"Gustav Hasvord. The Short-Timers " - читать интересную книгу автора

recruits learn to survive without slack. Because I am hard, you will not
like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will learn. Am I correct,
herd?"
Some of us mumble, "Yes. Yeah. Yes, sir."
"I can't hear you, ladies."
"Yes, sir."
"I still can't hear you, ladies. SOUND OFF LIKE YOU GOT A PAIR."


"YES, SIR!"

"You piss me off. Hit the deck."
We crumple down onto the hot parade deck.
"You got no motivation. Do you hear me, maggots? Listen up. I will give
you motivation. You have no espirit de corps. I will give you espirit de
corps. You have no traditions. I will give you traditions. And I will show
you how to live up to them."
Sergeant Gerheim struts, ramrod straight, hands on hips. "GET UP! GET
UP!"
We get up, sweating, knees sore, hands gritty.
Sergeant Gerheim says to his three junior drill instructors: "What a
humble herd." Then to us: "You silly scumbags are too slow. Hit the deck."
Down.
Up.
Down.
Up.


"HIT IT!"

Down.
Sergeant Gerheim steps over our struggling bodies, stomps fingers,
kicks ribs with the toe of his boot. "Jesus H. Christ. You maggots are
huffing and puffing the way your momma did the first time your old man put
the meat to her."
Pain.


"GET UP! GET UP!"

Up. Muscles aching.
Leonard Pratt is still sprawled on the hot concrete.
Sergeant Gerheim dances over to him, stands over him, shoves his Smokey
the Bear campaign cover to the back of his bald head. "Okay, scumbag, do
it."
Leonard gets up on one knee, hesitates, then stands up, inhaling and
exhaling. He grins.
Sergeant Gerheim punches Leonard in the Adam's apples-hard. The
sergeant's big fist pounds Leonard's chest. Then his stomach. Leonard
doubles over with pain. "LOCK THEM HEELS! YOU'RE AT ATTENTION!" Sergeant