alert people to the danger ofmajor major, and we certainly succeeded at that. since we weren’t going to let him sign loyalty oaths anyway, itdoesn’t really matter whether we have them or not.”
seeing everyone in the squadron he didn’t like afraid once again throughout the appalling, interminable greatbig siege of bologna reminded captain black nostalgically of the good old days of his glorious loyalty oathcrusade when he had been a man of real consequence, and when even big shots like milo minderbinder, docdaneeka and piltchard and wren had trembled at his approach and groveled at his feet. to prove to newcomersthat he really had been a man of consequence once, he still had the letter of commendation he had received fromcolonel cathcart.
11、布莱克上尉
科洛尼下士最初是从大队部打来的一个电话得知这一消息的。当时，他非常震惊，便轻手轻脚穿过情报室，走到布莱克上尉——他这会儿把平伸着的小腿搁在办公桌上，正打着盹儿——
身边，用震惊的语调，低声把这消息告诉了他。
布莱克上尉一下子来了精神。“博洛尼亚？”他兴奋得大叫起来。“太让我吃惊了。”他放声大笑。“博洛尼亚，嘿？”他又哈哈大笑了起来，惊喜地摇了摇头。“嗬，好家伙！要是那些狗杂种知道自己是飞博洛尼亚，真不知他们会是什么模佯，我巴不得马上就瞧瞧他们那一张张面容。哈，哈，哈！”
自从梅杰少校击败他出任中队长那天以来，布莱克上尉这是第一次真正由衷地开怀大笑。当轰炸员们来到情报室，领取图囊时，他阴死阳活地站了起来，立在前部柜台的后面，为的是千方百计从中获取最大的乐趣。
“没错，你们这些婊子养的，是博洛尼亚。”当全体轰炸员颇为怀疑地问他，他们是否真要飞博洛尼亚时，他便不厌其烦一遍又一遍地对他们这么说，“哈！哈！哈！试试你们的胆量吧，你们这些狗杂种。这次你们可是没有退路了。”
布莱克上尉跟在全体轰炸员的最后面来到帐篷外。其他所有军官和士兵全都带着钢盔、降落伞和防弹衣，集聚在中队驻地中央四辆卡车——发动机正空转着——的周围。布莱克上尉饶有兴致地察看这些军官和士兵得知真相后的反应。这家伙个子虽大，却心胸狭窄，性情忧郁，脾气暴躁，又老是一副没精打采的模样。那张皱缩苍白的脸每隔三四天便修刮一次，大多数情况下，他似乎总在皮包骨的上嘴唇蓄两撇金红色的八字须。外面的场面倒是并没有让他失望。每张脸都因惊恐而阴沉了下来。布莱克上尉美美地打了个哈欠，擦了擦眼睛，擦去了最后一丝困意，于是，幸灾乐祸地纵声大笑起来。每当他告诉别人要试试胆量时，他总这么笑的。
