Звездный десант
Chapter 6
HewasolderthanmostofusandhadbeenordainedinsomeobscurelittlesectIhadneverheardof.Butheputalotofpassionintohispreachingwhetherhistheologywasorthodoxornot(don’taskme)andhewascertainlyinapositiontounderstandtheproblemsofarecruit.Andthesingingwasfun.Besides,therewasnowhereelsetogoonSundaymorningbetweenmorningpoliceandlunch.
Thebandsufferedalotofattritionbutsomehowtheyalwayskeptitgoing.ThecampownedfoursetsofpipesandsomeScottishuniforms,donatedbyLochielofCameronwhosesonhadbeenkilledthereintraining—andoneofusbootsturnedouttobeapiper;hehadlearneditintheScottishBoyScouts.Prettysoonwehadfourpipers,maybenotgoodbutloud.Pipesseemveryoddwhenyoufirsthearthem,andatyropracticingcansetyourteethonedge—itsoundsandlooksasifhehadacatunderhisarm,itstailinhismouth,andbitingit.
Buttheygrowonyou.Thefirsttimeourpiperskickedtheirheelsoutinfrontoftheband,skirlingawayat"AlameinDead,"myhairstoodupsostraightitliftedmycap.Itgetsyou—makestears.
Wecouldn’ttakeaparadebandoutonroutemarch,ofcourse,becausenospecialallowancesweremadefortheband.Tubasandbassdrumshadtostaybehindbecauseaboyinthebandhadtocarryfullkit,sameaseverybody,andcouldonlymanageaninstrumentsmallenoughtoaddtohisload.
