Звездный десант

           Ofallthewaystohavethingsroll!"Look,Father,Iknowtheboatschedule.Youcan’tgoaboardforatleastanhourandabit.Thatboatisnotonafastretrieve;she’llmakeaminimum-fuelrendezvouswhentheRogcompletesthispass—ifthepilotdoesn’thavetowaitoverforthenextpassafterthat;they’vegottoloadfirst."

           Hesaiddubiously,"Myordersreadtoreportatoncetothepilotofthefirstavailableship’sboat."

           "Father,Father!Doyouhavetobesoconfoundedregulation?Thegirlwho’spushingthatheapwon’tcarewhetheryouboardtheboatnow,orjustastheybuttonup.Anyhowthey’llplaytheship’srecalloverthespeakersinheretenminutesbeforeboostandannounceit.Youcan’tmissit."

           Heletmeleadhimovertoanemptycorner.Aswesatdownheadded,"Willyoubegoingupinthesameboat,Juan?Orlater?"

           "Uh—"Ishowedhimmyorders;itseemedthesimplestwaytobreakthenews.Shipsthatpassinthenight,liketheEvangelinestory—cripes,whatawayforthingstobreak!

           HereadthemandgottearsinhiseyesandIsaidhastily,"Look,Father,I’mgoingtotrytocomeback—Iwouldn’twantanyotheroutfitthantheRoughnecks.Andwithyouinthem...oh,Iknowit’sdisappointingbut—"

           "It’snotdisappointment,Juan."

           "Huh?"

           "It’spride.Myboyisgoingtobeanofficer.