Звездный десант

           DuboishadanalyzedtheServiceoathforusinHistoryandMoralPhilosophyandhadmadeusstudyitphrasebyphrase—butyoudon’treallyfeelthesizeofthethinguntilitcomesrollingoveryou,allinoneungainlypiece,asheavyandunstoppableasJuggernaut’scarriage.

           AtleastitmademerealizethatIwasnolongeracivilian,withmyshirttailoutandnothingonmymind.Ididn’tknowyetwhatIwas,butIknewwhatIwasn’t.

           "SohelpmeGod!"webothendedandCarlcrossedhimselfandsodidthecuteone.

           Afterthatthereweremoresignaturesandfingerprints,allfiveofus,andflatcolorgraphsofCarlandmeweresnappedthenandthereandembossedintoourpapers.TheFleetSergeantfinallylookedup."Why,it’s‘waypastthebreakforlunch.Timeforchow,lads."

           Iswallowedhard.Uh...Sergeant?"

           "Eh?Speakup."

           "CouldIflashmyfolksfromhere?TellthemwhatI—Tellthemhowitcameout?"

           "Wecandobetterthanthat."

           "Sir?"

           "Yougoonforty-eighthoursleavenow."Hegrinnedcoldly."Doyouknowwhathappensifyoudon’tcomeback?"

           "Uh...court-martial?"

           "Notathing.Notablessedthing.Exceptthatyourpapersgetmarked,

           Termnotcompletedsatisfactorily,andyounever,never,nevergetasecondchance.Thisisourcooling-offperiod,duringwhichweshakeouttheovergrownbabieswhodidn’treallymeanitandshouldneverhavetakentheoath.Itsavesthegovernmentmoneyanditsavesapowerofgriefforsuchkidsandtheirparents—theneighborsneedn’tguess.Youdon’tevenhavetotellyourparents."