Грань будущего

           "S-Sir?"

           "You’rehurt.Letmetakealook."

           "It’snothing.I’llbefine."

           Ferrellsteppedcloserandtouchedmyhead,rightatthehairline.

           Asharppainshotacrossmyscalp.Hissausage-likefingerspriedopenthewound.Warmbloodspurtedfrommyforeheadtothebeatofanunseenrockband.Thestreamranlazilydownthesideofmynose,touchedthecornerofmymouth,thenhungbrieflyonthetipofmychinuntilasteadydripdripdripbegan.Aroseoffreshbloodblossomedontheconcrete.Thesharpsmellofironfilledmynostrils.Rachelgasped.

           "Hrmm.Nice,cleanentrywound.What’dyouhititon?"

           Rachelsteppedin."Mycartfellover.I’msorry."

           "Isthathowithappened?"

           "Actually,I’mtheonewhoranintoher,butyeah,prettymuch."

           "Right.Well,it’snotasbadasitlooks.You’llbefine,"Ferrellsaid,givingthebackofmyheadaplayfulslap.Asprayofbloodflewfrommybrow,stainingmyshirt.LeavingmewhereIwas,hewalkedovertothecornerofthebarracksandshouted,loudenoughtoscarethecicadasoffthewalls,"Yonabaru!Getyourbuttouthere!"

           "Theresomesoldierin’needsdoin’?I’mhereto-oh.Morning,Rachel.Sergeant,anotherfinedayinthecorps,Itrust?Sofine,itlooksliketheconcreteupandsproutedpotatoes."

           "Shutyourpieholeandgetsomemenoutheretopicktheseup."

           "Who,me?"

           "Wellhe’snotgoingtobepickinganythingup,ishe?"Ferrellnoddedinmydirection.

           Yonabarugaped