Звездный десант

           "

           Ididn’thavetoaskwhathemeant.Casualties.TherewerealwaysvacanciesintheT.O.;youcouldn’tgetenoughtrainedsoldierstofillthem.InsteadIsaid,"Uh...but,Father,you’re—Well,Imean,aren’tyousortofoldtobesoldiering?ImeantheNavy,orLogistics,or—"

           "IwantedtheM.I.andIgotit!"hesaidemphatically."AndI’mnoolderthanmanysergeants--notasold,infact.Son,themerefactthatIamtwenty-twoyearsolderthanyouaredoesn’tputmeinawheelchair.Andagehasitsadvantages,too."

           Well,therewassomethinginthat.IrecalledhowSergeantZimhadalwaystriedtheoldermenfirst,whenhewasdealingoutbootchevrons.AndFatherwouldneverhavegoofedinBasicthewayIhad—nolashesforhim.Hewasprobablyspottedasnon-commaterialbeforeheeverfinishedBasic.TheArmyneedsalotofreallygrown-upmeninthemiddlegrades;it’sapaternalisticorganization.

           Ididn’thavetoaskhimwhyhehadwantedM.I.,norwhyorhowhehadwoundupinmyship—Ijustfeltwarmaboutit,more‘flatteredbyitthananypraisehehadevergivenmeinwords.AndIdidn’twanttoaskhimwhyhehadjoinedup;IfeltthatIknew.Mother.Neitherofushadmentionedher—toopainful.

           SoIchangedthesubjectabruptly."Bringmeuptodate.Tellmewhereyou’vebeenandwhatyou’vedone."

           "Well,ItrainedatCampSanMartin—"

           "Huh?NotCurrie?"

           "Newone.