Axler, James - Deathlands 18 by Axler James

Author:Axler, James
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Twenty-Five

As Ryan walked through the ville, he was conscious of a feeling that he'd had many times before. He always wondered what the place looked like before the nukes darkened the skies and thousands of millions died all across the globe.

He'd seen plenty of torn and bleached old magazines and broken books, as well as occasional scratched and jumpy vids, so he could formulate a sort of idea of Yuma, Colorado.

Tanned hunks of men in loose quilted parkas in vivid shades of purple and lime green would be escorting power-dressed blond women with perfectly cut manes and stiletto heels.

All of them would be locked into intricate games of buying and selling. People and things. And you hardly ever saw any of them within a half mile of the seductive slopes of fresh white snow.

Though you did see them in their wood-lined bedrooms laying out neat lines of fresh white powder on small silver mirrors.

There would be huge wags, dripping with chrome and flake acrylic paint, rumbling along the sweeping curves of the interstates.

Now, Yuma didn't look much like that kind of rich-flavored ville.

Three-quarters of the original, prenuke buildings were gone, some folding up under seismic movements while many others had fallen victim to raging fires. Ryan looked around him as he walked, seeing that hardly any of the multistory accommodation blocks were still standing.

But many of the trendy boutiques that would once have formed part of a pedestrian mall were still there.

Most of the windows were broken. Above the sagging or missing doors, Ryan could read the names, faded and almost obliterated by the weather, again, giving that odd, allusive flavor of the past the Villa San Miguel, a Mexican restaurant, with two small green sombreros painted on either side of the window; Yuma Greenerie, the pictures showing an exotic flowering cactus, with a marijuana twining around it; Don Fernando's Casa de Yuma, with no clue to what that might have sold; Zapata the Jeweler; Jose's Veggie Eaterie.

The Arroyo Seco Bar and Gaudy. This was open and functioning, even that early in the morning. Ryan paused in the shadowy doorway, surrounded by the smell of last night's beer, cigarette smoke and vomit.

A half-asleep girl at a round table caught his eye and beckoned to him.

"Want a breakfast quickie, mister?"

"No. Thanks, but no thanks. Too early in the day for me."

"Never too early for a good blowjob."

Ryan smiled. "Mebbe tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting." She kissed her ringed fingers and waved them to him.

"Hey."

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"Yeah?"

"Going to report to the baron. Am I on the right road?"

"Sure. Past the corner of Daley and Manson. Can't miss it."

"Thanks."

She called after him as he walked on. "Hey there, One-Eye."

"What?"

"Make like you're walkin' on eggs when Sidler's in your face."

"Sure. Thanks."

THE YUMA Multiplex Cinema was easily identifiable. Partly because it was one of the biggest buildings left standing in the ville. Partly because there was a gang of ragged, slovenly sec men hanging around its front, like blowflies hovering over a haunch of rotting horse meat.

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