rstacy.doomsdaywarrior-第31部分

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　They　had　all　seen　the　things　seize　the　helmet　that　Chen　had　thrown　at　them；　and　had　all　wished　they　had　taken　one　of　the　Death　City　souvenirs　with　them。　Now　they　had　ample　supplies　of　the　things。　These　were　more…ordinary　steel　affairs　…　brown　twentieth…　century　U。S。　Army　bat　helmets。　They'd　do。
　The　Freefighters　broke　open　more　barrels　and　heaved　away　the　contents。　Each　helmet　tossed　meant　one　less　bomb。　And　in　a　matter　of　fifty　tosses；　there　were　no　more　of　the　little　bastards　to　follow　them。
　Rockson　and　the　others　slowly　rose　from　their　positions。
　Rock　dropped　the　helmet　in　his　hand。　〃There　are　only　a　handful　of　the　helmets　left。　It　was　a　good　thing　we　ran　out　of　scabies　before　we　ran　out　of　helmets。〃
　〃Now　what？〃　Detroit　asked。
　〃Now　we　go　on；〃　Rock　said；　with　determination　…　and　pain　…　etched　in　his　voice。　He　shook　away　helping　hands　as　he　tore　a　piece　of　fabric　from　his　jacket　and　tied　up　the　leg　wound。　〃It　didn't　hit　any　major　vessels。　I　can　walk　…　even　if　it　smarts　a　bit。〃
　Rockson　hoped　that　the　corridor　would　shortly　bring　them　to　the　fissure　that　led　to　Eden。　Instead　they　exited　the　corridor　into　another　cavern；　this　one　lit　by　some　sort　of　luminous　rock；　and　filled　with　brilliant　amethyst　crystal　formations。　〃Man；〃　said　Detroit；　〃This　is　really　something。〃
　Danik　exclaimed；　〃We　are　at　the　threshhold　of　Eden。　In　the　stories　…　they　speak　of　an　Amethyst　Cave　that　sends　pleasant　cool　winds　into　Eden　via　a　fissure　near　the　lake。　This　is　the　place。〃
　〃Well；　I　never　saw　the　likes　of　something　like　this；〃　McCaughlin　said。　〃You　must　be　right。〃
　Rockson　told　them　to　fan　out　and　try　to　find　a　wind　…　the　escaping　cool　air　that　flowed　into　their　destination。
　Archer　found　the　draft。　His　big　floppy　hat　blew　off；　and　was　almost　sucked　into　the　crevice。　His　beard　fluttered；　his　crystal　skull…filling　flashed　with　red　and　blue　sparks　of　excitement。　〃Heeeerrreee〃　he　yelled。　Rock　told　the　others　to　sit　down　a　bit　before　they　plunged　into　Eden。　He　had　decided　on　a　plan　of　action。　A　plan　that　all　except　Archer　…　who　always　agreed　with　Rock　…　and　Detroit　and　Chen　thought　might　work。　All　the　others　were　dead　set　against　it。
　〃I'll　make　it　orders；〃　Rock　said；　once　he　told　them　of　his　idea。　〃It's　the　only　way　I　can　imagine　we　can　overe　all　of　Eden's　forces　in　one　blow。〃

　
　CHAPTER　22
　
　At　that　very　moment　in　Eden；　in　the　steam　room　of　his　private　rooms　adjoining　the　austere　Government　Building；　Stafford　lounged　restfully。　He　loved　the　steam；　the　heat；　the　sweating。　His　flaccid；　hairy　body　responded　to　it；　sang　with　the　steam　hissing　from　the　heated　rocks。
　And　he　didn't　like　to　be　disturbed　in　these　sojourns　into　peace。　The　affairs　of　state　were　most　trying；　and　he　had　to　have　his　relaxation。
　The　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　misty　room　opened。　A　cool　breeze　came　in。
　〃Mannerly？　Is　that　you？　Shut　the　damned　door。〃
　〃Sir；〃　said　Mannerly；　the　butler；　ing　in　quickly　and　closing　the　door；　〃where　are　you？〃
　〃Over　here。　At　the　far　end。　e　over　here　and　speak。　What　do　you　want？　What's　so　important？〃
　〃Sir；〃　said　the　tall　tuxedoed　Mannerly；　stepping　carefully　on　the　slick　tiles；　〃there　are　visitors。　Most　urgent；　they　say。〃
　〃Urgent？　Have　you　their　card？〃
　〃Yessir；〃　Mannerly　replied。
　〃Then　bring　it　here；　at　once。〃
　Mannerly　managed　to　reach　his　master　in　a　few　more　moments　of　dangerous　slipping　and　sliding。　He　leaned　over　the　seated　naked　man　and　proffered　a　silver　tray；　upon　which　was　a　single　business　card。
　Stafford　grumbled　and　picked　it　up。　It　was　already　soggy。　Bdos　Err；　Chief　of　the　Civil　Guard；　it　said。
　〃Hrummph；〃　Stafford　said；　〃Well；　I　guess　I　must　see　him　…　fetch　me　that　robe　over　there。。。〃
　Mannerly　gingerly　stepped　to　the　hook　and　removed　the　white　robe；　then　brought　it　to　Stafford。
　Stafford　walked　while　he　put　it　on；　and　Mannerly　followed；　hoping　to　not　get　lost　in　the　steam。
