James Axler Deathlands 038 Mars Arena

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

%20-%20Mars%20Arena.html
"Let's hope we're right."
THE TENT WAS IN PLACE when Jak and Ryan returned. Ryan smelled the aroma of a
freshly opened self-heat even before they'd finished the descent. His stomach
rumbled, reminding him how many hours it had been since he'd last had a meal.
J.B. sat hunkered down with his back against a wall a little up from the
rounded dome of the tent. From his position he could see over the tent and all
approach paths for at least fifty yards in any direction. The Armorer held a
steaming self-heat in his hands, eating slow so he could savor the warmth of
the container for a bit, too.
"Here, lover." Krysty handed him a self-heat when she emerged from the tent.
Ryan took the container gratefully. He figured his stomach might revolt later,
but for now it put some warmth in him and got a good start on filling up all
the hollow spaces.
"Go on inside the tent," J.B. said. "I got this watch."
Ryan nodded. "Wake me in an hour and a half. I'll take that one."
Ryan entered the tent, followed by Jak, Mildred and Krysty, who zipped the
flap closed again.
"Not much room," Mildred said, sitting cross-legged in a corner, "but it does
Page 49
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
take a body out of that wind."
Ryan stretched out as much as he was able. The tent wasn't very big, so they
were all touching one another. But that way they'd also be able to share the
warmth. He finished the stew and put the container aside, laying his head on
his arm. His eye drifted closed when he felt Krysty's hand on his brow. Her
fingers felt soft across the areas that weren't nerve damaged from the
injuries he'd taken over the years. Moments later he fell asleep.
Chapter Thirteen
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/J...%20Deathlands%20038%20-%20Mars%2
0Arena.html (82 of 291) [12/29/2004 10:49:27 PM]
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%20038
%20-%20Mars%20Arena.html
"Wake up!"
Ryan cracked open his eye and closed his hand around the SIG-Sauer. Jak was
nowhere in sight, but it had been the albino's voice. He got to his knees,
feeling Krysty moving beside him. "Jak."
"Yeah."
"Trouble?"
Doc, Mildred and J.B. awakened, as well, all of them reaching for weapons.
"Burning daylight," Jak called back. He sounded irritated. "Figured you people
up by now."
Ryan pushed through the tent flap, surprised by the brightness and warmth of
the sun hanging low in a mass of purple clouds to the east. He left his coat
open, knowing he wasn't going to need it for the slight chill that remained
from the storm last night.
All around him was the sound of running water. Snow melted at an incredible
rate, pouring down tracks already worn through the rock and soil. Steam curled
up from the ground, rolling in gentle fogs across the countryside.
"I didn't expect this, lover." Krysty came up beside Ryan and put her hand in
his.
"Don't see how you could have," Ryan replied.
"It probably has a lot to do with the underlying volcanic activity and the
atmospheric conditions in regards to the debris that regularly shoots into the
upper stratosphere," Doc stated, putting a hand to his forehead to shade his
eyes.
"Feels like a cold sauna out here," Mildred said.
J.B. looked at the drenched ground. "There's a good chance we're going to
leave a trail wherever we go."
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/J...%20Deathlands%20038%20-%20Mars%2
0Arena.html (83 of 291) [12/29/2004 10:49:27 PM]
file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%20038
%20-%20Mars%20Arena.html
Ryan nodded, surveying the terrain around them. "We stick to the rocks so we
don't leave tracks."
"Yeah, but that's going to put us working the high ground. Better chance of
the brushwooders seeing us."
"We get a few more miles behind us, they won't have a chance at all."
"Downhill," Jak said, "mebbe melting snow wash away all tracks." The albino
teenager sat tending a slow cook fire nestled between a ring of rocks he'd
evidently placed. He turned a long spit that held four animals that had
roasted nicely.
"And mebbe we'll end up trying to cross some awfully flooded lands," Ryan
added. "Up top we should be able to get a better lay of the terrain. Pick a
good spot to cross at instead of being chased into a bad one."
"Where'd you get breakfast?" Mildred asked.
Jak waved an arm. "Little animals kept sticking heads up not far away. I
Page 50
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
pitched rocks.
And I got these." He poured out a pouch that contained bright red cherry
tomatoes and dark purple berries.
"Growing wild?" Ryan asked.
Jak nodded. "Have to look some. Color was pretty easy to see this morning
against snow."
"By the Three Kennedys!" Doc hunkered down and picked up one of the tomatoes,
which was about the size of his thumb. "Jak, lad, have I mentioned lately how
valuable an asset I consider you to be?"
The albino just looked at Doc, then turned the spit another notch.
"I find myself constantly enthralled by the vagaries and mysteries of Mother [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Tematy