"Ben Weaver - Brothers in Arms 01 - Brothers in Arms" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weaver Ben)

No one said a word. Dina and Beauregard returned to his rack across from mine, where they sat, and
he continued his massage. He was madly in love with her. I wasnтАЩt sure she felt the same. She always
seemed a bit reserved. Halitov lay back on the therapeutic gel mattress, eyes closed, hands clasped
behind his head.

We had about thirty minutes to kill before last mess formation. Trying to calm down, I glanced out the
window and swallowed back the lump in my throat. Twilight crept over the sky, and 70 Virginis b shied
toward the horizon. I thought of Jarrett, and part of me argued that my IDO would make everyoneтАЩs lives
easier, maybe even mine. But that other part of me, the stubborn part that had driven me to South Point
in the first place, had, well, other plans.

After sloughing off my utilities, I fetched my towel and headed for the latrine. Jane Clarion and Agi
Narendra had already begun their showers in private stalls fenced off by neck-high walls. When they
spotted me, they turned away, whispering. I showered in silence. They finished and left, then Mario
Obote and Too Yat-sen came in, took one look at me, and did an about-face. Sighing hard in frustration,
I dried off and padded to my rack. I collapsed on the mattress, and the gel seeped up around my
shoulders as I stared at the ceiling, eavesdropping on Dina and Beauregard.

тАЬBut donтАЩt you have to be a second lieutenant to receive Racinian conditioning?тАЭ Dina asked.

тАЬYeah, but rumor has it that they might put us through after first year. They want us to have more time to
assimilate. My father told me there have been some problems.тАЭ

As we were all painfully aware, BeauregardтАЩs father, Colonel J. D. Beauregard, commanded the
Colonial Wardens, a special forces unit within the Corps. The Wardens were the most highly respected
group in our military, bar none. Upon graduation, only one or two from our entire class would be
selected to train for that unit. At least Beauregard downplayed the prestige, though I sensed that his
modesty was merely in deference to us.

тАЬSquad sergeant on deck!тАЭ Narendra shouted.

I sprang out of my bed as though it were crawling withshraxi and lined up in front of my rack, my towel
nearly slipping off.

Pope marched down the aisle between our racks, paused in the middle of the room, then placed hands
squarely on his waist. тАЬYou people smell. Mr. St. Andrew? Mr. Halitov?тАЭ

As we shifted front and center, Halitov elbowed me hard in the ribs. I bit back the pain and focused on
the patch on PopeтАЩs left breast: four equilateral triangles positioned at each of the cardinal points and
pointing outward, with a ring of seventeen stars superimposed over them. That was the CorpsтАЩs simple
emblem, the stars signifying the seventeen explored worlds, the triangles representing honesty, loyalty,
courage, and determination. Just words to me back then.

After a loud hem, Pope began. тАЬGentlemen. During orientation we told you that we maintain surveillance
in every facility on these grounds. Some of you have managed to get around that and meet for a little
unauthorized coitus. I donтАЩt see it and you keep it safe and controlled, it donтАЩt hurt me. But anyone stupid
enough to attack another cadet inside the barracks deserves an automatic IDO. Would you agree with
that assessment, Mr. Halitov?тАЭ

тАЬI would, sir.тАЭ