Звездный десант
Chapter 6
SoImaybeafewminuteslateforourwaltz.Go‘waynow,Charlie,anddon’tbotherme.Seeyoulater."
SergeantZimleftsoabruptlythatIbarelyhadtimetoleanoverandtiemyshoeandtherebybeoutofsightbehindthefilecasesashepassedthroughtheouteroffice.CaptainFrankelwasalreadyshouting,"Orderly!Orderly!ORDERLY!—doIhavetocallyouthreetimes?What’syourname?Putyourselfdownforanhour’sextraduty,fullkit.FindthecompanycommandersofE,F,andG,mycomplimentsandI’llbepleasedtoseethembeforeparade.Thenbounceovertomytentandfetchmeacleandressuniform,cap,sidearms,shoes,ribbons—nomedals.Layitoutformehere.Thenmakeafternoonsickcall—ifyoucanscratchwiththatarm,asI’veseenyoudoing,yourshouldercan’tbetoosore.You’vegotthirteenminutesuntilsickcallonthebounce,soldier!"
Imadeit...bycatchingtwoofthemintheseniorinstructors—showers(anorderlycangoanywhere)andthethirdathisdesk;theordersyougetaren’timpossible,theymerelyseemsobecausetheynearlyare.IwaslayingoutCaptainFrankel’suniformforparadeassickcallsounded.Withoutlookinguphegrowled,"Belaythatextraduty.Dismissed."SoIgothomejustintimetocatchextradutyfor"Uniform,Untidyin,TwoParticulars"andseethesickeningendofTedHendrick’stimeintheM.I.
SoIhadplentytothinkaboutasIlayawakethatnight.
