Грань будущего

           Seeinghertherebesidetherestofhersuper-sizedsquad,somethingseemedoutofwhack.

           AnneofGreenGablesGoestoWar.

           Ifigurethebookwouldbeaspin-offsetaroundWorldWarI.Mongoliamakesalandgrab,andthere’sAnne,machineguntuckeddaintilyunderonearm.Herhairwasthecolorofrustedsteel,fadedtoadullred.Someredheadsconjuredupimagesofblood,fire,deedsofvalor.Nother.Ifitweren’tforthesand-coloredshirtshewaswearing,she’dhavelookedlikesomekidwho’dcometothebaseonafieldtripandgottenherselflost.

           Theotherswerefannedoutaroundthisgirlwhobarelycameuptotheirchestslikeawed,medievalpeasantsgawkingatnobility.

           Suddenlyithitme.That’sRita!

           Ithadtobe.Itwastheonlywaytoexplainhowthiswoman,whocouldn’thavelookedlesslikeaJacketjockeyifshehadbeenwearingaballgown,wasinthecompanyofthespecops.Mostwomenwhosuiteduplookedlikesomesortofcrossbetweenagorillaandanugliergorilla.TheyweretheonlyoneswhocouldcutitonthefrontlinesintheArmoredInfantry.

           RitaVrataskiwasthemostfamoussoldierintheworld.BackwhenIsignedupfortheUDF,youcouldn’tgoadaywithoutseeingthenewsfeedssingherpraises.Storiestitled"ALegendaryCommando,""ValkyrieIncarnate,"thatsortofthing.I’devenheardHollywoodwasgonnamakeamovieabouther,butIwasalreadyintheUDFbythetimeitcameout,soIneversawit.