Armageddon Run

Chapter Fourteen

Blade was right.

Bertha saw them coming first. She was posted behind a tree in the backyard of a residence 50 yards west of U.S. Highway 85, and she was extremely annoyed because she hadn’t been able to render assistance when the initial patrol had advanced on Catlow. She had seen them approach, but when the shooting had begun there were several buildings interposed between her position and the fire fight and she couldn’t get a clear shot at the soldiers. Blade had ordered her to stay put until he notified her to the contrary, and it had taken all of her self-control to comply with his command.

So when the jeep with a piece of white cloth affixed to its antenna roared over the rise and streaked across the field directly toward her, instead of using the highway, she was immensely pleased.

“Will you look at this!” she exclaimed to herself, raising her M-16 to her shoulder. “Are these dummies in for a surprise! Come to momma, sucker!”

There were four figures in the topless vehicle.

Bertha deliberately sighted on the driver, a hideous reptilian monstrosity, and waited, biding her time, wanting to be sure when she pulled the trigger.

Someone grabbed her elbow.

Startled, Bertha twisted around.

Blade stood behind her. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.

“Where’d you come from?” she blurted.

“I was making my rounds of our perimeter,” Blade replied, gazing at the speeding jeep. “Do you see their white flag?”

“I see it,” Bertha answered.

“And you were going to shoot them anyway?” Blade asked her.

“I wanted to sight in my gun,” Bertha quipped.

“You’re getting worse than Hickok,” Blade told her.

Bertha beamed, taking the statement as a compliment. “Thanks!”

The jeep slowed to a stop approximately 30 yards from the tree and slightly to the left.

“You, in the town! Can you hear me?” bellowed a deep voice. The speaker was a tall, apish mutant bearing a sledgehammer in his huge right fist. He stood on the front passenger seat, surveying the nearest homes and other buildings.

“Cover me,” Blade directed Bertha.

“You ain’t goin’ out there!” Bertha protested.

Blade nodded.

“It’s your funeral,” Bertha mumbled.

Blade stepped from behind the tree. “I hear you!” he shouted, and walked toward the jeep, an M-16 at the ready, his Commando over his left arm, the Vegas in their holsters, and the Bowies on his hips.

The ape-like mutant swiveled to face the Warrior.

Blade walked to within ten yards of the vehicle. “What do you want?”

“I am Thor,” the creature announced. “And you must be Blade.”

“I am,” Blade confirmed.

“I bring a message from the Doktor,” Thor said.

“What is it?”

“It’s for Lynx,” Thor revealed.

“You tell me,” Blade stated, “and I’ll relay the message to Lynx.”

“My message is for Lynx,” Thor insisted, “and only Lynx.”

Blade noticed all four of the occupants of the jeep were mutants. “Why didn’t the Doktor deliver this message in person?”

“He told me to do it,” Thor replied.

“Could it be the Doktor’s afraid to show his miserable face because he knows what we’ll do to it?” Blade said, taunting the creature.

“The Doktor knows best,” Thor responded. “Now get Lynx!”

“Give me your message,” Blade declared.

Thor put his knobby left hand on top of the windshield and leaned forward. “I won’t tell you again!” he growled. “Get Lynx!”

Blade’s eyes narrowed. “How would you like me to take that sledgehammer and shove it up your ass?”

“I’d like to see you try!” Thor angrily retorted. “Are you going to get Lynx or not?” he stubbornly persisted.

“I told you already,” Blade said flatly, “I’ll relay the message to Lynx.”

Thor seemed to be mulling the issue. “All right,” he said at length. “You can give Lynx the Doktor’s message. Tell Lynx the Doktor is only interested in him. If Lynx will surrender to the Doktor, the Doktor will allow the rest of you to leave here alive.”

“That’s the message?” Blade demanded.

“That’s it,” Thor confirmed.

Blade chuckled. “And you expect us to believe the Doktor will keep his word?”

“Of course he will,” Thor said blandly.

“Bet me,” Blade rejoined. “Tell the Doktor no deal.”

“You refuse to turn Lynx over to us?” Thor queried.

“For someone, or should I say something, with the brains of a turnip, you’re pretty bright!” Blade said, mocking him.

Thor glared at the Warrior. “I will tell the Doktor.” He paused. “We will meet again.”

Blade rested his left hand on the hilt of his corresponding Bowie. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Thor nudged the driver, and the jeep spun out, turned a tight circle, and made for the rise.

Blade wheeled and headed for the tree.

Bertha stood to the right of the trunk, watching the departing jeep.

“Someone here to see you,” she remarked.

Lynx walked around the left side of the tree. “I heard what you said,” he told Blade.

“Why aren’t you at your post?”

“Hey, I was being a good kitty,” Lynx replied, “cooling my heels on top of the command post, like you wanted. I saw the jeep coming and recognized Thor and got curious about what Granite Head wanted. So I came for a look-see.”

Blade stepped up to the genetic deviate. “Don’t ever desert your post again!” he warned. “You’re no different than Orson. When I give a command, you’re to follow it. Understand?”

Lynx’s lips curled backward, exposing his pointed teeth. For an instant, it appeared as if he were going to launch himself at the huge Warrior.

“Lynx!” Bertha exclaimed.

Lynx glanced at her, then at Blade. He visibly relaxed. “Sorry, dimples. I don’t usually let anyone talk to me the way you just did.”

“You agreed I was to be in charge,” Blade reminded the feisty feline.

“That’s the reason I didn’t just rip you to shreds,” Lynx said. “That, and what you told Ape Face.”

“You’re one of us,” Blade stated. “We don’t betray our own.”

Lynx averted his eyes. “Yeah, I gotta admit your Family treated me real nice when I was stayin’ at your Home. It can grow on you, thinkin’ you belong somewhere.”

“What do you think the Doktor will do next?” Blade inquired.

“He won’t pussyfoot around,” Lynx stated. “He’ll send in his shock troops.”

“His what?” Bertha asked.

“His G.R.D.’s,” Lynx elaborated. “The things from his Genetic Research Division, like Thor and me.”

“He’ll try to overwhelm us in one fell swoop,” Blade deduced.

Lynx nodded. “If I know the Doc, and unfortunately I do, that’s exactly what the prick will do.”

Blade gazed at the rise. The jeep had disappeared over the crest. “Do you think he’ll send them in from every which way, or straight on?”

“Straight on,” Lynx responded. “He must know by now there aren’t too many of us. The Doc will want to get it over with. He’s a real stickler for not wastin’ time.”

Blade scanned the field and the nearby homes. “Okay. Lynx, return to the command post and stay there, no matter what you hear or see.”

Lynx jogged off.

“Bertha,” Blade said, “give a yell if you see them coming over that rise. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you goin’?” she wanted to learn.

“To get the others,” Blade replied. “I’m going to redeploy them in a skirmish line to your right and left. We’ll hold Lynx in reserve, and I’ll have Rudabaugh redistribute some of his special surprise packages.”

Blade left.

Bertha leaned against the tree trunk. She hoped Blade would put Hickok somewhere close to her, so she could keep an eye on him. She didn’t want any harm to come to White Meat. The realization troubled her. How could she allow herself to still care for Hickok? She knew the gunfighter loved another woman. She knew he was married. But she cared, anyway. And Rudabaugh had been right earlier. She had volunteered because she knew Hickok was coming on this trip.

Look at this! she mentally berated herself.

She was in love with a married man!

And she wanted to be near him so much, she was about to take on a horde of crack-brained freaks!

Yes, sir!

There was no doubt about it!

If she wasn’t a glutton for punishment, nobody was!