rstacy.doomsdaywarrior-第1节
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December 29th：
A lone figure； hunched down against the howling winter wind； moved step by frozen step through the Colorado wilderness。 He was ill clad for such a winter trek； wearing soft thin boots and a clinging mauve with…sparkles tunic。 His only defenses against the cold were an engineer cap on his platinum…blond thin hair and a scarf made of an old piece of furniture fabric wrapped several times around his thin pale neck。
The wanderer was nearly frozen to death； his cracked and bleeding gloveless hands shoved into small pockets lined with tissue paper。 His pale face； buried in the fabric of the scarf； was likewise a mass of cracks。 His reddish albino eyes were swollen。 Anyone could tell by his shaky steps that he didn't have much more left in him。 He was living out the last bitter cold moments of his unfathomable life。
I am ready to die； he thought。 I have seen wonders。。。 I have achieved what no man of my generation has … I have lived。 Lived not like a ground rat； but like a human being。 I have breathed real fresh air； smelled real smells； touched real plants and flowers。 I will join my panions； who fell long before me； join them in the warmth of death； away from this bitter coldness。
But such a calm numbing death would not be。 The wanderer would not die of the cold。 His weary bones would not rest peaceful on the whiteness。 No。 For a stalker approached the man。 A stalker of powerful sinewy presence； a slinking nightmare called the Rocky Mountain snow leopard。 It was sniffing the staggering man's footprints； just a hundred yards behind。 Just a mere three seconds of unbelievable feline speed and the man would be a morsel； a victual； a nourishing treat for its ravenous desire for sustenance。
The cat had caught the scent miles away…its large nostrils could do that； pick up the scent of a human…thing； home in on it like a radar…tracking robot； until it was close enough to pounce。 This had been a hard winter； with few prey to feed the twelve… hundred…pound； sixteen…foot…long mutant leopard's stomach。 At last； it thought； at last I will eat。
And it dug its six…toed； double…clawed feet into the snow and took off along the footprint path； determined to end its desperate hunger。 In a second； ing over a small hill； it saw the prey。 Not big； not a whole stomachful； but big enough。 Its huge jaw； like the watery opening of a tractor's jaw； filled with rows of razor…sharp teeth； let out a growl。
The creature saw the figure stop； turn； saw the human…thing's long thin arms raised to shield itself from the roaring； snarling death approaching。
Adrenaline ran into the cat…creature's body； digestive juices poured into its gullet。 Thirty feet from the man…prey it leapt high in the air； sailed out toward dinner； confident it would devour…
〃No〃； gasped the man； falling back into the snow； the creature flying at him。 He closed his eyes； as if it would cease to be； as if the hurtling monster would not be there if he just shut his eyes。
And then there was a loud machine…like report。 The sound of a revving bustion engine？ The fall of a hundred rocks down a mountain cliff？ No。
Automatic weapons firing。
The creature fell just to the side of the man…prey； yellow globe…eyes open and staring at nothing in this world。 Its body was riddled with grapefruit…sized evenly…spaced holes oozing blood。 Explosive…bullet holes。 The man lay as still as the dead thing alongside。 They lay like some weird mother and child in the red…stained snow。 Blood pumped weakly through the holes in the giant cat's pelt。 It steamed in the below…zero air； quickly coagulating into brown muck。
Two figures in heavy winter parkas； carrying the smoking hot Liberator rifles that had done the damage to the creature； approached。 They slid easily along over the two feet of snow； gliding elegantly on short steel skis。 Jeffers and Biythe of the Century City patrol corps。 Men who knew these mountains and the dangers they held … men equipped to deal with that danger。
Cautiously they walked up to the strangely garbed man and the creature sprawled out there on the blood…speckled whiteness。 They had watched a bit before ing down the slope。 Making sure。 The big cat hadn't stirred except for a few trembles。 Nerves settling down after violent tension。
Certain that the creature wouldn't rise again to threaten； their attention shifted to the man。 What the hell was he doing out here？ And why was he dressed so inadequately for the weather？ 〃Is he dead？〃 Biythe asked his panion； the icy wind half whipping away his words。
