Page 173 (1/2)
She lay on her back for a fewher wrist and knee to see if there was any serious da sensation in it Nothing broken, then Barely out of the hospital and already looking for ways to bang herself up again The yeoman ran up to her and dropped into a crouch at her side
“Jesus, Gunny, you took a hell of a spill!” the Navy boy said “A hell of a spill!”
He touched her right knee where the bruise was already starting to darken the bare skin below her jogging shorts, then see and yanked his hand back
“Sergeant Draper, your presence is requested at ain conference roo a little as he rattled off his e “How come you don’t carry your ter you down”
Bobbie pushed herself back up to her feet, gingerly testing her knee to see if it would hold her weight
“You just answered your own question, kid”
Bobbie arrived at the conference room five minutes early, her red-and-khaki service uniform sharply pressed and iven her for what turned out to be a minor sprain A marine in full battle dress and arave her a smile as she went by It was a nice smile, full of even white teeth, below almond-shaped eyes so dark they were allanced at the name on his suit Corporal Matsuke Never kneho you’d run into in the galley or the weight room It didn’t hurt to make a friend or two
She was pulled the rest of the way into the rooeant Draper,” Captain Thorsson repeated, gesturing i conference table
“Sir,” Bobbie said, and snapped off a salute before taking the seat She was surprised by ho people were in the rooence corps and two civilians she hadn’tover some of the details in your report; we’d appreciate your input”
Bobbie waited a moment to be introduced to the two civilians in the roo to do it, she just said, “Yes, sir Whatever I can do to help”
The first civilian, a severe-looking redheaded wo to create a better ti up to the attack Can you show us on this map where you and your fire teae to return to the outpost?”
Bobbie showed theh the events of that day Looking at the ht, she saw for the first ti across the ice by the impact of the orbital mirror It looked like it had been aseant,” Thorsson said, his tone of voice letting her know he’d said it a couple of ti at these photos sent ain”
Thorsson nodded, but with a strange expression Bobbie couldn’t read
“What we’re trying to pinpoint is precisely where the Anomaly was inserted prior to the attack,” the other civilian, a chubbybrown hair, said
The Anomaly they called it now You could hear them capitalize the hen they said it Anoe random event It was because everyone was still afraid to call it what it really was The Weapon
“So,” the chubby guy said, “based on how long you had radio contact, and infornal from other installations around that area, we are able to pinpoint the source of the janal as the Ano her head “What? The monster can’t have ja a da equipment?”
Thorsson patted her hand paternally, a move that irritated Bobbie eant The zone of radio blackoutThe Anomaly,” Thorsson said, then turned away frouy and the redhead