Звездный десант

           ButtheM.I.hasbandinstrumentswhichIdon’tbelieveanybodyelsehas,suchasalittleboxhardlybiggerthanaharmonica,anelectronicgadgetwhichdoesanamazingjoboffakingabighornandisplayedthesameway.Comesbandcallwhenyouareheadedforthehorizon,eachbandsmanshedshiskitwithoutstopping,hissquadmatessplititup,andhetrotstothecolumnpositionofthecolorcompanyandstartsblasting.

           Ithelps.

           Thebanddriftedaft,almostoutofearshot,andwestoppedsingingbecauseyourownsingingdrownsoutthebeatwhenit’stoofaraway.

           IsuddenlyrealizedIfeltgood.

           ItriedtothinkwhyIdid.BecausewewouldbeinafteracoupleofhoursandIcouldresign?

           No.WhenIhaddecidedtoresign,ithadindeedgivenmeameasureofpeace,quieteddownmyawfuljittersandletmegotosleep.Butthiswassomethingelse—andnoreasonforit,thatIcouldsee.

           ThenIknew.Ihadpassedmyhump!

           Iwasoverthe"hump"thatColonelDuboishadwrittenabout.Iactuallywalkedoveritandstarteddown,swingingeasily.Theprairiethroughtherewasflatasagriddlecake,butjustthesameIhadbeenploddingwearilyuphillallthewayoutandabouthalfwayback.Then,atsomepoint—Ithinkitwaswhileweweresinging—Ihadpassedthehumpanditwasalldownhill.MykitfeltlighterandIwasnolongerworried.

           Whenwegotin,Ididn’tspeaktoSergeantZim;Inolongerneededto.

           Insteadhespoketome,motionedmetohimaswefellout.

           "Yes,sir?"