Звездный десант

           "WeclickedoffandIfeltbetter.EvenBlackiecouldforget...andtherehadn’tbeenanythingwrongwithmyidea.IleftthetunnelzonetoinspectthelisteningposttorightandrearoftheBugarea,posttwelve.

           Aswiththeothers,thereweretwomenasleep,onelistening,onestand-by.Isaidtothestand-by,"Gettinganythin?"

           "No,sir."

           Themanlistening,oneofmyfiverecruits,lookedupandsaid,"Mr.

           Rico,Ithinkthispickuphasjustgonesour."

           "I’llcheckit,"Isaid.Hemovedtoletmejackinwithhim.

           "Fryingbacon"soloudyoucouldsmellit!

           Ihittheall-handscircuit."Firstplatoonup!Wakeup,calloff,andreport!"

           Andclickedovertoofficers’circuit."Captain!CaptainBlackstone!Urgent!"

           "Slowdown,Johnnie.Report."

           "‘Fryingbacon’sounds,sir,"Ianswered,tryingdesperatelytokeepmyvoicesteady."Posttwelveatco-ordinatesEasterNine,SquareBlackOne."

           "EasterNine,"heagreed."Decibels?"

           Ilookedhastilyatthemeteronthepickup."Idon’tknow,Captain.Offthescaleatthemaxend.Itsoundslikethey’rerightundermyfeet!"

           "Good!"heapplauded—andIwonderedhowhecouldfeelthatway."Bestnewswe’vehadtoday!Nowlisten,son.Getyourladsawake—"

           "Theyare,sir!"

           "Verywell.