Snipe thought the fellow’s voice sounded somehow different, but that didn’t matter. It was obviously the same man. “Are you crazy or just stupid?” he barked. “I ordered you to extra duty less than two minutes ago. Now get down to the kitchen before I throw you in the stockade instead!”
The legionnaire spread his hands. “That wasn’t me, sir, it must have been-“
“Get out of my sight!” shouted Snipe, his face turning red. The legionnaire, evidently deciding not to press his luck, saluted and went off quickly toward the kitchen.
Snipe was starting to get into his stride now. He found another’ legionnaire with a loose button, and one who hadn’t polished his boots sufficiently for Snipe’s taste, and he sent them both to KP. But his jaw nearly fell when he rounded a corner of the MBC and found the same legionnaire there again, sitting in a chair and reading!
“You!” he sputtered, walking over to the sideburned malefactor. “You…”
The legionnaire looked up at him and said with a smile, “Howdy, can I he’p you with anything, son?”
“That’s sir to you,” screamed the lieutenant. “And you’ll stand at attention when you speak to an officer. You’re in deep trouble now, if you don’t know it…”
The legionnaire closed his book and stood up, more or less at attention. For some reason, he looked taller than before-and a bit older. “Why, sir, I didn’t think we was standin’ on protocol quite so much in this outfit. Captain Jester never did get around to decidin’ jes’ what my rank oughta be. But seein’ as how you’re new, I’m happy to oblige. Now, jes’ what can I do for you, today, Lieutenant?”