Deathlands 05 Homeward Bound by James Axler

Author:James Axler [Axler, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Men's Adventure, General, Time travel
ISBN: 9780373485994
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1997-12-15T08:00:00+00:00

as she realized what Doc was trying to say.

"Ryan!" she exclaimed.

"You all lost your jack, lover? What's all this about…?"

"About your name, you double-stupe," she said, voice raised. "Tomorrow we'll be

within range of the ville."

"And?"

"And if anyone hears the name of Ryan Cawdor, then they'll…"

"Go running to Harvey," Ryan finished, slapping his own forehead with

exasperation. "Sorry, friends. Better go and throw myself in that pool to try

and get my damned brain working. Yeah, of course. Got to change my name."

"Upon my soul, but I admire a man who likes to speak his mind. Indeed I do," Doc

said, grinning. "That's my impersonation of… of someone or other from some old

vid."

"I don't know what to call myself," Ryan said.

"John Doe," Krysty suggested. "Used to be the name for chills they couldn't put

a name to."

"Thanks, lover," Ryan said dryly.

"Floyd Thursby," Doc offered.

The suggestion was greeted with total silence by everyone. Ryan tried the name

on his tongue, finding it felt familiar. "Not bad."

"Like it." Lori smiled. "Floyd Thursby. I can remember that."

Krysty leaned over and kissed Ryan on the lips. "Hey, Floyd, you kiss just like

a guy I used to know."

"You enjoy it?" Ryan grinned and pulled her to him, kissing her long and hard.

"Even better when you help," she replied, face flushed, sentient hair coiling

and uncoiling on her shoulders.

"Floyd Thursby." J.B. tried the name. "Why not? Where did you pick that one

from, Doc?"

The old-timer looked puzzled. "I think… No, it's vanished. Perhaps we shall

never know who the real Mr. Floyd Thursby was. It will remain a mystery shrouded

in an enigma."

THEY FINALLY RAN OUT OF GAS a little before noon. Fortunately the rebuilt wag

had been giving them plenty of warning, the engine stalling and backfiring

repeatedly. Jak, who was at the wheel, had ample time to pick a secluded spot

off the deserted blacktop. He eventually parked the truck in a grove of trees,

completely out of sight of any casual passersby. They hadn't seen a soul since

crossing the Susquehanna, so it looked like a good place to safely store some of

their clothes and blasters.

"We go and we look. Find a way—if there is a way—to take out Harvey and his

woman. And his bastard son. We need more power, we come back here and collect

the rest of the blasters."

The Armorer sighed at Ryan's words. "Surely like to have the Uzi in my hand,

going into a hostile ville like this."

"Sec men'd chill us 'fore we got ten paces over the moat."

"Sure, Ryan, sure."

Their secluded grove was a place of quietness and muted grays and greens. A

small, furry animal scuttled amid the rustling leaves, darting out of sight

behind the wheels of the wag.

"Nice forest," Krysty said. "Any mutie critters around here?"

"Some humans," Ryan replied. "There's still some black bear in the hills, and

mebbe some cougar. Pa used to breed wild boars. Big mothers, six feet at the

shoulder, with curved tusks that'd rip your belly open 'fore you even saw 'em

coming."

"Nice, lover. I'll stay close to you. This all the woods from the Front Royal

ville?"

"Used to be. When I was a kid it seemed like we owned half the Shens.

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