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en awarded such blows through sheer sadism。 David gritted his teeth and accepted them when he had to； judging…correctly…that he would be run out of school if he defied the supreme authority of a first classman。 So he thought about the south end of that mule and endured it。
There was a much greater hazard to his personal safety and future prospects of a life free from 〃honest ilitary service included the idea that a prospective officer must excel in athletic sports。 Do not ask why； it was no more subject to rational explanation than' is any other branch of theology。
Plebes in particular had to…no choice！…go out for 〃sports。〃 Two hours each day which were nominally free David could
not spend napping or dreaming in the quiet Of the school's library； but must perforce spend in sweaty exercise。
Worse still； some 〃sports〃 were not only excessively energetic but also involved hazards to David's favorite skin； 〃Boxing〃
…this is a long forgotten； utterly useless； stylized mock bat in which two men batter each other for a preset period or until one is beaten unconscious。 〃La Crosse〃…this is a mock battle taken over from the savages who had formerly inhabited that continent。 In it mobs of men fought with clubs。 There was a hard missile with which points were scored…but it was the prospect of being sliced open or having bones broken with these clubs that aroused our hero's distaste。
There was a thing called 〃water polo〃 in which opposing swimmers attempted to drown each other。 David avoided that one by not swimming more than well enough to stay in school
…a required skill。 He was an excellent swimmer； having' learned at the age of seven through being chucked into a creek by two older cousins…but he concealed his skill。
The sport with highest prestige was a thing called 〃foot ball〃
…and first classmen sized up each new group of victims for candidates who might be expected to excel； or learn to excel； in this organized mayhem。 David had never seen it…but now he saw it and it filled his peaceful soul with horror。
As well It might。 It involved two gangs of eleven men facing each other on a field and trying to move an ellipsoid bladder down the field against the opposition of the other gang。 There were rituals and an esoteric terminology； but that was the idea。
It sounds harmless and rather foolish。 ？oolish it was； harmless it was not…as the rituals permitted the opposing gang to attack a man attempting to move the bladder in a variety of violent ways； the least of which was to grab him and cause him to hit the ground like a ton of brick。 Often three or four hit him at once； and sometimes inflicted indignities and mayhems not permitted by the rituals but concealed hy the pile of bodies。
Death was not supposed to result from this activity but sometimes did。 Injuries short of death were monplace。
Unfortunately David had the ideal physique for success in this 〃feet ball〃~…height； weight； eyesight； fleetness of foot； speed of reflex。 He was certain to be spotted by the first classmen on their return from mock sea battles and 〃volunteered〃 as a sacrificial victim。
It was time for evasive action。
The only posSible way to。 avoid 〃foot ball〃 was to be acceptably occupied with some other sport。 He found one。
Ira； do you know what 〃swordsmanship〃 is？ Good…I can。 speak freely。 This was a time in Earth's history when the sword had ceased to be a weapon…after having been prominent for more than four millennia。 But swords still existed in fossil form and retained a shadow of their ancient prestige。 A gentleman was presumed to know how to use a sword and… 〃Lazarus； what is a 'gentleman'？〃
What？ Don't interrupt； boy； you confuse me。 A 〃gentleman〃 is； uh…Well； now let me see。 A general definition… My； you can think up some hard ones。 Some said it was an accident of birth…that being a disparaging way of saying it was a trait geically inherited。 But that doesn't say what the trait is。 A gentleman was supposed to prefer being a dead lion to being a live jackal。 Me； I've always preferred to be a live lion； so that puts me outside the rules。 Mmm 。 。 you could say in all seriousness that the quality tagged by that name represents the slow emergence in human culture of an ethic higher than simple self…interest……damn slow in emerging in my opinion； you still can't rely on it jn a crunch。
As may be； military officers were presumed to be gentlemen and wore swords。 Even fliers wore swords； although Allah 'alone could guess why~
These cadets were not only presumed to be gentlemen； there was a national law which stated that they were gentlemen。 So they were taught a bare minimum about how to handle a sword； just enough to keep them from slicing their fingers or stabbing bystanders…not enough to fight with them； just to keep them from looking too silly to wear swords。
But swordsmanship was a recognized sport； called 〃fencing。〃 It had none of the prestige of foothall； or boxing； or even water polo…but it was on the list； a plebe could sign up for it。
David spotted this as a way out。 Under a simple physical law； if he was up in the fencing loft； then he was not down on the football field； with sadistic gorillas in hobnailed boots jumping up and down on him。 Long before the upper classmen returned to school Plebe Cadet Lamb had established himself as a member of the fencing squad； with a record of never missing a day； and was trying hard to look like a 〃good prospect〃 for the team。
At that time and place three forms of fencing were taught：
saber； dueling sword； and foil。 The first tw&'used full…sfred weapons。 True； edges were dulled and points。 were bated； nevertheless a man could get hurt with them…even fatally； though that was very rare。 But the foil was a lightweight toy； a~ fake swcrd with a limber blade that bent at the slightest pressure。 The stylized imitation swordplay that used the foil was about as dangerous as tiddlywinks。 This was the 〃weapon〃 ；David selected。
It was made f9r him。 The highly artificial rules of foil fencing gave great advantage to fast reflexes and a sharp brain； both of which he had。 Some exertion was necessary…but not much pared with football； lacrosse； or even tennis。 Best of all； it required no body…against…body pounding that David found so distasteful in the rough games he was avoiding。 David applied himself single…mindedly to acquiring skill so that his？。haven would be secure。
So diligent was he in protecting his sanctuary that； before his plebe year was over； he was National Novice Foil Champion。 This caused his squad leader to smile at him； an expression that hurt his face。 His cadet pany mander noticed him for the first time and congratulated him。
Success with the foil even got him out of some 〃punishment〃 beatings。 One Friday evening； when he was about to be beaten for some imaginary dereliction。； David said； 〃Sir； if it's the same to you； I'd rather have twice as many swats on Sunday…because tomorrow we're fencing the Princeton plebe team and； if you do the job I know you can do； i~ might slow me up tomorrow。〃
The first classman was impressed by this because having the Navy win； at any time and for any purpose and in anything； took precedence by Sacred Law over anything else； even the righteous pleasure of beating a 〃smart ass〃 plebe。 He answered； 〃Tell you what； mister。 Report to my room after supper on Sunday。 If you lose tomorrow； you get a double dose of the medicine you've got ing to you。 But if you win； we'll cancel it。〃
David won all three of his matches。
Fencing got him through his perilous plebe year with his precious skin unmarked save for scars on his bottom。 He was safe now； with three easy years ahead of him； fo~ only a plebe was subject to physical punishment； only a plebe could be ordered to take part in orga。nized mayhem。
（Omitted）
One body…contact sport David loved； one of ancient popu
lazily； which he had learned back n Those bills he had fled from。 But it was played with girls and