Deathlands 069: Black Harvest by James Axler

Author:James Axler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 0373625790
Publisher: Gold Eagle
Published: 2005-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Fourteen

“Don’t let them get away!” Robards shouted.

The outlanders had made their way to the north end of the arena and seemed to have vanished from sight. They were good at surviving and would probably make it out of the arena, maybe even out of the ville. Robards was counting on them getting away, since that would bring the firefight out into the ville where it would be possible for the baron to catch a round from one of their weapons, or if not one of their blasters, perhaps from Robards’s own. After all, once the baron was gone, who would challenge his authority over the ville? If he declared the baron dead by one of the outlanders’ blasters, that would be the end of the matter.

“Patskou!” Robards called out.

Almost at once, a sec man and three juniors came running up to the elevated platform.

“Yes, Chief!”

“Circle around the south end of the arena, and take as many men with you as you can find. I don’t want them doubling back on us and slipping out the back door.”

Sec man Patskou nodded and left at double-time, his three men trailing behind, and more joining the train as he circled the outside of the arena.

Robards watched approvingly.

The outlanders probably didn’t need his help getting away, but there was no harm in helping to making sure everything went according to his plan.

BARON SCHINI watched as chaos reigned around her.

The episode in the arena had been awkward and careless. If DeMann and Robards had wanted the outlanders dead, why didn’t they just tie them up and take their heads off with a volley of blasterfire?

She looked at Sec chief Robards and listened closely as he sent his men to the opposite end of the arena from where the outlanders had last been seen.

It all seemed so wrong.

Unless…

Unless Robards was working on something, and was using the outlanders’ escape as a diversion.

“Perhaps I should retire to my residence. It will be safer there,” Baron DeMann said.

“No, Baron, that might be seen as a sign of weakness by citizens of the ville,” Robards countered. “Besides, the outlanders know where your quarters are, and they might seek you out in revenge for the double cross in the arena. Better to stay here with me so my men can protect you.”

The baron eyed his sec chief suspiciously. “All right, but I’m warning you, if you let the one-eyed outlander escape, you won’t live to see the morning. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Baron,” DeMann said.

Baron Schini looked at Baron DeMann for a long time knowing that whether by her hand, or that of Sec chief Robards, he would probably be the one who wouldn’t live out the night.

ELEANDER LED Doc and Jak to the north end of the arena. Ryan, Krysty, J.B. and Mildred were waiting for them there, eager to get their blasters back and a chance to shoot their way out of the ville.

Ryan checked his SIG-Sauer and the small cache of 9 mm rounds he had for it.

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