Звездный десант
Chapter 13
ButtheBugsdidn’thaveanysuchcompunctionsamongthemselvesiftheycouldgetoneofus.Butwehadhandsandwehadfeet—
Itcouldn’thavelastedmorethanaminute,thentherewerenomoreBugs,justbrokenpiecesofthemonthedoor...andfourcaptroopersdown.
OnewasSergeantBrumby,dead.Duringtheruckusthesecondsectionhadrejoined.Theyhadbeennotfaraway,stickingtogethertokeepfromgettingfurtherlostinthatmaze,andhadheardthefight.Hearingit,theyhadbeenabletotraceitbysound,wheretheyhadnotbeenabletolocateusbyradio.
CunhaandImadecertainthatourcasualtieswereactuallydead,thenconsolidatedthetwosectionsintooneoffoursquadsanddownwewent--andfoundtheBugsthathadourplatoonsergeantbesieged.
Thatfightdidn’tlastanytimeatall,becausehehadwarnedmewhattoexpect.HehadcapturedabrainBugandwasusingitsbloatedbodyasashield.Hecouldnotgetout,buttheycouldnotattackhimwithout(quiteliterally)committingsuicidebyhittingtheirownbrain.
Wewereundernosuchhandicap;wehitthemfrombehind.
ThenIwaslookingatthehorridthinghewasholdingandIwasfeelingexultantdespiteourlosses,whensuddenlyIheardcloseupthat"fryingbacon"noise.AbigpieceofrooffellonmeandOperationRoyaltywasoverasfarasIwasconcerned.
IwokeupinbedandthoughtthatIwasbackatO.C.S.
