Звездный десант
Chapter 1
ButIshookworsethanever.
It’sbetterafteryouunload.Untilyoudo,yousitthereintotaldarkness,wrappedlikeamummyagainsttheaccelerations,barelyabletobreathe—andknowingthatthereisjustnitrogenaroundyouinthecapsuleevenifyoucouldgetyourhelmetopen,whichyoucan’t—andknowingthatthecapsuleissurroundedbythefiringtubeanyhowandiftheshipgetshitbeforetheyfireyou,youhaven’tgotaprayer,you’lljustdiethere,unabletomove,helpless.It’sthatendlesswaitinthedarkthatcausestheshakes—thinkingthatthey’veforgottenyou...theshiphasbeenhulledandstayedinorbit,dead,andsoonyou’llbuyit,too,unabletomove,choking.Orit’sacrashorbitandyou’llbuyitthatway,ifyoudon’troastonthewaydown.
Thentheship’sbrakingprogramhitusandIstoppedshaking.Eightgees,Iwouldsay,ormaybeten.Whenafemalepilothandlesashipthereisnothingcomfortableaboutit;you’regoingtohavebruiseseveryplaceyou’restrapped.Yes,yes,Iknowtheymakebetterpilotsthanmendo;theirreactionsarefasterandtheycantoleratemoregee.Theycangetinfaster,getoutfaster,andtherebyimproveeverybody’schances,yoursaswellastheirs.Butthatstilldoesn’tmakeitfuntobeslammedagainstyourspineattentimesyourproperweight.
ButImustadmitthatCaptainDeladrierknowshertrade.TherewasnofiddlingaroundoncetheRodgerYoungstoppedbraking.