那天，杜鲁斯少校在佩鲁贾上空阵亡以后，布莱克上尉差点就被选中接任他的职位。自那以来，轰炸博洛尼亚不料竟成了布莱克上尉一生中最有收获的一件大事。当杜鲁斯少校阵亡的消息通过无线电传回中队驻地时，布莱克上尉内心一阵兴奋。先前，他从不曾真正考虑过这种可能性，不过，尽管如此，他马上便认识到，接替杜鲁斯少校担任中队长，他自己是合乎逻辑的必然人选。最初，他是中队的情报主任，也就是说，他比中队里任何别的人都要聪明。
的确，他不属于战斗人员编制，而杜鲁斯少校生前得参加战斗，所有中队长通常也得作战；但，也正是这一点对他实在是另一个极有利的因素，因为他没有生命危险，只要祖国需要，无论多长时间，他都可以担任这一职位。布莱克上尉越琢磨，越觉得接任中队长似乎非他莫属了。只要立刻在最合适的地方说句合适的话，问题就可以解决了。他匆匆赶回自己的办公室，决定行动步骤。他在转椅里坐下，背往后一靠，两脚往桌上一跷，双目紧闭，开始想象：一旦当上中队长，一切该是多美啊。
正当布莱克上尉想象着种种美景的时候，卡思卡特上校却在行动了。布莱克上尉断定，梅杰少校是智胜了他；其速度之快简直令他瞠目结舌。梅杰少校的中队长任命一宣布，布莱克上尉便大失所望，丝毫不掩饰自己内心的怨愤。对卡思卡特上校选用梅杰少校，与布莱克上尉共事的行政军官们都深表惊讶，而布莱克上尉则小声抱怨，这其中必定有什么蹊跷；同僚们对梅杰少校酷似亨利·方达这一点潜在的政治价值，作了种种猜测，而布莱克上尉则断定，梅杰少校其实就是亨利·方达；同僚们说梅杰少校这人颇有些古怪，而布莱克上尉则宣称他是共产党。
“什么事都让他们做主了，”布莱克上尉表示反抗地声言道，“好吧，要是你们大伙乐意的话，尽管袖手旁观，由他们去，可我不愿意。我得想办法对付。从现在起，不管是哪个狗杂种来我的情报室，我都得让他签字效忠。不过，要是那个婊子养的梅杰少校来，即便他想签，我也决不会答应的。”
几乎是一夜之间，这场光荣的宣誓效忠运动便轰轰烈烈地开展了起来。布莱克上尉发现自己竟成了运动先锋，欣喜若狂。他的确碰上了一个极妙的办法。所有参战官兵只有签字效忠后，才能从情报室领取图囊；第二道签字关过后，从降落伞室领取防弹衣和降落伞；再过了机动车辆军官鲍金顿中尉的第三道签字关后，这才获准从中队坐上其中一辆卡车赶往飞机场。每次转身，他们必须过一道签字效忠的关。无论是从财务军官处领取军饷，还是从军人服务社领取供给，或是找那些意大利理发师理发，他们都得签字效忠。
在布莱克上尉看来，凡是支持他的这场光荣宣誓效忠运动的军官，都是竞争对手。于是，他便昼夜二十四小时密谋策划，始终保持一步领先。他要做报效国家第一人。每当其他军官在他的激励下，推行他们各自的签字效忠的方法，他便更进一步，让到情报室的每个杂种必须过两道签字效忠关，接着是三道，再又是四道；然后，他又推出宣誓效忠，之后，便让人一遍、两遍、三遍、四遍地同声齐唱《星条旗》歌。每次当他击败竞争对手，布莱克上尉便轻贱了他们，嗤笑他们不学他的招数。可每次当他们步他的后尘，他便又不安地退避一侧，绞尽脑汁想别的新计策，好再奚落他们一顿。
不知不觉地，中队里的战斗人员发现自己竟受那些行政官员——原先是奉命来为他们服务的——操纵。他门整天受人欺侮，凌辱，骚扰，摆布，走了一个又来另一个。一旦他们表示反抗，布莱克上尉就答复他们说，只要是忠诚的人，是不会厌烦宣誓效忠必要的签字的，只要有人对宣誓效忠是否有效这一点提出质疑，他就回答，凡是确确实实效忠自己国家的人，只要由他经常敦促，是会很自豪地发誓自己将忠诚于祖国的。一旦有人问起这么做有何道德作用，他就回答说，《星条旗》是创作出的最伟大的音乐作品。一个人签字效忠的次数越多，他就越忠诚；对布莱克上尉来说，道理就是如此简单明了。他每天都让科洛尼下士签上百次名，这样，他就可以始终证明自己比任何别的人更加忠诚。
