Звездный десант
Chapter 5
Sotellmeinyourownwordswhyyoufeelmistreated;Iwanttogetyoustraightenedout.Theremightevenbesomethinginyourfavor,thoughIconfessthatIcannotimaginewhatitcouldbe."
IhadsneakedalookortwoatHendrick’sfacewhiletheCaptainwaschewinghimout—somehowhisquiet,mildwordswereaworsechewing-outthananyZimhadevergivenus.Hendrick’sexpressionhadgonefromindignationtoblankastonishmenttosullenness.
"Speakup!"Frankeladdedsharply.
"Uh...well,wewereorderedtofreezeandIhitthedirtandIfoundIwasonthisanthill.SoIgottomyknees,tomoveoveracoupleoffeet,andIwashitfrombehindandknockedflatandheyelledatme—andIbouncedupandpoppedhimoneandhe—"
"STOP!"CaptainFrankelwasoutofhischairandstand—tenfeettall,thoughhe’shardlytallerthanIam.HestaredatHendrick.
"You...struck...your...companycommander?"
"Huh?Isaidso.Buthehitmefirst.Frombehind,Ididn’tevenseehim.Idon’ttakethatoffofanybody.Ipoppedhimandthenhehitmeagainandthen—"
"Silence!"
Hendrickstopped.Thenheadded,"Ijustwantoutofthislousyoutfit."
"Ithinkwecanaccommodateyou,"Frankelsaidicily."Andquickly,too."
"Justgimmeapieceofpaper,I’mresigning."
"Onemoment.SergeantZim."
"Yes,sir."Zimhadn’tsaidawordforalongtime.Hejuststood,eyesfrontandrigidasastatue,nothingmovingbuthistwitchingjawmuscles.Ilookedathimnowandsawthatitcertainlywasashiner—abeaut.Hendrickmusthavecaughthimjustright.
