Звездный десант
Chapter 10
Hisbodytemperaturereadninety-ninedegrees,hisrespiration,heartbeat,andbrainwavereadzero—whichlookedbadbutmaybehissuitwasdeadratherthanhehimself.OrsoItoldmyself,forgettingthatthetemperatureindicatorwouldgivenoreadingifitwerethesuitratherthantheman.Anyhow,Igrabbedthecan-openerwrenchfrommyownbeltandstartedtotakehimoutofhissuitwhiletryingtowatchallaroundme.
ThenIheardanallhandscallinmyhelmetthatIneverwanttohearagain."Sauvequipeut!Home!Home!Pickupandhome!Anybeaconyoucanhear.Sixminutes!Allhands,saveyourselves,pickupyourmates.Homeonanybeacon!Sauvequi—"
Ihurried.
HisheadcameoffasItriedtodraghimoutofhissuit,soIdropped
himandgotoutofthere.OnalaterdropIwouldhavehadsenseenoughtosalvagehisammo,butIwasfartoosluggytothink;Isimplybouncedawayfromthereandtriedtorendezvouswiththestrongpointwehadbeenheadingfor.
ItwasalreadyevacuatedandIfeltlost...lostanddeserted.ThenIheardrecall,nottherecallitshouldhavebeen"YankeeDoodle"(ifithadbeenaboatfromtheValleyForge)--but"SugarBush,"atuneIdidn’tknow.Nomatter,itwasabeacon;Iheadedforit,usingthelastofmyjumpjuicelavishly—gotaboardjustastheywereabouttobuttonupandshortlythereafterwasintheVoortrek,insuchastateofshockthatIcouldn’tremembermyserialnumber.
