Грань будущего

           OurdefeatatOkinawamusthavebeenmoreseriousthanIthought.BadenoughforthemtorecallourcombinedforcesupanddowntheUchiboline.Everyonehadbeenredeployedwithafocusonmajorcitiesandindustrialareas.

           Theoldmansmiledandnodded.Thegirlwatchedhimwitheyeswideassaucers,witnesstosomerarespectacle.HeputalotofhopeintheUDFtroopsstationedatFlowerLineBase.NotthatIhadsigneduptodefendhimoranyoneelseforthatmatter.Still,itmademefeelbad.

           "Yougotanysmokes,son?Sincethemil’taryleft,can’thardlycomebynone."

           "Sorry.Idon’tsmoke."

           "Thendon’tyouworrynone."Theoldmanstaredoutatthesea.

           Thereweren’tmanysoldiersintheArmoredInfantrywhosufferedfromnicotineaddiction.Probablybecauseyoucouldn’tsmokeduringbattle,whenyouneededitthemost.

           Istoodsilent.Ididn’twanttodoorsayanythingstupid.Icouldn’tlethimfindoutIwasadeserter.Theyshotdeserters.EscapingtheMimicsjusttobekilledbythearmydidn’tmakemuchsense.

           Thegirltuggedattheman’shand.

           "Shetiresoutrealeasy.Goodeyesonher,though.Beenbornaboy,she’dabeenquiteafisherman."

           "Yeah."

           "Justonething’foreIgo.Ain’tneverseenanythin’likethis.Camerunnin’outmyhousequickasImight,foundyouhere.Whatyoumakeofit?Anythin’todowith’emcroakers?"Heraisedhisarm.

           Myeyesfollowedthegnarledtwigsofhisfingersashepointed.Thewaterhadturnedgreen.