Jock shrugged. "I wouldn't know," he said. "He'll probably get busted a
few grades for insubordination. They took his command away. That's one
way of preventing full insubordination from an officer who might have a
lot of public sentiment on his side, or good high-rank material in him.
They take away his command _before_ he disobeys, slap him down a few
steps for trying, and let him sweat it out."
"I'm glad," she said simply and her voice was calm.
* * * * *
Norton looked at her strangely.
She caught his look and smiled, almost serenely.
"It would be a shame," she said, "for Ted to have to lose his rank and
his prestige and his honor, and maybe his life and the lives of all
his men, by doggedly staying out here in the face of an enemy fleet,
against orders."
Norton nodded dubiously. "I suppose so," he said. "But do you know
where that leaves _us_?"
"Yes," she said, "I know."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she leaned forward to find strength in
his arms, and a rest for her weary head on his shoulder. He held her,
gently stroking her hair with one hand and pressing her against him.
She stopped sobbing after awhile, and looked up at him. Murmuring
softly, he leaned down and kissed her eyes. She clutched at him and
swayed in his arms. He found her lips then, but there was no fire in
them.
Nor was he surprised. For there was no fire in his own, either....