Звездный десант
Chapter 12
Igavehimanicechunkofstock—youknowtheoldsayingaboutthekingthattreadthegrain—andtherestIsplittwoways,inatrust:halftotheDaughtersofCharity,halftoyouwheneveryouwanttogobackandtakeit.Ifyoudo.Nevermind.Ihadatlastfoundoutwhatwaswrongwithme."Hestopped,thensaidverysoftly,"Ihadtoperformanactoffaith.IhadtoprovetomyselfthatIwasaman.Notjustaproducing-consumingeconomicanimal...butaman."
Atthatmoment,beforeIcouldansweranything,thewallspeakersaroundussang:"—shinesthename,shinesthenameofRodgerYoung!"andagirl’svoiceadded,"PersonnelforF.C.T.RodgerYoung,standtoboat.BerthH.Nineminutes."
Fatherbouncedtohisfeet,grabbedhiskitroll."That’smine!Takecareofyourself,Son--andhitthoseexams.Oryou’llfindyou’restillnottoobigtopaddle."
"Iwill,Father."
Heembracedmehastily."Seeyouwhenwegetback!"Andhewasgone,onthebounce.
IntheCommandant’souterofficeIreportedtoafleetsergeantwholookedremarkablylikeSergeantHo,eventolackinganarm.However,helackedSergeantHo’ssmileaswell.Isaid,"CareerSergeantJuanRico,toreporttotheCommandantpursuanttoorders."
Heglancedattheclock."Yourboatwasdownseventy-threeminutesago.Well?"
SoItoldhim.Hepulledhislipandlookedatmemeditatively."I’veheardeveryexcuseinthebook.
