rstacy.doomsdaywarrior-第21节

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down　the　sedan　chair　and　also　made　obeisance；　their　foreheads　to　the　stone　floor　below　them。　The　Fire　of　Eternity　set　before　the　huge　statue　flared　up。　〃A　good　sign；〃　Manion　interpreted　aloud。　〃Renquist　is　well　pleased。〃
　The　Goddess　was　paraded　before　the　statue；　the　gossamer　covering　of　the　sedan　chair　removed　so　that　He　could　see。　Then　Manion　ordered　that　the　Goddess　be　taken　to　her　new　quarters；　to　be　bathed　in　milk　and　honey；　to　be　dressed　properly；　so　that　all　might　be　fulfilled。。。
　Rona　regained　consciousness　shortly　after　being　deposited　on　a　vermilion　silk　bed。　The　awakening　was　soft；　and　slow。　Rona　had　dim　memories　of　a　sweet　dream；　of　beautiful　milkmaids　bing　out　her　long　tresses；　bathing　her；　caressing　her；　stripping　her　of　dirty　garments　and　bathing　her　in　milk。　Suddenly；　she　sat　bolt　upright。　Where　was　she　…　what　had　happened？　She　started　to　rise；　and　felt　her　body；　shorn　of　her　khaki　outfit；　nearly　naked；　slide　across　the　silk。　She　gasped　when　she　saw　that　all　she　wore　was　a　scanty；　jewel…encrusted　brassiere　and　a　stingy　bikini　bottom。　The　flimsiest　gossamer　transparent　skirt　hung　from　that　bottom；　hiding　nothing　of　her　long　legs。
　She　saw　an　ornate　gold…framed　mirror　in　the　corner　of　the　large　empty　room。　No　doors　or　windows　visible。　This　must　be　a　dream。　She　went　to　the　mirror。　There　she　was；　her　hair　neat　and　clean；　in　the　bare…midriff　costume。　There　was　a　ruby…encrusted　tiara　on　her　head。　She　took　it　off。　She　felt　along　the　walls　for　a　door。　Nothing。　Had　the　milkmaids　been　real？　Was　this　real？　She　looked　around。　There　was　the　dresser　and　mirror；　the　brocaded　silk　sofa…bed；　a　carpet　that　belonged　in　an　antique　store　…　a　sumptuously　appointed　Louis　XIV　type　room。　It　was　subtly　lit　by　recessed　bulbs　in　its　rock　ceiling。
　There　were　giggles。　Watchers　in　the　walls　…　somewhere。　She　went　to　the　bed　and　tore　off　the　bedspread；　covered　her　scantily　clad　body。　She　stood　there；　for　a　long　time；　almost　breathless。　Nothing。　Rona　lay　back　down　again　and　closed　her　eyes。　The　bed　sure　felt　real　enough。　She　touched　the　jewels　on　her　bikini　button。　Hard。　Real。　She　moved　her　hand　to　her　perfumed　left　nipple；　which；　due　to　the　briefness　of　the　brassiere；　was　half　exposed；　and　squeezed。　〃Ouch；〃　she　exclaimed　aloud；　〃This　is　real。　Where　the　hell　am　I？〃
　No　answer。　Then；　from　the　dark　corners　of　the　room；　squat；　heavily　veiled　figures　crept　forward　silently。　Rona　gasped；　stood　up　on　her　bare　perfumed　feet；　and　took　a　karate　stand；　hands　made　into　cutting；　crushing　instruments　of　death。　〃Who's　there？〃
　Giggles。　One　figure　came　forward　a　bit　further；　into　the　light。　It　was　a　short　wide　woman　of　about　thirty　years　of　age；　hairless；　and　dressed　in　a　set　of　coarse　shapeless　veils　of　a　light　blue　cotton…type　material　from　neck　to　ankles。　〃I　am　Verna；　Your　Majesty；〃　the　woman　said；　and　bowed　deeply。
　〃Where　am　I？〃　Rona　said。　She　did　not　change　her　kata　position。　〃What　is　this　place？　Who　dressed　me　…　undressed　me　…〃
　〃We；　your　handmaidens　prepared　you。　Your　Majesty。〃
