Chapter 6

           Whatweobtaintoocheap,weesteemtoolightly...itwouldbestrangeindeedifsocelestialanarticleasFREEDOMshouldnotbehighlyrated.

           ThomasPaine

           ItwasthenightafterHendrickwaskickedoutthatIreachedmylowestslumpatCampCurrie.Icouldn’tsleep—andyouhavetohavebeenthroughbootcamptounderstandjusthowfardownarecruithastosinkbeforethatcanhappen.ButIhadn’thadanyrealexercisealldaysoIwasn’tphysicallytired,andmyshoulderstillhurteventhoughIhadbeenmarked"duty,"andIhadthatletterfrommymotherpreyingonmymind,andeverytimeIclosedmyeyesIwouldhearthatcrack!andseeTedslumpagainstthewhippingpost.

           Iwasn’tfrettedaboutlosingmybootchevrons.ThatnolongermatteredatallbecauseIwasreadytoresign,determinedto.Ifithadn’tbeenthemiddleofthenightandnopenandpaperhandy,Iwouldhavedonesorightthen.

           Tedhadmadeabadmistake,onethatlastedallofhalfasecond.Anditreallyhadbeenjustamistake,too,because,whilehehatedtheoutfit(wholikedit?),hehadbeentryingtosweatitoutandwinhisfranchise;hemeanttogointopolitics—hetalkedalotabouthow,whenhegothiscitizenship,"Therewillbesomechangesmade—youwaitandsee."

           Well,hewouldneverbeinpublicofficenow;hehadtakenhisfingeroffhisnumberforasingleinstantandhewasthrough.

           Ifitcouldhappentohim,itcouldhappentome.SupposeIslipped?Nextdayornextweek?Notevenallowedtoresign...butdrummedoutwithmybackstriped.