rr.armageddonthemusical-第7章
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The pub looked about as wretched as any he had encountered before。 A jumble of corrugated…iron sheets； welded together and sealed against nature beneath a plasticized acid…proof shell。 A neon sign winked on and off； lamely advertising the establishment as 'The morroma Tav'。
Rex wandered across the car park。 Two other vehicles were parked。 One； a rather snappy Rigel Charger； probably the perk of some TV bigwig； the other； a clapped…out Morris Minor converted into a half…track； anyone's guess。
The airlock and decontamination systems at the Tomorrowman seemed to be largely symbolic in nature。 A double plastic entrance…flap； between which crouched a lounge boy； who tossed tubs of anti…bacteriant at the visitor as he passed through。 The grim expression upon the lad's face informed Rex that job satisfaction wasn't part and parcel of the post。 Inside； the bar was everything that might reasonably be regretted。 It was low and long and loathsome。 Rex sought a mat to wipe his feet on； but there was none； so dripping profusely； he cradled his weatherdome and put on a brave face。
Several patrons hunched before the bar…counter； sipping dubious…looking cocktails and staring into TV terminals； Rex found a vacant bar…stool and climbed on to it。 The barman behind the jump regarded him with passing interest。 He was scabious fellow； in leathern apron and gloves。 He lacked an eye and glared at the world with that remaining in a manner which； Rex felt； lacked a certain warmth。
'Good day to you；' said Rex encouragingly。
'Possibly your definition of the word differs from my own；' replied the barman； idly dabbing at the counter with a rag unfit to swab latrines。 'But if you're buying liquor it's all the same to me。'
'Quite so。' Rex drummed his fingers upon the counter…top。 'Now； what shall I have？'
'The beer tastes like bog water and the liquor is distilled from rat turds。'
'Do you have a personal favourite？'
'Tomorrowman Brew is perhaps less noxious than most；'
'A double then；'
'As you please。' The barman decanted a small measure of the demon brew。 'Eyeball the terminal。 Those I find to be without credit generally leave the establishment with a dented skull；'
Rex stared into the counter screen and much to his surprise it flashed up twenty credits to his favour。
'A man of means；' said the barman； punching in Rex's account to date。 'Drink your fill；'
Rex placed the cup to his lips and took a tentative sip。 It wasn't as bad as all that and the nausea which inevitably followed any kind of intoxication didn't e。
'Cheers；' said Rex； raising his cup。 'Will you have one yourself？'
The barman eyed him with curiosity。 'You are asking me to take a drink at your expense？'
'Certainly；'
'The mad shall always be mad； such is the way of it。' He poured himself a large measure and knocked it back with a single movement。 'So；' he said； wiping his mouth with the bar…cloth。 'What do you want to know？'
Rex finished his drink and stared into the putrid bottom of the cup。 'I'm a wanderer； a seeker after truth； if you like。'
'I don't like； but continue。'
'I'm driven by a single pulsion。 An unquenchable thirst for religious dogma in its each and every form。'
'Then watch the screens；' said the barman； 'there's dogma enough for anyone there； crap it all is。'
'Quite so； but a whisper has reached me that there are others hereabouts of alternative persuasions。 Non establishment。' Rex gave the barman a knowing wink。
The barman shook his head。 'I would know nothing of such matters。 I merely serve the drinks and kick out the drunks。'
'I'm willing to pay handsomely for such information。'
'Ah；' the barman grinned； fearsomely； 'then you have e to the right place。 parative religion is my life's work。 I run this bar as a sideline。'
'Indeed。 Then we understand one another。'
'That remains to be seen。'
Rex leant forward across the counter。 'The Devianti；' he said。
The barman's eye rolled into his head； leaving only the ghastly white。 'I must be off about my business。' Snatching up his bar…cloth； he limped down the bar to serve a dwarf； who was noisily rattling his cup。
'He won't tell you nothing mister；' said a voice at Rex's elbow。 'Scared shitless he is。'
Rex looked down at the wretch； ill…clad and foul smelling。 His skin was toned a vile yellow； crudely rouged at the cheeks。 'And who might you be？'
'Josh is the name； mister。 Rogan Josh。 Your offer still hold good？'
Rex nodded。 'It does； but there is one small matter I feel you should know。'
'Oh yes？'
'I suffer from an unstable mental condition which manifests itself in bouts of psychotic violence when I find myself being incorrectly advised。'
The wretch flinched。 He had that wasted； haunted look； which wasn't unmon。 Pulling at his single lock of hair； he said； 'I can set you straight； mister。 Honest。'
'Then kindly do so。'
'It'll cost you。'
'Say your piece then and I shall endeavour to place an accurate monetary value upon it。'
'These Devianti。 I know where they hang out。'
'Hang out？'
'Where they live； take up residence； co…exist； assume a non…transient occupancy。 The dunghole where they do their butchery。'
'Go on。'
'They're bad boys； mister。 They eat people。'
'I'd rather gathered that。'
'So you'd better take a food parcel； unless you wanna be on the menu。'
'Do you want another drink？' asked the barman； who had been edging back； all ears。 'Or do you want kicking into the street？'
'One more for myself；' Rex nodded towards Rogan Josh； 'and one for my panion； that will indeed be all。'
'Oh； thanks very much；' sneered the wounded barman。 'Would it be of any interest to learn my considered opinion of yourself？'
'None whatever。'
'Not that I consider you the accidental oute of a homosexual relationship？'
'One for myself and one for my panion。'
The barman splashed two foreshortened measures of Tomorrowman into as many glasses； overcharged Rex's account and stood with his arms folded； grinding his tooth。
Rex steered his informer away to a side table。 Here he spoke in whispered tones。 The barman； whose hearing was considerably less acute than his temper； slouched off； muttering beneath his breath。
'Now；' said Rex； 'all I require are names and locations。'
The wretch eyed him with open suspicion。 'Who are you； mister？' he asked。
'Rex Mundi is the name。 Whenever you think of four credits； justly earned； you will think of me。'
'If you dispense credits as liberally as you do words； then I shall be happy enough。'
'Quite so。 Then let us begin with the local high priest。 Always best to go straight to the top； I always find。'
'Thinking to pay him a visit at home； are you？'
'Certainly。'
'Then as you won't be ing back； you won't miss another five credits for the information。'
'I tend towards the optimistic；' Rex replied； 'but your point is well taken。 I shouldn't wish my murderer to gain financially from my demise。 My cash is at your disposal。'
'Good； then I will tell you all you wish to know。 There are some old warehouses about a mile north of here。'
'How will I know them？'
'You'll not miss them。 They are surrounded by barricades。 But don't let this deter you； just walk straight up and knock。'
'Assuming that I have somehow avoided the attentions of the snipers who no doubt guard the place； who should I ask for？'
'Assuming that this miracle has occurred； then Rambo Bloodaxe is your man。'
'Rambo Bloodaxe？' Rex crumpled in hilarity。 'Don't wind me up。'
'I'm serious； mister。 They've all got names like that。 Brad the Impaler； Deathblade Eric。'
Rex shook his head。 'Might I suggest； that in your certainty for my forthing extinction； you are presuming to take liberties with my not inconsiderable intellect？ I feel the red mist ing on。' Rex clutched at his head and made a ferocious face。
'Hold on； hold on mister。 I'm telling you the truth。 I wouldn't lie to a dying man。' Rex peered through his fingers。 'Anyway；' the wretch continued； 'if you return to prove me wrong then。。。'
'Then it wouldn't go well for you。' Rex looked at h
