Звездный десант

           AtonceIheardhersnap,"Center-linetube...fire!"andthereweretworecoilbumpsasJellyandhisactingplatoonsergeantunloaded—andimmediately:"Portandstarboardtubes—automaticfire!"andtherestofusstartedtounload.

           Bump!andyourcapsulejerksaheadoneplace—bump!anditjerksagain,preciselylikecartridgesfeedingintothechamberofanold-styleautomaticweapon.Well,that’sjustwhatwewere...onlythebarrelsofthegunweretwinlaunchingtubesbuiltintoaspaceshiptroopcarrierandeachcartridgewasacapsulebigenough(justbarely)toholdaninfantrymanwithallfieldequipment.

           Bump!—Iwasusedtonumberthreespot,outearly;nowIwasTail-EndCharlie,lastoutafterthreesquads.Itmakesatediouswait,evenwithacapsulebeingfiredeverysecond;Itriedtocountthebumps—bump!(twelve)bump!(thirteen)bump!(fourteen—withanoddsoundtoit,theemptyoneJenkinsshouldhavebeenin)bump!—

           Andclang!—it’smyturnasmycapsuleslamsintothefiringchamberthenWHAMBO!theexplosionhitswithaforcethatmakestheCaptain’sbrakingmaneuverfeellikealovetap.

           Thensuddenlynothing.

           Nothingatall.Nosound,nopressure,noweight.Floatingindarkness...freefall,maybethirtymilesup,abovetheeffectiveatmosphere,fallingweightlesslytowardthesurfaceofaplanetyou’veneverseen.ButI’mnotshakingnow;it’sthewaitbeforehandthatwears.Onceyouunload,youcan’tgethurt—becauseifanythinggoeswrongitwillhappensofastthatyou’llbuyitwithoutnoticingthatyou’redead,hardly.