 What word best describes Commander Curtis?
SILENCE IS—DEADLY By Bertrand L. Shurtleff Radio is an absolute necessity in modern organization—and particularly in modern naval organization. [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science-Fiction April 1942. Commander Bob Curtis roused himself from his doze, got up from his chair, stretched himself to his full, lanky height and yawned. With him came a boatload of scientific apparatus and equipment, including a number of things that looked like oxygen tanks, which were now stored in the forward hold. Nevertheless, his taut face, restless, searching eyes, and eternally nervous manner got Curtis' goat. This storm—" Curtis threw his arm around Nelson's dripping shoulders. "But this storm, sir!" Nelson avoided Curtis' friendly eyes and slipped out from under his arm. Commander Curtis shrugged good-naturedly and reached for the instrument. Curtis donned his slicker and went outside, sextant in hand. "Here's what I make it," the commander told his navigating officer. Curtis stared, frowned, grabbed his own sheet again. Nelson's estimate, I'm checking back," he declared, frowning at the two papers and hastily rechecking his own figures. With all these rocks and islets—" "Radio?" repeated the little Czech, thrusting his face between the other two, in his independent fashion that ignored ship's discipline. Then he hastened to the radio room, with Nelson at his heels, and the Czech trotting along behind. "Get us a radio cross-bearing for location at once," Curtis said sharply, for the operator seemed in a daze. Curtis gave him another curious look and thrust himself into the radio room. For the next two hours, no radio messages can enter or leave my zone of radio silence—of refracted radio waves, set up by my little station on one of the neighboring islets!" The answer came back: "Bearings north east by a quarter east, U. S. Cruiser Comerford !" He saw that Nelson was staring fiercely at the radio operator, as the man went on calling: "U. S. Cruiser Comerford calling Station 364. Bearings north west by three west, U. S. Cruiser Comerford from Cay 364." "I'm relieved, sir, just the same," Nelson admitted, "to have the radio bearings. Curtis left him at it, and went to rejoin Androka in the cabin. "Seems to me," Curtis said dryly, "this invention can harm your friends as much as your enemies."
 Authoritative
 Collaborative  Egotistical  Authoritative  Fierce