Jeffers； who sometimes doubled as a medic； bent to feel the throat of the prone human； searching for a pulse in his jugular。 For a second； there was nothing。 Then he felt one slow weak blip of the vessel。 〃I think he's alive … though barely。 e on…we've got to get him inside the mountain。〃
CHAPTER 1
〃Happy New Year；〃 everyone gathered in Century City's vast underground Lincoln Square shouted。 Rona clinked her crystal champagne glass against Ted Rockson's。
〃To us；〃 Rona said； pushing her long red hair away from her forehead with her other hand； and taking a long sip。
Rockson's mismatched light blue and violet eyes flashed； and he said； 〃Yes； to us； and to a peaceful New Year。〃
The twelve…piece dance band was playing 〃Auld Lang Syne〃； confetti and streamers flew through the semidarkness。 Horns were nearly drowning out the music。 A set of streamers fell and decorated the couple's hair； the white tablecloth。
Rona stood up on her long sparkle…stockinged legs and leaned over the table and kissed her lover。 The redhead lingered； but shouts of 〃Rockson； Rockson〃 made her finally desist。 Her hero was being called on to make a speech。
Rockson demurred； waving his hands； shaking his head no； but to no avail。 McCaughlin； the massive Freefighter who sat looking ridiculous in a white tuxedo at a nearby table with Shannon and Detroit Green and his wife； shouted。 〃Go ahead； Rock； speak。 It's the only way to quiet them and get on with the party。 Stand in the spotlight and say a few words。〃
Rockson put the crystal glass down on the table and rose to wild cheering； brushing confetti out of his hair。 The tall bronze…skinned man with the white streak in the middle of his jet…black hair； the man the world knew as the Doomsday Warrior； strode to the stage。 The spotlight changed to plain white； and focused in unfortably on him。
〃Citizens of Century City；〃 Rockson began。 〃This is the best New Year's Day we've had in decades。〃
Cheers。
〃The Russians are … at least temporarily … vanquished； the caverns containing this great city have been restored and expanded； and Killov； the KGB madman； our greatest enemy； is dead。〃 More cheers。 〃We look forward to a prosperous and victorious new year。 The tide has turned。 The Soviet occupation forces； not we Americans； are on the run now。 So we should all enjoy ourselves。 That's all I have to say。〃
They shouted； 〃More； more；〃 but Rockson just smiled。 Finally； they let Rockson sit。 A loud off…key chorus of 〃Auld Lang Syne〃 began； then the ten…piece orchestra started playing a waltz。 Rona pulled Rockson up to dance； and before he could object； they were out on the floor。
She was a smooth dancer； he managed。 He pressed against her。 Full…bosomed Rona was quite spectacular in her low…cut gold gossamer gown。 He was a lucky man。 And it was a wonderful New Year； he thought。 The best in his whole life。 Years of struggle against the hated Soviet occupiers of America； years of death and desperate bat； were finally bearing fruit。 Perhaps the worst days of America were behind them now。 He and Rona swirled with the music； sank into each other's arms。
Then Rockson caught a movement out of the corner of his eye。 It was a somber； hawk…nosed man in a desperate hurry； weaving erratically across the dance floor； cutting between dancers who deferred to the intruder。 〃Uh oh；〃 Rockson said； 〃Here es Rath。〃
〃Oh no。〃 Rona knew what that could mean。 The head of Intelligence Operations and Security always had work for Rockson。 〃Not now；〃 she muttered。 〃Oh God； not now。〃
It was now。 〃Something has e up；〃 old man Rath said as he reached Rockson's shoulder。 〃Something that can't wait until morning。〃
〃It'll have to wait；〃 Rockson countered。 He had seen Rath go overboard about the importance of a minor matter before。
〃It can't； Rock； e with me； now。 Excuse us Rona。 This is official business。〃
〃Not on your life； Rath；〃 Rona nearly spat out。 〃This is my party； this is my New Year's celebration。 It's the first one Rock and I ever spent together and … you're not going to spoil it。〃
〃Sorry； Rona；〃 Rath said； twisting Rockson's shoulder so that he was already dragging the well muscled man in the black tuxedo away。 〃Sorry；〃 Rath shouted back as he elbowed Rockson and himself off the dance floor。 Rock shouted back。 〃Keep my spot； Rona。 I'll be right back。〃
Rona stamped her high…heeled shoes in anger。 She walked back toward her seat。 The party went on all around her。 Rona sat down； dejected。 Left by her man； left standing alone in the middle of the dance floor on New Year's； for God's sake。 Unbelievable。
She'd finally thought she had Rock all to herself； her rival … and friend … Kirn； had departed a month
