Грань будущего
Chapter 8
AjavelintorethroughtheairIhadoccupiedonlyatenthofasecondbefore.Itdugintothegroundbeforedetonating,blastingdirtandsandintotheair.I’dcaughtabreak.Theenemycouldn’tseethroughtheshoweroffallingearth-Icould.There.One,two,three.ItookdowntheMimicsthroughtheimprovisedcurtainofdust.
Iaccidentallykickedoneofmybuddies-thesortofkickyouusedtobreakdownadoorwhenbothofyourhandswerefull.Ihadaguninmylefthandandabattleaxeinmyright.ItwasagoodthingGodhadgivenustwoarmsandlegs.IfIonlyhadthreeappendagestoworkwith,Iwouldn’tbeabletohelpthissoldierout,whoeverhewas.
AsIturned,IcutdownanotherMimicwithasingleblow.Iranuptothefallensoldier.Hehadawolfwearingacrownpaintedonhisarmor-4thCompany.Iftheywerehere,thatmeantwe’dmetupwiththemainassaultforce.Thelinewasgivingway.
Thesoldier’sshouldersweretrembling.Hewasinshock.WhetheritwastheMimicsormykickthathadsenthimintoit,Icouldn’ttell.Hewasoblivioustotheworldaroundhim.IfIlefthimthere,he’dbeacorpseinsideofthreeminutes.
Iputmyhandonhisshoulderplateandestablishedacontactcomm.
"Yourememberhowmanypointswebeatyoubyinthatgame?"
Hedidn’tanswer."Youknow,theoneyoulostto17thCompany."
"Wh…what?"Thewordsraspedinhisthroat.
"Therugbygame.Don’tyouremember?Itwassomekindofintramuralrecord,soIfigurewemustabeatyoubyatleastten,twentypoints."
