“Well? Go ahead.”
“Look, Grant, I didn’t know Shorty planned to do this. Tell him, Shorty.”
“That’s right.”
“Okay, okay,” Cowper said sourly. “Any other remarks? Don’t yell, just stick up your hands.”
“I’m not through,” insisted Rod.
“Well?”
“I not only did not know, I’m not for it. Shorty, I want you to withdraw your motion.”
“No!”
“I think you should. Grant has only had a week; you can’t expect miracles in that time I know; I’ve had grief enough with this bunch of wild men. You may not like the things he’s done I don’t myself, a lot of them. That’s to be expected. But if you let that be an excuse to run him out of office, then sure as daylight this gang will break up.”
“I’m not busting it up he is! He may be older than I am but if he thinks that makes the least difference when it comes to having a say well. . . he’d better think twice. I’m warning him. You hear that, Grant?”
“I heard it. You misunderstood me.”
“Like fun I did!”
“Shorty,” Rod persisted, “will you drop this idea? I’m asking you please.”
Shorty Dumont looked stubborn. Rod looked helplessly at Cowper, shrugged and sat down. Cowper turned away and growled, “Any more debate? You back there. . . Agnes? You’ve got the floor.”
Jimmy whispered, “Why did you pull a stunt like that, Rod? Nobility doesn’t suit you.”
“I wasn’t being noble. I knew what I was doing,” Rod answered in low tones.
“You messed up your chances to be reelected.”
“Stow it.” Rod listened; it appeared that Agnes Fries had more than one grievance. Jim?”
“Huh?”
“Jump to your feet and move to adjourn.”
“What? Ruin this when it’s getting good? There is going to be some hair pulled . . . I hope.”
“Don’t argue; do it! or I’ll bang your heads together.”
“Oh, all right. Spoilsport.” Jimmy got reluctantly to his feet, took a breath and shouted, “I move we adjourn!”
Rod bounced to his feet. “SECOND THE MOTION!” Cowper barely glanced at them. “Out of order. Sit down.”
“It is not out of order,” Rod said loudly. “A motion to adjourn is always in order, it takes precedence, and it cannot be debated. I call for the question.”
“I never recognized you. This recall motion is going to be voted on it it is the last thing I do.” Cowper’s face was tense with anger. “Are you through, Agnes? Or do you want to discuss my table manners, too?”
“You can’t refuse a motion to adjourn,” Rod insisted. “Question! Put the question.”
Several took up the shout, drowning out Agnes Fries, preventing Cowper from recognizing another speaker. Boos and catcalls rounded out the tumult.
Cowper held up both hands for silence, then called out, “It has been moved and seconded that we adjourn. Those in favor say, ‘Aye.'”
“AYE!!”
“Opposed?”
“No,” said Jimmy.
“The meeting is adjourned.” Cowper strode out of the circle of firelight.
Shorty Dumont came over, planted himself in front of Rod and looked up. “A fine sort of a pal you turned out to be!” He spat on the ground and stomped off.
“Yeah,” agreed Jimmy, “what gives? Schizophrenia? Your nurse drop you on your head? That noble stuff in the right doses might have put us back in business. But you didn’t know when to stop.”
Jacqueline had approached while Jimmy was speaking. “I wasn’t pulling any tricks,” Rod insisted. “I meant what I said. Kick a captain out when he’s had only a few days to show himself and you’ll bust us up into a dozen little groups. I wouldn’t be able to hold them together. Nobody could.”
“Bosh! Jackie, tell the man.”
She frowned. “Jimmy, you’re sweet, but you’re not bright.”
“Et tu, Jackie?”
“Never mind, Jackie will take care of you. A good job, Rod. By tomorrow everybody will realize it. Some of them are a little stirred up tonight.”
“What I don’t see,” Rod said thoughtfully, “is what got Shorty stirred up in the first place?”
“Hadn’t you heard? Maybe it was while you were out hunting. I didn’t see it, but he got into a row with Roy, then Grant bawled him out in front of everybody. I think Shorty is self-conscious about his height,” she said seriously. “He doesn’t like to take orders.”