Звездный десант
Chapter 2
Isthatwhatyouwanttodo?"
"Carlisn’tinferior!"
"Sorry.No,he’safineboy...butmisguided."Hefrowned,andthensmiled."Son,Ihadintendedtokeepsomethingasasurpriseforyou—agraduationpresent.ButI’mgoingtotellyounowsothatyoucanputthisnonsenseoutofyourmindmoreeasily.NotthatIamafraidofwhatyoumightdo;Ihaveconfidenceinyourbasicgoodsense,evenatyourtenderyears.Butyouaretroubled.Iknow—andthiswillclearitaway.Canyouguesswhatitis?"
"Uh,no."
Hegrinned."AvacationtriptoMars."
Imusthavelookedstunned."Golly,Father,Ihadnoidea—"
"ImeanttosurpriseyouandIseeIdid.Iknowhowyoukidsfeelabouttravel,thoughitbeatsmewhatanyoneseesinitafterthefirsttimeout.Butthisisagoodtimeforyoutodoit—byyourself;didImentionthat?—andgetitoutofyoursystem...becauseyou’llbehard-pressedtogetinevenaweekonLunaonceyoutakeupyourresponsibilities."Hepickeduphispaper."No,don’tthankme.Justrunalongandletmefinishmypaper—I’vegotsomegentlemencominginthisevening,shortly.Business."
Iranalong.Iguesshethoughtthatsettledit...andIsupposeIdid,too.Mars!Andonmyown!ButIdidn’ttellCarlaboutit;Ihadasneakingsuspicionthathewouldregarditasabribe.Well,maybeitwas.InsteadIsimplytoldhimthatmyfatherandIseemedtohavedifferentideasaboutit.
"Yeah,"heanswered,"sodoesmine.Butit’smylife."
