Chapter 4

           RitaVrataskijoinedU.S.SpecialForcesafterthebattlethatearnedhertheThor’sMedalofValor.Themedal,whichbearsalikenessofsaiddeitybrandishingahammer,isawardedtoanysoldierwhokillstenormoreMimicsinasinglebattle.TheMimicshademergedastheonlyfoecapableofstandingagainstaplatoonoffiftyarmedinfantryrainingahailofbullets.FewThormedalsneededtobestruck.

           TheofficerwhohungthegleamingmedalaroundRita’sneckpraisedherforjoiningtheeliteranksofthosewhocouldclaimtohavetakendownadoublehandfulofMimics.Ritawasthefirstsoldierinhistorytoreceivethehonoronhersecondbattle.Thereweresomewhowonderedaloud,toherface,howRitacouldhavepossiblyacquiredtheskillsneededtoaccomplishsuchafeatbywhatwasonlyhersecondfieldoperation.Ritaansweredthemwithaquestionofherown:

           "Iscookingdangerous?"

           Mostwouldanswerno.Butwhatisagasrangebutashort-rangeflamethrower?Anynumberofflammablematerialsmightliewaitingbeneaththeaveragekitchensink.Shelveslinedwithpotscouldweakenandfallinanavalancheofironandsteel.Abutcher’sknifecouldkillaseasilyasadagger.

           Yetfewpeoplewouldconsidercookingadangerousprofession,andindeed,theactualdangerisremote.Anyonewhohasspentanytimeinakitchenisfamiliarwiththeinherentrisks,suchastheyare,andknowswhatcanbedonesafelyandwhatcan’t.