cp.reddice-第28章
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ilding。 Get out as fast as you can。 Steal a truck if you have to。 Things are going to get awfully hot here。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes。 You're not going to kill me？〃
〃No。 Not tonight。 You can relax； after you do exactly what I say。〃
The guard lets out the death scream。 I spray an especially wide shower of blood through the doorway。 Then I drop the guy down beside Joel； who pats him on the back and tells him to relax。 I hand Joel the man's weapon and order him to keep it handy。 Several guards outside the door are crying。 They have backed away； but not far enough to be safe。 I reach out and grab another。 He carries a high…powered machine gun； which I wedge between the door and frame。 He smells of hamburger and fries。 His food is probably not digesting well。 I don't know this soldier； which doesn't bode well for him。
〃〃You're going to die now；〃 I tell his horrified face。 〃I am sorry it has to be this way。〃
I kill him slowly； painfully； so that his throat…tearing screams and red blood mingle to create an image so ghastly that many of the soldiers feel they are trapped in a nightmare from which they cannot awaken。 When I am done； I throw what is left of his body into the hall。 It is very messy…the terror in the air is as palpable as the hard metal door that can no longer be closed。
This last execution has disturbed me。 If I am forced to kill； I prefer to do so efficiently and painlessly。 I will not make another example…I don't have the stomach for it。 It is time to leave the building； with Joel and General Havor in hand。 To grab the machine gun the soldier brought in； I drop from my position on the ceiling and immediately retrieve it and open fire。 The men outside the door stand frozen in place。 They fall to their deaths like tenpins。
I kill eight of them before I step into the hall。
Arturo and General Havor are at the far end。 They are a hundred feet away and backing up fast。 Between us there are many soldiers。 I cannot allow the big boss to leave the building without me。 But the bloody examples I made of the first two men have had an effect。 The soldiers are pushing and crowding behind General Havor and Arturo； slowing them down； preventing them from simply leaving。 Also； General Havor has lost control of his men。 I stand a clear and easy target in the hallway； but no order to fire es。 In their hearts； the men do not believe this witch can be killed with mere bullets。
They wish they hadn't opened the door。
〃Drop your weapons and I will let you live！〃 I yell。
Most in front of me surrender right then。 The few who don't； who take aim； I shoot in the head。 The sheer number of deaths does not numb me。 I look in the eyes of each one I destroy； and wonder about his life and who he leaves behind。 If it was just my life…honestly； if there was no danger of my blood falling into the wrong hands； I would let them cut me down。 But I have a responsibility to mankind。 I know that is the rationale of every great man or woman； of every merciless monster。 The smell of Wood is too thick even for my taste。
Arturo and General Havor disappear around the corner。
I call to Joel to join me in the hallway。
He cautiously peeks out。 He groans。
〃Nothing can be worth than this；〃 he whispers。
〃You may be right；〃 I say。 〃Still； we have to get out of here。 To do that； we need General Havor。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃On the second floor。〃 I grab Joel with my free arm and shield the top of his head with my palm。 〃Let's join him。〃
I leap straight up and smash through the ceiling。 Again； Yaksha's blood es to my aid。 Without it； such a move would have given me a righteous headache。 This time the ceiling barely slows me down。 Pulling Joel through the hole I have created； we stand up on the floor of the basement； level one。 I see soldiers down the hall jamming the stairs； frantic to exit。 Arturo and General Havor struggle in the midst of the human flood。 Raising the machine gun to my shoulder； I take aim at General Havor's right thigh。 For a split second it is dearly visible。 I put a bullet in it。 The general stumbles and lets out a cry。 No one stops to help him； least of all Arturo。 I grab Joel's arm。
〃e；〃 I say。
As I wade into the crowd； they scream and scatter。 I guess my red hair does not suit me。 Or perhaps it is the fact that I am soaked from head to toe in blood。 I must look like a beast that has climbed from the depths of hell。 Arturo is already out of sight； but General Havor lies helpless at the side of the stairway。 He is lucky that he…was not trampled to death。 But he is not lucky that it is me who reaches out to help him to his feet。 〃General Havor；〃 I say。 〃Pleased to meet you face to face。 Sorry I have to ask a favor so soon after saying hello。 But I need you to take me and my friend into the cave behind this pound。 I need one of those thermonuclear warheads you keep there。 I have a thing about fire； you see； about explosions。 For me； the bigger the better。〃
16
The cave turns into another prison。 We reach it without excessive bloodshed； but once inside I am forced to kill all the soldiers。 The endless slaughter weighs heavily on me。 Joel's broken expression begs me to stop。 But I can't stop until it is over； one way or the other。 It is my nature never to quit。
We are scarcely inside when the remaining soldiers close the door on us。 The metal is as thick as the door on the cell…it cuts in half the miniature rail tracks that run between the pound and the depths of the hill They also turn off our lights； but there are emergency lanterns。 For Joel's sake； and the general's； I turn on several。 The stark rays cast ghastly shadows over the carnage I have inflicted。 There is blood everywhere。 The red blurs in the silent gloom； in my racing mind； it is as if the walls of the cave Meed。 I try not to count the dead。
〃I didn't want this；〃 I say； pointing my weapon at the general； who sits on the edge of the small railroad car that carries supplies into this place of secrets。 His leg continues to bleed but he doesn't plain。 He is a horrible human being； but he is not without strength。 A hard man with a blunt face； he wears his hair as if it were a disease growing on top of his head。 I add； 〃It's your fault。〃
My accusation does not faze him。 〃You can always surrender。〃
I kneel beside him。 To my left Joel sits on the ground； looking weary beyond belief。 〃But you see that is not an option；〃 I tell the general。 〃When history started； I was there。 And the only reason mankind has been able to move steadily forward is because I have chosen to stand apart from history。 I watch what happens。 I have no desire to have important roles。 Do you understand that I tell you the truth？〃
General Havor shrugs。 〃You've changed your style today；〃
My voice hardens。 〃You made me change。〃 I gesture to the dead men who lie around us。 〃All this is because of you。 Look at them。 Don't you care about them？〃
He is bored。 〃What do you want？ A nuclear bomb？〃
I stand and look down at him。 〃Yes。 That's exactly what I want。 And after you show it to me； I want you to arm it。〃
He snorts。 〃Do you think I'm crazy？〃
〃I know you're crazy。 I have seen inside your mind。 I know what you planned to do once you had my blood in your veins。 You were going to murder Arturo and rape me。〃
He's cocky。 〃You flatter yourself。〃
I slap him in the face； hard enough to break his nose。 〃And you sicken me。 I don't know how Arturo ever teamed up with you。 He must have been desperate。 He and I are not alike； by the way。 I never beg for anything； but I know how to make you beg。 Give me the warhead and arm it or I will subject you to such physical and mental torture you will think that soldier I ripped apart inside the cell died peacefully。〃 I raise my hand to strike again。 〃Yes？〃
He holds his nose； the blood leaks through his thick fingers。 〃May I ask what you plan to do with the warhead？〃 he asks。
I catch his eye； push hard enough to make him cower。
〃I am going to clean up； your mess；〃 I reply。
General Havor agrees to furnish me with a bomb。 He digs it out of the back； and wheels it into view on the railroad cart。 A black squat affair with a pointed ti
