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

scared shitless you need all the friends you can get and you need them right
away. Cowboy is the only recruit who laughs at all my jokes. He's got a
sense of humor, which is priceless in a place like this, but he's serious
when he has to be-he's dependable.
Sergeant Gerheim sighs. "You queer for Private Cowboy's gear? You smoke
his pole?"


"SIR, NEGATIVE, SIR!"

"Outstanding. Then Private Joker will bunk with Private Pyle. Private
Joker is silly and he's ignorant, but he's got guts, and guts is enough."
Sergeant Gerheim struts back to his "palace," a tiny room at the far
end of the squad bay. "Okay, ladies, ready...MOUNT!"
We all jump into our racks and freeze.
"Sing."
We sing:

From the halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli,
We will fight our country's battles,
On land, and air, and sea.

If the Army and the Navy
Ever gaze on heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded by
United States Marines...

"Okay, herd, readdddy...SLEEP!"


Training continues.
I teach Leonard everything I know, from how to lace his black combat
boots to the assembly and disassembly of the M-14 semi-automatic shoulder
weapon.
I teach Leonard that Marines do not ditty-bop, they do not just walk.
Marines run; they double-time. Or, if the distance to be covered is great,
Marines hump, one foot after the other, one step at a time, for as long as
necessary. Marines work hard. Only shitbirds try to avoid work, only
shitbirds try to skate. Marines are clean, not skuzzy. I teach Leonard to
value his rifle as he values his life. I teach him that blood makes the
grass grow.
"This here gun is one mean-looking piece of iron, sure enough."
Leonard's clumsy fingers snap his weapon together.
I'm repulsed by the look and feel of my own weapon. The rifle is cold
and heavy in my hands. "Think of your rifle as a tool, Leonard. Like an ax
on the farm."
Leonard grins. "Okay. You right, Joker." He looks at me. "I'm sure glad
you're helping me, Joker. You're my friend. I know I'm slow. I always been
slow. Nobody ever helped me..."