She flinched at the memory of Peter's head exploding. Paul staringat the ceiling with a bloody hole between his eyes. She glanced up at Lennox ashe reloaded another fresh magazine.
I hope his rifle jams. I hope these monsterstear him apart!
Lennox gulped down the fetid air and winced, spattered in bloodfrom his unkempt hair to his high jackboots. Flecks of the stuff covered hisgoggles. He turned to Cade.
"How much more of this can you take?" He loaded his lastmag but waited to recommence firing. The bloodthirsty mob hung back for now.They were also waiting.
Cade's machete dripped black in the goggles' negative light. Heseemed to sense the lull as well. He watched the freaks, throngs of them in thedark. Their mouths gaped with hideous grins of shark-like teeth. Their eyesburned white with hate.
Their numbers had increased. They were amassing now for a finalonslaught. Confidently, they nudged one another and nodded, eyeing their prey,knowing they would soon be victorious. The outsiders would be slaughtered. Thisterritory would be reclaimed.
"Down to my last rounds." Lennox swept the rifle muzzleside to side along the ranks of savages.
"Make them count." Cade stood ready.
"Give me something." Mary rose to her feet. She was nodamsel in distress, not really. She would not let these men give their livesfor her. "Give me a weapon. I want to fight."
Lennox eyed her. Then with a shrug, he reached into the deeppocket of his trench coat and withdrew a collapsible knife. He thumbed theswitch, and the broad blade snapped forward.
"Careful." He handed her the haft, and she took iteagerly, holding it out in front of her with both hands, elbows locked."Don't you even think about using it on me."
The thought may have crossed her mind.
They stood back to back, facing the bloodthirsty freaks. Marywhispered snatches of scripture, her throat dry. Lennox cursed under hisbreath, aiming down the rifle's sight as he swept the muzzle to and fro,waiting for the damned degenerates to make their move. Cade stood at ease, jawset stoically, blade held at the ready. Poised to attack.
Again, Cade's thoughts turned to the two figures pursuing them.Were they still alive? It did not matter who they were. Anyone, human orsynthetic, would have been welcome right at this moment. Strength in numbers,after all. Even when you were outnumbered twenty to one.
The freaks crept forward, bare arms dangling, bloody bladesgripped with deft familiarity, shoulders hunched, teeth gleaming. Cackling,toying with their prey as they advanced.
"Wait." Cade had seen Lennox shift his grip on therifle. Prepared to fire.
"I am waiting," Lennox grated out. Patience hadnever been one of his virtues. "What are they waiting for?"
"They are weighing our resolve."
Lennox cursed. "If we make it through this, monk..." Hedid not finish. He would not have known what to say.
But he had more than enough resolve to live through this. Themotivation. All he wanted was the BackTracker. He had never been so close toobtaining it, and nothing would sway him from his course. He didn't even thinkabout whipping out the lighter and crossing back into his own world. This waswhy he was here, come what may. And once he had the device, he would have noreason to return to this point in time again. He would become the most powerfulman in the world, able to alter the past, securing more prestige for himself inthe present. Recreating himself in as many different ways as he pleased. Hewould be a god among men, and no one would ever stand in his way.
The governors would serve him. The Provinces would be his. Allwould gladly bow before the almighty GavinLennox. He would make sure of it.
Without warning, the savageswere upon them. Charging forward as one, shriekingand cackling, they fell upon their prey, claws grasping, blades swingingwildly. The machete in Cade's practiced hands swept with precision, loppinglimbs and heads and releasing gushers of blood into the air. The rifle in Gavin Lennox's hands spit fire. He squeezed off two or threerounds at a time, punching through targets, sending them twitching to the slimeat their feet. Mary cut and thrust with the knife, managing to take down two ofher attackers.
But there were more than enough to take their place.
"I'm out!" Lennox shouted, whipping the stock of theempty rifle against any combatants within range, cracking skulls and sending them to theground.
Others had their hands on him now, their blades slicing throughhis coat, ripping it from his body. Fangs gleamed, descending onto his bareneck from behind. He screamed.
Cade moved in a blur of calculated moves, his blade rising andfalling, slashing and sweeping as if part of a choreographed dance. Despite therange of his mayhem, the freaks managed to leap onto his back, biting andtearing at his ears, clawing at his battered face. Gripping the hilt of hisblade in both hands, he fought the inevitable.
They had knocked the knife free from Mary's grasp. They held herarms and legs down and prepared to cut her open, to gut her like a pig. Shescreamed until her throat allowed no more sound.
Have mercy on us...
Cade was powerless against them now, pressing in on him from allsides, pinning his sword arm uselessly. He prayed, even as he questionedwhether the Almighty would hear the voice of a SYN.
Send an avenging angel, Masterof all. Shine Your light into this darkplace...
Sharp fangs pierced the flesh of his neck, his arms. Claws torehis robe to shreds and ripped them from him, baring more of his white skin. Thecreatures shrieked with delight.
He did not cry out. He grit his teeth as they drew his blood andcut deep into him, tearing his body open. Did he have a soul? Once they bledout the genetically engineered life from him and left his hollow corpse to rotbeside these abandoned rails, would heaven be waiting for him in the afterlife?Was he a fool to desire such a thing?
He swayed onthe threshold of consciousness. Had they not been soclose upon him, his blade would have fallen
