Грань будущего

           Justthrowyourmoneyinthecanandmovealong.

           Whatwasityouweresupposedtodowhenyouwerenervous-pictureeveryonenaked?No,thatwasforspeakinginpublic.Intrainingtheytaughtustoholdourselvestogetherbythinkingofsomethingweenjoyed.Somethingthatmadeyouhappy.Inbattle,thiswouldprobablybeoneofthosehappythingstothinkbackon,sowhywasitsonerve-rackingnow?IfGodhadananswer,Hewasn’ttalking.

           ItookRitabythewrist.Shelookedlost.

           "I’mKeijiKiriya."

           "Rita.RitaVrataski."

           "IguessIshouldstartwith‘Nicetomeetyou.’"

           "Whyareyousmiling?"

           "Idunno.Justhappy,Iguess,"Isaid.

           "You’reanoddone."Rita’sfacesoftened.

           "Let’smakeabreakforit."Myeyesglancedoverhershoulder."Mytwoo’clock.Youready?"

           RitaandIsprintedaway,leavingthemenonthefieldscratchingtheirheads.Weslippedpastthechainlinkfenceborderingthetraininggrounds.Thebreezeblowingofftheseawascoolagainstourskin.Forawhileweranforrunning’ssake.Thecoastlinelayfarofftoourleft,cobalt-bluewatersspreadingbeyondthemeaninglessbarricadeofbarbedwirethatlinedthebeach.Theoceanstillbluebecausewehadfoughttokeepitthatway.Apatrolboatcuttingacourseparalleltoourowntrailedawhitewakealongthesharplinethatdividedseaandsky.

           Thedeepshoutsofthesoldiersfaded.Theonlysoundsweretheroarofthesea,thefarawayshufflingnoisesofmilitarybootsonconcrete,mytoo-loudpoundingheart,andthesighofRita’sbreath.