Звездный десант

           ThenIlookedatthethirdhole,theonethathadswallowedupmyplatoonsergeantandhalfmyplatoon.

           HereaBugcorridorcamewithintwentyfeetofthesurfaceandtheyhadsimplyremovedtheroofforaboutfiftyfeet.Wheretherockwent,whatcausedthat"fryingbacon"noisewhiletheydidit,Icouldnotsay.Therockyroofwasgoneandthesidesoftheholewereslopedandgrooved.Themapshowedwhatmusthavehappened;theothertwoholescameupfromsmallsidetunnels,thistunnelwaspartoftheirmainlabyrinth--sotheothertwohadbeendiversionsandtheirmainattackhadcomefromhere.

           CanthoseBugsseethroughsolidrock?

           Nothingwasinsightdownthathole,neitherBugnorhuman.Cunhapointedoutthedirectionthesecondsectionhadgone.Ithadbeensevenminutesandfortysecondssincetheplatoonsergeanthadgonedown,slightlyoversevensinceBrumbyhadgoneafterhim.Ipeeredintothedarkness,gulpedandswallowedmystomach."Sergeant,takechargeofyoursection,"Isaid,tryingtomakeitsoundcheerful."Ifyouneedhelp,callLieutenantKhoroshen."

           "Orders,sir?"

           "None.Unlesssomecomedownfromabove.I’mgoingdownandfindthesecondsection--soImaybeoutoftouchforawhile."ThenIjumpeddownintotheholeatonce,becausemynervewasslipping.