Звездный десант
Chapter 13
Sure,youwanttoworkonit.Butwhyworksohardbeforewegointoaction?"
"Well,Ithought—"
"‘Think’iswhatyoudidn’tdo.Therearefourpossibilities,andonlyonecallsforfinishingtheseassignments.First,youmightbuyafarm.Second,youmightbuyasmallpieceandberetiredwithanhonorarycommission.Third,youmightcomethroughallright...butgetadowncheckonyourFormThirty-Onefromyourexaminer,namelyme.Whichisjustwhatyou’reachingforatthepresenttime—why,son,Iwon’tevenletyoudropifyoushowupwitheyesredfromnosleepandmusclesflabbyfromtoomuchchairparade.Thefourthpossibilityisthatyoutakeagriponyourself...inwhichcaseImightletyoutakeaswingatleadingaplatoon.Solet’sassumethatyoudoandputonthefinestshowsinceAchillesslewHectorandIpassyou.Inthatcaseonly--you’llneedtofinishthesemathassignments.Sodothemonthetripback.
"Thattakescareofthat—I’lltelltheSkipper.Therestofthosejobsyouarerelievedof,rightnow.Onourwayhomeyoucanspendyourtimeonmath.Ifwegethome.Butyou’llnevergetanywhereifyoudon’tlearntokeepfirstthingsfirst.Gotobed!"
Aweeklaterwemaderendezvous,comingoutofdriveandcoastingshortofthespeedoflightwhilethefleetexchangedsignals.WeweresentBriefing,BattlePlan,ourMission&Orders—astackofwordsaslongasanovel—andweretoldnottodrop.
