Звездный десант

           "Twoofmyfiverecruitswereinthatfirstsquad—andrecruitsarelikepuppies;theysticktheirnosesintothings.

           "TellNaidithatIaminterestedintwothings:movementinsidethecrater...andnoisesinthegroundaroundit."Wewouldn’tsendtroopersoutthroughaholesoradioactivethatmereexitwouldkillthem.ButBugswould,iftheycouldreachusthatway."HaveNaidireporttome.Toyouandme.Imean."

           "Yes,sir."Myplatoonsergeantadded,"MayImakeasuggestion?"

           "Ofcourse.Anddon’tstoptoaskpermissionnexttime."

           "Navarrecanhandletherestofthefirstsection.SergeantCunhacouldtakethesquadatthecraterandleaveNaidifreetosupervisetheground-listeningwatch."

           Iknowwhathewasthinking.Naidi,sonewlyacorporalthathehadneverbeforehadasquadontheground,washardlythemantocoverwhatlookedliketheworstdangerpointinSquareBlackOne;hewantedtopullNaidibackforthesamereasonsIhadpulledtherecruitsback.

           IwonderifheknewwhatIwasthinking?That"nut-cracker"--hewasusingthesuithehadwornasBlackie’sbattalionstaffer,hehadonemorecircuitthanIhad,aprivateonetoCaptainBlackstone.

           Blackiewasprobablypatchedinandlisteningviathatextracircuit.Obviouslymyplatoonsergeantdidnotagreewithmydispositionoftheplatoon.IfIdidn’ttakehisadvice,thenextthingIheardmightbeBlackie’svoicecuttingin:"Sergeant,takecharge.