Звездный десант
Chapter 4
Ithadbeenalongnight;itwasanendlessday—andZimchewedusoutforthewaywelookedonparadeandseveralbootsgotgiggedforfailingtoshaveintheninewholeminutesbetweenthetimewefelloutafterthemarchandfellbackinagainforparade.SeveralrecruitsresignedthateveningandIthoughtaboutitbutdidn’tbecauseIhadthosesillybootchevronsandhadn’tbeenbustedyet.
Thatnighttherewasatwo-houralert.
ButeventuallyIlearnedtoappreciatethehomeyluxuryoftwoorthreedozenwarmbodiestosnuggleupto,becausetwelveweekslatertheydumpedmedownrawnakedinaprimitiveareaoftheCanadianRockiesandIhadtomakemywayfortymilesthroughmountains.Imadeit—andhatedtheArmyeveryinchoftheway.
Iwasn’tintoobadshapewhenIcheckedin,though.AcoupleofrabbitshadfailedtostayasalertasIwas,soIdidn’tgoentirelyhungry...norentirelynaked;Ihadanicewarmthickcoatofrabbitfatanddirtonmybodyandmoccasinsonmyfeet—therabbitshavingnofurtherusefortheirskins.It’samazingwhatyoucandowithaflakeofrockifyouhaveto—Iguessourcave-manancestorsweren’tsuchdummiesasweusuallythink.
Theothersmadeit,too,thosewhowerestillaroundtotryanddidn’tresignratherthantakethetest—allexcepttwoboyswhodiedtrying
