“Destiny is a good thing to accept when it's going your way. When it isn't, don't call it destiny; call it injustice, treachery, or simple bad luck.”

“Why are they going to disappear him?'I don't know.'It doesn't make sense. It isn't even good grammar.”

“It isn't necessary to call me Father, the chaplain explained. I'm an Anabaptist.”

“It doesn't make sense. It isn't even good grammar. What the hell does it mean when they disappear somebody?”

“It's only that I feel an injustice has been committed. Why should I have somebody else's malaria and you have my dose of clap?”

“Nately had a bad start. He came from a good family.”

“Just what the hell did you mean, you bastard, when you said we couldn't punish you?" said the corporal who could take shorthand reading from his steno pad."All right," said the colonel. "Just what the hell did you mean?""I didn't say you couldn't punish me, sir.""When," asked the colonel."When what, sir?""Now you're asking me questions again.""I'm sorry, sir. I'm afraid I don't understand your question.""When didn't you say we couldn't punish you? Don't you understand my question?""No, sir, I don't understand.""You've just told us that. Now suppose you answer my question.""But how can I answer it?""That's another question you're asking me.""I'm sorry, sir. But I don't know how to answer it. I never said you couldn't punish me.""Now you're telling us what you did say. I'm asking you to tell us when you didn't say it."Clevinger took a deep breath. "I always didn't say you couldn't punish me, sir.”