Звездный десант

           Thentheymarchedhimout,betweentwoarmedguards,withhishandscuffedtogetherinfrontofhim.

           Ihadneverseenaflogging.Backhome,whiletheydoitinpublicofcourse,theydoitbackoftheFederalBuilding—andFatherhadgivenmestrictorderstostayawayfromthere.Itrieddisobeyinghimonitonce...butitwaspostponedandInevertriedtoseeoneagain.

           Onceistoomany.

           Theguardsliftedhisarmsandhookedthemanaclesoverabighookhighuponthepost.Thentheytookhisshirtoffanditturnedoutthatitwasfixedsothatitcouldcomeoffandhedidn’thaveanundershirt.Theadjutantsaidcrisply,"CarryoutthesentenceoftheCourt."

           Acorporal-instructorfromsomeotherbattalionsteppedforwardwiththewhip.TheSergeantoftheGuardmadethecount.

           It’saslowcount,fivesecondsbetweeneachoneanditseemsmuchlonger.Teddidn’tletoutapeepuntilthethird,thenhesobbed.

           ThenextthingIknewIwasstaringupatCorporalBronski.Hewasslappingmeandlookingintentlyatme.Hestoppedandasked,"Okaynow?Allright,backinranks.Onthebounce;we’reabouttopassinreview."Wedidsoandmarchedbacktoourcompanyareas.Ididn’teatmuchdinnerbutneitherdidalotofthem.

           Nobodysaidawordtomeaboutfainting.IfoundoutlaterthatIwasn’ttheonlyone—acoupleofdozenofushadpassedout.