Грань будущего

           Ritawatchedinthesnowasherfatherfoughtandwaskilled.Smokespiraledupfromtheflames.Brilliantcindersflittedupintothenight.Theskyglowedbloodred.

           Frombeneathhermother’sbody,alreadybeginningtogrowcold,Ritaconsidered.Hermother,adevoutChristian,hadtoldherthatpretendingtocrywasalie,andthatifshelied,whenGodjudgedherimmortalsoulshewouldn’tbeallowedintoHeaven.WhenhermothertoldRitathatifMimicsdidn’tlietheycouldgetintoHeaven,thegirlhadgrownangry.Mimicsweren’tevenfromEarth.Theydidn’thavesouls,didthey?Iftheydid,andtheyreallydidgotoHeaven,RitawonderedwhetherpeopleandMimicswouldfightupthere.Maybethat’swhatawaitedherparents.

           ThegovernmentsentRitatolivewithsomedistantrelatives.Shestoleapassportfromarefugeethreeyearsolderthanshewholivedinarun-downapartmentnextdoorandheadedfortheUDFrecruitingoffice.

           Alloverthecountry,peopleweregettingtiredofthewar.TheUDFneededallthesoldierstheycouldgetforthefrontlines.

           Providedtheapplicanthadn’tcommittedaparticularlyheinouscrime,thearmywouldn’tturnanyoneaway.Legally,Ritawasn’toldenoughtoenlist,buttherecruitingofficerbarelyevenglancedatherpurloinedpassportbeforehandingheracontract.

           Thearmygrantedpeopleonelastdaytobackoutofenlistmentiftheywerehavingsecondthoughts.Rita,whoselastnamewasnowVrataski,spentherlastdayonahardbenchoutsidetheUDFoffice.

           Ritadidn’thaveanysecondthoughts