Звездный десант

           Mathishardworkanditoccupiesyourmind—anditdoesn’thurttolearnallyoucanofit,nomatterwhatrankyouare;everythingofanyimportanceisfoundedonmathematics.

           WhenIfinallycheckedinatO.C.S.andturnedinmypips,IlearnedthatIwasacadetagaininsteadofasergeant.IguessBlackiegavemethebenefitofthedoubt.

           Myroommate,Angel,wasinourroomwithhisfeetonthedesk—andinfrontofhisfeetwasapackage,mymathbooks.Helookedupandlookedsurprised."Hi,Juan!Wethoughtyouhadboughtit!"

           "Me?TheBugsdon’tlikemethatwell.Whendoyougoout?"

           "Why,I’vebeenout,"Angelprotested."Leftthedayafteryoudid,madethreedropsandbeenbackaweek.Whattookyousolong?"

           "Tookthelongwayhome.Spentamonthasapassenger."

           "Somepeoplearelucky.Whatdropsdidyoumake?"

           "Didn’tmakeany,"Iadmitted.

           Hestared."Somepeoplehavealltheluck!"

           PerhapsAngelwasright;eventuallyIgraduated.Buthesuppliedsomeoftheluckhimself,inpatienttutoring.Iguessmy"luck"hasusuallybeenpeople—AngelandJellyandtheLieutenantandCarlandLieutenantColonelDubois,yesandmyfather,andBlackie...andBrumby...andAce—andalwaysSergeantZim.BrevetCaptainZim,now,withpermanentrankofFirstLieutenant.Itwouldn’thavebeenrightformetohavewoundupseniortohim.