Звездный десант
Chapter 11
Thereareotheropportunitiesforrecreationthere,too.IrememberwithparticularpleasureoneeveningwhenatableofRoughnecksgotintoafriendlydiscussionwithagroupofNavymen(notfromtheRodgerYoung)seatedatthenexttable.Thedebatewasspirited,abitnoisy,andsomeBasepolicecameinandbrokeitupwithstungunsjustaswewerewarmingtoourrebuttal.Nothingcameofit,exceptthatwehadtopayforthefurniture—theBaseCommandanttakesthepositionthatamanonR&Rshouldbeallowedalittlefreedomaslongashedoesn’tpickoneofthe"thirty-onecrashlandings."
Theaccommodationbarracksareallright,too--notfancy,butcomfortableandthechowlineworkstwenty-fivehoursadaywithciviliansdoingallthework.Noreveille,notaps,you’reactuallyonleaveandyoudon’thavetogotothebarracksatall.Idid,however,asitseemeddownrightpreposteroustospendmoneyonhotelswhentherewasaclean,softsackfreeandsomanybetterwaystospendaccumulatedpay.Thatextrahourineachdaywasnice,too,asitmeantninehourssolidandthedaystilluntouched—IcaughtupsacktimeclearbacktoOperationBughouse.
Itmightaswellhavebeenahotel;AceandIhadaroomalltoourselvesinvisitingnon-comquarters.Onemorning,whenR&Rwasregrettablydrawingtoaclose,IwasjustturningoveraboutlocalnoonwhenAceshookmybed."Onthebounce,soldier!TheBugsareattacking."
ItoldhimwhattodowiththeBugs.
