Грань будущего

           Theydidn’tjustkillonceandcallitaday.Theykeptgoing.Andtheygotbetter."

           "Soundslikeavideogame.Themoreyoukill,thestrongeryouget-thatit?Shit,Igotalotofcatchinguptodo."

           "Excepttheiropponentsweren’ttrainingdummiesorlittledigitalaliens.Thesewereliving,breathingmentheyslaughtered.Likecattle.Menwithswords.Menfightingfortheirlives,sameasthem.Iftheywantedtolive,theyhadtocatchtheirenemyoff-guard,laytraps,andsometimesrunawaywiththeirtailbetweentheirlegs."

           Notthefirstimagethatsprangintoyourheadwhenyouthoughtofmasterswordsmen.

           "Learningwhatwouldgetyoukilledandhowtogetyourenemykilled-theonlywaytoknowathinglikethatistodoit.Somekidwho’dbeentaughthowtoswingaswordinadojodidn’tstandachanceagainstamanwho’dbeentestedinbattle.Theyknewit,andtheykeptdoingit.That’showtheypileduphundredsofcorpses.Oneswingatatime."

           "Kiri-oboeru."

           "That’sright."

           "Sowhydotheybothertrainingusatall?"

           "Ah,righttothepoint.Brainslikethat,you’retoosmarttobeasoldier."

           "Whatever,Sarge."

           "IfyoureallywanttofighttheMimics,youneedhelicoptersortanks.Buthelicopterscostmoney,andittakesmoneytotrainthepilots,too.Andtankswon’tdoyoualickofgoodonthisterrain-toomanymountainsandrivers.ButJapaniscrawlingwithpeople.Sotheywrap’eminJacketsandship’emtothefrontlines.Lemonsintolemonade."

           Lookwhathappenedtothelemons.