The Man-Kzin Wars 07

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“Lie still. Rest,” the doctor told him. “You're not recovered yet.”

“Lie still? And listen to that?”

The wind brought to the field hospital the sounds of an intermittent drumfire from the barren, snow-topped hills to the north, the flat thud-thud of screw-guns and the thorns-in-fire crackle of distant musketry.

“Rest, I say. You're out of this one, Captain Vaughn.”

“I've had enough. Dreams. Sickness. Delirium.”

The sick man swung his legs to the floor and rose to his feet. He took a half dozen steps, and the doctor caught him as he fell.

A punkah coolie took part of the emaciated soldier's weight and they helped him back to the bed.

“I'll make a bargain with you: When you can get as far as the latrine without help you can try leading your squadrons in the mountains. Not before.”

“I just feel so… useless lying here. Those are my men.”

“If it's any consolation to you, the cavalry have been resting for the last week: It's work for mules and infantry up there. And if it's any further consolation, I had you marked off for dead a week ago. You and your friends.”

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