"
"Oh, yes. And I got mine rather cheap. The battalion surgeon fixed it
so I didn't have to go to the hospital. Never missed a day of duty."
She handed him his plate with the steak cut into bits.
"It was nice of you to surrender your cozy seat to me this morning,
Sergeant." She buttered a piece of bread for him and added, "But very
much nicer the way you did it."
"'Cast thy bread upon the waters,'" he quoted, and grinned brazenly.
"Nevertheless, if I were in civvies, you'd have permitted the waiter to
cut my steak."
"Oh, of course we veterans must stand together, Sergeant."
"I find it pleasanter sitting together. By the way, may I ask the
identity of the Nipponese person, with your father?"
"How do you know he is my father?" she parried.
"I do not know. I merely thought he looked quite worthy of the honor."
"While away with the rough, bad soldiers, you did not forget how to
make graceful speeches," she complimented him. "The object of your
pardonable curiosity is a Mr. Okada, the potato baron of California.
He was formerly prime minister to the potato king of the San Joaquin,
but revolted and became a pretender to the throne. While the king
lives, however, Okada is merely a baron, although in a few years he
will probably control the potato market absolutely."
He thumped the table lightly with his maimed hand.
"I knew he was just a coolie dressed up.
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