Звездный десант

           Areyouwillingtotakeaswingatbreakingthehoodoo?Turnthemintogoodluckpipsinstead?"

           Iwouldratherhavepettedashark.ButIanswered,"Allright,sir.I’lltakeaswingatit."

           "Good."Hepinnedthemonme."Thankyou,Mr.Rico.Yousee,theseweremine,Iworethemfirst...anditwouldpleasememightilytohavethembroughtbacktomewiththatstreakofbadluckbroken,haveyougoonandgraduate."

           Ifelttenfeettall."I’lltry,sir!"

           "Iknowyouwill.Youmaynowcarryoutyourorders,sir.ThesameaircarwilltakebothyouandByrd.Justamoment—Areyourmathematicstextbooksinyourbag?"

           "Sir?No,sir."

           "Getthem.TheWeightmasterofyourshiphasbeenadvisedofyourextrabaggageallowance."

           Isalutedandleft,onthebounce.Hehadmeshrunkdowntosizeassoonashementionedmath.

           Mymathbookswereonmystudydesk,tiedintoapackagewithadailyassignmentsheettuckedunderthecord.IgatheredtheimpressionthatColonelNielssenneverleftanythingunplanned—buteverybodyknewthat.

           Birdiewaswaitingontheroofbytheaircar.Heglancedatmybooksandgrinned."Toobad.Well,ifwe’reinthesameship,I’llcoachyou.Whatship?"

           "Tours."

           "Sorry,I’mfortheMoskva."Wegotin,Icheckedthepilot,sawthatithadbeenpre-setforthefield,closedthedoorandthecartookoff.