Грань будущего

           Paperistootemporary-tooeasytorewrite."Thoughtslikethathadbeenonmymindalotlately.

           "That’sanoddthingtosay."

           "Maybe."

           "Youseeinganyone?"

           Ilookedather.Greeneyes."No."

           "I’mfreetonight."Thensheaddedhastily,"Don’tgetthewrongidea.Idon’tsaythatsortofthingtojustanyone."

           ThatmuchIknew.She’dbrushedYonabaruasidereadilyenough.ForanentireweekI’dheardcomplaintaftercomplaintaboutthehottestwomanwhosekneeswerelockedtogetherwiththebiggestpadlock."It’satravestyinthisdayandage,"he’dtellme.AndIhadafeelingitwasn’tspecialtreatmentjustbecauseYonabaruwaswhohewas.

           "Whattimeisit?"Istillhadascheduletokeep.

           "Almostthreeo’clock.Youwereoutforaboutthreehours."

           1500.IwassupposedtobetrainingwithFerrell.IhadtomakerightwhatI’ddoneinthelastloop-themovethathadkilledFerrellandthelieutenant.They’ddiedprotectingmebecauseIwasshowboating.Icouldstillseethecharred,smolderingfamilypicturesFerrellhaddecoratedtheinsideofhisJacketwithflutteringinthewind.AshotofhimsmilingunderabrightBraziliansunsurroundedbybrothersandsistersburnedintomymind.

           Ididn’tpossessanyextraordinarytalentsthatsetmeapartfrommypeers.Iwasjustasoldier.TherewerethingsIcoulddo,andthingsIcouldn’t.IfIpracticed,intimeIcouldchangesomeofthosethingsIcouldn’tdointothingsIcould