Звездный десант
Chapter 13
InthemeantimemyplatoonsergeantwasregroupingtheplatoonintheforwardareabetweentheBugsettlementandthecrater—allbuttwelvemenwhowereground-listening.Sincewewereunderordersnottoattack,webothworriedovertheprospectofhavingtheplatoonspreadtoowidelyformutualsupport.Soherearrangedtheminacompactlinefivemileslong,withBrumby’ssectionontheleft,nearertheBugsettlement.Thisplacedthemenlessthanthreehundredyardsapart(almostshouldertoshoulderforcaptroopers),andputnineofthemenstillonlisteningstationswithinsupportdistanceofoneflankortheother.Onlythethreelistenersworkingwithmewereoutofreachofreadyhelp.
ItoldBayonneoftheWolverinesandDoCampooftheHeadHuntersthatIwasnolongerpatrollingandwhy,andIreportedourregroupingtoCaptainBlackstone.
Hegrunted."Suityourself.Gotapredictiononthatbreakthrough?"
"ItseemstocenteraboutEasterTen,Captain,butitishardtopindown.Thesoundsareveryloudinanareaaboutthreemilesacrossanditseemstogetwider.I’mtryingtocircleitatanintensityleveljustbarelyonscale."Iadded,"Couldtheybedrivinganewhorizontaltunneljustunderthesurface?"
Heseemedsurprised."That’spossible.Ihopenot--wewantthemtocomeup."Headded,"Letmeknowifthecenterofnoisemoves.Checkonit."
"Yes,sir.Captain—"
"Huh?Speakup.
