Грань будущего

           Imissedmyknife,warmandsnugundermypillow.IfIhaditwithme,Icouldlockthisguyinahalfnelsonand-thinkinglikethatwasn’tgoingtogetmeanywhere.Istretchedmyback.Gottastaycool.Ifhestaresatyou,starerightback.

           Stiflingayawn,theguardpressedthebuttontoopenthegate.Thedoorwaytofreedomcreakedopen.

           IturnedslowlytolookbackasIslippedpasttheyellowbar.There,inthedistance,wasthetrainingfield.Theseabreeze,heavywiththescentoftheocean,blewacrossthefieldtowardthegate.Ontheothersideofthefence,soldiersthesizeofantsperformedtiny,miniaturesquats.TheywerethesoldiersI’deatenwithandtrainedwith.Theyweremyfriendsinthe17th.Iswallowedthenostalgiathatroseupinme.Iwalked,unhurried,themoistwindblowingagainstmybody.Keepwalkinguntilyou’reoutofsightoftheguard.Don’trun.Justalittlefarther.Turnthecorner.Ibrokeintoasprint.

           OnceIstartedrunning,Ididn’tstop.

           ItwasfifteenklicksfromthebasetoTateyama,anearbyentertainmentdistrict.EvenifItookaroundaboutroute,itwouldbetwentyklicksatmost.OnceIwasthere,IcouldchangemyclothesandlayinthesuppliesIneeded.Icouldn’trisktrainsorthehighway,butonceIhitChibaCityIwouldbehomefree.Neitherthearmynorthepolicestucktheirnosesintheundergroundmalls-turned-slumsthere.

           ItwasabouteighthoursuntilSquad1830’smeeting.That’swhenthey’dprobablyfigureoutI’dgoneAWOL.