Звездный десант

           IhadknownthatSergeantZimworkedhard,butithadneveroccurredtomethathecouldpossiblybeotherthancompletelyandsmuglyself-satisfiedwithwhathedid.Helookedsosmug,soself-assured,soatpeacewiththeworldandwithhimself.

           Theideathatthisinvinciblerobotcouldfeelthathehadfailed,couldfeelsodeeplyandpersonallydisgracedthathewantedtorunaway,hidehisfaceamongstrangers,andoffertheexcusethathisleavingwouldbe"bestfortheoutfit,"shookmeupasmuch,andinawayevenmore,thanseeingTedflogged.

           TohaveCaptainFrankelagreewithhim—astotheseriousnessofthefailure,Imean—andthenrubhisnoseinit,chewhimout.Well!Imeanreally.Sergeantsdon’tgetchewedout;sergeantsdothechewing.Alawofnature.

           ButIhadtoadmitthatwhatSergeantZimhadtaken,andswallowed,wassocompletelyhumiliatingandwitheringastomaketheworstIhadeverheardoroverheadfromasergeantsoundlikealovesong.AndyettheCaptainhadn’tevenraisedhisvoice.

           ThewholeincidentwassopreposterouslyunlikelythatIwasnevereventemptedtomentionittoanyoneelse.

           AndCaptainFrankelhimself—Officerswedidn’tseeveryoften.Theyshowedupforeveningparade,saunteringoveratthelastmomentanddoingnothingthatwouldworkupasweat;theyinspectedonceaweek,makingprivatecommentstosergeants,commentsthatinvariablymeantgriefforsomebodyelse,notthem;andtheydecidedeachweekwhatcompanyhadwonthehonorofguardingtheregimentalcolors.