as a college student。 The odd mid snapped a salute at Robby； who returned each with panache as he proceeded in total silence with Jack trying to keep up。 Ryan could almost hear the thoughts whirring through the aviator's head。 It took five minutes to reach the new LeJeune Annex across from the Halsey field house。
The large glass and marble edifice contrasted with Bancroft's stolid gray stone。 The United States Naval Academy was a government plex； and hence exempt from the normal standards of architectural good taste。 They entered the ground floor past a gaggle of midshipmen in jogging suits； and Robby led him down a staircase into the basement。 Jack had never been here before。 They ended up in a dimly lit corridor whose block walls led to a dead end。 Ryan imagined he heard the crack of small…bore pistol fire； and it was confirmed when Jackson opened a heavy steel door to the Academy's new pistol range。 They saw a lone figure standing in the center lane； a 。22 automatic steady in his extended right hand。
Sergeant Major Noah Breckenridge was the image of the Marine nonmissioned officer。 Six…three； the only fat on his two…hundred…pound frame was in the hot dogs he'd had for lunch in the adjacent Dalgren Hall。 He was wearing a short…sleeved khaki shirt。 Ryan had seen but never met him； though Breckenridge's reputation was well known。 In twenty…eight years as a Marine； he had been everywhere a Marine can go； done everything a Marine can do。 His 〃salad bar〃 of decorations covered five even rows； topmost among them the Navy Cross； which he'd won while a sniper in Vietnam； part of 1st Force Recon。 Beneath the ribbons were his marksmanship medals 〃shooting iron〃 the least of which was a 〃Master〃 rating。 Breckenridge was known for his weapons proficiency。 Every year he went to the national championships at Camp Perry； Ohio； and in two of the past five years he had won the President's Cup for his mastery of the 。45 Colt automatic。 His shoes were so shiny that one could determine only with difficulty that the underlying leather was actually black。 His brass shone like stainless steel； and his hair was cut so close that if any gray were in there； the casual observer could never have seen it。 He had begun his career as an ordinary rifleman； been an Embassy Marine and a Sea Marine。 He had taught marksmanship at the sniper school； been a drill instructor at Parris Island and an。 officer instructor at Quantico。
When the Marine detail at the Academy had been augmented； Breckenridge had been the divisional Sergeant Major at Camp LeJeune； and it was said that when he left Annapolis； he would plete his thirty…year tour of duty as Sergeant Major of the Corps； with an office adjoining that of the mandant。 His presence at Annapolis was no accident。 As he walked about the campus； Breckenridge was himself an eloquent and unspoken challenge to whichever midshipman might still be undecided on his career goals： Don't even think about being a Marine officer unless you are fit to mand a man like this。 It was the sort of challenge that few mids could walk away from。 The Marine force that backed up the civilian guards was technically under the mand of a captain。 In fact； as was so often the case with the Corps； the Captain had the good sense to let Breckenridge run things。 The traditions of the Corps were not passed on by officers； but rather by the professional NCOs who were the conservators of it all。
As Ryan and Jackson watched； the Sergeant Major took a fresh pistol from a cardboard box and slipped a clip into it。 He fired two rounds； then checked his target through a spotting scope。 Frowning； he pulled a tiny screwdriver from his shirt pocket and made an adjustment to the sights。 Two more rounds； check； another adjustment。 Two more shots。 The pistol was now perfectly sighted； and went back into the manufacturer's box。
〃How's it going； Gunny？〃 Robby asked。
〃Good afternoon； mander；〃 Breckenridge said agreeably。 His southern Mississippi accent spilled across the naked concrete floor。 〃And how are you today； sir？〃
