Звездный десант
Chapter 9
Butthatrockwalliseventougherwithoutasuit,tackledwithlinesandpitons.Ididn’treallyseewhatusealpinedrillwastoacaptrooperbutIhadlearnedtokeepmymouthshutandtrytolearnwhattheyshovedatus.Ilearneditanditwasn’ttoohard.Ifanybodyhadtoldme,ayearearlier,thatIcouldgoupasolidchunkofrock,asflatandasperpendicularasablankwallofabuilding,usingonlyahammer,somesillylittlesteelpins,andachunkofclothesline,Iwouldhavelaughedinhisface;I’masea-leveltype.Correction:Iwasasea-leveltype.Therehadbeensomechangesmade.
JusthowmuchIhadchangedIbegantofindout.AtCampSergeantSpookySmithwehadliberty-togototown,Imean.Oh,wehad"liberty"afterthefirstmonthatCampCurrie,too.Thismeantthat,onaSundayafternoon,ifyouweren’tinthedutyplatoon,youcouldcheckoutattheorderlytentandwalkjustasfarawayfromcampasyouwished,bearinginmindthatyouhadtobebackforeveningmuster.Buttherewasnothingwithinwalkingdistance,ifyoudon’tcountjackrabbits—nogirls,notheaters,nodancehalls,etcetera.
Nevertheless,liberty,evenatCampCurrie,wasnomeanprivilege;sometimesitcanbeveryimportantindeedtobeabletogosofarawaythatyoucan’tseeatent,asergeant,noreventheuglyfacesofyourbestfriendsamongtheboots...nothavetobeonthebounceaboutanything,havetimetotakeoutyoursoulandlookatit.
