On the Beach

The Naval Department offers Peter a position to stay on as Dwight’s liaison officer. Peter agrees, but only if he can stay on land and close to home. Moira calls Dwight to congratulate him on his promotion and invite him to visit the farm while he’s on leave. He declines at first, claiming that he has too much work to do to prepare the Scorpion for dry docking, but sensing his exhaustion, Moira insists, telling him to let Peter handle it. When Moira sees Dwight, he is depressed and ill. They travel by train to the farm, where Dwight immediately goes to bed. Moira worries that he might have radiation poisoning, but the doctor diagnoses him with flu. The doctor must return to town to assist in removing a growth but promises to return. Dwight later tells Moira he thinks the doctor is foolish for thinking that the operation will give the woman “some years of useful life ahead of her” (189), but Moira counters that her father plans to build a dam that should be completed by Christmas. Moira gives Dwight a Pogo stick painted with Helen’s name, and the gift so overjoys him that he keeps it near his bed while he rests.