Грань будущего

           Thensomeoneelsecriedout,"Where’smyfriedshrimp?Ilostmyfriedshrimp!"

           Thewilderthecrowdgrew,themoreeffortheputbehindhispunchesandtheeasiertheyweretoavoid.

           Ferrellhadasaying:"Breakdowneverysecond."ThefirsttimeIheardit,Ididn’tunderstandwhatitmeant.Asecondwasasecond.Therewasn’tanythingtostretchorbreakdown.

           Butitturnsoutthatyoucancarvetheperceptionoftimeintofinerandfinerpieces.Ifyouflippedaswitchinthebackofyourbrain,youcouldwatchasecondgobylikeframesinamovie.Onceyoufigureoutwhatwouldbehappeningtenframeslater,youcouldtakewhateverstepsyouneededtoturnthesituationtoyouradvantage.Allatasubconsciouslevel.Inbattle,youcouldn’tcountonanyonewhodidn’tunderstandhowtobreakdowntime.

           Evadinghisattackswaseasy.ButIdidn’twanttotripanymoreunnecessaryflagsthanIalreadyhad.I’dgonetoalotoftroubletoshiftmyschedule,butifIkeptthisupthe17thwouldbeinthecafeteriasoon.Ineededtobringthisdiversiontoaclosebeforetheyshowedup.

           Idecidedthattakingoneofhispuncheswouldwastetheleastamountoftime.WhatIdidn’tcountonwasRachelsteppingintotrytostophim.Shealteredthecourseofhisrightpunchjustenoughtochangethehitthatwassupposedtoglanceoffmycheekintoonethatlandedsquareonmychin.Awaveofheatspreadfrommyteethtothebackofmynose.Thedishesonmytraydancedthroughtheair.