Звездный десант

           "

           "Preposterous!"

           "Sir?"

           "Isthewordtoolongforyou?Isaiditwasasillynotion.Servicemenarenotbrighterthancivilians.Inmanycasesciviliansaremuchmoreintelligent.Thatwasthesliverofjustificationunderlyingtheattemptedcoupd’etatjustbeforetheTreatyofNewDelhi,theso-called‘RevoltoftheScientists’:lettheintelligenteliterunthingsandyou’llhaveutopia.Itfellflatonitsfoolishfaceofcourse.Becausethepursuitofscience,despiteitssocialbenefits,isitselfnotasocialvirtue;itspractitionerscanbemensoself-centeredastobelackinginsocialresponsibility.I’vegivenyouahint,Mister;canyoupickitup?"

           Sallyanswered,"Uh,servicemenaredisciplined,sir."

           MajorReidwasgentlewithhim."Sorry.Anappealingtheorynotbacked

           upbyfacts.YouandIarenotpermittedtovoteaslongasweremainintheService,norisitverifiablethatmilitarydisciplinemakesamanself-disciplinedonceheisout;thecrimerateofveteransismuchlikethatofcivilians.Andyouhaveforgottenthatinpeacetimemostveteranscomefromnon-combatantauxiliaryservicesandhavenotbeensubjectedtothefullrigorsofmilitarydiscipline;theyhavemerelybeenharried,overworked,andendangered—yettheirvotescount."

           MajorReidsmiled."Mr.Salomon,Ihandedyouatrickquestion.