The Kalispell Run by David Robbins

Author:David Robbins [Robbins, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf_postapocalyptic
ISBN: 9780843924497
Publisher: Leisure Books
Published: 1987-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“Don’t you ever get tired?”

“You ask too many questions, yes? Stop, yes?”

“My teacher once told me you only learn things if you’re curious, if you constantly thirst for answers. He told us to always ask questions.”

“That would be Plato, yes? The Family Leader, no?” Blade angrily squirmed in the creature’s grasp. “Damnit! How the hell do you know so much about the Family?”

Gremlin, carrying the Warrior south on Highway 35, grinned. “Told you before, yes? For one who asks so many questions, you don’t listen to answers!” This struck him as hilarious and he laughed in genuine delight.

Blade grit his teeth and fumed. He looked to their right, to the west, noting the sun sinking toward the far horizon, the fiery star reflected on the surface of Flathead Lake. The beautiful lake was placid, its blue waters fringed by dense conifer forests. He recalled Geronimo mentioning the lake on their trip to Kalispell. What was it Geronimo said? Something about Flathead Lake being the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, almost forty miles long with one hundred and eighty miles of shoreline. According to a paragraph at the bottom of the map, Flathead Lake had been a popular tourist resort before the Big Blast. Now nature had reclaimed the lake and the surrounding shoreline and beaches.

Disintegrating summer homes and crumbling docks lined the shore.

“Why so quiet? Mad, yes?” Gremlin snickered.

Blade glanced at his captor. “Why bother talking to you? You won’t tell me what I need to know.”

“Already did, yes?” Gremlin stated.

“You speak in riddles, Gremlin. I can’t understand you.”

“Sorry, but speak truth, yes?”

“If you say so,” Blade mumbled.

“Don’t believe Gremlin?” The creature seemed hurt by the insinuation he would lie.

“You expect me to trust you?” Blade asked, shaking his head.

“Why not, yes? Gremlin trustworthy.”

“Well, excuse me for doubting your integrity,” Blade said in a mocking tone.

Gremlin stopped and hissed. “No insults, yes? Not my fault Gremlin do this.”

“Oh? Whose fault is it?” Blade asked sarcastically.

Gremlin resumed their trek, staring straight ahead. “Must do as told, yes? Not up to me, no?”

“If it’s not up to you,” Blade suggested, “why don’t you let me go?”

“Can’t.”

“Why not? No one will ever know.”

“Doktor know, yes? Hurt Gremlin, yes? Hurt him bad.”

Blade was about to request an explanation when he remembered their fight in Kalispell. He’d had the impression Gremlin’s heart wasn’t in their struggle, and the creature had actually pleaded with him to drop his weapons to avoid hurting him. Hardly the trademark of a killer. But Gremlin’s behavior had changed drastically after the blue light on the metal collar glowed; he had transformed into a rampaging demon. Why?

How was the collar able to alter his conduct?

“Listen, Gremlin,” Blade said, “I’m sorry if I offended you. But you can’t blame me. How would you act if you were in my shoes?”

“Wouldn’t fit, yes?” Gremlin grinned. “Your feet too big.”

Blade smiled.

The road was hugging the shoreline. As they rounded a curve, a cluster of buildings appeared fifty yards ahead.

“Wonder where we are,” Blade absently noted.

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.