Звездный десант
Chapter 1
AndfoundthatIwasonthewrongsideoftheriver;Jelly’sstarshoweduponthecompassringinsidemyhelmetfarsouthofwhereitshouldhavebeen—Iwastoofarnorth.ItrottedtowardtheriversideoftheroofasItookarangeandbearingonthesquadleadernexttome,foundthathewasoveramileoutofposition,called,"Ace!dressyourline,"tossedabombbehindmeasIsteppedoffthebuildingandacrosstheriver.AceansweredasIcouldhaveexpected—Aceshouldhavehadmyspotbuthedidn’twanttogiveuphissquad;neverthelesshedidn’tfancytakingordersfromme.
ThewarehousewentupbehindmeandtheblasthitmewhileIwasstillovertheriver,insteadofbeingshieldedbythebuildingsonthefarsideasIshouldhavebeen.ItdarnneartumbledmygyrosandIcameclosetotumblingmyself.Ihadsetthatbombforfifteenseconds...orhadI?IsuddenlyrealizedthatIhadletmyselfgetexcited,theworstthingyoucandoonceyou’reontheground."Justlikeadrill,"thatwastheway,justasJellyhadwarnedme.Takeyourtimeanddoitright,evenifittakesanotherhalfsecond.
AsIhitItookanotherreadingonAceandtoldhimagaintorealignhissquad.Hedidn’tanswerbuthewasalreadydoingit.Iletitride.AslongasAcedidhisjob,Icouldaffordtoswallowhissurliness—fornow.Butbackaboardship(ifJellykeptmeonasassistantsectionleader)wewouldeventuallyhavetopickaquietspotandfindoutwhowasboss.
