[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
settled.
"The vents," Ryan said, coughing. "The bastards are probably spread all over
the redoubt."
"Then we need to seal this entire complex," Soto said, limping from an injury
sustained earlier during the fighting.
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/...20Deathlands%2043%20-%20Dark%20Em
blem.html (227 of 264) [12/31/2004 12:21:14 AM]
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_43_-_Dark_Emblem
"If we live long enough to get to the door," Jorge replied pessimistically.
"Oh, we'll live that long, no problem," J.B. snarled. "I've got to have a long
talk with our prissy friend back at the fortress before I can take time enough
to die."
J.B.'S THREAT WAS PROVED to be true. There were a few more sporadic attacks
from random chupacabras
, but now all in the group were prepared to deal with the creatures and their
methods of murder. Soto used his rusty revolver to take down one, while
Jorge's long blaster was good for two more. At one point, Soto looked
incredibly sad, remarking to all, "I find it hard to believe my people spent
so much time frightened of these creatures."
At the exit back into the cavern, J.B. took the last of the four grens and set
the time for thirty seconds, tossing it inside as Ryan reversed the code and
brought the massive vanadium steel door sliding down with a ring of finality.
Outside, the sun had come up.
Ryan sat at the wheel of the Jeep, turned the ignition key, and was rewarded
with the thrum of the small wag's engine firing into life.
"Now, we settle accounts with Jamaisvous," he stated.
THE TRIP BACK to Old San Juan was speedy and uneventful, except for the
discovery that the injuries inflicted upon Soto's foot were worse than he'd
let on.
He apologized profusely for being unable to accompany the others to El Morro,
but Ryan would hear none of it, and insisted Jorge stay with his friend.
"There's enough of us here to take care of business," he told the two men.
When the group of companions reached the imposing fortress, all was quiet
inside. No table had been set for breakfast, and other than the cook and her
daughter, no sec men or, for that matter, no Doc Tanner or Mildred Wyeth or
Silas Jamaisvous were to be found.
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/...20Deathlands%2043%20-%20Dark%20Em
blem.html (228 of 264) [12/31/2004 12:21:14 AM]
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_43_-_Dark_Emblem
"Gateway," Jak suggested, and they traced their steps back along the path
taken mere days before when Jamaisvous had led them up into the living
quarters of the fortress.
"Halt, Cawdor!" a voice rang out.
The barrel-chested sec guard stood firm at the open hallway leading to the
inner bowels of the fortress where Jamaisvous had installed his modified
gateway and temporal laboratories. The hefty Tec 10 blaster was held ready, a
silent deterrent backing up its master. There was nowhere to duck for safe
cover in the hall, a tidy piece of extra security that the guard seemed well
aware of from his position.
"Hold up," Ryan said to the others. "I don't think we're welcome."
"Where's Luis?" the sec man asked.
Page 127
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"He ate something that didn't agree with him," Ryan said blandly.
"Que?"
"Forget it."
The guard sneered. "Where is the rest of your merry band of chupacabras
hunters?"
"They're back at home with their families," Krysty replied. "Glad to be alive
and proud to have accomplished something to help their people instead of
cowering up here in this fortress."
"They're all scared. Too frightened to come up here to El Morro. Frightened
the chupacabras is going to come hopping out of a rathole and bite them on the
ass!"
Ryan's visage managed to grow even more defiant. "So you say, but I didn't see
you volunteering to go tramping around in El Yunque either."
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/...20Deathlands%2043%20-%20Dark%20Em
blem.html (229 of 264) [12/31/2004 12:21:14 AM]
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_43_-_Dark_Emblem
"I was not assigned. My duties were here."
"Sure, much easier to let someone else take the risks, isn't it?" Dean said.
"You watch your mouth, boy, or I'll "
"You'll what?" Ryan challenged. "Which one of the matching set are you,
anyway?"
"Lopez. My brother is busy. You have no right to be here. Unless you want to
take this beyond words, I suggest you back up. Now."
Ryan felt the anger flare inside his brain, but he kept it under control,
leashed.
"Step aside, Lopez. I've got business with your boss."
The guard frowned. "Dr. Jamaisvous left strict orders not to be disturbed."
"Your precious doctor has been playing you and your people for fools," Krysty
said. "We just got back from ground zero for chupacabras
."
Lopez looked at the long-limbed redhead with a confident smirk. "
El chupacabras
doesn't exist. Old tales told to children to frighten them into bed."
Ryan jerked up his bandaged hand to the fresh scabbing on his face. "I didn't
get these cuts shaving, Lopez. Nor did any of the rest of us. Every scab and
bruise you see on us came from one of those mutie sons of bitches, and your
master, the mighty Dr. Silas Jamaisvous is the one responsible for unleashing
them on San
Juan."
Lopez wasn't convinced. "You lie. How is this possible?"
"I'm not saying he did it on purpose mebbe he screwed up somehow when he came
to San Juan and took over this fortress. But I do know he's the one behind the
chupacabras problem, and I want to discuss it with him. Now."
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/...20Deathlands%2043%20-%20Dark%20Em
blem.html (230 of 264) [12/31/2004 12:21:14 AM]
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_43_-_Dark_Emblem
"My brother has been as polite to you as possible. I think words are not going
to convince you, Cawdor." On that note of menace, the second of the twin sec
men, Lopez's brother, Garcia, stepped around the corner behind the group, his
matching
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]