s boots Bill could feel a faint； distant tremor in the deck。
〃What's that？〃 he asked Tembo out of the corner of his mouth。
〃Main drive； not the Bloater Drive。 Atomic engines。 Means we must be maneuvering； doing something。〃
〃But what？〃
〃Watch them fusebandsl〃 First Class Spleen shouted。
Bill was beginning to sweat…then suddenly realized that it was being excruciatingly hot。 Tembo； without taking his eyes from the fuses； slipped out of his clothes and folded them neatly behind him。
〃Are we allowed to do that？〃 Bill asked； pulling at his collar。 〃What's happening？〃
〃It's against regulations； but you have to strip or cook。 Peel； son； or you will die unblessed。 We must be going into action because the shields are up。 Seventeen force screens； one electromagnetic screen； a double…armored hull； and a thin layer of pseudo…living jelly that flows over and seals any openings。 With all that stuff there is absolutely no energy loss from the ship； nor any way to get rid of energy。 Or heat。 With the engines running and everyone sweating it can get pretty hot。 Even hotter when the guns fire。〃
The temperature stayed high； just at the boundary of tolerability for hours； while they stared at the fusebands。 At one point there was a tiny plink that Bill felt through his bare feet on the hot metal rather than heard。
〃And what was that？〃
〃Torpedoes being fired。〃
〃At what？〃
Tembo just shrugged in answer and never let his vigilant gaze stray from the fusebands。 Bill writhed with frustration； boredom； heat rash； and fatigue for another hour； until the all clear blew and a breath of cool air came in from the ventilators。 By the time he had pulled his uniform back on Tembo was gone； and he trudged wearily back to his quarters。
There was a new mimeographed notice pinned to the bulletin board in the corridor and he bent to read its blurred message。
FROM： Captain Zekial TO： All Personnel RE： Recent engagement On 23/11…8956 this ship did participate in the destruction by atomic torpedo of the enemy installation 17KL…345 and did in concert with the other vessels of said flotilla Red Crutch acplish its mission； it is thereby hereby authorized that all personnel of this vessel shall attach an Atomic Cluster to the ribbon denoting the Active Duty Unit Engagement Award； or however if this is their first mission of this type they will be authorized to wear the Unit Engagement Award。
NOTE： Some personnel have been observed with their Atomic Clusters inverted and this is WRONG and a COURTS…MARTIAL OFFENSE that is punishable by DEATH。
VII
After the heroic razing of 17KL…345 there were weeks of training and drill to restore the battle…weary veterans to their usual fitness。 But midway in these depressing months a new call sounded over the speakers； one Bill had never heard before； a clanging sound like steel bars being clashed together in a metal drum full of marbles。 It meant nothing to him nor to the other new men； but it sent Tembo springing from his bunk to do a quick two…step Death Curse Dance with tom…tom acpaniment on his footlocker cover。
〃Are you around the bend？〃 Bill asked dully from where he sprawled and read a tattered copy； of Real Ghoul Sex Fiend Shocker ics with Built…in Sound Effects。 A ghastly moan was keening from the page he was looking at。
〃Don't you know？〃 Tembo asked。 〃Don't you KNOW That's mail call； my boy； the grandest sound in space。〃
The rest of the watch was spent in hurrying up and waiting standing in line； and all the rest。 Maximum inefficiency was attached to the delivery of the mail； but finally； in spite of all barriers； the post was distributed and Bill had a precious spacial…postal from his mother。 On one side of the card was a picture of the Noisome…Offal refinery just outside of his home town； and this alone was enough to raise a lump in his throat。 Then； in the tiny square allowed for the message； his mother's pathetic scrawl had traced out： 〃Bad crop； in debt； robmule has packing glanders； hope you are the same…love； Maw。〃 Still； it was a message from home； and he read and reread it as they stood in line for chow。 Tembo； just ahead of him； also had a card； all angels and churches； just what you would expect； and Bill was shocked when he saw Tembo read the card one last time then plunge it into his cup of dinner。
〃What are you doing that for？〃 he asked； shocked。
〃What else is mail good for？〃 Tembo hummed； and poked the card deeper。 〃You just watch this now。〃
Before Bill's startled gaze； and right in front of his eyes； the card was starting to swell。 The white surface broke off and fell away in tiny flakes while the brown insides grew and grew until they filled the cup and were an inch thick。 Tembo fished the dripping slab out and took a large bite from one corner。
〃Dehydrated chocolate；〃 he said indistinctly。 〃Good！ Try yours。〃
Even before he spoke Bill had pushed his card down into the liquid and was fascinatedly watching it swell。 The message fell away； but instead of brown a swelling white mass became visible。
〃Taffy…or bread maybe；〃 he said； and tried not to drool。
The white mass was swelling； pushing against the sides of the cup； expanding out of the top。 Bill grabbed the end and held it as it rose。 Out and out it came until every drop of liquid had been absorbed and Bill held between his out…stretched hands a string of fat； connected letters over two yards long。 VOTE…FOR…HONEST…DEER…THE…TROOPERS'…FRIEND they read。 Bill leaned over and bit out an immense mouthful of T。 He spluttered and spat the damp shards onto the deck。
〃Cardboard；〃 he said sadly。 〃Mother always shops for bargains。 Even in dehydrated chocolate 。 。 。〃 He reached for his cup for something to wash the old…newsprint taste out of his mouth； but it was empty。
Somewhere high in the seats of power； a decision was made； a problem resolved； an order issued。 From small things do big things grow； a tiny bird turd lands on a snow…covered mountain slope； rolls； collects snow； bees bigger and bigger； gigantic and more gigantic until it is a thundering mass of snow and ice； an avalanche； a ravening mass of hurtling death that wipes out an entire village。 From small beginnings 。 。 。 Who knows what the beginning was here； perhaps the Gods do； but they are laughing。 Perhaps the haughty； strutting peahen wife of some High Minister saw a bauble she cherished and with shrewish； spiteful tongue exacerbated her peacock husband until； to give himself peace； he promised her the trinket； then sought the money for its purchase。 Perhaps this was a word in the Emperor's ear about a new campaign in the 77sub7th Zone； quiet now for years； a victory there…or even a draw if there were enough deaths…would mean a medal； an award； some cash。 And thus did a woman's covetousness； like a tiny bird's turd； start the snowball of warfare rolling； mighty fleets gathering； ship after ship assembling； like a rock in a pool of water the ripples spread until even the lowliest were touched by its motion 。 。 。
〃We're heading for action；〃 Tembo said as he sniffed at his cup of lunch。 〃They're loading up the chow with stimulants； pain depressors； saltpeter； and antibiotics。〃
〃Is that why they keep playing the patriotic music？〃 Bill shouted so that he could be heard over the endless roar of bugles and drums that poured from the speakers。 Tembo nodded。
〃There is little time left to be saved； to assure your place in Samedi's legions…〃
〃Why don't you talk to Bowb Brown？〃 Bill screamed。 〃I got tom…toms ing out of my ears！ Every time I look at a wall I see angels floating by on clouds。 Stop bothering me！ Work on Bowbanybody who would do what he does with thoats would probably join up with your Voodoo mob in a second。〃
〃I have talked with Brown about his soul； but the issue is still in doubt。 He never answers me； so I am not sure if he has heard me or not。 But you are different； my son； you show anger； which means you are showing doubt； and doubt
is the first step to belief 。 。 。〃
The music cut off in mid…peal； and for three seconds there was an echoing blast of silence that abruptly terminated。
〃Now hear this。 Attention all hands 。 。 。 stand by 。 。 。 in a few moments we will be taking you to the flagship for a o