Karen 3
Captain Levine sets down her cup, "ok, may as well get started."
Conversations gradually taper off.
"For most of you, this is just a refresher course, hafta take it every six years. A chance to get away from the family, drink every night."
Laughter.
"For one of us, this is brand new. I introduce Lt Karen Zauberman, formerly of the Canadian Army. Do not let that look fool you for one minute, she is one tough customer. Physical condition score lots higher than alla you. Range score on carbine and blaster, way ahead of the lotta you. Been on a High Arctic survival course in temperatures that defy belief and even been shipwrecked."
Oohs and ahs.
"So, be helpful to her on the course, only the Para part is new to her."
Nods.
"Now at risk of putting y'all to sleep, a bit of history. Parachutes originally were just for fighter pilots. Some bright spark invented the idea of Paratroops and rocked the world. Yes, it was hugely effective, but it had one major downside, horrendous casualty rates. Just ask any of the German lads who dropped four times into Crete or the Americans jumping on D-Day in World War 2. But beaming down, one sweet operation. One casualty per every 28,000 jumps."
I feel my neck and shoulders go tense.
"Unfortunately that casualty is not a mere injury, but a displacement into a different time. So, alla youse who slept through high school history class, shame on you!"
Roars of laughter.
"We ask one thing if it happens to you. Don't aim to be a hero, do great things, just stay alive and try to come back. No one has ever come back before, be the first and help everyone it happens to afterwards."
Nods.
"Given that the average Para makes a score of such descents during an entire career, we're not talking a lot of mathematical risk. Jaywalking in Jerusalem is more likely to get you killed."
Laughter.
Breaktime, I end up sitting next to Naomi, "so how long were ya shipwrecked?"
"Was in the Pacific, eight years, found by the Japanese."
She gasps, "you gotta well-preserved look, don't look anywhere old enough for that. How bout some advice?"
"Sure."
"Now they owed you back pay, you got enough money to buy an apartment here, right?"
I nod.
"As you start to meet guys, do not and I emphasize do not mention the shipwreck."
I'm starting to catch her drift.
"First, means they know you're older. Second, might draw the gold digger sort."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. So what was the worst temperature you saw?"
"Minus 66 degrees."
"Holy sh**, winters here will be a joke for you."
"I'm not so sure. Eight years of steamy tropics changed me. Even this morning, I felt cold."
"Well, guess that makes you a real Israeli now, no running back to Canada."
Conversations gradually taper off.
"For most of you, this is just a refresher course, hafta take it every six years. A chance to get away from the family, drink every night."
Laughter.
"For one of us, this is brand new. I introduce Lt Karen Zauberman, formerly of the Canadian Army. Do not let that look fool you for one minute, she is one tough customer. Physical condition score lots higher than alla you. Range score on carbine and blaster, way ahead of the lotta you. Been on a High Arctic survival course in temperatures that defy belief and even been shipwrecked."
Oohs and ahs.
"So, be helpful to her on the course, only the Para part is new to her."
Nods.
"Now at risk of putting y'all to sleep, a bit of history. Parachutes originally were just for fighter pilots. Some bright spark invented the idea of Paratroops and rocked the world. Yes, it was hugely effective, but it had one major downside, horrendous casualty rates. Just ask any of the German lads who dropped four times into Crete or the Americans jumping on D-Day in World War 2. But beaming down, one sweet operation. One casualty per every 28,000 jumps."
I feel my neck and shoulders go tense.
"Unfortunately that casualty is not a mere injury, but a displacement into a different time. So, alla youse who slept through high school history class, shame on you!"
Roars of laughter.
"We ask one thing if it happens to you. Don't aim to be a hero, do great things, just stay alive and try to come back. No one has ever come back before, be the first and help everyone it happens to afterwards."
Nods.
"Given that the average Para makes a score of such descents during an entire career, we're not talking a lot of mathematical risk. Jaywalking in Jerusalem is more likely to get you killed."
Laughter.
Breaktime, I end up sitting next to Naomi, "so how long were ya shipwrecked?"
"Was in the Pacific, eight years, found by the Japanese."
She gasps, "you gotta well-preserved look, don't look anywhere old enough for that. How bout some advice?"
"Sure."
"Now they owed you back pay, you got enough money to buy an apartment here, right?"
I nod.
"As you start to meet guys, do not and I emphasize do not mention the shipwreck."
I'm starting to catch her drift.
"First, means they know you're older. Second, might draw the gold digger sort."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. So what was the worst temperature you saw?"
"Minus 66 degrees."
"Holy sh**, winters here will be a joke for you."
"I'm not so sure. Eight years of steamy tropics changed me. Even this morning, I felt cold."
"Well, guess that makes you a real Israeli now, no running back to Canada."
posted by afghangirlscifi @ 8:09 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home