Звездный десант

           "Thisisapersonalquestion..sodon’tansweritunlessyoufeellikeit!"Hestopped,andIwonderedifhesuspectedthatIhadoverheardhischewing-out,andshivered.

           "Atmailcalltoday,"hesaid,"yougotaletter.Inoticed—purelybyaccident,noneofmybusiness—thenameonthereturnaddress.It’safairlycommonname,someplaces,but—thisisthepersonalquestionyouneednotanswer—byanychancedoesthepersonwhowrotethatletterhavehislefthandoffatthewrist?"

           Iguessmychindropped."Howdidyouknow?Sir?"

           "Iwasnearbywhenithappened.ItisColonelDubois?Right?"

           "Yes,sir."Iadded,"HewasmyhighschoolinstructorinHistoryandMoralPhilosophy."

           IthinkthatwastheonlytimeIeverimpressedSergeantZim,evenfaintly.Hiseyebrowswentupaneighthofaninchandhiseyeswidenedslightly."So?Youwereextraordinarilyfortunate."Headded,"Whenyouanswerhisletter—ifyoudon’tmind—youmightsaythatShip’sSergeantZimsendshisrespects."

           "Yes,sir.Oh...Ithinkmaybehesentyouamessage,sir."

           "What?"

           "Uh,I’mnotcertain."Itookouttheletter,readjust:"‘—ifyoushouldhappentorunacrossanyofmyformermates,givethemmywarmestgreetings.’Isthatforyou,sir?"

           Zimponderedit,hiseyeslookingthroughme,somewhereelse."Eh?Yes,itis.Formeamongothers.Thanksverymuch."Thensuddenlyitwasoverandhesaidbriskly,"Nineminutestoparade.Andyoustillhavetoshowerandchange.Onthebounce,soldier."