　〃Prepared　me　for　what？〃
　〃You　are　to　achieve　your　destiny；　oh　Sandra；　Mother　of　All。〃
　〃Huh？〃
　Rona　whirled　as　the　hidden　door　opened　again。　In　stepped　a　bald　man　in　muttonchop　beard　and　moustache。　He　looked　much　like　those　nineteenth…century　portraits　of　the　scions　of　American　capitalism　…　except　that　below　his　face　he　wore　not　a　pinstriped　suit　but　a　blue　bejeweled　tunic　of　some　sort。　Kind　of　a　Roman　outfit。
　He　too　bowed　deeply。　Rona　thought；　At　least　I　get　some　respect　around　here；　wherever　here　was。　〃What's　going　on？〃　she　demanded。　〃Where　am　I　and　who　are　you？〃
　〃Your　obedient　servant；　Jefferson　Manion；　at　your　service；〃　the　man　said。　〃Sandra　Renquist；　Your　Exalted　Goddess；　Your　Supreme　Majesty；　you　are　in　Death　City；　your　people　have　brought　you　here。　So　that　you　may　be　joined　with　He　Who　Is　Eternal。〃
　He　bowed　again。
　〃I'm　going　to　kick　you　in　your　stupid　face　unless　you　…〃
　The　man　raised　a　small　stick　he　carried　and　a　flickering　ray　jumped　from　it　into　the　mid…forehead　of　the　captive。　She　paused　in　mid…sentence；　and　a　beatific　smile　errupted　upon　her　face。　Rona　felt　good　…　very　good。　She　couldn't　remember　what　she　had　been　angry　about。　All　these　people　were　so　nice　and　respectful。　Did　it　really　matter　where　she　was？　〃That's　much　better；〃　Manion　said；　lowering　his　weapon　of　delights。　〃You　will　remember　soon；　Your　Majesty。　We　will　teach　you　what　you　must　have　forgotten　on　the　awesome　journey　down　here　from　the　heavens　above。　All　will　be　as　it　has　been　written。〃
　The　high　priest　Manion　led　bemused　and　scantily　clad　Rona　down　the　corridors　outside　her　sumptuous　room　toward　the　great　metal　door　with　the　bear　emblazoned　upon　it　…　he　led　her　to　the　Temple　of　Renquist；　the　holiest　place　in　Death　City。
　Once　inside；　amid　the　thousands　of　candles　and　before　the　enormous　statue　that　was　of　a　man　in　a　suit；　a　man　with　a　gold　muttonchop　beard　and　moustache；　Manion　said　to　Rona；　〃He　wants　you；　and　he　will　have　you。〃
　Rona　was　unsteady　on　her　feet；　her　elbows　supported　by　two　handmaidens。　However；　her　mind　was　clearing　from　its　pleasant　indecisive　state。　And　she　was　putting　two　and　two　together。　The　gas　she'd　seen　erupting　from　a　popping　shell。　An　attack。　Then　awakening　in　the　strange　room　…　the　nonsense　about　her　being　Sandra。
　She　had　been　kidnapped　by　the　Death　City　Cultists。　They　thought　she　was　this　Sandra；　somebody　they　worshipped。　They　were　planning　something　for　her　…　possibly　a　sacrifice　to　their　damned　god；　the　Renquist。　Well；　that　would　not　happen。
　Quickly　the　near…naked　Freefighter　gauged　the　situation。　Manion；　the　handmaidens　…　pushovers。　But　in　the　flickering　light　of　the　candles　…　a　dozen　or　more　helmeted　guards；　all　with　guns　of　some　sort　bolstered　at　their　waists。　Not　good。　Play　along　for　a　while；　find　out　what　gives　here。
　〃Please　tell　me　…　the　things　I　must　do；〃　she　said；　still　playing　bemused；　placent　Sandra。　〃Please　tell　me　so　that　I　might　do　the　right　thing　and　please　the　Renquist。〃
　Manion　smiled。　〃That's　better；　much　better　…　I　was　worried　for　a　while　that　you；　despite　your　appearance；　might　not　be　the　Sandra；　the　One　for　Renquist。〃
