Звездный десант
Chapter 3
Hepointedwithhisstick."Seethatarmoryoverthere?"Ilookedandcouldseenothingbutprairieexceptforonebuildingthatseemedtobealmostontheskyline.
"Fallout.Runaroundit.Run,Isaid.Fast!Bronski!Pacehim."
"Right,Sarge."OneofthefiveorsixotherbatoncarrierstookoutafterJenkins,caughtupwithhimeasily,crackedhimacrossthetightofhispantswiththebaton.Zimturnedbacktotherestofus,stillshiveringatattention.Hewalkedupanddown,lookedusover,andseemedawfullyunhappy.Atlasthesteppedoutinfrontofus,shookhishead,andsaid,apparentlytohimselfbuthehadavoicethatcarried:"Tothinkthatthishadtohappentome!"
Helookedatus."Youapes—No,not‘apes’;youdon’tratethatmuch.Youpitifulmobofsicklymonkeys...yousunken-chested,slack-bellied,droolingrefugeesfromapronstrings.InmywholelifeIneversawsuchadisgracefulhuddleofmomma’sspoiledlittledarlingsin—you,there!Suckupthegut!Eyesfront!I’mtalkingtoyou!"
Ipulledinmybelly,eventhoughIwasnotsurehehadaddressedme.
HewentonandonandIbegantoforgetmygoosefleshinhearinghimstorm.
Heneveroncerepeatedhimselfandheneverusedeitherprofanityorobscenity.(Ilearnedlaterthathesavedthoseforveryspecialoccasions,whichthiswasn’t.)Buthedescribedourshortcomings,physical,mental,moral,andgenetic,ingreatandinsultingdetail.
ButsomehowIwasnotinsulted;Ibecamegreatlyinterestedinstudyinghiscommandoflanguage.
