Грань будущего
Chapter 3
Iwentbacktoliftingfoodtomymouthwithmachinelikeregularity.
Heraisedhiseyebrows,twoplumpbushesthatwouldhavebeentheenvyofthecaterpillarworld."Iaskedifyouwereenjoyin’yourself."
"HowcouldInotenjoymyselfinsuchfinecompany?"
"Sohowcomeyou’regulpin’downyourchowlikeitwassomethingyoufoundstuckontheendofatoiletbrush?"
Therewereonlyahandfulofsoldierssittingattheoversizedtablesinthecafeteria.Thesmellofsomethingsweetwaftedfromthekitchen.Artificiallightfromthefluorescentsintheceilingwashedoverthefriedshrimpheapedontoourheavy-dutyplates.
IfyouhadtocategorizethefoodpreparedintheUDFasgoodorbad,itwasdefinitelygood.TherewereonlythreethingsasoldierintheUDFdid,afterall:eat,sleep,andfight.Ifthefoodwasn’tgoodyou’dhaveamoraleproblemonyourhands.AndaccordingtoYonabaru,thefoodonFlowerLineBasewasbetterthanmost.
ThefirsttimeItastedit,Ithoughtitwasdelicious.Thatwasaboutfivesubjectivemonthsagonow,maybemore.Aboutamonthintotheloop,Istartedheavilyseasoningmyfood.Theintentionallymismatchedcondimentscreatedatastejusthorribleenoughtoremindmethefoodwasthere.Andnow,eventhathadstoppedworking.Idon’tcareifyou’reeatingfoodpreparedbyafour-starchef,aftereightydaysofthesamething,italltastesalike.Probablybecauseitis.Bythatpoint,itwashardformetothinkoffoodasanythingotherthanasourceofenergy.
