Звездный десант

           "Theyarefollowingtheplatoonsergeantdown."

           Ifthere’sanythinginthebookthatcoversthis,Idon’tknowwhatitis.HadBrumbyactedwithoutorders?OrhadhebeengivenordersIhadn’theard?Look,themanwasalreadydownaBughole,outofsightandhearing--isthisatimetogolegal?Wewouldsortsuchthingsouttomorrow.Ifanyofushadatomorrow—

           "Verywell,"Isaid."I’mbacknow.Report."Mylastjumpbroughtmeamongthem;IsawaBugofftomyrightandIgothimbeforeIhit.Noworker,this—ithadbeenfiringasitmoved.

           "I’velostthreemen,"Cunhaanswered,gasping."Idon’tknowwhatBrumbylost.Theybrokeoutthreeplacesatonce—that’swhenwetookthecasualties.Butwe’remoppingthem—"

           AtremendousshockwaveslammedmejustasIbouncedagain,slappedmesideways.Threeminutesthirty-sevenseconds--callitthirtymiles.Wasthatoursappers"puttingdowntheircorks"?"Firstsection!Braceyourselvesforanothershockwave!"Ilandedsloppily,almostontopofagroupofthreeorfourBugs.Theyweren’tdeadbuttheyweren’tfighting;theyjusttwitched.Idonatedthemagrenadeandbouncedagain."Hit‘emnow!"Icalledout."They’regroggy.Andmindthatnext—"

           ThesecondblasthitasIwassayingit.Itwasn’tasviolent."Cunha!Calloffyoursection.Andeverybodystayonthebounceandmopup.