Звездный десант

           Wewerebothyoung,intopcondition,highlytrained,andusedtoabsorbingpunishment.Acewasbigger,Iwasmaybeatouchfaster.Undersuchconditionsthemiserablebusinesssimplyhastogoonuntiloneortheotheristoobeatendowntocontinue—unlessaflukesettlesitsooner.Butneitheroneofuswasallowinganyflukes;wewereprofessionalsandwary.

           Soitdidgoon,foralong,tedious,painfultime.Detailswouldbetrivialandpointless;besides,Ihadnotimetotakenotes.

           AlongtimelaterIwaslyingonmybackandAcewasflippingwaterinmyface.Helookedatme,thenhauledmetomyfeet,shovedmeagainstabulkhead,steadiedme."Hitme!"

           "Huh?"Iwasdazedandseeingdouble.

           "Johnnie...hitme."

           Hisfacewasfloatingintheairinfrontofme;Izeroedinonitandsluggeditwithalltheforceinmybody,hardenoughtomashanymosquitoinpoorhealth.HiseyesclosedandheslumpedtothedeckandIhadtograbatastanchiontokeepfromfollowinghim.

           Hegotslowlyup."Okay,Johnnie,"hesaid,shakinghishead,"I’vehadmylesson.Youwon’thaveanymorelipoutofme...noroutofanybodyinthesection.Okay?"

           Inoddedandmyheadhurt.

           "Shake?"heasked.

           Weshookonit,andthathurt,too.

           Almostanybodyelseknewmoreabouthowthewarwasgoingthanwedid,eventhoughwewereinit.