Звездный десант

           IwasannoyedatbothhimandBlackie—atmycompanycommanderbecauseIresentedbeingputtosleepagainstmywishes;andasformyplatoonsergeant,Ihadadirtyhunchthatitwouldn’thavebeendoneifheweren’ttherealbossandmyselfjustafigurehead.

           ButafterIhadcheckedpostsnumberthreeandone(nosoundsofanysort,bothwereforwardoftheBugarea),Icooleddown.Afterall,blamingasergeant,evenafleetsergeant,forsomethingacaptaindidwassilly.

           "Sarge-"

           "Yes,Mr.Rico?"

           "Doyouwanttocatchanapwiththeevennumbers?I’llwakeyouaminuteortwobeforeIwakethem."

           Hehesitatedslightly."Sir,I’dliketoinspectthelisteningpostsmyself."

           "Haven’tyoualready?"

           "No,sir.I’vebeenasleepthepasthour."

           "Huh?"

           Hesoundedembarrassed."TheCaptainrequiredmetodoso.HeplacedBrumbytemporarilyinchargeandputmetosleepimmediatelyafterherelievedyou."

           Istartedtoanswer,thenlaughedhelplessly."Sarge?Let’syouandIgooffsomewhereandgobacktosleep.We’rewastingourtime;Cap’nBlackieisrunningthisplatoon."

           "Ihavefound,sir,"heansweredstiffly,"thatCaptainBlackstoneinvariablyhasareasonforanythinghedoes."

           Inoddedthoughtfully,forgettingthatIwastenmilesfrommylistener."Yes.You’reright,healwayshasareason.Mmm...