И проиграли бой
Chapter 2
"Me?No,Itell’emwhattodo,buttheydon’thavetodoit.Ican’tissueanyorders.Theonlyordersthatreallystickaretheonesthatcomedownafteravote."
"Well,anyway,you’vegotsomesay,Mac.WhatI’dreallyliketodoisgetintothefield.I’dliketogetintotheaction."
Maclaughedsoftly."Youwantpunishment,don’tyou?Well,Idon’tknowbutwhatthecommittee’llthinkahellofalotmoreofagoodtypist.You’llhavetoputromanceoffforawhile—thenoblePartyassaultedbythebeastofCapitalism."SuddenlyhistonechangedandheturnedonJim."It’sallwork,"hesaid."Inthefieldit’shardworkanddangerouswork.Butdon’tthinkit’ssosoftatthejoint,either.Youdon’tknowwhatnightabunchofAmericanLegionersallfullofwhiskyanddrumcorpsmusicmaycomedownandbeathelloutofyou.I’vebeenthroughit,Itellyou.There’snoveteranlikethemanwhogotdraftedintothearmyandservedsixmonthsinatrainingcamppunchingabayonetintoasackofsawdust.Themenwhowereinthetrenchesaremostlydifferent;butforpureincendiarismandbrassknucklepatriotism,givemetwentytrainingcampex-soldiers.Whytwentyof’emwillprotecttheircountryfromfivekidsanydarknightwhentheycangetalittlewhisky.Mostof’emgottheirwoundstripesbecausetheyweretoodrunktogotoaprophylaxisstation."
Jimchuckled."Youdon’tlikesoldiersmuch,doyou,Mac?"
"Idon’tliketheex-soldierswiththegoldhats.IwasinFrance.Theyweregood,honest,stupidcattle.Theydidn’tlikeit,buttheywereniceguys."Hisvoicesobereddown.Jimsawhimgrinquicklyinembarrassment."Igothot,didn’tI,Jim?I’lltellyouwhy.Tenofthebravebastardslickedmeonenight.