　Stafford；　once　out　into　the　gray…carpeted　gray　living　room　bare　of　any　decorations；　sat　down　in　his　audience　chair；　clad　in　his　robe。　He　looked　up　at　the　tall　pinch…nosed　Mannerly。　His　tuxedo　was　quite　soggy；　and　damp；　all　the　starch　ing　out　of　it。　Stafford　grinned。　He　looked　positively　unfortable。　He　himself　was　quite　fortable。　The　heat　of　the　volcanic　heated　sauna　room　lingered　in　his　bones。　〃Show　Bdos　Err　in。　Mannerly；　don't　just　stand　there。〃
　Bdos　Err；　all　six　foot　six；　three　hundred　muscular　pounds　of　him；　toting　his　bullwhip　in　his　hamhock…sized　fist　and　wearing　metal　armor…mail；　strode　in　noisily。　At　his　side　were　his　two　martial　arts　experts；　Nunchaku…man　and　Dedman。　They　wore　plainer　outfits；　black　synth…leather　fighting　suits。
　They　looked　formidable；　and　were。　In　the　recent　disturbances；　they　had　struck　terror　…　and　death　…　into　the　rising　tide　of　dissenters　to　Stafford's　iron　rule。
　Bdos　Err　was　the　toughest　man　in　Eden。　Stafford　wished　he　had　more　like　him。　The　Civil　Guard　was　too　weak；　too　soft。
　〃Sir；〃　the　Guard　chief　began；　saluting　across　his　broad　chest　of　steel；　〃our　detectors　buried　in　the　floor　of　the　Amethyst　Cave　show　movements　in　the　area。〃
　〃Earth　tremors？〃
　〃No　sir…footsteps。　We　weren't　sure　at　first；　they　were　so　far　away　…　but　they　are　getting　louder　…　and　a　few　minutes　earlier；　a　whole　series　of　sharp　reports　…　explosions。〃
　Stafford　stood　up　and　wrapped　the　robe's　belt　around　his　rather　rotund　waist。　He　balled　his　fists　and　hissed；　〃It　must　be　Danik。〃
　〃Or　an　attack　from　Death　City；　sir。　We've　been　expecting　one　for　fifty　years。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Stafford；　〃it's　Danik。　He's　e　back。。。　How　many　people　are　there　ing　our　way？〃　Stafford's　forehead　was　a　mass　of　wrinkles　of　concern。
　〃A　half…dozen；　perhaps　a　few　more。〃
　Stafford　smiled。　〃That's　around　the　same　number　we　suspect　Danik　left　with。　So；　he　returns　from　the　surface。　I　told　him　…　and　his　party　of　fools　…　that　the　surface　is　impossible。　A　terrible　unlivable　hell。　Well；　his　failure　will　show　the　people　how　correct　I　am。。。　Bdos；　it　is　good　you　e　here　with　these　words。　I　want　the　group　rounded　up　the　minute　they　exit　into　our　paradise。　I　do　not　want　either　him　or　any　of　his　party　injured　…　just　apprehended。〃　Stafford　smiled；　pacing　back　and　forth；　thinking。　〃Yes；　they　are　to　be　executed　in　the　Public　Square。　That　will　end　the　last　resistance　to　my　rule。　The　dissenters　figure　Danik　to　be　their　leader　…　his　death　before　their　eyes。。。〃
　〃What　are　my　orders；　sir？〃
　〃Go　to　the　Lake　Area；　keep　a　lookout　near　the　crevice　that　leads　to　the　caverns。　Apprehend　anyone　who　emerges。　Bring　them　to　me。〃
　〃If　they　resist？〃　These　words　of　Bdos　Err　brought　twisted　smiles　to　his　panions'　faces；　for　they　were　adepts　at　rendering　pain；　at　destroying　flesh。　Nunchaku…man　fingered　the　two　metal　sticks　attached　to　a　chain　shoved　into　his　waistband。　And　Dedman　tightened　his　grip　on　the　steel　shaft　of　a　spear　that　he　held　to　his　side。
　〃Use　whatever　level　of　violence　the　situation　demands。　No　more。　If　you　must　use　the　disintegrators；　use　low　power。　Don't　entirely　burn　them　up。　There　must　be　enough　left　to　torture；　and　to　display　in　the　Square。〃
　Bdos　Err　saluted　smartly；　and　he　and　his　grim　panions　in　terror　exited　the　apartments。
　Stafford　was　now　restless。　He　would　not　return　to　the　steam；　instead　he　had　Mannerly　hand　him　his　tunic。　He　put　it　on　and　went　into　the　entertainment　area。
　No　one　in　Eden　lived　as　well　as　Stafford。　No　one　had　a　steam　bath；　an　entertainment　area；　or　the　other　amenities。　But　then　again；　no　one　else　had　the　guts　to　seize　power　and　take　what　he　wanted；　Stafford　mused。
　He　sat　down　in　a　lounge　chair　in　the　artificial　wood…paneled　room　and　pressed　a　button　activating　the　wide　screen。　The　lights；　sound；　and　action　of　a　Hollywood　movie　of　the　1980s　swept　across　the　screen。　The　Night　of　the　Grizziys；　his　favorite　movie　began　again。　He　had　seen　it　102　times。
　He　leaned　back　to　watch　the　dangerous　creatures　of　the　surface　walk　again；　terrorizing　and　tearing　flesh。
　To　think　that　these　creatures　existed　even　before　the　nuke　war。　What　hideous　things　Danik　must　have　seen；　what　terror　must　have　driven　him　back　into　the　arms　of　his　executioner　now；　in　this　age　of　mutations　above。　Yes；　the　surface　had　been　dangerous　even　before　the　radiation　mutated　the　creatures　into　more　hellish　forms。　These　movies　pro