Звездный десант

           Iwishedthatwehadhadhimonourdebateteam.

           Atlasthestoppedandseemedabouttocry."Ican’tstandit,"hesaidbitterly."I’vejustgottoworksomeofitoff—IhadabettersetofwoodensoldierswhenIwassix.ALLRIGHT!Isthereanyoneofyoujunglelicewhothinkshecanwhipme?Isthereamaninthecrowd?Speakup!"

           TherewasashortsilencetowhichIcontributed.Ididn’thaveanydoubtatallthathecouldwhipme;Iwasconvinced.

           Iheardavoicefardowntheline,thetallend."Ahreckonahcan...suh."

           Zimlookedhappy."Good!StepoutherewhereIcanseeyou."Therecruitdidsoandhewasimpressive,atleastthreeinchestallerthanSergeantZimandbroaderacrosstheshoulders."What’syourname,soldier?"

           "Breckinridge,suh—andahweightwohundredandtenpoundsan’theahain’tanyofit‘slack-bellied.’"

           "Anyparticularwayyou’dliketofight?"

           "Suh,youjus’pickyouahownmethodofdyin’.Ah’mnotfussy."

           "Okay,norules.Startwheneveryoulike."Zimtossedhisbatonaside.

           Itstarted—anditwasover.Thebigrecruitwassittingontheground,holdinghisleftwristinhisrighthand.Hedidn’tsayanything.

           Zimbentoverhim."Broken?"

           "Reckonitmighthe...suh."

           "I’msorry.Youhurriedmealittle.Doyouknowwherethedispensaryis?Nevermind—Jones!TakeBreckinridgeovertothedispensary."AstheyleftZimslappedhimontherightshoulderandsaidquietly,"Let’stryitagaininamonthorso.I’llshowyouwhathappened."