Звездный десант

           TheywereallthefamilyIhadleft;theywerethebrothersIhadneverhad,closerthanCarlhadeverbeen.IfIleftthem,I’dbelost.

           Sowhyshouldn’tIgocareer?

           Allright,allright--buthowaboutthisnonsenseofgreasingforacommission?Thatwassomethingelseagain.Icouldseemyselfputtingintwentyyearsandthentakingiteasy,thewayAcehaddescribed,withribbonsonmychestandcarpetslippersonmyfeet...oreveningsdownattheVeteransHall,rehashingoldtimeswithotherswhobelonged.ButO.C.S.?IcouldhearAlJenkins,inoneofthebullsessionswehadaboutsuchthings:"I’maprivate!I’mgoingtostayaprivate!Whenyou’reaprivatetheydon’texpectanythingofyou.Whowantstobeanofficer?Orevenasergeant?You’rebreathingthesameair,aren’tyou?Eatingthesamefood.Goingthesameplaces,makingthesamedrops.Butnoworries."

           Alhadapoint.Whathadchevronsevergottenme?--asidefromlumps.

           NeverthelessIknewIwouldtakesergeantifitwaseverofferedtome.

           Youdon’trefuse,acaptrooperdoesn’trefuseanything;hestepsupandtakesaswingatit.Commission,too,Isupposed.

           Notthatitwouldhappen.WhowasItothinkthatIcouldeverbewhatLieutenantRasczakhadbeen?

           Mywalkhadtakenmeclosetothecandidates’school,thoughIdon’tbelieveIintendedtocomethatway