Звездный десант

           AssoonaseachsectionreporteditslisteningpostsinoperationIclickedtothewidecircuit:"Oddnumbers!Liedown,preparetosleep...one...two...three...four...five—sleep!"

           Asuitisnotabed,butitwilldo.Onegoodthingabouthypnopreparationforcombatisthat,intheunlikelyeventofachancetorest,amancanbeputtosleepinstantlybyposthypnoticcommandtriggeredbysomeonewhoisnotahypnotist—andawakenedjustasinstantly,alertandreadytofight.Itisalife-saver,becauseamancangetsoexhaustedInbattlethatheshootsatthingsthataren’tthereandcan’tseewhatheshouldbefighting.

           ButIhadnointentionofsleeping.IhadnotbeentoldtoandIhadnotasked.TheverythoughtofsleepingwhenIknewthatperhapsmanythousandsofBugswereonlyafewhundredfeetawaymademystomachjump.Maybethatsenserwasinfallible,perhapstheBugscouldnotreachuswithoutalertingourlisteningposts.

           Maybe—ButIdidn’twanttochanceit.

           Iclickedtomyprivatecircuit."Sarge—"

           "Yes,sir?"

           "Youmightaswellgetanap.I’llbeonwatch.Liedownandpreparetosleep...one...two—"

           "Excuseme,sir.Ihaveasuggestion."

           "Yes?"

           "IfIunderstandtherevisedplan,noactionisexpectedforthenextfourhours.