Грань будущего
Chapter 1
Therewasthisplacenearthecrotch-rightabouthere-wheretheplatesdidn’tmeetquiteright.Rubbedrightthroughyourskin.Andtheplacesthathadscabbedoverduringtrainingwouldrubthroughagainwhenyougotintobattle.Hurtsobadsomeguysrefusedtocrawlontheground.They’dgetupandwalkrightinthemiddleofafight.Youcouldtell’emitwouldget’emkilled,buttherewerealwaysafewwhogotupanyway.Mightaswellhavewalkedaroundwithtargetspaintedontheirchests."Ferrellwhistledlikeafallingshell."Whap!Lostabunchofmenthatway."
FerrellhadamixofJapaneseandBrazilianbloodinhim,buthecamefromSouthAmerica.HalfthatcontinenthadbeenravagedbytheMimics.HereinJapan,wherehigh-techwascheaperthangoodfood,ourJacketswereprecisionpiecesofmachinery.Still,therewereplentyofcountrieswhereitwasalltheycoulddotosendtheirtroopsoffwithagasmask,agoodold-fashionedrocketlauncher,andaprayer.Forgetaboutartilleryorairsupport.Anyvictorytheydidhappentowinwasshort-lived.NanobotsspillingfromMimiccorpseswouldeatthelungsoutofwhateversoldiersthatwereleft.Andso,littlebylittle,lifelessdesertspreadthroughthelandspeopleoncecalledhome.
Ferrellcamefromafamilyoffarmers.Whentheircropsstartedtofail,theychosetoabandontheirlandandmovetooneoftheislandsintheeast,safehavensprotectedbythewondersoftechnology.
