Звездный десант

           "Thetroopers’messwasexcellent;Iinitialedmenusandsometimesinspectedthegalley,i.e.,Iscroungedasandwichwithoutgettingoutofdungareeswhenworkinglateinthearmory.Correspondencecoursesmeantalotofpaperworksincequiteafewwerecontinuingtheireducations,warornowar--butIdelegatedmyplatoonsergeantandtherecordswerekeptbythePFCwhowashisclerk.

           Nevertheless"George"jobssoakedupabouttwohourseveryday—thereweresomany.

           Youseewherethisleftme—tenhoursO&A,threehoursmath,mealsanhourandahalf,personalonehour,militaryfiddleworkonehour,"George"twohours,sleepeighthourstotal,twenty-sixandahalfhours.Theshipwasn’tevenonthetwenty-five-hourSanctuaryday;onceweleftwewentonGreenwichstandardandtheuniversalcalendar.

           Theonlyslackwasinmysleepingtime.

           Iwassittinginthecardroomaboutoneo’clockonemorning,pluggingawayatmath,whenCaptainBlackstonecamein.Isaid,"Goodevening,Captain."

           "Morning,youmean.Whatthedeuceailsyou,son?Insomnia?"

           "Uh,notexactly."

           Hepickedupastackofsheets,remarking,"Can’tyoursergeanthandleyourpaperwork?Oh,Isee.Gotobed."

           "But,Captain—"

           "Sitbackdown.Johnnie,I’vebeenmeaningtotalktoyou.Ineverseeyouhereinthecardroom,evenings.Iwalkpastyourroom,you’reatyourdesk.