　〃What　would　happen　were　I　not　the　Sandra？〃
　〃Immediate　torture…execution　for　defiling　the　sacred　Temple。　Your　bones　would　join　the　bejeweled　skulls　and　femurs　that　make　up　the　punishment　mound　in　the　Sanctuary　of　the　Snake。〃
　〃I　am　the　Sandra；〃　Rona　said　with　utter　conviction　in　her　voice。
　〃Then；　I　will　show　you　what　is　to　be　for　you。　What　your　sacred　duty　will　be　after　the　remarriage。〃
　〃Lead　on；　oh　priest　Manion；〃　Rona　said。　Remarriage？　What's　that　about；　Rona　wondered；　as　they　left　the　temple　by　a　small　side　door　and　plunged　into　a　steeply　slanting　tunnel　that　grew　increasingly　cold。　She　noticed　footsteps。　The　dozen　soldiers　had　fallen　in　behind　their　small　party。　Damn。
　It　became　even　colder；　they　threw　a　smock　over　her。　The　handmaidens　each　placed　a　bejeweled　slipper　upon　each　cold　foot。
　〃These　are　ice　caves；〃　she　observed；　looking　around　at　the　giant　color…bright　ice　stalagmites　on　both　sides　of　their　route。　〃What　happens　here？〃
　〃Here　is　preserved　the　blessed　seed　of　the　Renquist。　For　use　after　your　marriage　ceremony。〃
　〃Seed？〃
　〃Yes；　the　frozen　semen　of　our　Founder…God　Renquist。　You　will　again　be　his　wife；　his　Goddess　Queen。　And　you　will　be　impregnated　with　his　seed。　The　Renquist　stored　his　seed　here　…　in　the　ice。　He　called　it；　'Eden　Sperm　Bank。'　You　will　bear　his　child　to　bee　our　prince。　Though　the　Renquist　has　left　his　human　body　these　past　hundred　and　five　years；　yet　he　will　bear　us　a　leader　…　through　you；　Sandra。〃
　〃What　a　privilege；〃　Rona　muttered。　The　guards；　or　whatever　they　were；　were　double　the　original　number　now；　and　she　was　deeper　into　this　damned　cold　place。　This　was　worse　than　the　time　she'd　been　kidnapped　by　the　Nazis　and　they'd　mistaken　her　for　Eva　Braun；　Hitler's　mistress。　The　Nazis　at　least　hadn't　expect　her　to　bear　a　dead　man's　child。
　But　being　tortured　to　death　seemed　the　only　alternative。　At　the　moment。
　
　
　CHAPTER　17
　
　Rona　had　to　do　something；　anything。　So　what　she　did　was；　at　a　section　of　the　slanting　cold　corridor　that　bent　and　narrowed；　stumble。　It　was　not　a　real　stumble；　Rona　was　catlike　on　her　feet。　It　was　a　pretended　stumble；　to　lurch　her　closer　to　one　of　the　soldier…monks。　She　let　his　hands　e　up　from　his　bolstered　long　silver　weapon；　then　she　made　a　grab　for　it。　The　damned　gun；　or　whatever　it　was；　was　so　long　…　about　two　feet　…　that　she　hadn't　cleared　the　holster　with　it　before　the　iron　grip　of　Manion's　hands　stayed　her　move。　Then　she　was　hit　across　the　face　by　the　guard　who　she　had　lunged　at；　a　glancing　fist　to　the　jaw　that　made　her　see　stars。　She　was　wrestled　to　the　ground　by　the　two　handmaidens；　who　were　stronger　than　they　looked。
　Cursing　a　blue　streak；　the　hellcat　Freefighter　did　her　best　with　the　mob　of　restrainers；　but　she　felt　her　hands　being　drawn　behind　her　back　and　being　lashed　securely　together　with　some　sort　of　smooth　strong　rope。
　〃Now；〃　said　Manion；　gasping　for　breath　as　he　lifted　Rona　to　her　feet；　〃We　will　proceed。　I　do　not　understand　this　behavior；　but　I　hope　you　are　not　injured。　Why　did　you　do　this？〃
　Her　answer　was　full　of　ripe　Freefighter　expletives；　she　kicked　out　and　struggled　like　a　bans