a few ribald remarks from the officers nearest the
bar]

"I just want to tell you all," the Major went on, his arm heavy across
Winfree's unwilling shoulders, "before I relinquish this fine young
officer to his new commander, a corporal ..."

[Laughter]

"... that here's a man who's going places. Look well at Captain
Winfree's face, friends. You will see it yet on the cover of _Time_,
above a pair of stars."

[Applause]

* * * * *

The Major freed Captain Winfree, the guests settled down into their
folding-chairs, and the chaplain opened his BSG _Book of Authorized
Ceremonies_. He and the affianced couple stood alone together in a
moment of silence. He opened the service. "Dearly beloved, we are
gathered together here ...

"... Margaret, wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded husband ... so long
as ye both shall live? ... by virtue of the authority vested in me by
the Corps of Chaplains, Bureau of Seasonal Gratuities, I pronounce that
you are Man and Wife. Amen, and Congratulations!"

The first wedded kiss, and the stag-line demanding its similar
perquisite. Kevin MacHenery seized his son-in-law's right hand. "I wish
you both fifty happy years, Wes," he said. "I hope you'll see the light
soon, and spend most of those years in decent mufti." Major Dampfer
shouldered Mr. MacHenery aside to tug Winfree and his new wife toward
the mountain of gifts, covered like a giant's corpse with a sheet,
standing by the base of the Xmas tree. The Major triumphantly pulled a
ripcord, and the sheet dropped away. Beneath it were dozens of boxes and
bundles and bottles, wrapped in scarlet and green and silver and gold.
"Open them!" some guest prompted from the end of the hall.

"Why open them?" Corporal Mrs. Peggy Winfree asked. "Anyone got a match?
We'll have our Potlatch Pyre right here and now, burn them right off
instead of waiting a year."

"The lady jests," Major Dampfer assumed. "Wedding-gifts, Corporal,
aren't subject to Potlatching."

"Goody," Peggy said.

"I'll have some of the enlisted guests carry these gratuities out to
your car," the Major said. "You can unwrap them during your honeymoon."
He chuckled.

Towing his bride with his left hand, accepting handshakes with his
right, Captain Winfree shouldered his way through the mob of brass and
chevrons to the door. His car, adorned with a _Just Married_ sign that
completely obscured the rear window, trailing strings of shoes and emp