Звездный десант

           Jellycouldsay"No"inhisownpersonanditmightbesubjecttofurtherargument,atleastfromjuniorsergeants,butifhesaid,"TheLieutenantwouldn’tlikeit,"hewasspeakingexcathedraandthematterwasdroppedpermanently.NobodyevertriedtocheckuponwhetherornottheLieutenantwouldorwouldnotlikeit;theWordhadbeenspoken.

           TheLieutenantwasfathertousandlovedusandspoiledusandwasneverthelessratherremotefromusaboardship—andevendirtside...unlesswereacheddirtviaadrop.Butinadropwell,youwouldn’tthinkthatanofficercouldworryabouteverymanofaplatoonspreadoverahundredsquaremilesofterrain.Buthecan.Hecanworryhimselfsickovereachoneofthem.HowhecouldkeeptrackofusallIcan’tdescribe,butinthemidstofaruckushisvoicewouldsingoutoverthecommandcircuit:

           "Johnson!Checksquadsix!Smitty’sintrouble,"anditwasbetterthanevenmoneythattheLieutenanthadnoticeditbeforeSmith’ssquadleader.

           Besidesthat,youknewwithutterandabsolutecertaintythat,aslongasyouwerestillalive,theLieutenantwouldnotgetintotheretrievalboatwithoutyou.TherehavebeenprisonerstakenintheBugWar,butnonefromRasczak’sRoughnecks.

           Jellywasmothertousandwasclosetousandtookcareofusanddidn’tspoilusatall.Buthedidn’treportustotheLieutenant—therewasneveracourt-martialamongtheRoughnecksandnomanwaseverflogged.