Звездный десант

           Butthesameoldlumps,Iunderstand.Onlytheyrushyouthroughtwomonthsfaster,youdon’tgetSundaysoff.ThenIrequestedtheRodgerYoung--anddidn’tgetit--andwoundupinMcSlattery’sVolunteers.Agoodoutfit."

           "Yes,Iknow."Theyhadhadareputationforbeingrough,tough,andnasty—almostasgoodastheRoughnecks.

           "Ishouldsaythatitwasagoodoutfit.ImadeseveraldropswiththemandsomeoftheboysboughtitandafterawhileIgotthese."Heglancedathischevrons."IwasacorporalwhenwedroppedonSheol—"

           "Youwerethere?SowasI!"WithasuddenwarmfloodofemotionIfeltclosertomyfatherthanIeverhadbeforeinmylife.

           "Iknow.AtleastIknewyouroutfitwasthere.Iwasaroundfiftymilesnorthofyou,nearasIcanguess.Wesoakedupthatcounterattackwhentheycameboilingupoutofthegroundlikebatsoutofacave."Fathershrugged."SowhenitwasoverIwasacorporalwithoutanoutfit,notenoughofuslefttomakeahealthycadre.Sotheysentmehere.IcouldhavegonewithKing’sKodiakBears,butIhadawordwiththeplacementsergeant—and,sureassunrise,theRodgerYoungcamebackwithabilletforacorporal.SohereIam."

           "Andwhendidyoujoinup?"IrealizedthatitwasthewrongremarkassoonasIhadmadeit—butIhadtogetthesubjectawayfromMcSlattery’sVolunteers;anorphanfromadeadoutfitwantstoforgetit.

           Fathersaidquietly,"ShortlyafterBuenosAires.