Звездный десант

           Simplythis:Thenoblestfatethatamancanendureistoplacehisownmortalbodybetweenhislovedhomeandthewar’sdesolation.Thewordsarenotmine,ofcourse,asyouwillrecognize.Basictruthscannotchangeandonceamanofinsightexpressesoneofthemitisnevernecessary,nomatterhowmuchtheworldchanges,toreformulatethem.Thisisanimmutable,trueeverywhere,throughoutalltime,forallmenandallnations.

           Letmehearfromyou,please,ifyoucanspareanoldmansomeofyourprecioussacktimetowriteanoccasionalletter.Andifyoushouldhappentorunacrossanyofmyformermates,givethemmywarmestgreetings.

           Goodluck,trooper!You’vemademeproud.

           JEANV.DUBOISLt.-Col.,M.I.,rtd.

           Thesignaturewasasamazingastheletteritself.OldSourMouthashortcolonel?Why,ourregimentalcommanderwasonlyamajor.Mr.Duboishadneverusedanysortofrankaroundschool.Wehadsupposed(ifwethoughtaboutitatall)thathemusthavebeenacorporalorsomesuchwhohadbeenletoutwhenhelosthishandandhadbeenfixedupwithasoftjobteachingacoursethatdidn’thavetobepassed,oreventaught—justaudited.OfcoursewehadknownthathewasaveteransinceHistoryandMoralPhilosophymustbetaughtbyacitizen.ButanM.I.?Hedidn’tlookit.Prissy,faintlyscornful,adancing-mastertype—notoneofusapes.

           Butthatwasthewayhehadsignedhimself.

           Ispentthewholelonghikebacktocampthinkingaboutthatamazingletter.Itdidn’tsoundintheleastlikeanythinghehadeversaidinclass.