[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

been out in the mall? Triple-bad scene."
Ike smiled in agreement. "I know. Things have gotten pretty hot up on the roof, as
well. Muties popping up like fucking rats. Falling around up there like rain."
"Ohh& " Doc moaned.
"Doc! What's wrong?" Mildred asked, turning to the older man.
"My blessed heart, my heart," Doc said, clutching at his chest with both hands and
staggering forward a single step before entering an unsupported free fall with a
one-way plummet down flat on his hawklike face.
A close listener would have heard an additional sound. As Doc fell forward in a
very convincing collapse, there was the light, deadly snick of the steel blade
hidden within the ebony sheath of his lion's-head swordstick hissing free. The
sharp weapon came sliding out, and the old man slashed fast and hard with the
revealed blade of the rapier as he allowed himself to continue his fall facedown
and out of harm's way.
Doc wasn't worried about fair play. He used the blade and aimed for the two men's
faces and eyes, carving out red rivulets as he fell like the strike of a plummeting
eagle.
Backing his distraction, Mildred and J.B. each chose a target.
Mildred's face was set like a carved piece of onyx, her dark eyes narrowed and
bright as she took aim along the barrel of the Czech target pistol.
J.B. peered impassively from behind his new specs as he flipped the scattergun
into position in a fluid movement of death.
The resulting sounds of the twin triggers being pulled in the corridor were like the
release of tightly bottled nitro.
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Later, after all was said and done, Doc was very grateful the resulting splash of
crimson blood and entrails had found its way out of the backs of the traitorous sec
men and onto the floor. Not a drop landed on his long white hair or faded black
frock coat.
"I didn't like those bastards the first go 'round," J.B. said. "Told Ryan we
should've chilled them then."
"You okay, Doc?" Mildred asked, lifting him up carefully and bringing the
spindly man first to his knees, then to his feet.
Doc took a step and winced. "Other than my poor bruised knees, I shall live."
"Crazy move." J.B. grinned. "Crazy, suicidal move."
"I am afraid you are the worst of influences, John Barrymore."
"You two can compare notes on being heroes later. We've got to find Ryan,"
Mildred said, swinging open the heavy sec door that allowed access to the rooftop.
"No need," Ryan said as he, Krysty and Jak came in.
"Where are the other Freedom sec men?" J.B asked in surprise.
"The ones worth a damn are probably dead. Rollins bought the casket upstairs. His
backups did the same."
The friends quickly greeted one another with exhilaration that all were still alive
and relatively safe, as safe as could be inside the rapidly deteriorating conditions
inside the mall.
"What next?"
"First we get Dean," Ryan said.
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Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_41_-_Freedom_Lost
Chapter Twenty-Four
The cell block attached to the Freedom Mall sec force was known as the Wings.
Why was a mystery, although Doc suspected the slang term might have origins in
either the prevention of the prisoners from being "as free as birds" or that it was
more theatrical in nature, keeping troublemakers in Freedom offstage and out of
the public eye by being locked away in the wings, the wings being a reference to
the areas off the main stage to the right and the left.
Either way, the reunited group of friends were lacking one of their own, and that
was Dean Cawdor, who had been shut away, awaiting release when their terms as
hired guns had paid his freight and Jak's for the damage to the vid arcade.
Retracing his steps of the daily visit he paid Dean, Ryan walked past the deserted
admittance desk, through a half door, into a back-hallway annex. He looked in the
empty visitor's center and waved his friends along to the rear section, where a
heavy steel door with a U-shaped handle was closed.
"This must lead to the cells," Ryan said.
"Yeah," Jak confirmed.
Mildred drew her pistol. "We going in?"
"Might have to blast if the door is locked," J.B. said.
"Try it and see, Ryan. Open the portal and let us see what awaits," Doc added.
Ryan took the handle and pulled. Then he pulled harder, feeling the veins in his
arms start to pop out against his tan skin.
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"Try pushing, lover," Krysty suggested.
"Getting to that." Ryan pushed, and the steel door swung inward.
"Not used to the old-fashioned doors with hinges." He chuckled, annoyed and
amused at the same time. "Spending too much time in redoubts, where you press a
few buttons, and the sec doors slide away." Ryan's good cheer was interrupted by
a sudden cacophony of a clanging alarm bell.
"Shit!" he cursed. "Where'd that come from?"
"No idea," Krysty said. "You must've missed some sec turnoff switch."
"You're the one who told me to push," Ryan retorted.
"Well, other than being annoying as all hell, I don't think it's going to bring sec
men running this way," J.B. drawled. "They've got more important things to deal
with now than a child's jailbreak."
Ryan turned to the Armorer. "I agree."
Doc spoke up. "Still, I shall remain back here, in case we do have visitors."
"Good idea, Doc," Ryan said, speaking loudly to be heard. "Hate to see all of us
trapped or locked up alongside Dean. That'll be some poor bastard rescue. Krysty,
you want to hang with Doc, too?"
The redhead nodded. "All right. Be careful."
"Always." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]