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Show Flying - 175 some small part of his destiny. God and country have been to a small extent served. Released by the captain they walk out, blinking in the bright sun, the l i g h t breeze cool on their faces. "You can't reason with them, s i r , " they can hear the First Sergeant saying to the captain as they walk beside the tent. "Punishment, t h a t ' s the only thing they understand. You're too easy on them, s i r . Tney're like animals. You have to be firm with them for their own good. They'd thank you'for i t , if they could." "The F i r s t Stud sure loves us, don't he," says Thompson. They walk down the d i r t road between the two rows of tents, looking down and kicking their feet in the dust. They pass the entrances, like burrows open to the afternoon sun, dark shapes inside hunkered down, .grubbing at ungues sable tasks. Sometimes two or three of the occupants l i e in front of the opening sunning themselves, ready to disappear inside at the s l i g h t e s t smell of danger. "Army's not so bad," says O'Connell. "I had a friend once that was in the Marines. He told me he talked back to his platoon sergeant once and the D.I. made him spend two hours crawling around the barracks on his hands and knees barking like a dog." "I wouldn't do i t , " says John Henry. "They could put me In the stockade tomorrow, I wouldn't do i t ." |