"James Tiptree Jr. - Yanqui Doodle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tiptree James Jr)

itself. The only way is to go cold; tapering off is like cutting a dog's tail off an inch at a time to be kind.
But some people take it like a breeze. Most do. Hold the thought."

He wasn't worried. But still he wondered. "I thought they'd have something for us. I mean, they put us
on it."

"You mean you were ordered to take the stuff?"

"Oh, noтАж but strongly suggested. BecauseтАж because there were thingsтАж" He wanted to stop
talking and enjoy the M's good feeling.

"Well, there is Slobactin. That helps. You'll be given some."

"Thank you," he said dreamily. She went away.
 He lay back, looking vaguely around. The room seemed to have been part of a mansionтАФa
ballroom, maybe. Only a few other beds were in hereтАФtoo far spaced to talk. A bed was rolled in with
a lot of fuss going on around itтАФa new arrival fresh from the operating room, he made out. This was
some kind of way-station. By craning his head he could see metal-grilled doorways, apparently leading
into corridors the Army had built on. Two muscular-looking male techs or orderlies sat behind desks,
keeping an eye on things. It was very peaceful; the first time in a long time he had heard no firing.

Bedtime came, and the cute little blonde nurse came in to douse the lights and distribute pills. The
yellow-and-pink cap she gave him was all wrong.

"Nurse, I want my Army sleep pill. My ND." ND was for No Dreams.

"This is just as effective," she said serenely.

He doubted it strongly. "I want my regular ND. I'm entitled to it, it's still today."

"You're not entitled to any particular medication, soldier. You're entitled to have us make you well,
that's what we're doing."

Her voice had a nasty edge, her smile was pure plastic.

"But it's not fair! The NDs are forтАФfor special reasons." He couldn't tell her about the dreams.
"тАФPlease. Can I have mine tonight? It's still today."

"You have your sleeping pill. Now calm down and go to sleep, you're disturbing the other patients."

"I'll keep everybody awake if you don't give me the right one!"

"Don't try it, soldier." She smiled toward the grille where the two big orderlies were watching him
alertly. She went away.

He lay back, fuming. He'd meant that the dreams made him yell. Well, they'd find out.

"You get on her shit list, you dead," said the soldier in the next bed, separated from him by a tiled
plant-stand.