“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!”
“Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his voice level. Blaine grinned at him lopsidedly and giggled, almost choking. He slapped the table, knocking his empty glass over.
“Ye-ss, I am! Don’t ssup-pose you – think I co-uld ssit here an’ calmly wait t’die – dýou? Weee-ll, not ssob-er anyway. Ha ha ha.”
Disgust and hopelessness were swelling inside him. He felt like punching that drunken face till it was either sober or unconscious.
“Damn it, Captain! We need you – the crew needs you! You’re turning your back on them – in our most desperate time!”