Звездный десант

           "

           "Notquite.DidyounoticethatwhentheCommandantwantedaquestionansweredaparticularwayhealwaysaskedtheAssassin?"

           Idecideditwastrue."Birdie,whatisyourpermanentrank?"

           Thecarwasjustlanding;hepausedwithahandonthelatchandgrinned."PFC—Idon’tdareflunkout!"

           Isnorted."Youwon’t.Youcan’t!"Iwassurprisedthathewasn’tevenacorporal,butakidassmartandwelleducatedasBirdiewouldgotoO.C.S.justasquicklyasheprovedhimselfincombat...whichwiththewaron,couldbeonlymonthsafterhiseighteenthbirthday.

           Birdiegrinnedstillwider."We’llsee."

           "You’llgraduate.HassanandIhavetoworry,butnotyou."

           "So?SupposeMissKendricktakesadisliketome."Heopenedthedoorandlookedstartled."Hey!They’resoundingmycall.Solong!"

           "Seeyou,Birdie."

           ButIdidnotseehimandhedidnotgraduate.Hewascommissionedtwoweekslaterandhispipscamebackwiththeireighteenthdecoration—theWoundedLion,posthumous.