Chapter 20, "The Yellow Stain" Summary

The evening before the fleet is due at Kwajalein, Willie observes increased tension among the sailors on the bridge. Willie and the Captain know that the Caine is shepherding a wave of attack boats from their transport to a line of departure 1000 yards from the beach at dawn. Willie believes the Caine will be crippled and removed from battle. At 22:30 hours, Willie finds Queeg fully clothed, life jacket on, in the canvas bunk hanging over the navigator's table. As Willie falls asleep in his bunk, the general alarm sounds. He dresses hurriedly and goes on deck to relieve Harding. They are at Roi-Namur. Willie's first glimpse of combat is a small night gunnery exercise. At sunrise, the fleet halts 3 miles offshore. Attack boats begin to drop from the transports and cluster on the water. Keefer...