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Chapter 9
Rita,withthedisinterestedexpressionofsomeonewho’dneverhadaneedforhumancontactherentirelife,continuedherisopush-up.
Isopush-upswerealotrougherthantheylooked.Beadsofsweatformedalongyourhairline,streamedpastyourtemples,ranintoyoureyes-makingthemburnfromthesalt-andtracedthelineofyourneckbeforefallingfromyourchest.HavingtoendurethatitchasitmakesitswaydownyourbodywasalotlikewhatasoldierhadtoendureencasedinaJacket.Thissamuraitrainingisn’tcompletelyworthlessafterall,Ritadecided.
Whenthingsgottoohardtobear,itwasbesttoletyourmindwander.Ritaletherthoughtsdriftfromherownbody’sscreamsofprotesttothesurroundings.ThebrigadiergeneralfromtheGeneralStaffOfficelookedbaffledbytheintruderinhisproceedings.Forhim,amanwhohadneverexperiencedamomentofrealarmedconflict,maybethistrainingfield,withitsgentleoceanbreezes,waspartofthewar.Topeoplewhohadneverbreathedinthatmixtureofblood,dust,andburningmetalthatpervadedabattlefield,itwaseasytoimaginethatdeploymentwaswar,thattrainingwaswar,thatclimbingsomecareerladderwaswar.Therewasonlyonepersonforwhomthewarextendedtothattranquildaybeforethebattle:awomannamedRitaVrataskiandhertimeloops.
Ritahadoftendreamtthatsomedayshewouldcomeacrossanotherpersonwhoexperiencedtheloops.She’devencomeupwithaphrasetheycouldusetoidentifythemselvestoeachother.AphraseonlyRitaknew.
