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

the shower stall is wet, they accidentally fall down. They accidentally fall
down so many times that when they come out they look like they've been run
over by a cat tractor.
He's behind me. I can hear him breathing.
"What did you say, prive?"


"SIR, THE PRIVATE SAID, 'NO, SIR!' SIR!"

Sergeant Gerheim's beefy red face floats by like a cobra being charmed
by music. His eyes drill into mine; they invite me to look at him; they dare
me to move my eyes one fraction of an inch.
"Have you seen the light? The white light? The great light? The guiding
light-do you have the vision?"


"SIR, AYE-AYE, SIR!"

"Who's your squad leader, scumbag?"


"SIR, THE PRIVATE'S SQUAD LEADER IS PRIVATE HAMER, SIR!"

"Hamer, front and center."
Hamer runs down the center of the squad bay, snaps to attention in
front of Sergeant Gerheim. "AYE-AYE, SIR!"
"Hamer, you're fired. Private Joker is promoted to squad leader."
Hamer hesitates. "AYE-AYE, SIR!"
"Go."
Hamer does an about-face, runs back down the squad bay, falls back into
line in front of his rack, snaps to attention.
I say, "SIR, THE PRIVATE REQUESTS PERMISSION TO SPEAK TO THE DRILL
INSTRUCTOR!"
"Speak."


"SIR, THE PRIVATE DOES NOT WANT TO BE A SQUAD LEADERS, SIR!"

Gunnery Sergeant Gerheim puts his fists on his hips. He pushes his
Smokey the Bear campaign cover to the back of his bald head. He sighs.
"Nobody wants to lead, maggot, but somebody has to. You got the brain, you
got the balls, so you get the job. The Marine Corps is not a mob like the
Army. Marines die-that's what we're here for-but the Marine Corps will live
forever, because every Marine is a leader when he has to be-even a prive."
Sergeant Gerheim turns to Leonard. "Private Pyle, Private Joker is your
new bunkmate. Private Joker is a very bright boy. He will teach you
everything. He will teach you how to pee."
I say, "SIR, THE PRIVATE WOULD PREFER TO STAY WITH HIS BUNKMATE,
PRIVATE COWBOY, SIR!"
Cowboy and I have become friends because when you're far from home and