Thought 635: A Note on Starship Troopers (2)

CLERK

Fresh meat for the grinder, eh? 
So how'd you kids do?

RECRUIT A

I'm going to be a pilot.

CLERK

Well good for you. 
We need all the pilots we can get.

RECRUIT B TO RECRUIT C

Hey, did you get starside R and D?

RECRUIT C TO RECRUIT B

No.

RECRUIT B

I don't believe it.

RECRUIT C

I got Games and Theory.

RECRUIT A

Games and Theory?

That's military intelligence.

RECRUIT C

Yeah.

RECRUIT B

Way to go, Carl.

CLERK

Next time we meet,

I'll probably have to salute you.

RECRUIT C

Hmm.

CLERK TO RECRUIT B

How about you, son?

RECRUIT B

Infantry, sir.

CLERK

Good for you.

Mobile infantry made me

the man I am today.

[At which point the Clerk turns his back

on the recruits, only to be revealed

to have stumps for legs.]

***

Infants signing

up to the Games

and Theory of the

military grinder,

including the

infantry.