rstacy.doomsdaywarrior-第23章

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　their　men　down　gurgling　out　blood。　Scarcely　a　noise　passed　their　lips。　The　Russian's　swooshing　blade　hit　his　man　in　the　temple　and　that　shut　him　up。　He　didn't　even　flop　around；　just　fell　dead。
　Archer's　huge　arrow　flew　with　a　hiss　and　went　right　through　the　neck　of　the　next　man　in　line　and　out　his　throat；　and；　remarkably；　right　back　into　the　man　in　front　of　him。　Skewered　together；　gasping　out　quarts　of　blood；　they　tumbled　to　the　side；　their　eyes　wide　and　staring　at　darkness。
　The　Freefighters　were　upon　the　remaining　Cult　soldiers　before　they　had　a　chance　to　whirl　around。　Scheransky　bludgeoned　down　his　prey　with　ease；　cracking　open　the　man's　skull　and　spilling　his　brains　on　the　stone　floor。　Detroit　slammed　his　baton　into　the　base　of　his　man's　skull。　Scratch　one　more　Cultist。　Smokestone's　massive　tomahawk　spilled　brains　right　and　left。
　Rockson　smashed　the　last　man　a　mighty　blow　to　the　solar　plexus　with　his　balisong　knife　handle　as　the　soldier　was　already　raising　the　long　silver　tube　and　squeezing　the　trigger　on　the　thing。　Rockson　winced；　expecting　a　shot；　even　though　the　tube　wasn't　pointed　at　him　…　and　never　would　be。　But　instead　of　a　report；　the　tip　of　the　silver　tube　glowed　red。　A　section　of　the　wall　it　was　facing　started　smoking　and　glowing　red…hot。　The　man　stopped　pulling　the　trigger　when　his　eyes　rolled　up　and　he　fell。
　They　had　managed　to　get　them　all　without　making　more　than　some　scuffling　noises；　a　few　gurgles；　and　death　rattles。　〃Now；　quickly；　put　on　their　uniforms　…　let　Archer　and　McCaughlin　use　the　outfits　of　those　two　big　guys；　the　rest　catch…as…catch…can。〃
　
　
　CHAPTER　16
　
　Meanwhile；　deep　in　the　earth。。。　a　strange　torchlit　procession　descended。　Six　pale　loin…clothed　figures　carried　a　sedan　chair　on　their　massive　shoulders。　In　front　of　the　figures　was　the　short　swarthy　man　with　the　characteristic　muttonchop　beard　and　moustache　that　designated　him　as　a　Renquist　high　priest。　Manion　had　switched　from　his　coarse　outer…world　garment；　and　now　he　wore　a　heavily　ornate　blue　silk　robe。　Those　carrying　his　captive　on　the　sedan　chair　behind　him　were　the　servants　of　his　exalted　being。　Behind　the　bearers　of　the　ornate　sedan　chair　were　the　six　soldier…monks　who　had　so　accurately　fired　the　sleep　gas。
　They　have　done　well；　they　will　be　rewarded；　Manion　thought。　The　Sandra　has　been　acquired；　the　destiny　of　the　people　of　Death　City；　and　her　exalted　destiny　was　about　to　be　fulfilled。　Renquist；　Mightiest　of　All　will　have　his　Queen　once　more。　And　the　Blessed　Renquist　will　reward　his　people。　Manion；　when　he　first　had　peeked　over　the　rocks　of　the　outside　world　and　had　seen　the　Goddess　and　her　panions；　had　known　at　once。　The　Goddess　was　exactly　as　she　eternally　appeared　…　beautiful；　red　flames　for　hair；　tan　of　plexion；　long　of　limb。　Haughty；　and　buxom。　She　was　the　Sandra；　consort…wife　of　the　Renquist。　She　had　been　sent　back　to　them；　so　that　destiny　could　at　last　be　fulfilled。　Manion　had　no　doubt　of　that。　She　was　Sandra。　And　she　belonged　to　his　people。
　But　what　of　the　others　with　her　…　those　strange　men？　Couldn't　they　have　been　messengers　that　heaven　sent　to　deliver　Sandra　to　Death　City。　No；　they　must　have　been　a　group　of　surface　people　that　had　seized　the　Goddess；　and　were　about　to　take　her　for　their　own。　Manion　was　not　entirely　sure；　so　he　had　thought　it　best　to　not　kill　them　where　they　lay　overe　with　the　gas　of　sleep。　They　would　awaken　and　they　would　be　afraid　and　leave　the　area。　Yes。　They　would　not　try　to　follow　…　and　even　if　they　found　the　entrance；　there　were　patrols　in　the　tunnels。　Still；　he　was　uneasy。　Perhaps　he　should　have　killed　them。。。
　The　entourage　bearing　the　sleeping　woman　reached　a　cavern；　and　a　huge　brass　door　with　carved　figures　of　a　titanic　bear　stood　before　them。　Manion；　as　was　his　duty；　went　to　the　gong　and　took　up　the　stick　and　rang　it　twice。　Responding　to　the　sonorous　ringing；　the　doors　slowly　opened。
