Звездный десант
Chapter 2
OnthestepsoftheFederalBuildingweranintoCarmencitaIbanez,aclassmateofoursandoneofthenicethingsaboutbeingamemberofaracewithtwosexes.Carmenwasn’tmygirl—shewasn’tanybody’sgirl;shenevermadetwodatesinarowwiththesameboyandtreatedallofuswithequalsweetnessandratherimpersonally.ButIknewherprettywell,assheoftencameoverandusedourswimmingpool,becauseitwasOlympiclength—sometimeswithoneboy,sometimeswithanother.Oralone,asMotherurgedherto—Motherconsideredher"agoodinfluence."Foronceshewasright.
Shesawusandwaited,dimpling."Hi,fellows!"
"Hello,OcheeChyornya,"Ianswered."Whatbringsyouhere?"
"Can’tyouguess?Todayismybirthday."
"Huh?Happyreturns!"
"SoI’mjoiningup."
"Oh..."IthinkCarlwasassurprisedasIwas.ButCarmencitawas
likethat.Shenevergossipedandshekeptherownaffairstoherself."Nofoolin’?"Iadded,brilliantly.
"WhyshouldIbefooling?I’mgoingtobeaspaceshippilot—atleastI’mgoingtotryforit."
"Noreasonwhyyoushouldn’tmakeit,"Carlsaidquickly.Hewasright
Iknownowjusthowrighthewas.Carmenwassmallandneat,perfecthealthandperfectreflexes—shecouldmakeacompetitivedivingroutinelookeasy—andshewasquickatmathematics.Me,Itaperedoffwitha"C"inalgebraanda"B"inbusinessarithmetic;shetookallthemathourschoolofferedandatutoredadvancecourseontheside.Butithadneveroccurredtometowonderwhy.
