Звездный десант

           "Let’shitdirt,"hepersisted.

           "Nodinero."Ihadhadadatethenightbeforewithachemist(female,ofcourse,andcharminglyso)fromtheResearchStation.ShehadknownCarlonPlutoandCarlhadwrittentometolookherupifIevergottoSanctuary.Shewasaslenderredhead,withexpensivetastes.ApparentlyCarlhadintimatedtoherthatIhadmoremoneythanwasgoodforme,forshedecidedthatthenightbeforewasjustthetimeforhertogetacquaintedwiththelocalchampagne.Ididn’tletCarldownbyadmittingthatallIhadwasatrooper’shonorarium;IboughtitforherwhileIdrankwhattheysaidwas(butwasn’t)freshpineapplesquash.TheresultwasthatIhadtowalkhome,afterwards—thecabsaren’tfree.Still,ithadbeenworthit.Afterall,whatismoney?--I’mspeakingofBugmoney,ofcourse.

           "Noache,"Aceanswered."Icanjuiceyou--Igotluckylastnight.RanintoaNavyfilewhodidn’tknowpercentages."

           SoIgotupandshavedandshoweredandwehitthechowlineforhalfadozenshelleggsandsundriessuchaspotatoesandhamandhotcakesandsoforthandthenwehitdirttogetsomethingtoeat.ThewalkupChurchillRoadwashotandAcedecidedtostopinacantina.Iwentalongtoseeiftheirpineapplesquashwasreal.Itwasn’t,butitwascold.Youcan’thaveeverything.

           WetalkedaboutthisandthatandAceorderedanotherround.Itriedtheirstrawberrysquash—samedeal.