Грань будущего

           "MeetingagoddessinHellmustmeanIstillhavesomeluck,"hesaid.

           "Thisarmorplateisdugintoyourlegprettydeep.It’lltaketoolongtogetyouout."

           "Whataremyoptions?"

           "YoucanstayhereshootingpicturesuntiltheMimicscrushyoutodeath,orIcancutoffyourlegandcarryyoutotheinfirmary.Takeyourpick."

           "Rita,wait!"

           "Youhaveoneminutetothinkitover.TheMimicsarecoming."Sheroseheraxe,notreallyinterestedinofferinghimthefullsixtyseconds.

           Murdochtookadeepbreath."CanIaskyousomething?"

           "What?"

           "IfIlive-willyouletmetakeaproperpictureofyou?Notonguesstickingout,nomiddlefingers?"

           TheJapaneseandU.S.troopsmetupjustovertwohoursaftertheattackhadbegun.Inthetimeithadtakenthesuntoclimboutoftheeasternskyandshinedownfromdirectlyoverhead,thesoldiersonthegroundhadcobbledtogethersomethingyoucouldactuallycallafront.Itwasanuglybattle,butitwasn’tarout.Therewereplentyofmenstillalive,stillmoving,stillfighting.

           RitaandIranacrosstheremainsofthebase.