Звездный десант

           Thenasurgeoflivingmonsterscarriedmebackupintothelight—andtrainingpaidoff;Ilandedonmyfeet,talkingandfighting:

           "BreakthroughatEasterTen--no,EasterEleven,whereIamnow.Bigholeandthey’repouringup.Hundreds.Morethanthat."IhadahandflamerineachhandandwasburningthemdownasIreported.

           "Getoutofthere,Johnnie!"

           "Wilco!"—andIstartedtojump.

           Andstopped.Checkedthejumpintime,stoppedflaming,andreallylooked—forIsuddenlyrealizedthatIoughttobedead."Correction,"Isaid,lookingandhardlybelieving."BreakthroughatEasterElevenisafeint.Nowarriors."

           "Repeat."

           "EasterEleven,BlackOne.Breakthroughhereisentirelybyworkerssofar.Nowarriors.IamsurroundedbyBugsandtheyarestillpouringout,butnotaoneofthemisarmedandthosenearestmeallhavetypicalworkerfeatures.Ihavenotbeenattacked."Iadded,"Captain,doyouthinkthiscouldbejustadiversion?Withtheirrealbreakthroughtocomesomewhereelse?"

           "Couldbe,"headmitted."YourreportispatchedthroughrighttoDivision,soletthemdothethinking.Stiraroundandcheckwhatyou’vereported.Don’tassumethattheyareallworkers--youmayfindoutthehardway."

           "Right,Captain."Ijumpedhighandwide,intendingtogetoutsidethatmassofharmlessbutloathsomemonsters.