[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
"Why didn't they chill him?"
"Baron wouldn't let them. Mog's offspring bring in top jack for the farm.
Baron even gave him his own personal group of breeders."
"Sounds like he's got a good deal going. What's he doing here?"
Page 92
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"I think he wants Krysty for himself."
Ryan remembered something the Trader used to say and muttered it now under his
breath. "A chilled man has no desires, no wants."
"What was that?"
file:///J|/sci-fi/Nieuwe%20map/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2061%20-%20Skyda
rk%20Spawn.html (212 of 362)16-2-2006 16:53:28
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_61_-_Skydark_Spawn
"Nothing," Ryan answered, craning his neck to see the three men walking in
Mog's shadow. "Who are they?"
"Dorfman, Billingsley and Foghat. They're Mog's cronies and will be watching
his back, like I'll be doing for you. Stab you in the back if they can. Makes
no difference to them."
"Thanks for the warning."
"Well, all of them will stab you in the back if they get the chance."
Ryan nodded. "That's what I figured."
"Chill or be chilled."
Grundwold entered the circle carrying a canvas duffel bag filled with weapons.
When he reached the center, he upended the bag and let the contents fall to
the ground. Piled in a heap were several lengths of heavy chain, an assortment
of knives, a few long wooden pikes and a few rusty swords. However, included
in the jumble were several newer pieces, including Ryan's own panga.
Seeing the knife's eighteen-inch blade, Ryan moved closer to the center of the
circle.
"Back off, One-eye!" Grundwold bellowed. "You start anything while I'm in the
circle, and my snipers will blow a hole through your skull big enough to drive
a wag through."
Ryan looked at the armed men in the towers and took a cautious step backward.
file:///J|/sci-fi/Nieuwe%20map/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2061%20-%20Skyda
rk%20Spawn.html (213 of 362)16-2-2006 16:53:28
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_61_-_Skydark_Spawn
Mog moved closer to the circle's center, as well, but instead of calling the
man on it, Grundwold simply hurried out of the circle.
"Makes no difference to me, outlander," Mog said, gesturing to the weapons.
"I'll chill you with whatever you leave behind."
Ryan watched the giant man stop a few paces from the pile of weapons and
wondered if he meant what he'd said, or was merely trying to put Ryan off.
"Take what you want," Brody said. "Hurry!"
Ryan reached for his panga, slid his fingers around the handle and pulled it
roughly out of the bottom of the pile.
Brody grabbed a six-foot-long pike, selecting the best weapon to keep the
others at bay.
The sec men and muties also reached for the weapons, the sec men picking out
knives and the muties selecting the aged swords. True to his word, Mog and his
men took what was left behind. The giant took a length of chain for himself,
while Dorfman, Billingsley and Foghat ended up with a knife, pike and sword
respectively.
"I can chill you with a chain as easily as a blaster, One-eye," Mog said, his
voice a low, deep rumble that boomed out of his cavernous chest like a cannon
shot.
Outside the circle, Grundwold raised his hands. "Ready?"
file:///J|/sci-fi/Nieuwe%20map/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2061%20-%20Skyda
rk%20Spawn.html (214 of 362)16-2-2006 16:53:28
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_61_-_Skydark_Spawn
The question was answered by a rumble of shouts and whistles from the crowd.
Page 93
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
They were more than ready, for blood and chilling.
"Fight!"
The circle came alive with movement.
Ryan stepped back from the center, expecting Mog to swing the chain in his
direction, but instead he quickly turned to the left, whipping his arm out and
catching the mutie named Laslo in the neck. The chain tore into the mutie's
neck, embedding itself three inches into the flesh, causing a gout of blood to
spurt up from the open wound.
Hambly looked at his partner with stunned fascination as Laslo desperately
tried to pull the chain from his neck. Blood was pouring over the dying
mutie's shoulder as he fell to his knees, still vainly trying to work the
chain free.
Mog took a step toward Laslo, wrapped the remaining length of chain around the
part of the neck that remained, and then pulled with both hands. The blunt
chain ripped through the mutie's flesh like a dull blade, tearing his head
from his shoulders and sending it spinning into the air.
The flying severed head, blood still draining from inside, caught the
attention of the crowd and most of the combatants.
But not Ryan.
He used the opportunity to move right and slash at the leg of one of the sec
men.
He caught Salazar on the right leg just below the knee. The man let out a yelp
of
file:///J|/sci-fi/Nieuwe%20map/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2061%20-%20Skyda
rk%20Spawn.html (215 of 362)16-2-2006 16:53:28
Axler,_James_-_Deathlands_61_-_Skydark_Spawn pain as his pant leg was slashed
open and blood began to pool around his right foot.
"You should have chilled me with that blow, One-eye," Salazar said, clutching
at his bleeding leg. '"Cause I'm gonna make you pay for it."
The sec man lunged forward, but stopped himself in midstride when he found the
sharpened tip of Brody's pike between himself and Ryan.
"Let him come," Ryan said, moving the pike aside with his left hand. "You just
watch that the other poor excuse for a sec man doesn't interfere."
Richmond heard the comment and sneered at Ryan. "Don't chill him, Sally," he
told Salazar. "Leave a bit of his worthless life for me."
"You got it." Salazar grimaced, still bleeding.
Ryan stepped back to keep his distance from the approaching sec man. On
Ryan's right, the second mutie, Hambly, had his hands full trying to stay away
from Mog. The giant appeared to be toying with the man, putting on a show with
his chain that the crowd seemed to be enjoying since they were still shouting,
"Mog! Mog! Mog!" louder than ever.
Salazar's knife was about the same length as Ryan's panga, but that's where
the similarities ended. Ryan's blade was sharp, and the balance of the weapon
was excellent. Salazar, on the other hand, seemed to be fighting his knife,
not sure whether to lunge or slash with it.
And there was another advantage Ryan held over the sec man. Salazar's
file:///J|/sci-fi/Nieuwe%20map/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2061%20-%20Skyda
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]