Звездный десант
Chapter 7
InsteadIcussedtomyself—Ihadn’tthoughtthattheywouldmakemeacasualtywhenIwassupposedtobeleadingtheproblem.Shucksandothercomments.
IshouldhaveknownthatSergeantZimwouldbemonitoringthesectionleader.
Hebouncedovertome,spoketomeprivatelyonthefacetoface.HesuggestedthatImightbeabletogetajobsweepingfloorssinceIwastoostupid,clumsy,andcarelesstohandledirtydishes.HediscussedmypastandprobablefutureandseveralotherthingsthatIdidnotwanttohearabout.Heendedbysayingtonelessly,"HowwouldyouliketohaveColonelDuboisseewhatyou’vedone?"
Thenheleftme.Iwaitedthere,crouchedover,fortwohoursuntilthedrillwasover.Thesuit,whichhadbeenfeather-light,realseven-leagueboots,feltlikeanIronMaiden.Atlasthereturnedforme,restoredpower,andwebouncedtogetherattopspeedtoBHQ.
CaptainFrankelsaidlessbutitcutmore.
Thenhepausedandaddedinthatflatvoiceofficersusewhenquotingregulations:"Youmaydemandtrialbycourt-martialifsuchbeyourchoice.Howsayyou?"
Igulpedandsaid,"No,sir!"UntilthatmomentIhadn’tfullyrealizedjusthowmuchtroubleIwasin.
CaptainFrankelseemedtorelaxslightly."Thenwe’llseewhattheRegimentalCommanderhastosay.Sergeant,escorttheprisoner."WewalkedrapidlyovertoRHQandforthefirsttimeImettheRegimentalCommanderfacetoface—andbythenIwassurethatIwasgoingtocatchacourtnomatterwhat.
