Грань будущего

           IhadtogetsomewhereoutofsightwhereIcouldhurtmyself,thenshowupcoveredinbloodaroundthetimeYonabaruandFerrellwerefinishingtheirconversation.ForaplanI’dcookeduponthefly,itwasn’thalfbad.

           Shit.Ishould’vebroughtthecombatknifeIkeptundermypillow.ItwasuselessagainstMimics,butforopeningcansorcuttingthroughwoodorcloth,itwassomethingnoself-respectingsoldiershouldbewithout.I’dcutmyselfwiththatknifeathousandtimesduringtraining.Iwouldn’thavehadanytroublemakingascalpwoundwithit.

           I’dmadeitouttheentranceofthebarracks,andIwantedtoputasmuchspacebetweenmeandHQaspossible.IletmyspeedslackenasIroundedthecornerofthebuilding.

           Therewasawomanthere.Terribletiming.

           Shegruntedasshepushedacartpiledhighwithpotatoes.Iknewher:RachelKisaragi,acivilianpostedoverinCafeteriaNo.2.Asnow-whitebandana,neatlyfoldedintoatriangle,coveredherblackwavyhair.Shehadhealthy,tannedskinandlargerthanaveragebreasts.Herwaistwasnarrow.Ofthethreetypesofwomenthehumanraceboasted-thepretty,thehomely,andthegorillasyoucouldn’tdoanythingwithsaveship’emofftothearmy-I’dputherintheprettycategorywithoutbattinganeye.

           Inawarthathadalreadylastedtwentyyears,therejustwasn’tenoughmoneyforallthemilitarysupportstafftobegovernmentemployees.Evenatabaseonthefrontlines,theyfilledasmanynoncombatantroleswithciviliansastheycould.