Грань будущего
Chapter 3
"Ninety-nine!"
"NINETY-NINE!"
Staringintotheground,webarkeddesperatelyintimewiththedrillsergeant,sweatstreamingintooureyes.
"Eighthundred!"
"EIGHTHUNDRED!"
FuckOFF!
Ourshadowswerecrispandclearunderthescorchingsun.Thecompany’sflagsnappedandflutteredhighabovethefield.Thewindthatbuffetedthetraininggroundsreekedofsaltandleftabrinylayerofslimeonourskin.
There,motionlessinthemiddleofthatgargantuantrainingfield,141menfromthe17thCompanyoftheArmoredInfantryDivisionheldtheirisopush-ups.Threeplatoonleadersstood,asmotionlessastheirmen,oneinfrontofeachplatoon.Ourcaptainwatchedoverthescenewithagrimacefromtheshadeofthebarrackstent.SittingbesidehimwasabrigadiergeneralfromtheGeneralStaffOffice.Thegeneralwho’dopenedhismouthandstartedthisfarcewasprobablyoffsippinggreenteainanair-conditionedoffice.Cocksucker.
Ageneralwasabeingfromtheheavensabove.Abeingperchedonagildedthrone,higherthanme,higherthanYonabaru,higherthanFerrell,higherthanthelieutenantinchargeofourplatoon,thecaptaininchargeofourcompany,thelieutenantcolonelinchargeofourbattalion;higherthanthecolonelinchargeofourregiment,highereventhanthebasecommander.ThegeneralswerethegodsofFlowerLineandallwhotrained,slept,andshatwithinitswalls.Sohigh,theyseemeddistantandunreal.
Generalsdidn’tstealliquor.
