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ing cobra in rut。
〃If the mistake were in the orders； flight…major； there would certainly be no difficulty。 Since the mistake was yours； lieutenant； we know where the error lies。 Report to the security entrance。〃
I hung up the phone and the guard lieutenant； grinning evilly； handed me a set of lieutenant's bars。 I unclipped my double…crosses and accepted the humbler rank。 I hoped promotion was as fast as demotion in the Space Armada。 A guard detail marched me along the wall to a smaller airlock type of entrance and I was passed through。 My credentials and orders were examined； my fingerprints taken； and in a few minutes I was through the last gate and inside the base of Glupost。
A car was summoned； a private soldier took my bags； we drove to the officers' quarters and I was shown to my room。 And all the time I kept my eyes open。 Not that there was anything fascinating to see。 See one military base and you've seen them all。 Buildings； tents； chaps in uniform doing repetitious jumping； heavy expensive equipment all painted the same color； that sort of thing。 What I had to find out would not be that easy to uncover。 My bags were dumped in the tiny room； salutes exchanged； the soldier left； and a voice spoke hoarsely from the other bed。
〃You don't happen to have a drink on you； do you？〃
I looked closely and saw that what I at first thought was a bundle of crumpled blankets now appeared to contain a scrawny individual who wore dark glasses。 The effort of talking must have exhausted him and he groaned； adding another breath of alcoholic vapor to the already rich atmosphere of the room。
〃It so happens that I do；〃 I said； opening the window。 〃My name is Vaska。 Do you prefer any particular brand？〃
〃Otrov。〃
I could think of no drink by that title so presumably it was my roommate's name。 Taking the flask with the most potent beverage from my collection I poured him half a glass。 He seized it with trembling fingers and drained it while shudders racked his frame。 It must have done some good because he sat up in bed and held out the glass for more。
〃We blast off in two days；〃 he said； sniffing his drink。 〃This really isn't paint remover； is it？〃
〃No； it just smells that way to fool the MP's。 Where to？〃
〃Don't make jokes so early in the morning。 You know we never know what planet we're hitting。 Security。 Or are you with security？〃
He blinked suspiciously in my direction： I would have to watch the questions until I knew more。 I forced a smile and poured a drink for myself。
〃A joke。 I don't feel so good myself。 I woke up a flight…major this morning。。。〃
〃And now you're a lieutenant。 Easy e； easy go。〃
〃They didn't e that easy！〃
〃Sorry。 Figure of speech。 I've always been a lieutenant so I wouldn't know how the others feel。 You couldn't just tip a little more into this glass？ Then I'll be able to dress and we can get over to the club and get into some serious drinking。 It's going to be awful； all those weeks without drink until we get back。〃
Another fact。 The Cliaand fought their battles refreshed with water。 I wondered if I could。 I sipped and the disturbing thought that had been poking at me for some minutes surfaced。
The real Vaska Hulja was back at the hotel and would be discovered。 And I could do nothing about it because I was in this sealed base。
Some of the drink went down the wrong pipe and I coughed and Otrov beat me on the back。
〃I think it really is paint remover；〃 he said gloomily when I had stopped gasping； and began to dress。
As we walked to the officers' club I was in no mood for munication； which Otrov probably blamed on my recent demotion。 What to do？ Drink seemed to be in order； it wasn't noon yet； and it would be wisest to wait until evening to crack out of the base。 Face the problems as they arose。 Right now I was in a perfect position to imbibe drink with my new peer group and gather information at the same time。 Which； after all； was the reason that I was here in the first place。 Before leaving I had slipped a tube of killalc pills into my pocket。 One of these every two hours would produce a massive heartburn； but would also grab onto and neutralize most of the alcohol as soon as it hit the stomach。 I would drink deep and listen。 And stay sober。 As we walked through the garish doorway of the club I slipped one out and swallowed it。
It was all rather depressing； particularly since I was sloshing the stuff down my throat as fast as I could drink it and buying rounds for the others and not feeling it at 'all。 As the afternoon went on and thirsts increased other officers appeared in the club and there were soon a dozen other pilots crowded around our free…spending table。 All drinking well and saying little of any interest。
〃Drink； drink；〃 I insisted。 〃Won it gambling。 Don't need it where we're going；〃 and bought another round。
There was a great deal said； as one might well imagine； about the flying characteristics of various ships and I filed all relevant details。 And much mumbling over old campaigns； I dived from 50；000； planted the bombs； pulled up and that sort of thing。 The only thing remarkable about all this was the unsullied record of victories。 I knew the Cliaand armed forces were good； but looking at this collection of drunks almost made it impossible to believe they could be that good。 But apparently they were。 There were endless boasting tales of victory after victory and nothing else； and after a period I too came to believe。 These boys were good and the Space Armada of Cliaand a winner。 It was all too depressing。 By evening there was a literal falling away of the original drinkers； though their places at the table were filled quickly enough。 When one of them slid to the floor the servants would gently carry him off。 I realized that I was the last of the originals so no one would notice if I also made an exit in this apparently traditional manner。 Letting my eyes close I sank deep into my chair； hoping this would do since I did not relish a trip to the debris littered floor。 It took them some minutes to notice I was no longer functioning； but eventually they did。 Hard hands caught me at knees and armpits and I was hauled off。
When the footsteps had rattled away I opened my eyes to a sort of dim chamber whose walls were lined with bunks。 Nearby me was the gaping 0 of Otrov's mouth； snoring away in his cups。 As were the others。 No one noticed when I pulled on my gloves and went to the door that opened into the pany street and let myself out。 It was almost dark and I had to leave the camp and I had not the slightest idea of how I could do it。
The gates were impossible。 I strolled along the wall to the first one。 Sealed and bolted shut； solid steel； with a brace of guards to see that the locks weren't tampered with。 I walked on。 There were guards every hundred paces or so along the wall and I assumed that there were an equal or greater number of electronic safeguards as well。 As evening approached searchlights were turned on that illuminated the outside of the wall and glinted from the barbed wire that topped it。 Admittedly all this was to keep anyone from getting inbut it worked equally well