169 The Smell of Success (1/2)
This wasn't just because they smelled bad. Where the sense of smell was concerned, good and bad scents were a matter of taste, or even of circumstances. An odor universally accepted as revolting could be also regarded as beautiful in another set of circumstances.
During the Second World War, an American infantry unit liberating Normandy was pinned down in the same spot for a few days by the ferocious German defense. The strip of land separating the opposing forces, popularly known as No Man's Land, featured a large building damaged by a bomb. When the wind blew from that direction, a horrible stench of rotting corpses filled the air. Soldiers gagged, and threw up. Everyone agreed that there had to be many decomposing bodies in the bombed building.
Upon liberating that particular strip of Normandy a few days later, the American soldiers discovered the building was a warehouse half-full of what was described as 'deliciously ripe Camembert cheese'. The troops were ecstatic about this wonderful addition to the monotonous diet of military rations. The smell that had made them vomit now actually gave them an appetite.
A similar, though much fainter, smell pervaded the Lander mansion. After a moment's thought, Kirk identified its origins. Frowning heavily, he started looking for the sergeant commanding the squad of marines billeted at his house.
He located the sergeant quickly; however, having a talk with him wasn't possible. A soldier informed Kirk that the sergeant was in the process of taking a shower in the ensuite bathroom of the guest apartment.
”Well, tell him I'd appreciate it if his men followed his example. Including yourself,” Kirk told the soldier. Then he went to look for Bernard. His younger son was officially in charge of the Lander colony, ably assisted by Debbie. They both seemed to enjoy it very much. Most of the time, they were stretched out on the silvery mats in their respective bedrooms.
Kirk discovered they were doing exactly that. He initially wanted to wake them up, but changed his mind. It was natural to take a nap after dinner. He'd hate it if someone woke him up.
He went to the kitchen to get something to eat for himself. He fully expected to find Adam there, but he didn't. Instead, he found Randy Trueman. His son-in-law was consuming a very large sandwich in a guilty manner.
”She's already found about it,” Randy informed Kirk. He spoke with food in his mouth, and a wet crumb flew out of his mouth and attached itself to the lapel of Kirk's jacket. Kirk flicked it off, and said coldly:
”I would be grateful if you could stop stuffing yourself for a moment, and told me what's going on.”
Randy swallowed hurriedly, and took a sip of what appeared to be iced water from his glass. Kirk's nostrils twitched: he thought he could detect a faint scent of juniper berries. It seemed Randy Trueman was in the process of depleting Kirk's stock of gin. Kirk didn't mind. He appreciated the fact a man could need a drink at the end of the day. In fact, he felt like having one himself. So he said:
”Can you give me a glass of whatever you're having? Gin on the rocks, is it?”
”Uh, a martini,” said Randy. ”Debbie made a pitcher. It's in the freezer. Just give me a minute.”
Kirk gave him a minute, and spent it inspecting the kitchen. There was a big pot of very promising-looking thick soup on the stove. He turned the stove on to heat it up and helped himself to a piece of homemade flatbread. He noted with satisfaction that the drink Randy handed him was of the king-size variety. He took a sip - damn! Debbie mixed one hell of a martini. She was such a treasure!
Kirk's eyes moistened with affection for his dumb but talented wife. He said abruptly:
”All right. Give it to me. I want all of it, right now.”
”There isn't much,” Randy said. ”Libby Placek found out I'm married to your daughter. She immediately took away my command, and posted me to fucking Yuma. You know Yuma?”
”There was a famous western about a train to Yuma,” said Kirk. ”I know! 3:10 to Yuma. Saw it a hell of a long time ago. That's the extent of my knowledge of Yuma.”
”Keep it that way,” Randy advised. ”You don't want to get to know this place.”
Kirk cleared his throat.
”Well, actually I should,” he said. ”I mean, it's California. But I can't remember who is the governor over there.”
”One of Placek's bitches.”
”Really? I must look into this. Appointing people to important posts in return for sexual favors... It doesn't look good. It doesn't look good at all.”
”I didn't mean it that way,” Randy said. ”At least, I don't think I did. But it might be true.”
”It might,” Kirk said, with a fresh gleam in his eye. He was already beginning to feel invigorated by Debbie's excellent martini. He took another sip and said:
”That's it. I'll launch a little investigation. As for you, son, don't worry. I hereby appoint you garrison commander in Napa.”
”But it's going to take forever for me to get here in the New World.”
”We'll remove your implant, and give you a new one right on the spot,” said Kirk. ”We've got plenty to spare, no worries there.”
He winked at Randy, and added: