Звездный десант
Chapter 1
Hestoppedbythemaninfrontofme,pressedthebuttononhisbeltthatgavereadingsonhisphysicals."Fallout!"
"But,Sarge,it’sjustacold.TheSurgeonsaid—"
Jellyinterrupted."‘ButSarge!’"hesnapped."TheSurgeonain’tmakingnodrop—andneitherareyou,withadegreeandahalfoffever.YouthinkIgottimetochatwithyou,justbeforeadrop?Fallout!"
Jenkinsleftus,lookingsadandmad—andIfeltbad,too.BecauseoftheLieutenantbuyingit,lastdrop,andpeoplemovingup,Iwasassistantsectionleader,secondsection,thisdrop,andnowIwasgoingtohaveaholeinmysectionandnowaytofillit.That’snotgood;itmeansamancanrunintosomethingsticky,callforhelpandhavenobodytohelphim.
Jellydidn’tdowncheckanybodyelse.Presentlyhesteppedoutinfrontofus,lookedusoverandshookhisheadsadly."Whatagangofapes!"hegrowled."Maybeifyou’dallbuyitthisdrop,theycouldstartoverandbuildthekindofoutfittheLieutenantexpectedyoutobe.Butprobablynot—withthesortofrecruitswegetthesedays."Hesuddenlystraightenedup,shouted,"Ijustwanttoremindyouapesthateachandeveryoneofyouhascostthegov’ment,countingweapons,armor,ammo,instrumentation,andtraining,everything,includingthewayyouovereat—hascost,onthehoof,better’nhalfamillion.Addinthethirtycentsyouareactuallyworthandthatrunstoquiteasum."Heglaredatus."Sobringitback!Wecanspareyou,butwecan’tsparethatfancysuityou’rewearing.
