“You taking over now?” he said.
Evans nodded, “Yes, I’ll take over. You got a couple of hours, why don’t you get some sleep?”
“I think I’ll go below and mess around. I’m not so sleepy.”
“By the way, did you fix that ventilator, the one over the Chiefs engine room?”
Bervick frowned, “No, I forgot all about it. I’ll go now.” Bervick left the wheelhouse. Evans checked the compass with the course. Then he opened one of the windows and let the cool air into the wheelhouse. In a few minutes he would go to his cabin and take a swallow of bourbon; then he would come back and feel much happier as he stood his watch and thought.
ii
Major Barkison and the Chaplain were in the salon when Bervick entered. The Chaplain was putting on his parka.
“Hello, Sergeant,” said the Major. “We thought we might take a stroll on deck before turning in.”
“It’s pretty windy still.”
“Well,” said the Chaplain, “I wouldn’t want to get a chill on top of all this excitement.”