James Axler – Bitter Fruit

“It’s okay.” Ryan dropped a hand on the old man’s shoulder. “We were getting bastard lucky anyway.”

“If he sets that stuff off while we’re inside here,” J.B. argued, “could be we’ll get infected and take it back with us.”

Ryan nodded. “Something else I noticed. There was a mat-trans unit behind him. Couldn’t hardly see it for the computer equipment.”

“Saw it, too,” Jak said.

“That’s our way out,” Ryan said. “Man’s standing on the tracks when the train’s coming through.” He looked at Doc. “You know where Boldt is?”

Doc tapped the keyboard. The monitor in front of him cleared, suddenly shifting to a multilayered map. A bright blue dot was in one of the rooms. “There we are, Ryan.”

An emerald dot flared to life in the upper right corner.

“And there is Prince Boldt.”

Ryan studied the map, committing the twists and turns to memory. “Jak.”

“Yeah.”

“You remember how that guard said to find Mildred.”

“Yeah.”

Ryan touched the monitor. “Once you, Doc and J.B. get her, you figure you can find your way here?”

“Probably.”

“I’m going to be counting on it.”

Jak nodded.

“If he’s got that place too well defended,” Ryan said, “could be we’ll come to find you.”

J.B. rocked back on his heels, pointing the shotgun in the direction of the door. “We’re found.” Even as he was talking, the door started to shake.

“Let’s go,” Ryan growled. “Getting pinned down here isn’t going to do any good. Like as not, Boldt’s probably already got sec teams headed in this direction.” He turned and led the plunge into the darkness, his headlong pace just short of suicidal. The tunnel inclined, taking them deeper into the mountain.

Then, without warning, the monitors in the sec room behind them suddenly exploded, sending out showers of glass to slam against the walls of the room. A heartbeat later the door was ripped from its hinges, followed immediately by the sound of gunfire.

Then Ryan took the second left fork ahead of him, pausing only long enough to wave a brief salute to J.B.

“See you on the other side of this run,” the Armorer said.

“Do that,” Ryan replied. He turned and raced into the tunnel, Krysty only a half step behind him.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Clove passed through the gate warily, easing through the sliding iron bars. His eyes burned as he stared at Mildred. Then, as he drew closer, lust and curiosity stamped out all other feelings and emotions.

Mildred let him come, quelling the instinct inside herself to recoil from the young Celt’s advances. She didn’t want him touching her, nor did she especially like what she had planned for him. However, getting out of the cell required both.

Reaching out to her, Clove cupped one of her breasts timidly.

“Like what you got hold of, Clove?” Mildred asked. She let the desperation inside her block out any remorse or humiliation.

“Yeah,” Clove said huskily.

Mildred remained in her seated position, not wanting to do anything to startle the boy. “You just be patient, though. Let me take care of you.”

Clove shook his head. “There’s no time. Someone could come”

Mildred grinned up at him as she reached for the front of his breeches and opened them. ” That is the idea.” Then she had his cock in her hand, stroking it firmly.

“Oh, blessed Lugh,” Clove said, suddenly sucking in his breath, “that feels so good.”

“You ain’t felt nothing yet,” Mildred promised, shifting.

BOLDT FELT THE PANIC rise in him. The strangers were inside his fortress. Never in all his years had the complex ever been invaded. He allowed in only those whom he wanted in.

“Merlin, close down the nerve center.”

Steel plates clanked down over both doors, closing them off from the two points of egress. Farther out in the underground root system, other sections would be shut off, as well.

“Done,” the computer responded. Boldt studied the monitors before him. He could easily identify Gehrig’s men among the battling seed heralds and Celtic populace. Leaning on the machines, he forced his breath in and out, maintaining the adrenaline rush. Strong emotion had always been an addiction for him. It was when be most felt like his father.