were such a thing we might just wriggle from under this creepo's thumb. I lowered my eyes and twisted my toe in the dirt.
'Gee, corporal, I don't know how to say this. I was going to lie or something - but you're too smart for me. It was, you're right, the radio…'
'I knew it! They pump that poison down from their satellite, too many frequencies to jam, too defended to shoot down. Lies!'
'I just did it that once. I knew I shouldn't have, but it was a dare. And it sounded so true - that's why I spoke out like that.'
'I'm glad you did, recruit. And I imagine that you did the same?' Morton did not rise to the bait but the corporal took silence for assent. 'I think that you did. But at least it shows the poison didn't take, that you two wanted to talk about it. The devil always has the best tunes. But you must turn away from the siren song of such slimy untruths and listen to the authorities who know far better than you do.' He smiled warmly upon us and I grinned with wide insincerity.
'Oh I will, sir.' I said quickly before Morton could open his mouth again. 'I will. Now that you have told me this, and didn't punish us or anything…'
'Did I say that?' The warm grin suddenly had a cold and nasty edge to it. 'You'll get your punishment. If you were civilians you would each get a year at hard labor. But you are in the army now - so the punishment should be worse. It has been nice talking to you, recruits. Now get back inside for the rest of this orientation session. That will give you plenty of time to contemplate your crimes and their inevitable punishment. In the future, if you have a future, you will not contradict me or any other officer.' He waved us inside ahead of him: we went like sheep to the slaughter. I whispered to Morton. 'Is it true what he said about the radio broadcasts.'
'Of course. Haven't you ever listened? Pretty boring stuff for the most part. Heavy on propaganda and low on content. But it doesn't matter that you admitted listening. He was out to get us no matter what he said. Military justice!'
'Do we just stay here and wait?!'
'Where's to run,' he said, with utmost gloom. Where indeed? There was no place to flee to.
Sergeant Klutz glared his best glare at us and we shut up. I sank to the floor with a sigh. Wondering just what possible punishment the military could dream up that could be worse than recruit training. I had the sinking feeling that I would find out soon enough.
Chapter 10
A distant buzzer sounded like a stifled eructation and Sergeant Klutz's eyes came back into focus and the expression of dull vacuity vanished to be replaced by his normal sneer of anger.
'On your feet you cagal-kopfs! You had a whole hour of cagaling off and you will now pay for it. Double time! The next session will be small arm instruction and short arm inspection. Move it!'
'I'm holding onto these two.' Gow said, separating us out from the others. 'I'm putting them on report for spreading sedition.'
Klutz nodded happily and slashed a line through our names on his roster sheet. 'Suits me, Gow. As long as I got the roll call right you can eat them for breakfast for all I care.'
The door closed and Gow and I stood there eyeball to eyeball. Morton slumped to one side, drooping with apathy. I was beginning to get angry. Corporal Gow took out his notebook and pencil and pointed at me. 'What is your name soldier?'
'ScrooU2.'
'That is your military name, Scroo, and not a complete one at that. I would like your entire name.'
'I'm from Pensildelphia, corporal, and we were taught never to give our names to strangers.'
His eyes narrowed with hatred. 'Are you trying to make fun of me soldier?'
'That would be impossible, sir. You are a walking joke as it is. Selling lies to the peasantry. You know as well as I do that the only threat to this country is the military that control it. This is a military state kept in operation only for the benefit of the military.'
Morton gasped and tried to wave me to silence. I was too angry for that now. This cagaling corporal had gotten under my skin. He smiled coldly and reached for the telephone.
'If you won't tell me your name the Military Police will find it out quickly enough. And you are wrong about only the military benefiting from a military state. You are forgetting the industrial corporations that profit from the military contracts. One cannot exist without the other. They are mutually interdependent.'
He said this calmly, smiling, and shocked me into silence. 'But…' I finally mumbled as he dialed the phone. 'If you know that - why are you selling that line of old cagal to the troops?'
'For the simple reason that I am the scion of one of those industrial families and quite happy with the situation as it is. I fulfill my military obligations by selling this line of old cagal, as you so quaintly put it, and in a few months will return to the life of luxury which I greatly enjoy. The number is engaged. I've enjoyed our talk as well, and in return for the pleasure I derived from the novelty of our conversation I wish to give you a gift.'
He put the phone down turned and opened a drawer in the desk behind him and I was numb enough to let him do it. When the coin finally dropped it was too late. As I jumped forward he spun about with a large weapon in his hand, aimed and steady.
'I wouldn't, if I were you. I hunt, you know, and I am a first-class shot. I would also have no slightest compunction in shooting you. In the back if needs be.' he added as I turned away. I turned around again and smiled.
'Well done corporal. Intelligence was concerned about the quality of your orientation talks and I was sent here to, you know, try to irritate you. And I promise not to repeat your remarks about the industrial-military complex. I come from a poor family so I do not enjoy any of your advantages.'
'Is that true?' Morton gasped.
'It is - and you are under arrest. There, one traitor caught, Gow, so some good has come of our conversation.' His eyes narrowed but the gun never moved. 'Do you expect me to believe that?'
'No. But I can show you my identification.' I smiled and reached into the empty back pocket of my new uniform.
He might have been a good shot when it came to blasting helpless animals or paper targets, but he had no combat experience. For a single instant his eyes looked down toward my moving hand. Which was all the time I needed. My other hand was already chopping the inside of his wrist, moving the gun aside. It hissed once and something slammed into the wall behind me. Morton screeched with fright and jumped aside. Before Gow could fire again my knee came up into his stomach.
The gun dropped to the floor and he dropped beside it. I took a deep and shuddering breath and let it out with a sigh.
'Well done, Jim,' I said, and reached over my shoulder and patted myself on the back. 'All the reflexes working fine.'
Morton bulged his eyes at me, then down at the silent form of the corporal. 'What's happening…?' he gurgled in confusion.
'Exactly what you see. I've rendered the corporal unconscious before he did us bodily harm. And you are not under arrest since that was just a ruse. So now, quickly before someone comes, push that desk up against the entrance since you can see that the door has no lock.' I bent and retrieved the weapon in case the scion of millions came to earlier than planned. And what was I going to do with the poor little rich boy? I looked down at his recumbent form and inspiration struck.
'You are a genius.' I bragged aloud. 'You deserve another pat which you will get later because now speed is of the essence.' I bent and began to unbutton his uniform. 'The uniform, that is the key, the uniform. They will be looking for a ragged recruit in baggy fatigues. Not a spifiy corporal in tailormades. You have earned this promotion, Jim. Go to the head of the class.'
I tore off his shoes and pulled his trousers free - and whistled. His underpants were woven of gold thread. Rich is as rich does. It was chance, pure chance, that he was a little overweight from a lifetime of good living. My
