Звездный десант

           Zimhadtriedoutalloftheoldermenastemporarynon-comsfirstandIhadinheritedabrassardwithchevronsonitacoupleofdaysbeforewhenoursquadleaderhadfoldedupandgonetohospital.

           Isaid,"CorporalBronski,what’sthestraightword?Whenischowcall?"

           Hegrinnedatme."I’vegotacoupleofcrackersonme.Wantmetosplit‘emwithyou?"

           "Huh?Oh,no,sir.Thankyou."(Ihadconsiderablymorethanacoupleofcrackers;Iwaslearning.)"Nochowcall?"

           "Theydidn’ttellmeeither,sonny.ButIdon’tseeanycoptersapproaching.NowifIwasyou,I’droundupmysquadandfigurethingsout.Maybeoneofyoucanhitajackrabbitwitharock."

           "Yes,sir.But—Well,arewestayinghereallnight?Wedon’thaveourbedrolls."

           Hiseyebrowsshotup."Nobedrolls?Well,Idodeclare!"Heseemedtothinkitover."Mmm...everseesheephuddletogetherinasnowstorm?"

           "Uh,no,sir."

           "Tryit.Theydon’tfreeze,maybeyouwon’t.Or,ifyoudon’tcarefor

           company,youmightwalkaroundallnight.Nobody’llbotheryou,aslongasyoustayinsidethepostedguards.Youwon’tfreezeifyoukeepmoving.Ofcourseyoumaybealittletiredtomorrow."Hegrinnedagain.

           Isalutedandwentbacktomysquad.Wedivviedup,shareandsharealike—andIcameoutwithlessfoodthanIhadstarted;someofthoseidiotseitherhadn’tsneakedoutanythingtoeat,orhadeatenalltheyhadwhilewemarched.Butafewcrackersandacoupleofpruneswilldoalottoquietyourstomach’ssoundingalert.