“重要的是要让他们不停地宣誓，”他跟自己的追随者解释道，“至于他们是否心诚，这无关紧要。正因为如此，所以，他们也让小孩子们宣誓效忠，尽管孩子们连什么是‘宣誓’和‘效忠’都还一窍不通。”
对皮尔查德上尉和雷恩上尉来说，这场光荣效忠宣誓运动实在是一桩又光荣又讨厌的事，因为这一来，每次安排机务人员执行作战任务，他们便无端地要费不少周折。中认上下全都忙着签名，宣誓，合唱。所有飞行任务得花上更多的时间才能执行。有效的紧急行动也就不可能了，然而，皮尔查德上尉和雷恩上尉都是极胆小的人，实在没胆量对布莱克上尉大声抗议。布莱克上尉呢，却天天严格认真地坚持由他首创的“不断重申”学说——意在遏止所有那些第一天签字第二天就不忠的官兵。就在皮尔查德上尉和雷恩上尉心中一片迷茫，为身陷困境而抓耳搔腮的当儿，布莱克上尉又给他们出了个主意。他带来了一个代表团，直截了当地跟他们说，必须让每一个飞行虽签字效忠后，方可准许他执行作战飞行任务。
“当然，这都得由你们自己来决定，”布莱克上尉指出，“没人想强迫你们。可是，其他所有人都在让他们签字效忠。假如只有你们俩不怎么关心自己的国家，没让他们签字效忠的话，那么，这在联邦调查局看来，也必定有什么蹊跷的。要是你们俩甘愿得个恶名声，那是你们自己的事，跟别人全无关系。我们只是想尽力帮忙而已。”
米洛没有被说服。他断然拒绝中止梅杰少校的饮食，即便梅杰少校是共产党人——对此，米洛心里亦颇有怀疑。米洛生来就反对所有破坏常规的革新。他有相当坚定的道德原则，断然拒绝加入这场光荣的效忠宣誓运动，直到后来，布莱克上尉带领他的代表团前来拜访他，请求他参加。
“国防是每个人的天职，”米洛拒绝后，布莱克上尉说，“整个过程都是自愿的，米洛——别忘了这一点。假如他们不愿在皮尔查德和雷恩那里签字效忠，他们可以不必那么做。但，在你这里，假如他们不签，我们要你饿死他们。这就跟第二十二条军规一样。你明白吗？你总不至于违抗第二十二条军规吧？”
丹尼卡医生却坚持自己的立场。
“你凭什么断定梅杰少校就是共产党人？”
“我们开始指控他以前，你从没听到他否认这一点，是不是？你也没有看见他在我们的效忠誓约上签过字。”
“是你们不让他签。”
“当然不能让他签，”布莱克上尉解释道，“否则，我们发起的这场运动也就前功尽弃了。你瞧，要是你不愿跟我们合作，你完全可以自便。可是，一旦米洛刚准备要饿死梅杰少校，而你却给他治疗，那么，我们其余的人这么竭尽全力又有什么意义呢？我只是不知道，对暗中破坏我们整个安全计划的人，大队部的上司们会想什么办法处置，他们很有可能会调你去太平洋。”
丹尼卡医生立刻屈从了。“我这就去跟格斯和韦斯说，让他们按你的吩咐去做。”
大队部的卡思卡特上校早就开始纳闷，究竟出了什么事情，“那个白痴布莱克，在大闹什么爱国主义，”科恩中校笑着说，“我想，既然是你提升梅杰少校当了中队长，你最好暂且跟他合作一段时间。”
“那还不是你出的主意。”卡思卡特上校极恼火地责备他。“当初真不该听你的话。”
“可我出的那个主意也是一条妙计，”科恩中尉反驳道，“那个多余的少校身为行政军官，却老是败坏你的名声，不就是我那条妙计把他给除掉了吗？不用担心，这一切大概马上就会走上正轨的。
现在最好的办法是，给布莱克上尉去一封信，表示完全支待他，并希望他适可而止，免得到时闹得一塌糊涂。”科恩中校突然想出了个怪念头。“我很有点怀疑！那个白痴该不会把梅杰少校赶出他的活动房屋吧，你说呢？”
“接下来我们要做的是，把那婊子养的梅杰少校赶出他的活动房屋。”布莱克上尉拿定了主意。“我还真巴不得把他的老婆孩子赶到树林子里去。可是我们做不到。他没有老婆孩子。所以，我们只得应付眼前的事，把他赶出去。谁负责这些帐篷？”
