Звездный десант

           Seetheregs."

           Iknewtheregs.IfIflunkedmath,I’dreverttobucksergeant,whichisbetterthanbeingslappedinthefacewithawetfishanywayyouthinkaboutit...andI’dthoughtaboutit,lyingawakenightsafterbustingaquiz.

           Butthiswasdifferent."Holdit,"Iprotested."Hegaveupfirstlieutenant,permanentgrade...andhasjustmadetemporarythirdlieutenant...inordertobecomeasecondlieutenant?Areyoucrazy?Orishe?"

           Birdiegrinned."JustenoughtomakeusbothM.I."

           "But—Idon’tgetit."

           "Sureyoudo.TheAssassinhasnoeducationthathedidn’tpickupintheM.I.Sohowhighcanhego?I’msurehecouldcommandaregimentinbattleanddoarealswingin’jobprovidedsomebodyelseplannedtheoperation.Butcommandinginbattleisonlyafractionofwhatanofficerdoes,especiallyaseniorofficer.Todirectawar,oreventoplanasinglebattleandmounttheoperation,youhavetohavetheoryofgames,operationalanalysis,symboliclogic,pessimisticsynthesis,andadozenotherskullsubjects.Youcansweatthemoutonyourownifyou’vegotthegrounding.Buthavethemyoumust,oryou’llnevergetpastcaptain,orpossiblymajor.TheAssassinknowswhatheisdoing."

           "Isupposeso,"Isaidslowly."Birdie,ColonelNielssenmustknowthatHassanwasanofficer—isanofficer,really."

           "Huh?Ofcourse."

           "Hedidn’ttalkasifheknew.Weallgotthesamelecture