Звездный десант

           Acestaredintohisglass,thensaid,"Everthoughtaboutgreasingforofficer?"

           Isaid,"Huh?Areyoucrazy?"

           "Nope.Look,Johnnie,thiswarmayrunonquiteapiece.Nomatterwhatpropagandatheyputoutforthefolksathome,youandIknowthattheBugsaren’treadytoquit.Sowhydon’tyouplanahead?Asthemansays,ifyou’vegottoplayintheband,it’sbettertowavethestickthantocarrythebigdrum."

           Iwasstartledbytheturnthetalkhadtaken,especiallyfromAce.

           "Howaboutyou?Areyouplanningtobuckforacommission?"

           "Me?"heanswered."Checkyourcircuits,son--you’regettingwronganswers.I’vegotnoeducationandI’mtenyearsolderthanyouare.Butyou’vegotenougheducationtohittheselectionexamsforO.C.S.andyou’vegottheI.Q.theylike.Iguaranteethatifyougocareer,you’llmakesergeantbeforeIdo...andgetpickedforO.C.S.thedayafter."

           "NowIknowyou’recrazy!"

           "Youlistentoyourpop.Ihatetotellyouthis,butyouarejuststupidandeagerandsincereenoughtomakethekindofofficerthatmenlovetofollowintosomesillypredicament.Butme—well,I’manaturalnon-com,withtheproperpessimisticattitudetooffsettheenthusiasmofthelikesofyou.SomedayI’llmakesergeant...