“他。”
“你们瞧见了？”布莱克上尉大声叫道，“所有一切都让他们给操纵了！哼，我可是不会容忍的。要是迫不得已，我会直接向德·科弗利少校本人汇报这事的。等他从罗马一回来，我就让米洛去跟他说这事。”
布莱克上尉对德·科弗利少校的智慧、权力和正直深信不疑，即便他以前从未跟德·科弗利少校说过一句话，现在也还是没有胆量这么做。他委派了米洛替他去找德·科弗利少校谈话，自己则等待着这个高个子主任参谋回来，等不耐烦了，见人就大发脾气。德·科弗利少校威风凛凛，长一头白发，满脸皱纹，俨然一副救世主的神态，对他，布莱克上尉和中队其他所有官兵一向是怀有深深的敬畏之心的。少校最终从罗马回到了中队，伤了一只眼，用一只新的赛璐珞眼罩护着。他一下子就把布莱克上尉的整个光荣效忠宣誓运动砸了个稀巴烂。
德·科弗利少校返回中队那天，极威严地走进食堂，正排队等候签字效忠的军官自成一道人墙，拦住了他的去路。此刻，米洛非常小心翼翼，没说一句话。食品柜台的尽端，早来的一群军官每人手上托了一盘饭菜，正面向国旗宣誓效忠，为的是获准在餐桌旁就座用餐。来的更早的一群军官呢，早就在餐桌旁坐了下来，这时正合唱《星条旗》国歌，为的是可以享用桌上的盐、胡椒粉，还有调味番茄酱。德·科弗利少校在门口停了下来，皱眉蹙额，一脸的困惑不满，仿佛是见到了什么怪事。喧嚷声这才慢慢平静了下来。德·科弗利少校端庄地往前走过去，面前的那道人墙像红海一样，往两侧分了开来。他目不斜视，威武地大步走向蒸汽消毒柜台，于是，用清晰圆润的声音——因年迈而显得粗哑，又因年高德劭、地位显赫而洪亮有力——说道：
“给我拿吃的来，”斯纳克下士没有给德·科弗利少校吃的，倒是递给他一份效忠誓约让他签字。德·科弗利少校一见是这东西，不由得大为恼火，用力把它推至一旁，那只好眼睛令人无法理解地射出强烈的鄙视的怒火，那张布满皱纹、衰老的大脸盘因暴怒而越发阴沉可怕。
“我说过，给我拿吃的来，”他大声命令道，嗓音十分刺耳，就像远处的霹雳，在寂静的帐篷里发出不祥的隆隆响声。
斯纳克下士脸色刷白，浑身哆嗦起来。他向米洛投去恳求的目光，企求他的指点。过去了可怕的几秒钟，没有一丝声息。接着，米洛点了点头。
“给他拿点吃的，”他说。
斯纳克下士这才把吃的东西递给了德·科弗利少校。德·科弗利少校手托满满一盘饭菜，刚转身离开柜台，便又停住了脚步。他的目光落到了那一群群军官身上，军官们正默默地用恳求的目光注视着他。随即，他便摆出一副主持正义的战斗姿态，大声吼道：
“给大伙拿吃的！”
“给大伙拿吃的！”米洛如释重负，兴奋地应了一声。光荣的效忠宣誓运动就此宣告结束。
布莱克上尉彻底失望了，他没料到，自己如此信赖并视作后盾、身居高位的上司竟然会从背后给他这么一刀。德·科弗利少校让他受尽了屈辱。
“哦，我啥事儿都没有，”只要有人来向他表示同情，他便很愉快地回答道，“我们的任务已经完成了。我们的目的就是要让我们讨厌的人感到恐惧，让大家警惕梅杰少校的危险。我们的确达到了这个目的。既然我们压根就没想让他签字效忠，那么，要不要那些效忠誓约，其实已经是无关紧要了。”
博洛尼亚大围攻没完没了，骇人听闻，又把中队里布莱克上尉讨厌的那些人一个个吓得胆战心惊。见了这一幕，布莱克上尉不由得怀恋起光荣效忠宣誓运动那段过去的美好时光。那时，他可是个举足轻重的风云人物，即便是像米洛·明德宾德、丹尼卡医生、皮尔查德和雷恩那样有权势的大人物，一见到他来就浑身哆嗦，对他俯首帖耳。为了向新来的人证明，自己确实曾一度是个叱咤风云的人物，他依旧保存着卡思卡特上校写给他的那封嘉奖信。