“Only I won’t,” he murmured a moment later. “They forgot to pack a candid camera.”
Instead of a camera he found a device for distilling fresh water from salt, some iron rations, and a small bottle of vitamin B1.
“What? No vitamin D?” he roared. “But then, I’ve heard that there’s lots of the sunshine vitamin in the ocean air.”
At that he settled back for a rest. Even if worse came to worst he was better off than those wolf-pack pirates who had come after them.
It was with a feeling of misgiving that Sally allowed herself, along with Nancy, to be led to the door of the officers’ mess hall that evening. But when the Captain met them at the door with a bow and a smile instead of a stiff salute, things began looking better.
As they entered the mess hall they found all of the officers standing in their places. When the Captain had escorted them to their places at the head of his table he stood smartly erect, every inch a commander, as he said:
“Gentlemen, I propose a salute to the ladies of the day, Sally Scott and Nancy McBride of the WAVES.”
Instantly every man stood erect and snapped to a salute. It was a simple and impressive ceremony, one long to be remembered, but to Sally’s utter confusion, she almost forgot to return the salute.
It was all over in twenty seconds of time. Then they were all seated in their places ready for the meal that was to be quite a feast, in celebration of a real victory.