"What the hell am I doing here?" Lt. Percival asked himself. He had spent a day in the hot unforgiving sun and now as it went down it took very little of the heat with it. Jack was parched, tired, and baked. The water in his canteen was lukewarm and basically undrinkable. His blue wool shirt was soaked with sweat. He leaned up against the barricade and looked skyward, letting the sweat run down his back. "Well," he thought, "You got what you asked for."
Jack Percival looked out the large window to see whitecaps on the Chesapeake as the wind whipped the snowflakes and rain against the panes. An early spring storm lashed the area as Jack turned around and walked to the fireplace. The light from the fire cast a warm glow to the dark paneling of the library and made him glad he was inside tonight. Jack looked around the room. On the walls were portraits of his famous ancestors; Hiram Percival who fought alongside Jones and Barney in two wars; Samuel Percival who was with Perry when he opened Japan; and finally William Percival who was with Farragut at Mobile Bay and commanded his own ship at Manila Bay; a family full of naval tradition which was to be handed down to Jack, who was in his final year at the Academy, 3rd in class and set to follow in their footsteps. The only problem was he didn't want it. He wanted to establish his own path, his own tradition and tonight he was taking that first step. He gulped down his final swallow of brandy as the door of the library opened.
William, "Bloody Billy", Percival, Commodore USN strode into the room. Even dressed in his evening clothes, he commanded everyone's attention. Just under 6 feet tall with gray flecked hair and drooping moustache, the man walked into the library as if he was patrolling the quarterdeck. Entering behind him was his wife, Jane. She stood off to one side.
"Now, what is this nonsense I hear?" Jack's father grumbled.
Jack pulled himself up to his full height. He was a few inches taller than his father and broad chested. His blue eyes shined when he aroused to do battle as they were now.
"It is not nonsense, Father. I've made a decision." The battle lines were drawn.
"I have the final say in this house. And what I say goes." His father was not going to back down but either was Jack.
"Father, for all my life I've been in the shadows of the Percivals. I want to blaze my own trails. To be my own man."
"Good God, son, you can do that in the Navy. I didn't go to the Academy and I earned everything I have. You have a great opportunity and can do the same."
"No, Father. It would always be, 'There goes 'Bloody Billy's son.' I am going my own way and that's it. Upon graduation, I'm taking a commission in the Marine Corps." Jack didn't shout but firmly, calmly stated his case.
"You are throwing your life away, Jack. A God Damn Jarhead! I'll not lift one finger to help you. Don't come crawling back to me for anything, you understand? Nothing!" His father didn't raise his voice but the anger was present. All those years in command gave "Bloody Bill" Percival the ability to remain calm under all circumstances. "We are done here!" He turned on his heels and left.
Jack stood there quietly. He didn't know what to expect but this wasn't it. Perhaps he expected a harder fight or yelling. Something more than this. It was over. His bridges had been burned.
Jane Percival stepped from the shadows and walked to Jack, arms outspread. She took his hands and smiled. "I'm very proud of you and your mother would be too. It took real backbone to stand up to him. I've seen other men crumble before him."
Jane was really Jack's step mother. She had met his father in Hong Kong where her father was involved in trade with China. William Percival was there with the US Asiatic Fleet and the two met at a fancy ball at the British embassy. Jack's mother had died two years before when he was ten. Jane was twenty at the time and after a whirlwind romance, married. That was nearly ten years ago. She was a real beauty and people marveled at her form and grace. She exhibited calmness to everything and was able to communicate this to her husband. She took the edge off of him. Those who were close believed it was the final piece he needed to rise to his present rank.
Jack didn't look at Jane as his mother; she was more like an older sister. In a way it was actually better. They were able to talk about more things and because of the nearness in age relate better. She knew about his decision and helped him think it though instead of rushing to a conclusion. She also instilled in him love for the Orient and his desire to go there. She encouraged his talent for languages and was the force behind him learning German, French, and Mandarin Chinese. He even dabbled in Russian. He was a natural.
"Don't worry, Jack," she said softly,"he'll calm down. I know this is a big decision but I think, in time, your father will understand and accept it."
Jack was jolted out of his daydream.
"Lieutenant, you are relieved."
"Yes, sir." Jack replied to Capt. Roberts.
"Before you go, any changes?"
"No, sir," Jack replied. "The Chinks keep up that blaring music but you get use to it. Someone over there has a Mauser so if you pop your head up for a look, he'll try and take it off. They are attempting to move that barricade closer but we have been keeping an eye on them. Other than that, nothing new to report."
"Very well, you can go."
As he started to crawl away, the Captain grabbed his arm. "How long were you here?"
"12 hours, sir."
The Captain shook his head. "Damn, you should have been relieved hours ago. Get some sleep. And I do mean sleep!" The captain gave him a knowing smile.