　In　the　flickering　flame…lamp's　light；　twenty　meters　beyond　the　door；　stood　the　ten…story…high　solid　gold　statue　of　Renquist。　Manion　made　a　prostration；　and　then　those　behind　him　set　down　the　sedan　chair　and　also　made　obeisance；　their　foreheads　to　the　stone　floor　below　them。　The　Fire　of　Eternity　set　before　the　huge　statue　flared　up。　〃A　good　sign；〃　Manion　interpreted　aloud。　〃Renquist　is　well　pleased。〃
　The　Goddess　was　paraded　before　the　statue；　the　gossamer　covering　of　the　sedan　chair　removed　so　that　He　could　see。　Then　Manion　ordered　that　the　Goddess　be　taken　to　her　new　quarters；　to　be　bathed　in　milk　and　honey；　to　be　dressed　properly；　so　that　all　might　be　fulfilled。。。
　Rona　regained　consciousness　shortly　after　being　deposited　on　a　vermilion　silk　bed。　The　awakening　was　soft；　and　slow。　Rona　had　dim　memories　of　a　sweet　dream；　of　beautiful　milkmaids　bing　out　her　long　tresses；　bathing　her；　caressing　her；　stripping　her　of　dirty　garments　and　bathing　her　in　milk。　Suddenly；　she　sat　bolt　upright。　Where　was　she　…　what　had　happened？　She　started　to　rise；　and　felt　her　body；　shorn　of　her　khaki　outfit；　nearly　naked；　slide　across　the　silk。　She　gasped　when　she　saw　that　all　she　wore　was　a　scanty；　jewel…encrusted　brassiere　and　a　stingy　bikini　bottom。　The　flimsiest　gossamer　transparent　skirt　hung　from　that　bottom；　hiding　nothing　of　her　long　legs。
　She　saw　an　ornate　gold…framed　mirror　in　the　corner　of　the　large　empty　room。　No　doors　or　windows　visible。　This　must　be　a　dream。　She　went　to　the　mirror。　There　she　was；　her　hair　neat　and　clean；　in　the　bare…midriff　costume。　There　was　a　ruby…encrusted　tiara　on　her　head。　She　took　it　off。　She　felt　along　the　walls　for　a　door。　Nothing。　Had　the　milkmaids　been　real？　Was　this　real？　She　looked　around。　There　was　the　dresser　and　mirror；　the　brocaded　silk　sofa…bed；　a　carpet　that　belonged　in　an　antique　store　…　a　sumptuously　appointed　Louis　XIV　type　room。　It　was　subtly　lit　by　recessed　bulbs　in　its　rock　ceiling。
　There　were　giggles。　Watchers　in　the　walls　…　somewhere。　She　went　to　the　bed　and　tore　off　the　bedspread；　covered　her　scantily　clad　body。　She　stood　there；　for　a　long　time；　almost　breathless。　Nothing。　Rona　lay　back　down　again　and　closed　her　eyes。　The　bed　sure　felt　real　enough。　She　touched　the　jewels　on　her　bikini　button。　Hard。　Real。　She　moved　her　hand　to　her　perfumed　left　nipple；　which；　due　to　the　briefness　of　the　brassiere；　was　half　exposed；　and　squeezed。　〃Ouch；〃　she　exclaimed　aloud；　〃This　is　real。　Where　the　hell　am　I？〃
　No　answer。　Then；　from　the　dark　corners　of　the　room；　squat；　heavily　veiled　figures　crept　forward　silently。　Rona　gasped；　stood　up　on　her　bare　perfumed　feet；　and　took　a　karate　stand；　hands　made　into　cutting；　crushing　instruments　of　death。　〃Who's　there？〃
　Giggles。　One　figure　came　forward　a　bit　further；　into　the　light。　It　was　a　short　wide　woman　of　about　thirty　years　of　age；　hairless；　and　dressed　in　a　set　of　coarse　shapeless　veils　of　a　light　blue　cotton…type　material　from　neck　to　ankles。　〃I　am　Verna；　Your　Majesty；〃　the　woman　said；　and　bowed　deeply。
　〃Where　am　I？〃　Rona　said。　She　did　not　change　her　kata　position。　〃What　is　this　place？　Who　dressed　me　…　undressed　me　…〃
　〃We；　your　handmaidens　prepared　you。　Your　Majesty。〃
　〃Prepared　me　for　what？〃
　〃You　are　to　achieve　your　destiny；　oh　Sandra；　Mother　of　All。〃
　〃Huh？〃
　Rona　whirled　as　the　hidden　door　opened　again。　In　stepped　a　bald　man　in　muttonchop　beard　and　moustache。　He　looked　much　like　those　nineteenth…century　portraits　of　the　scions　of　American　capitalism　…　except　that　below　his　face　he　wore　not　a　pinstriped　suit　but　a　blue　bejeweled　tunic　of　some　sort。　Kind　of　a　Roman　outfit。
　He　too　bowed　deeply。　Rona　thought；　At　least　I　get　some　respect　around　here；　wherever　here　was。　〃What's　going　on？〃　she　demanded。　〃Where　am　I　and　who　are　you？〃
　〃Your　obedient　servant；　Jefferson　Manion；　at　your　service；〃　the　man　said。　〃Sandra　Renquist；　Your　Exalted　Goddess；　Your　Supreme　Majesty；　you　are　in　Death　City；　your　people　have　brought　you　here。　So　that　you　may　be　joined　with　He　Who　Is　Eternal。〃
　He　bowed　again。
　〃I'm　going　to　kick　you　in　your　stupid　face　unless　you　…〃
　The　man　raised　a　small　stick　he　carried　and　a　flickering　ray　jumped　from　it　into　the　mid…forehead　of　the　captive。　She　paused　in　mid…sentence；　and　a　beatific　smile　errupted　upon　her　face。　Rona　felt　good　…　very　good。　She　couldn't　remember　what　she　had　been　a