Грань будущего

           "Lookslikeweranintoeachotheragain…"

           "Iknewit!You’rethenewrecruitinthe17th."

           "Yeah.Sorryforallthetrouble,"Isaid.Aspudrolledoffmybelly.

           Withahandonherhip,Rachelsurveyedthedamage.Herdelicateeyebrowssank."Couldn’thavespreadthemoutfartherifyoutried."

           "Sorry."

           "It’stheirfaultforbeingsoround."Shearchedherbackslightlysohercheststuckout.Itwashardtoignore.

           "Iguess."

           "Youeverseepotatoesthatround?"

           Ihadn’t.Notamongthetuberslitteringtheflooreither.

           "Shouldn’ttakethatlongtograbthem,ifyouhelp."

           "No-Imean,yeah."

           "Well,whichisit?"

           Theclockwasticking.IfIwasn’toutofherenow,I’dbedeadtomorrow.Ididn’thavetimetostandaroundgrabbingpotatoes-oranythingelseforthatmatter.Butsomethingelsewaskickingin,anattractionI’dfeltforthisgirlsincethefirsttimeI’dmether,rightaftermypostingatthebase.

           Isatthereontheground,stallingandpretendingtobeinpain.

           IwasjustabouttogivehermyanswerwhenIheardthesoundofpreciselymeasuredfootstepsapproachingfrombehind.

           "Whatareyoudoing?"cameagrowllikeahoundfromthegatesofHell.Ferrell.

           He’dappearedfromaroundthecornerofthebarracksandwasnowsurveyingthepotatoesstrewnacrosstheconcretepathwithdisapproval.

           "I-Iwaspushingmycart,and-"

           "Thisyourmess,Kiriya?"

           "Sir,yessir!"Iscrambledtomyfeet.Awaveofvertigowashedoverme.Herolledhiseyesandfixedhisgazeonme.