‘That’s a pretty scummy trick I’d be playing on the men in the squadron, isn’t it?’
‘Odious,’ Colonel Korn agreed amiably, and waited, watching Yossarian patiently with a glimmer of private delight.
‘But what the hell!’ Yossarian exclaimed.
‘If they don’t want to fly more missions, let them stand up and do something about it the way I did.
Right?’
‘Of course,’ said Colonel Korn.
‘There’s no reason I have to risk my life for them, is there?’
‘Of course not.’
Yossarian arrived at his decision with a swift grin. ‘It’s a deal!’ he announced jubilantly.
‘Great,’ said Colonel Korn with somewhat less cordiality than Yossarian had expected, and he slid himself off Colonel Cathcart’s desk to stand on the floor. He tugged the folds of cloth of his pants and undershorts free from his crotch and gave Yossarian a limp hand to shake. ‘Welcome aboard.’
‘Thanks, Colonel.
I—’
‘Call me Blackie, John.
We’re pals now.’
‘Sure, Blackie.
My friends call me Yo-Yo.
Blackie, I—’
‘His friends call him Yo-Yo,’ Colonel Korn sang out to Colonel Cathcart.
‘Why don’t you congratulate Yo-Yo on what a sensible move he’s making?’
‘That’s a real sensible move you’re making, Yo-Yo,’ Colonel Cathcart said, pumping Yossarian’s hand with clumsy zeal.
‘Thank you, Colonel, I—’
‘Call him Chuck,’ said Colonel Korn.
‘Sure, call me Chuck,’ said Colonel Cathcart with a laugh that was hearty and awkward.
‘We’re all pals now.’
‘Sure, Chuck.’
‘Exit smiling,’ said Colonel Korn, his hands on both their shoulders as the three of them moved to the door.
‘Come on over for dinner with us some night, Yo-Yo,’ Colonel Cathcart invited hospitably. ‘How about tonight? In the group dining room.’
‘I’d love to, sir.’
‘Chuck,’ Colonel Korn corrected reprovingly.
‘I’m sorry, Blackie. Chuck.
I can’t get used to it.’
‘That’s all right, pal.’
‘Sure, pal.’
‘Thanks, pal.’
‘Don’t mention it, pal.’
‘So long, pal.’
Yossarian waved goodbye fondly to his new pals and sauntered out onto the balcony corridor, almost bursting into song the instant he was alone.
He was home free: he had pulled it off; his act of rebellion had succeeded; he was safe, and he had nothing to be ashamed of to anyone.
He started toward the staircase with a jaunty and exhilarated air.
A private in green fatigues saluted him.
Yossarian returned the salute happily, staring at the private with curiosity. He looked strangely familiar.
When Yossarian returned the salute, the private in green fatigues turned suddenly into Nately’s whore and lunged at him murderously with a bone-handled kitchen knife that caught him in the side below his upraised arm.
Yossarian sank to the floor with a shriek, shutting his eyes in overwhelming terror as he saw the girl lift the knife to strike at him again.
He was already unconscious when Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart dashed out of the office and saved his life by frightening her away.
Snowden
‘Cut,’ said a doctor.
‘You cut,’ said another.
‘No cuts,’ said Yossarian with a thick, unwieldy tongue.
‘Now look who’s butting in,’ complained one of the doctors.
‘Another county heard from.