Звездный десант

           Sowhyweren’tyouonthebounce?Areyouslowingdown?"

           "Idon’tknow,"Zimansweredslowly."IguessImustbe."

           "Hmm!Iftrue,acombatteamisthelastplaceforyou.Butit’snottrue.Orwasn’ttruethelasttimeyouandIworkedouttogether,threedaysago.Sowhatslipped?"

           Zimwasslowinanswering."IthinkIhadhimtaggedinmymindasoneofthesafeones."

           "Therearenosuch."

           "Yes,sir.Buthewassoearnest,sodoggedlydeterminedtosweatitout—hedidn’thaveanyaptitudebuthekeptontrying—thatImusthavedonethat,subconsciously."Zimwassilent,thenadded,"IguessitwasbecauseIlikedhim."

           Frankelsnorted."Aninstructorcan’taffordtolikeaman."

           "Iknowit,sir.ButIdo.They’reanicebunchofkids.We’vedumpedalltherealtwerpsbynow—Hendrick’sonlyshortcoming,asidefrombeingclumsy,wasthathethoughtheknewalltheanswers.Ididn’tmindthat;Iknewitallatthatagemyself.Thetwerpshavegonehomeandthosethatareleftareeager,anxioustoplease,andonthebounce—ascuteasalitterofcolliepups.Alotofthemwillmakesoldiers."

           "Sothatwasthesoftspot.Youlikedhim...soyoufailedtocliphimintime.SohewindsupwithacourtandthewhipandaB.C.D.Sweet."

           Zimsaidearnestly,"Iwishtoheaventhereweresomewayformetotakethatfloggingmyself,sir."

           "You’dhavetotakeyourturn,Ioutrankyou.