Грань будущего

           FamilieswithpeopleservingintheUDFweregivenpriorityforimmigration,whichishowFerrellcametojointheJapaneseCorps.

           These"ImmigrationSoldiers,"astheywereknown,werecommonintheArmoredInfantry.

           "Youeverheartheexpressionkiri-oboeru?"

           "What?"Iasked,startledtoheartheJapanese.

           "It’sanoldsamuraisayingthatmeans,‘Strikedownyourenemy,andlearn.’"

           Ishookmyhead."Doesn’tsoundfamiliar."

           "Tsukahara,Bokuden,Itou,MiyamatoMusashi-allfamoussamuraiintheirday.We’retalkingfivehundredyearsago,now."

           "IthinkIreadacomicaboutMusashionce."

           "Damnkids.Wouldn’tknowBokudenfromBatman."Ferrellsighedinexasperation.ThereIwas,pure-bloodedJapanese,andheknewmoreaboutmycountry’shistorythanIdid."Samuraiwerewarriorswhoearnedtheirlivingfighting,justlikeyouandme.HowmanypeopledoyouthinkthesamuraiIjustnamedkilledintheirlifetimes?"

           "Idunno.Iftheirnamesarestillaroundafterfivehundredyears,maybe…tenortwenty?"

           "Notevenclose.Therecordsfrombackthenaresketchy,butthenumberissomewherebetweenthreeandfivehundred.Each.Theydidn’thaveguns.Theydidn’thavebombs.Everysinglemantheykilledtheycutdowninhand-to-fucking-handcombat.I’dsaythat’dbeenoughtowarrantamedalortwo."

           "How’dtheydoit?"

           "Sendonemantothegreatbeyondeachweek,thendothesamefortenyears,you’llhaveyourfivehundred.That’swhythey’reknownasmasterswordsmen.