Звездный десант
Chapter 10
AllIeverhadwasagraduallydawningrealizationthatthingswereinamess.
Thenexteighteenhourswerenightmare.Ishan’ttellmuchaboutitbecauseIdon’tremembermuch,justsnatches,stop-motionscenesofhorror.Ihaveneverlikedspiders,poisonousorotherwise;acommonhousespiderinmybedcangivemethecreeps.Tarantulasaresimplyunthinkable,andIcan’teatlobster,crab,oranythingofthatsort.WhenIgotmyfirstsightofaBug,mymindjumpedrightoutofmyskullandstartedtoyammer.ItwassecondslaterthatIrealizedthatIhadkilleditandcouldstopshooting.Isupposeitwasaworker;IdoubtifIwasinanyshapetotackleawarriorandwin.
But,atthat,IwasinbettershapethanwastheK-9Corps.Theyweretobedropped(ifthedrophadgoneperfectly)ontheperipheryofourentiretargetandtheneodogsweresupposedtorangeoutwardandprovidetacticalintelligencetointerdictionsquadswhosebusinessitwastosecuretheperiphery.ThoseCalebsaren’tarmed,ofcourse,otherthantheirteeth.Aneodogissupposedtohear,see,andsmellandtellhispartnerwhathefindsbyradio;allhecarriesisaradioandadestructionbombwithwhichhe(orhispartner)canblowthedogupincaseofbadwoundsorcapture.
Thosepoordogsdidn’twaittobecaptured;apparentlymostofthemsuicidedassoonastheymadecontact.TheyfeltthewayIdoabouttheBugs,onlyworse.
