Звездный десант

           Istillgottheshakeseverydrop,butactualdropsdidn’thappentoooftennorwereweeverdownlong—andbetweentimesthereweredaysanddaysofshipboardlifeamongtheRoughnecks.

           ItwasthehappiestperiodofmylifealthoughIwasneverquiteconsciouslyawareofit—Ididmyfullshareofbeefingjustaseverybodyelsedid,andenjoyedthat,too.

           Weweren’treallyhurtuntiltheLieutenantboughtit.

           Iguessthatwastheworsttimeinallmylife.Iwasalreadyinbadshapeforapersonalreason:MymotherhadbeeninBuenosAireswhentheBugssmearedit.

           IfoundoutaboutitonetimewhenweputinatSanctuaryformorecapsulesandsomemailcaughtupwithusanotefrommyAuntEleanora,onethathadnotbeencodedandsentfastbecauseshehadfailedtomarkforthat;theletteritselfcame.Itwasaboutthreebitterlines.Somehowsheseemedtoblamemeformymother’sdeath.WhetheritwasmyfaultbecauseIwasintheArmedServicesandshouldhavethereforepreventedtheraid,orwhethershefeltthatmymotherhadmadeatriptoBuenosAiresbecauseIwasn’thomewhereIshouldhavebeen,wasnotquiteclear;shemanagedtoimplybothinthesamesentence.

           Itoreitupandtriedtowalkawayfromit.Ithoughtthatbothmyparentsweredead—sinceFatherwouldneversendMotheronatripthatlongbyherself.AuntEleanorahadnotsaidso,butshewouldn’thavementionedFatherinanycase;herdevotionwasentirelytohersister.