Грань будущего

           Ihadn’theardreportsofanypatrolboatsbeingsunk.Thebaseonthefrontwasaliveandwell.Therecouldn’tbeanyMimicshere.Aclaimthetwocorpseslyingbesidemewouldsurelyhavecontestediftheycould.Buttheyweredead,rightbeforemyeyes.AndI,theironehopefordefense,hadjustdesertedtheonlymilitaryunitintheareacapableofholdingbackthisinvasion.

           Iwasunarmed.Myknife,mygun,myJacket-theywereallbackatthebase.WhenI’dwalkedthroughthatgateanhourago,I’dleftmyonlyhopefordefensebehind.Thirtymeterstothenearest57mmgun.Withinrunningdistance.Iknewhowtofireone,buttherewasstillthetarptodealwith.I’dneverhavetimetogetitoff.InsertmyIDcardintotheplatform,keyinmypasscode,feedinathirtykilometerammobelt,releasetherotationlockleverorthebarrelwon’tmoveandIcan’taim,climbintotheseat,cranktherustedhandle-fuckit.Fire,motherfucker!Fire!

           IknewthepowerofaMimic.TheyweighedseveraltimesasmuchasafullygearedJacketjockey.Structurallytheyhadalotincommonwithastarfish.Therewasanendoskeletonjustbelowtheskin,andittook50mmarmor-piercingroundsorbettertopenetrateit.Andtheydidn’tholdbackjustbecauseamanwasunarmed.Theyrolledrightthroughyoulikearototillerthroughagophermound.

           "Fuckme."

           Thefirstjavelinpiercedmythigh.

           Thesecondopenedagapingwoundinmyback.

           Iwastoobusytryingtokeepdowntheorgansthatcamegurglingupintomythroattoevennoticethethird.

           Iblackedout.