Soldiers for democracy, for an eighty-dollar check or death on some distant isle; the home front and the battle-front; relief clients of yesterday and of tomorrow too—who knows? Lee Gordon asked himself as he shouldered down the aisle. But soldiers today—important, necessary, expendable. That they felt their importance was a tangible thing that could not be overlooked. Lee observed it in their stances, in their loud, positive voices, their hard, unhesitating steps, their bold, challenging stares, in their high-shouldered arrogance. From one point of view—say, from Jackie’s point of view—it was inspiring, he thought. Great things could be accomplished by this mass consciousness of self-importance, great progress could be made, great change could be brought about. With the guidance of the union—He stopped it there, aware that he was thinking in terms of union propaganda, not because he disputed the logic of his thoughts, but because he rebelled at their regimentation.
