Deathlands 013 Seedling by James Axler

Author:James Axler [Axler, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Published: 2012-07-20T02:13:10+00:00

"DOC?"

Krysty's voice was weak, barely audible, but he heard it. He turned from his contemplation of the vast stillness of the warehouse.

"I'm here, child."

"We do it?"

"Oh, yes." He sighed. "Indeed, we did it. How are you?"

"Feel like an hour-old chick. Give me a hand up, will you?"

He reached down to help, finding that he needed all of his strength to get her to her feet. She slumped and would have fallen again if he hadn't put an arm around her waist.

"There."

"Thanks. Gaia! The smell's dreadful. Where's all the scalies?"

At the far, higher end the cooking fires still burned, their dying flames reflected in the sullen surface of the acid lake. The tank was drained, and only an occasional drop now spluttered from the nozzle of the faucet.

"Most under that. Some escaped out the far side. I believe the majority of their prisoners got away, but they were chained, so I have some serious doubts as to their potential for ultimate survival. If there are more in this mutie army, then this will cause them considerable anger. We should get away and try to find Ryan and the others."

"Can't walk too fast. What happened to the woman with the scars?"

"Saw her grapple with a scalie, then the aqua fortis threw its veil of night across the place. Can't see her now."

Krysty's boots dragged on the stone floor as Doc began to pull her toward the nearest exit, the one they'd been brought through. The light was now almost gone, but he hoped his sense of direction might eventually get them reunited with Ryan, Mildred and J.B.

But two factors combined to dash Doc's hopes. One was that his sense of direction in pitch-black, interwoven tunnels and corridors wasn't as good as he'd reckoned. The second was that Krysty's use of the power, as always, had weakened her to such an extent that she had to rest. They had only been stumbling along for about ten blind minutes when her legs completely gave way. Doc was able to lower her to the floor, kneeling by her.

"Sorry. Can't go on any farther. Must sleep awhile, Doc."

"That's fine my child. Let me sit down here, and you shall lay your sleepy head in my lap. Nowhere to go tonight, is there?"

The old man realized he was talking to himself. The young woman was already fast asleep.

In his rich, rounded voice Doc crooned a lullaby. Buried beneath the ruins of New York, Doc Tanner ran his fingers through the mane of hair, feeling it almost respond to his touch. And his mind wandered away, back through time, to the little daughter he'd hardly known. And who was now dead for well over a hundred years.

"Sleep well, my dearest," he whispered. "Sleep well, my dear, dear Rachel. Sleep well."

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.