Звездный десант
Chapter 1
Butsplititbetweentwomenanditcanbedone.
Wejumped—andwejumped—andagain,andagain,withAcecallingitandbothofussteadyingandcatchingDizzyoneachgrounding.Hisgyrosseemedtobeout.
Weheardthebeaconcutoffastheretrievalboatlandedonit—Isawitland...anditwastoofaraway.Weheardtheactingplatoonsergeantcallout:"Insuccession,preparetoembark!"
AndJellycalledout,"Belaythatorder!"
Webrokeatlastintotheopenandsawtheboatstandingonitstail,heardtheululationofitstake-offwarning—sawtheplatoonstillonthegroundaroundit,ininterdictioncircle,crouchingbehindtheshieldtheyhadformed.
HeardJellyshout,"Insuccession,mantheboat—move!"
Andwewerestilltoofaraway!Icouldseethempeelofffromthefirstsquad,swarmintotheboatastheinterdictioncircletightened.
Andasinglefigurebrokeoutofthecircle,cametowardusataspeedpossibleonlytoacommandsuit.
Jellycaughtuswhilewewereintheair,grabbedFloresbyhisY-rackandhelpeduslift.
Threejumpsgotustotheboat.Everybodyelsewasinsidebutthedoorwasstillopen.Wegothiminandcloseditwhiletheboatpilotscreamedthatwehadmadehermissrendezvousandnowwehadallboughtit!Jellypaidnoattentiontoher;welaidFloresdownandlaydownbesidehim.AstheblasthitusJellywassayingtohimself,"Allpresent,Lieutenant.Threemenhurt—butallpresent!"
I’llsaythisforCaptainDeladrier:theydon’tmakeanybetterpilots