〃No plaints。 I got somebody I want you to meet。 This here's Jack Ryan。〃
They shook hands。 Unlike Skip Tyler； Breckenridge was a man who understood and disciplined his strength。
〃Howdy。 You're the guy was in the papers。〃 Breckenridge examined Ryan like a fresh boot。
〃That's right。〃
〃Pleased to meet you； sir。 I know the guy who ran you through Quantico。〃
Ryan laughed。 〃And how is Son of Kong？〃
〃Willie's retired now。 He runs a sporting goods store down in Roanoke。 He remembers you。 Says you were pretty sharp for a college boy； and I imagine you remember mosta what he taught you。〃 Breckenridge gazed down at Jack with a look of benign satisfaction； as though Ryan's action in London was renewed proof that everything the Marine Corps said and did； everything to which he had dedicated his life； really meant something。 He would not have believed otherwise in any case； but incidents like this further enhanced his belief in the image of the Corps。 〃If the papers got things straight； you did right well。 Lieutenant。〃
〃Not all that well。 Sergeant Major 〃
〃Gunny；〃 Breckenridge corrected。 〃Everybody calls me Gunny。〃
〃After it was all over；〃 Ryan went on； 〃I shook like a baby's rattle。〃
Breckenridge was amused by this。 〃Hell； sir； we all do that。 What counts is gettin' the job done。 What es after don't matter a damn。 So； what can I do for you gentlemen？ You want a few rounds of small…bore practice？〃
Jackson explained what the FBI agent had said。 The Sergeant Major's face darkened； the jaw set。 After a moment he shook his head。
〃You're sweatin' this； eh？ Can't say that I blame you； Lieutenant。 'Terrorists！' 〃 he snorted。 〃A 'terrorist' is a punk with a machine gun。 That's all； just a well…armed punk。 It doesn't take much to shoot somebody in the back or hose down an airport waiting room。 So。 Lieutenant； you'll be thinkin' about carrying some protection； right？ And maybe something at home。〃
〃I don't know 。 。 。 but I guess you're the man to see。〃 Ryan hadn't thought about it yet； but it was clear that Robby had。
〃How'd you do at Quantico？〃
〃I qualified with the 。45 automatic and the M…16。 Nothing spectacular； but I qualified。〃
〃Do you do any shootin' now； sir？〃 Breckenridge asked with a frown。 Just qualifying wasn't a very hopeful sign to a serious marksman。
〃I usually get my quota of ducks and geese。 I missed out this season； though；〃 Jack admitted。
〃Uplands game？〃
〃I had two good afternoons after dove in September。 I'm a pretty fair wing…shot； Gunny。 I use a Remington 1100 automatic； 12…gauge。〃
Breckenridge nodded。 〃Good for a start。 That's your at…home gun。 Nothing beats a shotgun at close range short of a flamethrower； that is。〃 The Sergeant Major smiled。 〃You have a deer/slug barrel？ No？ Well； you're gonna get one of those。 It's twenty inches or so； with a cylinder bore and rifle…type sights。 You pull the magazine plug； and you got five…round capacity。 Now most people'll tell you to use double…ought buck； but I like number four better。 More pellets； and you're not giving any range away。 You can still hit out to eighty； ninety yards； and that's all you'll ever need。 The important thing is； anything you hit with buckshot's goin' down period。〃 He paused。 〃As a matter of fact； I might be able to get you some flechette rounds。〃
〃What's that？〃 Ryan asked。
〃It's an experimental thing they foolin' with down at Quantico for military police use； and maybe at the embassies。 Instead of lead pellets； you shoot sixty or so darts； about three…caliber diameter； like little arrows。 You gotta see what those little buggers do to believe it。 Nasty。 So that'll take care of home。 Now； you gonna want to carry a handgun with you？〃
Ryan thought about that。 It would mean getting a permit。 He thought he could apply to the state police for one 。 。 。 or maybe to a certain federal agency。 Already his mind was mulling over that question。
〃Maybe；〃 he said finally。
〃Okay。 Let's do a little experiment。〃 Breckenridge walked into his office。 He returned a minute later with a cardboard box。
〃Lieutenant； this here's a High…Standard t