Грань будущего

           WhenRitafinallybrokeoutoftheloopandreachedthefuture,shelearnedthatArthurHendrickshaddied.Hewasoneoftwenty-eightthousandkilledinthebattle.

           InthetwodaysRitahadspentinanendlesscircleoffighting,she’dmanagedtoresearchthehistoryofwar,scourthefeedsforinformationabouttheMimics,andenlistagoofballengineertomakeherabattleaxe.Shehadsucceededinbreakingtheloop,inchangingherownfuture,yetHendricks’namestillendedupwiththelettersKIAprintedbesideit.

           Ritafinallyunderstood.Thiswaswhatwarreallywas.Everysoldierwhodiedinbattlewasnothingmorethananotherfigureinthecalculusofestimatedcasualties.Theirhardships,joys,andfearsneverenteredintotheequation.Somewouldlive,otherswoulddie.Itwasalluptotheimpartialgodofdeathcalledprobability.Withthebenefitofherexperienceinthetimeloop,Ritawouldbeabletobeattheoddsforsomeandsavecertainpeopleinthefuture.Buttherewouldalwaysbethoseshecouldnotsave.Peoplewithfathers,mothers,friends,maybeevenbrothers,sisters,wives,husbands,children.Ifshecouldonlyrepeatthe211thloop,maybeshecouldfindawaytosaveHendricks-butatwhatcost?RitaVrataskiwasaloneinthetimeloop,andinorderforhertomakeitout,someonewouldhavetodie.

           Hendricksmadeonelastphonecallbeforethatbattle.Helearnedhehadjustbecomeafather,andhewasupsetthatthepictureofhiskidhe’dprintedoutandtapedinsidehisJackethadgottendirty