Звездный десант
Chapter 1
Iwasstillstrappedinsideit,unabletomove;itwastimetodecidehowandwhereIwasgoingtoground.Withoutmovingmyarms(Icouldn’t)Ithumbedtheswitchforaproximityreadingandreaditwhenitflashedonintheinstrumentreflectorinsidemyhelmetinfrontofmyforehead.
Amileandeight-tenths—AlittlecloserthanIliked,especiallywithoutcompany.Theinneregghadreachedsteadyspeed,nomorehelptobegainedbystayinginsideit,anditsskintemperatureindicatedthatitwouldnotopenautomaticallyforawhileyet—soIflippedaswitchwithmyotherthumbandgotridofit.
Thefirstchargecutallthestraps;thesecondchargeexplodedtheplasticeggawayfrommeineightseparatepieces—andIwasoutdoors,sittingonair,andcouldsee!Betterstill,theeightdiscardedpiecesweremetal-coated(exceptforthesmallbitIhadtakenproximityreadingthrough)andwouldgivebackthesamereflectionasanarmoredman.Anyradarviewer,aliveorcybernetic,wouldnowhaveasadtimesortingmeoutfromthejunknearestme,nottomentionthethousandsofotherbitsandpiecesformilesoneachside,above,andbelowme.Partofamobileinfantryman’strainingistolethimsee,fromthegroundandbothbyeyeandbyradar,justhowconfusingadropistotheforcesontheground—becauseyoufeelawfulnakedupthere.Itiseasytopanicandeitheropenachutetoosoonandbecomeasittingduck(doducksreallysit?—ifso,why?)orfailtoopenitandbreakyourankles,likewisebackboneandskull.
