Звездный десант

           "Isthismapreliable?"

           Theengineerofficerglancedatthesenser,thensaidveryquietlytome,"Ofcourseitis,youidiot!Whatareyoutryingtodo?Upsethim?"

           TheyleftwhileIwasstudyingit.Theartist-engineerhaddonedoublesketchingandtheboxhadcombinedthemintoastereopictureofthefirstthousandfeetunderthesurface.IwassobemusedbyitthatIhadtoberemindedtotaketheplatoonoutof"freeze"—thenIwithdrewthegroundlistenersfromthecrater,pulledtwomenfromeachsquadandgavethembearingsfromthatinfernalmaptohavethemlistenalongtheBughighwayandoverthetown.

           IreportedittoBlackie.HecutmeoffasIstartedtodescribetheBugtunnelsbyco-ordinates."MajorLandryrelayedafacsimiletome.Justgivemeco-ordinatesofyourlisteningposts."

           Ididso.Hesaid,"Notbad,Johnnie.ButnotquitewhatIwant,either.You’veplacedmorelistenersthanyouneedovertheirmappedtunnels.StringfourofthemalongthatBugracetrack,placefourmoreinadiamondaroundtheirtown.Thatleavesyoufour.Placeoneinthetriangleformedbyyourrightrearcornerandthemaintunnel;theotherthreegointhelargerareaontheothersideofthetunnel."

           "Yes,sir."Iadded,"Captain,canwedependonthismap?"

           "What’stroublingyou?"

           "Well...itseemslikemagic.Uh,blackmagic."

           "Oh.Look,son,I’vegotaspecialmessagefromtheSkyMarshaltoyou.