The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted (ssr-7) by Harry Harrison

Author:Harry Harrison [Harrison, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf
ISBN: 0553273078
Publisher: Spectra
Published: 1988-03-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

I returned to my company, clutching the package of sealed orders and holding tight to the idea that this was the most insane endeavor I had ever heard of. Morton looked up when I entered the cabin.

“You are wearing a very worried look,” he said. “Something personal—or should we all be worried?”

“Anything I can do for you, captain?” Sergeant Blogh asked, popping in the door behind me. They all wanted to know about the meeting. I threw the package onto the bed.

“Sergeant, what is the position regarding strong drink on troop transports about to go into action?”

“It is strictly forbidden, sir, and a court-martial offense. But one of the spare tanks on the command car is filled with ninety-nine.”

“Ninety-nine what?”

“Ninety-nine percent pure alcohol. Cut half with water and stir in dehydrated orange juice.”

“Since we are going into combat I am making a field appointment. Acting First Sergfeant Blogh you are now First Sergeant Blogh.”

There was a rattle as Morton dropped three canteen cups onto the table, a thud as a bag of orange crystals followed. I could see where he was getting adjusted to the army.

The sergeant came back with a twenty-liter jerrycan, which with added water would make forty liters of hundred proof drink which, in turn, should make this voyage more bearable.

We clanked mugs and drank deep.

“This stuff is pretty repulsive,” Morton said holding out his empty cup for more. “Can you now tell us what you found out?”

“I have some good news and some good news. The first good news is that we are going to invade and occupy an incredibly rich and heretofore unknown planet named Chojecki. Secondly—they don’t appear to have any defenses of any kind. No military, no police, nothing.”

“Impossible,” the sergeant said.

“Anything is possible in the fullness of time and the width of the galaxy. Let us hope the report is correct because it will certainly make for an easy invasion.”

“I think it is a trap.” The sergeant still wasn’t buying it. I nodded.

“The general seems to think the same thing. He is sure that there is a secret army in hiding.”

“Not necessarily,” Morton said. “Before entering the army I was a student of history. So I can tell you. Diverse are the ways of mankind. As you have so truthfully stated, captain, in the fullness of time and the width of the galaxy there have been many kinds of societies, forms of government …”

“You got governments you got armies. That’s the way it’s got to be.”

The drink was making the sergeant pugnacious and Morton maudlin. Time to close the bar.

“Right. “ I climbed to my feet and kicked the jerrycan of alcohol out of sight under the table. “Sergeant, get the noncoms together. Tell them what I told you about the invasion, have them pass it on to the troops. That will be all for now.”

The door closed behind the sergeant and Morton dropped his head onto the table and began to snore. He was sure a cheap drunk. I finished

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.