Грань будущего
Chapter 3
Andifyouleavethenaturalstuffsittingout,afteraboutthreedaysitstartstogrowmold.ThathappenedtomeonceinAfrica.Icouldakickedmyself."
"Wasitgood?"
"Veryfunny."
"Ifyoudidn’tdrinkit,howdoyouknowitwasn’t?"
"Youcandrinkallthemoldycoffeeyoulike.Don’texpectmetocleanupafteryouwhenyougetsick.Comeon."
Ritamovedawayfromthetable,leavingbehindthefreshlybrewed,all-naturalcoffee.Aswestartedtowalkfromtheroom,asmallwomanwho’dbeenpressedupagainstthedoorcametumblingin,featheredheaddressandall.Herblackhairwasbraidedintoaponytailthatfloppedbehindherbizarrechoiceofheadgear.Everybody’sfavoriteNativeAmerican,ShastaRaylle.
"We’reunderattack!We’reunderattack!"sheshouted,nearlybreathless.Herfacewasstreakedwithlinesofredandwhitewarpaint.Ibegantowonderifthewholeloopthingwasjustmegoingcrazyforthelastfewsecondsoflifeinasteamingcratersomewhere.
RitatookastepbacktoappreciateoneofthebrightestmindsMIThadtooffer."Whichtribe’sattacking?"
"Notatribe!TheMimics!"
"Thishowyoualwaysdressforbattle?"
"Isitthatbad?"Shastaasked.
"I’mnotonetocriticizesomeone’scustomsorreligion,butI’dsayyou’reabouttwohundredyearslatetothepowwow."
"No,youdon’tunderstand!"Shastasaid."Theyforcedmetodressuplikethisatthepartylastnight!Thissortofthingalwayshappenswhenyou’renotaround"
