Грань будущего
Chapter 5
Rita’scrimsonJacketadvancedonestepatatime,sizingmeup.Shestoppedjustoutsideofaxerange,hergleamingweapongrippedtightlyinherhand.
Thesoundsofthefightingoutsideintrudedonthequietofthecafeteria.Explosionswerethebeatofdistantdrums.Shellstearingthroughtheskywerethehighnotesofflutes.Automaticriflesplayedastaccatopercussion.RitaandIbroughttogetherraucouscymbalsoftungstencarbide.
Therewerenocheeringonlookersinthecrumblingruinsofthecafeteria.Pilesoftablesandoverturnedchairswereouronlyspectators,silentobserverstothedeadlydanceofourcrimsonandsandJackets.Wemovedinaspiral,asRitaalwaysdid,tracingapatternintheconcretefloor.Weweredancingawarballet,wrappedinthepinnacleofmankind’stechnology,ourcrudeweaponssingingathousand-year-olddirge.
Myaxebladewasnotchedanddull.MyJacketwascoveredinscars,itsbatteryallbutdepleted.Mymusclesmovedbysheerwillpoweralone.
Atremendousexplosionshookthecafeteria.Wejumpedatthesound.
Iknewhernextstrikewouldbeakillingblow.Therewouldbenoavoidingit.Notimetothink-thinkingwasfortraining.Battlewasallaboutaction.Theexperienceetchedintomybodythrough159battleswouldguidemymovements.
Ritapulledheraxebackfortheswing.Myaxewouldanswerfrombelow.Thetwogiantbladescrossed,shreddingplatesofarmor.
TherewasonlyonerealdifferencebetweenRitaandme.RitahadlearnedtofighttheMimicsalone.IhadlearnedtofighttheMimicswatchingRita.
