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. Jackal took theglasses off and the woman took a few cautious steps back. Don t you scan me, you bastard. I m not a hunter any more, lady, he said, trying to reas-sure her that he meant her no harm.Ruth held her hands up. We re only here looking forfood, really.We don t mean you any harm.The woman lowered her weapon. My name s Rose andthis is the Wild Rose Diner. I m Ruth and this is Bill Jackal.We just call him Jackalfor short.Rose snorted at Jackal. Suits him. She turned her backon them and headed back inside. Might as well come on inout of the heat, she said, holding the door open for them.They followed her inside and Jackal glanced out the win-dow.He felt safe enough here but he always liked to knowwhat was going on around him.110Scorched EarthTo his amazement the woman had live chickens out back.She also had a cow and a few goats.In contrast to the few dogsand rats he d seen in the city, these animals looked healthyand well cared for.Rose chatted at him and Ruth about all kinds of thingswhile she gathered up some eggs and brought them inside.Shecooked them both some scrambled eggs with a small piece ofbread and cheese, and a glass of milk.Jackal couldn t remem-ber tasting anything so good.Then Rose moved on to the sub-ject of New Eden. Sure, she said with a smile that revealed two missingteeth. I trade with them all the time.They re only about twomiles from here. Is the colony run by men or women? Ruth asked, hervoice betraying her excitement. It s run by a man who calls himself Rick, but it s a mixedcommunity.There are men, women, and even some childrenthere, Rose said.Jackal watched Ruth s face light up, but he remainedskeptical. Are you sure the women are free?Rose shrugged. Sure they are.They ve never tried tokeep me there.They re not like those crazy city boys.Thesepeople live their lives in peace, raising crops and livestock.Asfar as I can tell, everyone there helps everyone else.Ruth touched his hand. It s still early.Let s go check itout.Jackal squinted out the window at the lush green leaveson the two oak trees.Maybe this was a chance for a new be-ginning. Alright, he said, still a little edgy. But we re notspending the night there.Agreed?Ruth got up off her stool and kissed him. Agreed.111Scorched EarthChapter 28The drive to New Eden took only a few minutes but oncethey got there, neither she nor the Jackal could get up thenerve to get out.From the road where they d parked, theycould see row upon row of crops and small farmhouses spacedvery far apart.Still, after so long in the dangerous, filthy cityit looked like utopia. Well, Ruth said finally,  We should go talk to them.Jackal slumped in his seat. You go ahead.I ll wait here. What for? Because if any body tries to keep you, I can still bust youout, he said.She took a deep breath. Good thinking. Ruth got out ofthe car, glanced back once at Jackal, and began walking thelong dirt road to one of the farmhouses.* * * *Rick was an older man than Ruth expected, probablysomewhere close to sixty.He had a wrinkled tan face andsnow-white hair.He looked like he d been working outsideall his life. How many women did you say live in your bunk-er? he asked as they walked through some rows of youngcorn. Twenty, she said.He nodded. This would be a good place for them.112Scorched Earth Would they be free to come and go as they pleased?Rick gave her a strange look. Of course.But we do haveone big rule and that is if you want to eat here, you have toshare in the work. He was thoughtful for a moment thenadded,  We have a few young men here who would probablywelcome the new additions.Ruth smiled then she said,  How is it you ve been able togrow crops here when the city soil is useless?In response, Rick crouched down and picked up somesoil.He held it out to her and she took it, examining the darkmoist dirt. Because the earth is a good mother, Ruth, he saidas his eyes grew glassy,  and she has forgiven us.Ruth placed the soil against her nose and smelled it.Gonewas the pungent scent of rot and dust.This soil smelled likelife.She stood up and tossed the earth back. Thanks for eve-rything, Rick.My women and I will be back.Rick tossed his head at the car in the distance. Whatabout your friend? He ll come around, she said. He just needs some per-suasion.113Scorched EarthChapter 29The hotel lobby was solemn and shrouded in dusty morn-ing light.Zoey sat in one of the paisley wing chairs pretendingto sleep as Ogun watched from an employee side room.Therewas someone else in the lobby too.Someone watching Zoeyfor any sign that she wasn t alone.Someone who wanted tokill her just for the thrill of it.They were finally going to catchand put an end to the city s only living serial killer.Ogun hated using her for bait but there was no other waythe killer would reveal himself.He knew the android washunting him and that sooner or later his time would run out.Perhaps in some sick, strange way the killer welcomed death.Maybe that s why he was toying with taking such a huge riskin watching Zoey.He may not have known who she was, butshe must have looked suspicious sitting all by herself withouteven a blaster in her lap.But Ogun knew the drive to kill would be strong and thekiller probably hadn t been able to find another victim in aweek.For a serial killer like this one, that was an eternity.That s how Ogun knew he had him; he would go for Zoey; hewould be compelled to.For her part Zoey was the perfect decoy.She was vulner-able and quiet, giving off an innocent sexiness.Ogun evenfound his own thoughts wandering to replays of their love-114Scorched Earthmaking.He couldn t wait for this to be over so he couldsmooth his hands over her glowing cocoa skin.His tonguecame out and caressed his lips, remembering the ripe taste ofher full lips.His desire for her grew more insistent as a de-manding erection grew in his pants.A sound touched his ear and he squinted out the smalloval window to catch the source.The killer had come out ofhiding, moving toward Zoey s chair with an electrical cordwrapped around each fist.A stinging cloud of smoke rosefrom Ogun s nose as he placed his hand over the door handleand went into the lobby.The second Zoey spotted Ogun, she jumped from herchair and turned around.She spotted the killer a second laterand uttered a small cry of surprise. Get behind me, Ogun commanded as he advanced onhis prey.Running his gaze down the killer, he identified himas Ace Knoll, a man with a long list of prior crimes he proba-bly had never served time for.Ace stood there in silent shock.Like most criminals, he dthought he was much smarter than he was, and that had beenhis undoing.Zoey rushed behind Ogun but kept her distance from theandroid.She d seen what his fire could do.Ace turned andbolted for a hallway off to his right but it was too late.Ogunopened his mouth and expelled a basketball-sized fireball thathit Ace squarely in the back [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]