Звездный десант
Chapter 4
Some,especiallytheoldermen,simplycouldn’tstandthepacephysicallynomatterhowhardtheytried.Irememberone,aniceoldgeezernamedCarruthers,musthavebeenthirty-five;theycarriedhimawayinastretcherwhilehewasstillshoutingfeeblythatitwasn’tfair!—andthathewouldbeback.
Itwassortofsad,becausewelikedCarruthersandhedidtry—sowelookedtheotherwayandfiguredwewouldneverseehimagain,thathewasacinchforamedicaldischargeandcivilianclothes.OnlyIdidseehimagain,longafter.Hehadrefuseddischarge(youdon’thavetoacceptamedical)andwoundupasthirdcookinatrooptransport.Herememberedmeandwantedtotalkoldtimes,asproudofbeinganalumnusofCampCurrieasFatherisofhisHarvardaccent—hefeltthathewasalittlebitbetterthantheordinaryNavyman.Well,maybehewas.
But,muchmoreimportantthanthepurposeofcarvingawaythefatquicklyandsavingthegovernmentthetrainingcostsofthosewhowouldnevercutit,wastheprimepurposeofmakingassureaswashumanlypossiblethatnocaptroopereverclimbedintoacapsuleforacombatdropunlesshewaspreparedforit—fit,resolute,disciplined,andskilled.Ifheisnot,it’snotfairtotheFederation,it’scertainlynotfairtohisteammates,andworstofallit’snotfairtohim.
Butwasbootcampmorecruellyhardthanwasnecessary?
AllIcansaytothatisthis:ThenexttimeIhavetomakeacombatdrop,IwantthemenonmyflankstobegraduatesofCampCurrieoritsSiberianequivalent.
