Грань будущего

           Historsohadbeenshreddedtogroundbeef,buthewasstillclutchingamagazinewithbothhands.Beneathathinlayerofdustasmiling,toplessblondstaredupfromitspages.Iwouldknowthoseprodigiousbreastsanywhere.Theguyinthebunknexttominehadbeenlookingatthemduringallthoseheart-to-hearttalksI’dhadwithYonabaruinthebarracks.ItwasNijou.

           "Poorbastarddiedlookingatporn,"Isaid.

           "Keiji,youknowwhatwehavetodo."

           "Yeah,Iknow.There’snogoingbackthistime.Nomatterwhodies."

           "There’snotmuchtime.Comeon."

           "I’mready."IthoughtIwas,forthatonesecond."Fuck!Thisisn’tabattle,it’samassacre."

           Thehangardoorstoodopen.Thereweremarkswheresomeonehadjimmiedthelockwithsomethinglikeacrowbar.Ritathrustoneofthebattleaxesintothegroundandunlatchedthe20mmrifleslungonherback.

           "You’vegotfiveminutes."

           "Ionlyneedthree."

           Iranintothehangar.ItwasalongnarrowbuildingwithJacketsliningeithersideofthepassagedownthemiddle.EachbuildinghousedenoughJacketsforoneplatoon,twenty-fivetoawall.Theairinsidewasheavyandmoist.Thelightssetintothewallsflickeredoffandon.MostoftheJacketsstillhungfromtheirhooks,lifeless.

           Theoverpoweringstenchofbloodalmostknockedmeoffmyfeet.Ahugedarkpoolhadcollectedinthecenteroftheroom,stainingtheconcrete.Enoughtofillabirdbath.