Part 4 (1/2)

”That's not all either, sir,” Harry continued. ”He can 'think' bullets to a target.”

”Come in the house,” the colonel said weakly. ”That's an order, soldiers.”

Three weeks later, Sergeants First Cla.s.s Harold Fisher and Jediah Cromwell were putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches to their own private room.

Jed sank down onto the soft mattress on the big bed. ”Glory be, Harry, I jest can't seem to catch my breath, we've been movin' so fast 'n doin' so much. All them there tests with them tanks and them airyplanes in Californy and that other funny place. Ma thought it was kinda funny I had so much time fer jest a-sittin' 'n chattin' with her. Now we're here 'n I ain't allowed to say nothing to her.”

He stole a proud glance at the new chevrons on the sleeve of his fancy, blue dress uniform. ”Gosh but Ma would be proud to hear about all what's happened to us. I purely wish I could tell her.”

Harry snapped up from the bureau drawer where he had been placing his clothing.

”Watch it, Jed. You know what the general said. Now don't you go and queer this deal for us just because you're getting a little homesick,”

Harry warned. ”We're the only Army GI's in this outfit and this is pretty plush. You know what the general said, 'no talking with Ma until you get permission.' Remember?”

Jed sighed. ”Oh, I remember, rightly enough. Only I sh.o.r.e wish they'd let me just think 'h.e.l.lo' to her. I ain't never been so far from her afore and its gonna take a heap of powerful mind-talk to get to her.”

”Never you mind, now Jed,” Harry said, ”you'll get all the chances you want to talk with her. Just be patient.”

He turned back to his clothing. The was a knock at the door and then it opened to admit a small, conservatively-dressed civilian. Both sergeants jumped to their feet.

”Good morning, gentlemen,” the civilian said. ”I'm George Wadsworth, first secretary at the Emba.s.sy here.” He looked around the room and smiled. ”Your quarters satisfactory, men?” Both soldiers nodded happily.

”Good,” Wadsworth said. ”Oh, by the way Sergeant Cromwell,” he turned to Jed, ”we've just learned that our hosts plan to launch their manned Moon rocket within the next hour or so. Isn't that interesting?”