Звездный десант

           IheardJellyorder:"Headsup,lads!Closetoretrievalcircleandinterdict!Onthebounce!"

           AndIheardthebeacon’ssweetvoice:"—totheeverlastinggloryoftheinfantry,shinesthename,shinesthenameofRodgerYoung!"andIwantedtoheadforitsobadIcouldtasteit.

           InsteadIwasheadedtheotherway,closingonAce’sbeaconandexpendingwhatIhadleftofbombsandfirepillsandanythingelsethatwouldweighmedown."Ace!Yougothisbeacon?"

           "Yes.Goback,Useless!"

           "I’vegotyoubyeyenow.Whereishe?"

           "Rightaheadofme,maybequartermile.Scram!He’smyman."

           Ididn’tanswer;IsimplycutleftobliquetoreachAceaboutwherehesaidDizzywas.

           AndfoundAcestandingoverhim,acoupleofskinniesflameddownandmorerunningaway.Ilitbesidehim."Let’sgethimoutofhisarmor—theboat’llbedownanysecond!"

           "He’stoobadhurt!"

           Ilookedandsawthatitwastrue—therewasactuallyaholeinhisarmorandbloodcomingout.AndIwasstumped.Tomakeawoundedpickupyougethimoutofhisarmor...thenyousimplypickhimupinyourarms—notroubleinapoweredsuit—andbounceawayfromthere.Abaremanweighslessthantheammoandstuffyou’veexpended."What’llwedo?"

           "Wecarryhim,"Acesaidgrimly."Grabaholdtheleftsideofhisbelt."Hegrabbedtherightside,wemanhandledFlorestohisfeet."Lockon!Now...bythenumbers,standbytojump—one—two!"

           Wejumped.Notfar,notwell.Onemanalonecouldn’thavegottenhimofftheground;anarmoredsuitistooheavy.