Звездный десант

           Whenyourbunkiegoestobed,youmoveouthere.What’sthetrouble?"

           "Well...Ijustneverseemtogetcaughtup."

           "Nobodyeverdoes.How’stheworkgoinginthearmory?"

           "Prettywell.Ithinkwe’llmakeit."

           "Ithinkso,too.Look,son,you’vegottokeepasenseofproportion.Youhavetwoprimeduties.Firstistoseethatyourplatoon’sequipmentisready--you’redoingthat.Youdon’thavetoworryabouttheplatoonitself,Itoldyouthat.Thesecond--andjustasimportant—you’vegottobereadytofight.You’remuffingthat."

           "I’llbeready,Captain."

           "Nonsenseandothercomments.You’regettingnoexerciseandlosingsleep.Isthathowtotrainforadrop?Whenyouleadaplatoon,son,you’vegottobeonthebounce.Fromhereonyouwillexercisefromsixteen-thirtytoeighteenhundredeachday.Youwillbeinyoursackwithlightsoutattwenty-threehundred—andifyoulieawakefifteenminutestwonightsinarow,youwillreporttotheSurgeonfortreatment.Orders."

           "Yes,sir."Ifeltthebulkheadsclosinginonmeandaddeddesperately,"Captain,Idon’tseehowIcangettobedbytwenty-three—andstillgeteverythingdone."

           "Thenyouwon’t.AsIsaid,son,youmusthaveasenseofproportion.Tellmehowyouspendyourtime."

           SoIdid.Henodded."JustasIthought."Hepickedupmymath"homework,"tosseditinfrontofme."Takethis.