byCorporal Mike Durgan said, “Suppose I don’t push the furgin button? Then what happens?”
“Court-martial,” Sergeant Culligan said. “That’s what happens.”
“Who’ll be around to court-martial me?”
“Somebody, don’t worry.”
“I don’t. That’s their worry. Tell me again about this furgin button. I push it and fifty million of the enemy die. Is that right?”
“That’s right. I get the signal and I say ‘Fire’ and you push the button. You saw the orders when we unsealed them.”
“Suppose I don’t push the button? Do you push it?”
“No. My orders are to say ‘Fire.’ Then you push the button.”
you“You don’t push it if I don’t push it?”
“No. I just say ‘Fire.’”
“So it’s up to me to say whether fifty million people live or get killed? That’s a lot of responsibility for a corporal.”
“Those are my order
