Грань будущего
Chapter 6
Reconstructionofthebasehadbeenmovingforwardatafeverpitch.Halfthebuildingsonthebasehadburnedtotheground,andhaulingoffthewreckagewasamonumentaltaskinandofitself.The17thCompany’sbarracksweregone,andthemysterynovelI’dnevergottenaroundtofinishingwasnothingbutashes.
Iwanderedaimlesslyaspeoplehurriedtoandfroacrossthebase.
"Fightlikeamothefuckin’maniac?Thathowdecoratedheroesdo?"
Thevoicewasfamiliar.Iturnedjustintimetoseeafistflyingstraightatme.Myleftlegrepositioneditself.Ididn’thavetimetothink.AllIcoulddowasdecidewhetherornottothrowthecounterattackswitchinmyhead.IfIflippedtheswitchon,thereflexesburnedintomethrough160loopswouldkickin,takingovermybodylikearobotinafactory.
Icouldshiftmyweighttomyleftleg,deflectthepunchwithmyshoulder,andgrabmyattacker’selbowasIsteppedforwardwithmyrightfootandjammedmyownelbowintohisside.Thatwouldtakecareofthefirstpunch.IranthesimulationinmyheadandrealizedI’dbeshatteringmyassailant’sribsbeforeIevenknewwhohewas.Ioptedtojusttakethepunch.TheworstIwouldwalkawaywithwasablackeye.
IthurtmorethanI’dbargainedfor.Theforceoftheblowknockedmeback,andIlandedhardonmyass.Atleastnothingwasbroken-allaccordingtoplan.ItwasgoodtoknowIhadacareerofbeingapunchingbagaheadofmeifthearmydidn’tpanout.
