"William W Johnstone - Ashes 33 - Enemy in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

"That's why in the SUSA, all of our teachers are volunteers who have to
support themselves at an honest job, huh?" Carrie asked.

Ben nodded. "Yeah. We saw right away that teaching should arise out of a
skill, not just an opinion. All of our universities teach skills that
are necessary in the real world to make a living or to be useful to
society. All of the so-called liberal-arts curriculum they love so much
in the U.S. is still taught here, but only to produce well-rounded
people and only as an adjunct to useful subjects. Here, no one takes
philosophy or art appreciation unless they're also enrolled in medicine
or engineering or something they can make a living at."

"You left out the most important job of all," Hammer said, putting his
hand on the butt of his Beretta 9mm pistol. "Soldiering."

Ben laughed. "A prejudiced point of view, but one with which I heartily
agree. Only, soldiering is not taught at universities, but here in the
armed forces," he added.

"And there's nothing like on-the-job training," Coop said, glancing at
Jersey. "Why, just look at Jersey here," he said, smiling. "If she had
to earn her living cooking or taking care of a man, she'd starve to death."

In a flash, Jersey drew her K-Bar and put the point under Coop's jaw. "I
know how to 'take care of a man,' " she said archly. "Want me to show
you how it's done?"

20

Coop gulped and leaned back, moving the knife from his throat. "Umm, I
think I'll pass, dear."

Jersey grinned and put the knife back in its scabbard. "I thought you
might, sweetie," she said.

Ben cleared his throat and hid his smile behind a hand as he said, "Now
that our intel briefing is over, I have some news I want to share with
you all."

The group settled down and gave him their Ml attention, wondering what
was going on.

"I have decided that it is time for this old warhorse to step down," he
continued, his face now serious.
As the group began to speak up, voicing their objections to this
pronouncement, Ben held up a hand. "Now, hold on," he said, looking each
of his friends in the eye as he spoke. "Leading an army is a young man's
job, and I have recently come to the conclusion that it would be better
left to someone younger and stronger than me." He inclined his head