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.html (275 of 332) [1/3/2005 12:28:09 AM] file:///C|/3226%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2045%20-%20Starfall.htmlThe deeper they got into what had once been the state of Montana before thenukecaust, the more hopeful Elmore had become.Evidently the man believed theHeimdall Foundation was going to get him out of his present predic-ament oneway or another.Ryan knew that wasn't going to happen until after he'd gotten help for Krysty.Hislover had remained asleep most of the trip, plagued by the sickness that wrenchedher guts, and by the dead woman feeding her twisted dreams.She'd told Ryansome of them during the times she'd been awake, and even he'd been sickened.There'd been no loveplay, even though Ryan had tried to instigate it to bring herrelief.The woman's threats to kill whatever seed quickened in Krysty's belly hadfrightened her too much.On the evening of the fourth day, they found Michael Donovan, the HeimdallFoundation man they'd come deep into Montana to find.Trouble was, others had found him first."THAT'S DONOVANS BOAT," Elmore said.The river here was becalmed and placid.J.B.had found some old maps aboard theboat that listed the river in Mon-tana as the Jefferson River.At least, that was thelocation the Armorer's minisextant indicated.Donovan's boat was nearly twice the size of Junie, strung with rigging that lookedas delicate as a spiderweb.She looked as though she'd cut through the water like aknife blade through butter once her sails were gathering the wind.But not now.Now the big boat was listing in the wind, the few sails she had up catching thebreeze the wrong way.Around her were seven smaller craft that Ryan could seethrough his binocs.Four of them were small motor craft, and three of them lookedlike water bikes.file:///C|/3226%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20.r%20-%20Deathlands%2045%20-%20Starfall.html (276 of 332) [1/3/2005 12:28:09 AM] file:///C|/3226%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2045%20-%20Starfall.htmlThe sound of blasterfire echoed flat across the river."Who are they?" Ryan demanded."River pirates," Elmore stated."Get them through here a lot.Especially during therainy season.Come down to see what they can find washed up on shore.If theydon't feel like doing the work themselves, they take stuff they want from otherfolks already took the time to salvage it.""Why doesn't Donovan have a bigger crew if he knows these coldhearts are goingto be out here?" J.B.asked."Probably does have a bigger crew back at the main campsite," Elmore said."Helikes to do his own explor-ing."Ryan put his eye back to the binoculars, reeling the at-tack back into focus."Man's got to be out of his mind to go anywhere alone if he's got an army to gowith him.""I think, my dear Ryan," Doc spoke up, "that the more appropriate nomenclatureat this juncture would be navy.That Donovan has a navy at his back.""If we don't step in," Ryan stated, "Donovan's going to have the life expectancy ofa mosquito stuck to flypa-per." And with the man might go any chances ofhelping Krysty.He glanced over at Morse."Get us in there."THE BOAT'S SPINNAKER unfurled when Morse released it.The material belledout into the breeze, swelling to its full size in seconds.The boat surged forward,cutting deep into the flat planes of the river.Ryan commanded the others into position, taking the prow himself.He pulled theSteyr to his shoulder, favoring his wounded arm.file:///C|/3226%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20.r%20-%20Deathlands%2045%20-%20Starfall.html (277 of 332) [1/3/2005 12:28:09 AM] file:///C|/3226%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathlands%2045%20-%20Starfall.html"They see us now," J.B.called out from Ryan's right."Going to try us."Before the Armorer's words died away, three of the mo-tor craft peeled awayfrom the savaged sailboat and raced for Junie.Bullets from the approaching riverpirates created dozens of impact areas in the water ahead of the boat.In a fewmore seconds, the bullets slapped into the boat around Ryan.He aimed and fired smoothly, plucking the man working the tiller on thepowerboat from his seat.The powerboats were small fishing boats with rear-mounted motors that whined like deep-throated bumblebees.Donovan's vessel looked to be taking on water, listing roughly to its left, unable tobreak away now that the at-tention of the river pirates had been diverted.The powerboat with the dead driver went out of control, pulling around in a hardcircle.The men aboard the boat scrambled, working against one another as theytried to get control of the outboard.Ryan fired twice more, aiming at the engine,which exploded as the gas tank ruptured.The flames spread over the passengers,as well as the boat, and threw black smoke into the air.Bullets from the other boats drilled into Junie and cut the air around Ryan.Beforehe had a chance to aim at another of the pirate boats, they were past him.Hestepped from the prow to the starboard railing, bringing the rifle to his shoulderagain.J.B.accounted for one of the racing water bikes by shooting the gas tank with aflechette round from the M-4000.The tank erupted into a fireball that envelopedthe driver.The passenger, protected by the driver's body, dived into the water.When he came back up, the Armorer blasted another round into his head.Thedecapitated body swirled briefly in the water as the final nervous spasms jerkedthrough it, then sank
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