Several people tried to tell him at once. He got the gist of it and shook his head mournfully. “And there I was, good as gold, looking for pretty rocks for our garden wall. Every time there’s a party people forget to ask me. Discrimination.”
“Stow it, Jim. It’s not funny.”
“That’s what I said. It’s discrimination.”
Rod got the group started on the wall with an hour or more of daylight wasted. He tried to work on the wall despite Bob Baxter’s medical orders, but found that he was not up to it; not only was his wound painful but also he felt shaky with reaction.
Grant Cowper looked him up during the noon break. “Skipper, can I talk with you? Privately?”
Rod moved aside with him. “What’s on your mind?”
“Mmm . . . Rod, you were lucky this morning. You know that, don’t you? No offense intended.”
“Sure, I know. What about it?”
“Uh, do you know why you had trouble?”
“What? Of course I know now. I trusted somebody when I should not have.”
Cowper shook his head. “Not at all. Rod, what do you know about theory of government?”
Rod looked surprised. “I’ve had the usual civics courses. Why?”
“I doubt if I’ve mentioned it, but the course I’m majoring in at Teller U. is colonial administration. One thing we study is how authority comes about in human society and how it is maintained. I’m not criticizing but to be blunt, you almost lost your life because you’ve never studied such things.”
Rod felt annoyed. “What are you driving at?”
“Take it easy. But the fact remains that you didn’t have any authority. McGowan knew it and wouldn’t take orders. Everybody else knew it, too. When it came to a showdown, nobody knew whether to back you up or not. Because you don’t have a milligram of real authority.”
“Just a moment! Are you saying I’m not leader of this team?”
“You are de facto leader, no doubt about it. But you’ve never been elected to the job. That’s your weakness.”
Rod chewed this over. “I know,” he said slowly. “It’s just that we have been so confounded busy.”
“Sure, I know. I’d be the last person to criticize. But a captain ought to be properly elected.”
Rod sighed. “I meant to hold an election but I thought getting the wall built was more urgent. All right, let’s call them together.”
“Oh, you don’t need to do it this minute.”
“Why not? The sooner the better, apparently.”
“Tonight, when it’s too dark to work, is soon enough.”
“Well . . . okay.”
When they stopped for supper Rod announced that there would be an organization and planning meeting. No one seemed surprised, although he himself had mentioned it to no one. He felt annoyed and had to remind himself that there was nothing secret about it; Grant had been under no obligation to keep it quiet. He set guards and fire tenders, then came back into the circle of firelight and called out, “Quiet, everybody! Let’s get started. If you guys on watch can’t hear, be sure to speak up” He hesitated. “We’re going to hold an election. Somebody pointed out that I never have been elected captain of this survival team. Well, if any of you have your noses out of joint, I’m sorry. I was doing the best I could. But you are entitled to elect a captain. All right, any nominations?”
Jiminy Throxton shouted, “I nominate Rod Walker!” Caroline’s voice answered, “I second it! Move the nominations be closed.”
Rod said hastily, “Carol, your motion is out of order.”
“Why?”
Before he could answer Roy Kilroy spoke up. “Rod, can I have the floor a moment? Privileged question.”
Rod turned, saw that Roy was squatting beside Grant Cowper. “Sure. State your question.”
“Matter of procedure. The first thing is to elect a temporary chairman.”
Rod thought quickly. “I guess you’re right. Jimmy, your nomination is thrown out. Nominations for temporary chairman are in order.”
“Rod Walker for temporary chairman!”
“Oh, shut up, Jimmy! I don’t want to be temporary chairman.”
Roy Kilroy was elected. He took the imaginary gavel and announced, “The chair recognizes Brother Cowper for a statement of aims and purposes of this meeting.”