Грань будущего
Chapter 3
Shethumbedhernoseatthelabcoatswho’dspentsleeplessmonthsrefiningtheJackets’polymerpainttoabsorbeverylastradarwavepossible.Hersuitwasgunmetalred-no,morethanthat,itglowed.Inthedarkitwouldcatchthefaintestlight,smolderingcrimson.Wasshecrazy?Probably.
Behindherbacktheysaidshepaintedhersuitwiththebloodofhersquad.Whenyoustandoutlikethatonthebattlefield,youtendtodrawmorethanyourshareofenemyfire.Otherssaidshe’dstopatnothingtomakehersquadlookgood,thatsheeventookcoverbehindafellowsoldieronce.Ifshehadabadheadache,she’dgoapeshit,killingfriendandfoealike.AndyetnotasingleenemyroundhadeversomuchasgrazedherJacket.Shecouldwalkintoanyhellandcomebackunscathed.Theyhadamillionstories.
Yourrankandfilesoldierendedupwithalotoftimeonhishands,andlisteningtothatsortoftalk,passingiton,embellishingit-thatwasjustthesortofthingheneededtokilltimeandtokeepthesubjectoffdeadcomrades.RitahadbeenaJacketjockeyeatingandsleepingonthesamebaseasme,butI’dneverseenherfaceuntilthatmoment.Wemighthaveresentedthespecialtreatmentshegot,ifwe’dhadthechancetothinkaboutit.
Icouldn’ttakemyeyesoffthelineofherhair-sheworeitshort-asitbobbedinthewind.Therewasagracefulbalancetoherfeatures.Youmightevenhavecalledherbeautiful.Shehadathinnose,asharpchin.HerneckwaslongandwhitewheremostJacketjockeysdidn’tevenhavenecks.
