Грань будущего
Chapter 5
Ritawashalfastepaheadofme,alreadyspinningtodeliveradeadlyblowtothespacewhereIwouldbebeforeIevengotthere.
Ithithome.Iinstinctivelysteppedintothearcofheraxe,narrowlyavoidingthefullbruntoftheswing.Myleftshoulderplatewentflying.Aredwarninglightlituponmydisplay.
Ritakicked,andtherewasnowaytoavoidit.Isailedacrosstheroom.SparksflewasmyJacketgratedalongthebrokenconcretefloor.Ispunonceandcrashedintothecounter.Ashowerofchopsticksraineddownonmyhead.
Ritawasalreadymoving.Notimetorest.Head,check.Neck,check.Torso,rightshoulder,rightarmunit-everythingbutmyleftshoulderplatecheckedout.Icouldstillfight.Iletgoofmyaxe.Diggingmyglovesintothecounter’sedge,Ivaultedupandover.Ritaswung,shatteringthecounterandkickingupasprayofwoodandmetal.
Iwasinthekitchen.Beforemestretchedanenormousstainlesssteelsinkandanindustrialstrengthgasrange.Fryingpansandpotslargeenoughtoboilentirepigshungalongonewall.Pilesofplasticcutleryreachedtotheceiling.Neatrowsoftraysstillhelduneatenbreakfasts,nowlongcold.
Ibackedup,knockingplatterstothegroundinanavalancheoffoodandmoldedplastic.Ritawasstillcoming.Ithrewapotatherandscoredadirecthit.Itsoundedlikeagongasitbouncedoffhercherry-redJackethelmet.Apparentlynotenoughtodissuadeher.MaybeIshouldhavetriedthekitchensinkinstead.
