Звездный десант

           Butifyoucameinhereinawheelchairandblindinbotheyesandweresillyenoughtoinsistonenrolling,theywouldfindsomethingsillyenoughtomatch.Countingthefuzzonacaterpillarbytouch,maybe.Theonlywayyoucanfailisbyhavingthepsychiatristsdecidethatyouarenotabletounderstandtheoath."

           "Oh.Uh...Doctor,wereyoualreadyadoctorwhenyoujoinedup?Ordidtheydecideyououghttobeadoctorandsendyoutoschool?"

           "Me?"Heseemedshocked."Youngster,doIlookthatsilly?I’macivilianemployee."

           "Oh.Sorry,sir."

           "Nooffense.Butmilitaryserviceisforants.Believeme.Isee‘emgo,Isee‘emcomeback—whentheydocomeback.Iseewhatit’sdonetothem.Andforwhat?Apurelynominalpoliticalprivilegethatpaysnotonecentavoandthatmostofthemaren’tcompetenttousewiselyanyhow.Nowiftheywouldletmedicalmenrunthings—butnevermindthat;youmightthinkIwastalkingtreason,freespeechornot.But,youngster,ifyou’vegotsavvyenoughtocountten,you’llbackoutwhileyoustillcan.Here,takethesepapersbacktotherecruitingsergeant—andrememberwhatIsaid."

           Iwentbacktotherotunda.Carlwasalreadythere.TheFleetSergeantlookedovermypapersandsaidglumly,"Apparentlyyoubotharealmostinsufferablyhealthy-exceptforholesinthehead.Onemoment,whileIgetsomewitnesses."Hepunchedabuttonandtwofemaleclerkscameout,oneoldbattle-ax,onekindofcute.