Звездный десант

           ‘Article9080:AnypersonintheMilitaryForceswhostrikesorassaults,orattemptstostrikeorassault—"

           "Oh,Isupposetheydid.Theyreadalotofthatstuff,everySundaymorning—awholelonglistofthingsyoucouldn’tdo."

           "Wasorwasnotthatparticulararticlereadtoyou?"

           "Uh...yes,sir.Itwas."

           "Verywell.Havingdeclinedtotestify,doyouhaveanystatementtomakeinmitigationorextenuation?"

           "Sir?"

           "DoyouwanttotelltheCourtanythingaboutit?Anycircumstancewhichyouthinkmightpossiblyaffecttheevidencealreadygiven?Oranythingwhichmightlessentheallegedoffense?Suchthingsasbeingill,orunderdrugsormedication.Youarenotunderoathatthispoint;youmaysayanythingatallwhichyouthinkmayhelpyou.WhattheCourtistryingtofindoutisthis:Doesanythingaboutthismatterstrikeyouasbeingunfair?Ifso,why?"

           "Huh?Ofcourseitis!Everythingaboutitisunfair!Hehitmefirst!Youheard‘em!—hehitmefirst!"

           "Anythingmore?"

           "Huh?No,sir.Isn’tthatenough?"

           "Thetrialiscompleted.RecruitPrivateTheodoreC.Hendrick,standforth!"LieutenantSpieksmahadbeenstandingatattentionthewholetime;nowCaptainFrankelstoodup.Theplacesuddenlyfeltchilly.

           "PrivateHendrick,youarefoundguiltyascharged."

           Mystomachdidaflip-flop.Theyweregoingtodoittohim...theyweregoingtodothe"DannyDeever"toTedHendrick.AndIhadeatenbreakfastbesidehimjustthismorning.

           "TheCourtsentencesyou,"hewenton,whileIfeltsick,"totenlashesandBadConductDischarge."