JOE

Dozerdust, Volume 2, Issue 1, 4 December 1943, Page 5

JOE

•••••• VZB got off the truck together at Cafe Normandie,, I hadn’t noticed. him get on at Noumea; there were so many of us packed togeththat wo just hung on and ho [fed v/o'd get a dAde all the way. And I don't think;! would have noticed him on the road had we not eon standing together thumbing for a lift to Bumbea. ” Nev; Zea lander, eh ? t? he asked, as he casually looked me over. -I nodded and thumbed. He spat on the dusty roads ” Been up the Canal ?'* he asked* I shook my head Been up there mu self - just got back a week ago ho- continued between thumbs. " Up in hospital now •*• He spat again,” What the hell’s the use of this J 1 he grumbled as heavily laden trucks rumbled past the groups of soldiers all thumb - ing and shouting for a' lift* HE felt for the packet of Luckies. All the while in a fidget very I; close to an air of abandon., Perh - aps his tall, loosely built figure and his voice with the sus - pi cion of a whine accentuated the impression. He watch the trucks race 'by. ” I drove them sonsa - bitches for eight years .in the States and didn’t have an accid -‘ ent y he said as though recalling a forgotten pride. ” And I’ll do it again J he concluded as though suddenly remembering ” the States!’ •::* ” GET the fever I asked by way of drawing him out. ” No ” he replied. • Two bits of lead in my lung - going back to the Statesi soon. Know what an ” Iron Lung ” is ? " he asked casually. I shook my head, ” Wall, it’s like this 11 and he proceeded to make an imaginary diagram with his hands , indicating feme thing between an ice box and a bed. ” Guess I’ll have to spend the rest of my life in one only my head out. I pughta live for another fifty years, maybe a bit more, Knew a guy once who was in one for five years. Say, let’s walk down the. road* A truck wont stop to pick us up here with all these suckers hangin’ round ::: HE thumbed and belted mosquitoes as he walked. It was then I noticed thfc sliahchy ro- * 11 ing, walk-; whatver army training he had had left no lasting impression* ” , Haven’ touched a woman for two years ? he volunteered,and paused for a reply. That was when

my wife was alive

&£&118IlJL

He arrived in Seville on Oct £0 - n and on that, day the ednauest of the Pacific began. MSA fortunate mafriage made bin the son-in -lew of a great Spanish sailor, the controversy whether the Snlce Islands, were within Spanish territory rave him the opportunity to offer to show a shorter route than known to the Spaniards and to prove that e they lev within Spain’s power. The: intrigue that followed we mist ignore, On 20th Sept. 1519 Mage - Ilan with five ships under his command crossed the Tarus and turned Southward, The voyage was marked by privation ; treachery and mutiny At the end of &arch they came to >*ood anchorage • and ’ shelter in -Port Jul - ian where they wide their winter quarters With the coming of warm weather he sot sail on 18th Octk , and ran south west until a can wps sighted on the third day - a bay T'-fi also sighted , The Sane was named, Ggpe of the Eleven Thousand Virgins* £>ut the bay *• what of It T Countless other bays had been ex - plorea to no purpose. Was this ano — then V Two shins were sent to explore. In the terrific storm that followed there r erQ riven up for lost but after three davs returned with flags fly ins r nd all runs borming. They had soiled un the bay and found ne end to it 4 the flood tide was stronrer than the There must be a pass s ?re Pt In st • It was the first narrow strsits.. 6 . that now bears the explorer* name. w The , ration of the Straits of Mar - ©llan ” says a modern historian , SIS difficult beyond Host tasks of like .nature c He did not go astray in the numerous sounds ©nd channels which make the St waits a maze . Burin# <he navigation the largest Ship deserted, A council was called. With only three ships end not three months mwnly of rations with them, the return- home was argued® A venture into the unknota on such terms was too Tsuch, hut Magellan said if thev had to eat the leather ©n th® shin s yards they would ro on/ on the- 28th %v, they passed ; .into the Great South 3ea to discover the Philip Ines, the Mariannes, and touch on many other islands, s » THS #reat ere of Pacific atlons had ■ commenced. But like Captain Cook, net his death on one of the islands he- discovered. . ■ AoknowledFCFieat to ' Exploration of The Pacific. Jr G Bea r 1 eho le fi ss 1? ?:«>»«»»* st j>- ii« un n »t« w33 THIS Id NOT A HOMS IBJUj?,