Звездный десант

           Asidefromthat,theypoppedupoccasionallyonsurpriseinspections,creased,immaculate,remote,andsmellingfaintlyofcologne—andwentawayagain.

           Oh,oneormoreofthemdidalwaysaccompanyusonroutemarchesandtwiceCaptainFrankelhaddemonstratedhisvirtuosityatlasavate.Butofficersdidn’twork,notrealwork,andtheyhadnoworriesbecausesergeantswereunderthem,notoverthem.

           ButitappearedthatCaptainFrankelworkedsohardthatheskippedmeals,waskeptsobusywithsomethingorotherthathecomplainedoflackofexerciseandwouldwastehisownfreetimejusttoworkupasweat.

           Asforworries,hehadhonestlyseemedtobeevenmoreupsetatwhathadhappenedtoHendrickthanZimhadbeen.Andyethehadn’tevenknownHendrickbysight;hehadbeenforcedtoaskhisname.

           IhadanunsettlingfeelingthatIhadbeencompletelymistakenastotheverynatureoftheworldIwasin,asifeverypartofitwassomethingwildlydifferentfromwhatitappearedtobe—likediscoveringthatyourownmotherisn’tanyoneyou’veeverseenbefore,butastrangerinarubbermask.

           ButIwassureofonething:Ididn’tevenwanttofindoutwhattheM.I.reallywas.Ifitwassotoughthateventhegods-that-be—sergeantsandofficers—weremadeunhappybyit,itwascertainlytootoughforJohnnie!Howcouldyoukeepfrommakingmistakesinanoutfityoudidn’tunderstand?Ididn’twanttoswingbymynecktillIwasdead,dead,dead!