Звездный десант
Chapter 2
Hepointedtoourphysicalexaminationforms,ourbirthcertificates,andourI.D.’ssaidformally:"Iinviteandrequireyou,eachandseverally,toexaminetheseexhibits,determinewhattheyareandtodetermine,eachindependently,whatrelation,ifany,eachdocumentbearstothesetwomenstandinghereinyourpresence."
Theytreateditasadullroutine,whichI’msureitwas;neverthelesstheyscrutinizedeverydocument,theytookourfingerprints—again!—andthecuteoneputajeweler’sloupeinhereyeandcomparedprintsfrombirthtonow.Shedidthesamewithsignatures.IbegantodoubtifIwasmyself.
TheFleetSergeantadded,"Didyoufindexhibitsrelatingtotheirpresentcompetencetotaketheoathofenrollment?Ifso,what?"
"Wefound,"theolderonesaid,"appendedtoeachrecordoffphysicalexaminationadulycertifiedconclusionbyanauthorizedanddelegatedboardofpsychiatristsstatingthateachofthemismentallycompetenttotaketheoathandthatneitheroneisundertheinfluenceofalcohol,narcotics,otherdisablingdrugs,norofhypnosis."
"Verygood."Heturnedtous,"Repeatafterme—"
"I,beingoflegalage,ofmyownfreewill—"
"‘I,’"weeachechoed,"‘beingoflegalage,ofmyownfreewill—‘"
"—withoutcoercion,promise,orinducementofanysort,afterhavingbeendulyadvisedandwarnedofthemeaningandconsequencesofthisoath—"
"—donowenrollintheFederalServiceoftheTerranFederationforatermofnotlessthantwoyearsandasmuchlongerasmayberequiredbytheneedsoftheService—"
(Igulpedalittleoverthatpart.
