Грань будущего

           Isupposeeveryonehasacrosstobear,Ithought.

           "Shasta,whyareyouhere?"Ritasaid,withsurprisingpatience.

           "Icametotellyouyouraxeisn’tinthehangar,it’sintheworkshop."

           "Thanksfortheheads-up."

           "Becarefuloutthere."

           "Whatareyougoingtodo?"

           "Ican’tfight,soIfiguredI’dfindaniceplacetohide-"

           "Usemyroom,"Ritasaidquickly."Thejavelinscan’tmakeitthroughthewallsortheglass.It’stougherthanitlooks.Youjustneedtodomeonelittlefavor."

           "A…favor?"

           "Don’tletanyoneinhereuntileitherheorIcomeback."Ritajabbedathumbinmydirection.Idon’tthinkShastaevenrealizedtherewasanyonestandingnexttoRitauntilthen.Icouldalmosthearherbigeyesblinkingfromsomewherebehindherglassesasshestaredatme.Ihadn’tmetShastaRaylleyetinthisloop.

           "Andyouare…?"

           "KeijiKiriya.Apleasure."

           Ritasteppedtowardthedoor."You’renottoletanyonein,nomatterwhotheyareorwhattheysay.Idon’tcareifit’sthepresident,tellhimtogofuckhimself."

           "Yessir!"

           "I’mcountingonyou.Oh,andoneotherthing-"

           "Yes?"

           "Thanksforthegoodluckcharm.I’llneedit."

           RitaandIhurriedtothehangar.