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back her head, as though
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face.html (76 of 263) [12/29/2004 12:09:40 AM]
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nds%2034%20-%20Stoneface.html that would expunge his sin in the eyes of the
Family. So he was banished, exiled to wander and die."
Ryan pursed his lips. "Yet you accepted him back into the fold when we
returned him."
The smile crept back to Hellstrom's face. "That all depends on your point of
view, doesn't it? From my perspective, Zadfrak returned with you
. He returned with something of great value to the Family, and that canceled
his crime of miscegenation."
His belly turning a cold flip-flop, Ryan asked, "How are we of great value?
Zadfrak said you had better wags than ours, I've seen the quality of your
blasters and I know you have access to gasoline. Your food is far better than
that of most baronies, certainly better than what's available in an average
ville."
"All true." Hellstrom linked his fingers and leaned forward. "What do you know
about stockpiles, Cawdor?"
"No more than anyone else in Deathlands knows. Hidden caches of food, tools
and merchandise laid down by the predark government before nukecaust and the
big freeze."
"And you've found a few yourself." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Yes." Ryan didn't elaborate on the many stockpiles found by Trader, or the
redoubts.
"Then you've heard about the place of marvels somewhere in the northern
extremity of
Deathlands, haven't you? A place of wonders, a place free of muties, of rad
zones, a place where there is enough of everything? A place where there is a
vast treasure? A so-called land of lost happiness?"
"Of course," Ryan answered. "It's only a legend, or rumors based on old
traders' tales."
Hellstrom tapped his two index fingers together. "You dismissed it, but
regardless of
'legends' or 'rumors,' in the back of your mind it was always there. Don't
lie, Cawdor. I
saw that hope in your mind deeper than your mind."
Ryan shrugged. "Who knows what dreams live on, unknown. That makes sense& just
to survive."
Hellstrom smiled, grinned, then laughed. "Well, you've found that fabled place
of plenty."
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Ryan stared at him, wondering if Hellstrom was not only a psychic, but a
psychotic, as well. "Here? Helskel?"
Hellstrom scowled. "No, not Helskel. The treasure place is nearby.
Unfortunately Helskel is dependent upon it."
From her position at the bar, Fleur said, "He shouldn't be hearing this."
Without looking her way, Hellstrom hissed her into silence. "Our blasters, our
wags, our gasoline, much of our food, even our electrical generators come from
this place. But we don't have direct access to it. Everything is doled out
piecemeal."
"By whom?"
"It's rather a long story," Hellstrom replied. "Much of it is surmise rather
than fact."
"Until I get new tires, I appear to have plenty of time."
Hellstrom chuckled. "I begin to like you more and more, Cawdor. You intrigue
me.
However, I'll show you the place rather than tell you."
"Show me?" Despite himself, excitement pulsed within Ryan's chest. He had
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
always assumed that the treasure place was no more than a hidden enclave full
of secret predark technology. But there were those who deep down did believe
in it. Krysty, for one, whose
Uncle Tyas McCann had claimed some such knowledge.
"Sure. It's only a few hours' ride. If we leave soon, we can reach it well
before sunset."
"I'd like my people to accompany us."
"No," Fleur bit out.
Hellstrom directed a dark glare toward her and she averted her gaze. "I see no
problem with that. Besides, your woman may prove valuable in case we run
across some dangers."
"Like what?"
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zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
back her head, as though
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%2...20-%20Deathlands%2034%20-%20Stone
face.html (76 of 263) [12/29/2004 12:09:40 AM]
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathla
Page 47
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
nds%2034%20-%20Stoneface.html that would expunge his sin in the eyes of the
Family. So he was banished, exiled to wander and die."
Ryan pursed his lips. "Yet you accepted him back into the fold when we
returned him."
The smile crept back to Hellstrom's face. "That all depends on your point of
view, doesn't it? From my perspective, Zadfrak returned with you
. He returned with something of great value to the Family, and that canceled
his crime of miscegenation."
His belly turning a cold flip-flop, Ryan asked, "How are we of great value?
Zadfrak said you had better wags than ours, I've seen the quality of your
blasters and I know you have access to gasoline. Your food is far better than
that of most baronies, certainly better than what's available in an average
ville."
"All true." Hellstrom linked his fingers and leaned forward. "What do you know
about stockpiles, Cawdor?"
"No more than anyone else in Deathlands knows. Hidden caches of food, tools
and merchandise laid down by the predark government before nukecaust and the
big freeze."
"And you've found a few yourself." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Yes." Ryan didn't elaborate on the many stockpiles found by Trader, or the
redoubts.
"Then you've heard about the place of marvels somewhere in the northern
extremity of
Deathlands, haven't you? A place of wonders, a place free of muties, of rad
zones, a place where there is enough of everything? A place where there is a
vast treasure? A so-called land of lost happiness?"
"Of course," Ryan answered. "It's only a legend, or rumors based on old
traders' tales."
Hellstrom tapped his two index fingers together. "You dismissed it, but
regardless of
'legends' or 'rumors,' in the back of your mind it was always there. Don't
lie, Cawdor. I
saw that hope in your mind deeper than your mind."
Ryan shrugged. "Who knows what dreams live on, unknown. That makes sense& just
to survive."
Hellstrom smiled, grinned, then laughed. "Well, you've found that fabled place
of plenty."
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%2...20-%20Deathlands%2034%20-%20Stone
face.html (77 of 263) [12/29/2004 12:09:40 AM]
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/James%20Axler%20-%20Deathla
nds%2034%20-%20Stoneface.html
Ryan stared at him, wondering if Hellstrom was not only a psychic, but a
psychotic, as well. "Here? Helskel?"
Hellstrom scowled. "No, not Helskel. The treasure place is nearby.
Unfortunately Helskel is dependent upon it."
From her position at the bar, Fleur said, "He shouldn't be hearing this."
Without looking her way, Hellstrom hissed her into silence. "Our blasters, our
wags, our gasoline, much of our food, even our electrical generators come from
this place. But we don't have direct access to it. Everything is doled out
piecemeal."
"By whom?"
"It's rather a long story," Hellstrom replied. "Much of it is surmise rather
than fact."
"Until I get new tires, I appear to have plenty of time."
Hellstrom chuckled. "I begin to like you more and more, Cawdor. You intrigue
me.
However, I'll show you the place rather than tell you."
"Show me?" Despite himself, excitement pulsed within Ryan's chest. He had
Page 48
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
always assumed that the treasure place was no more than a hidden enclave full
of secret predark technology. But there were those who deep down did believe
in it. Krysty, for one, whose
Uncle Tyas McCann had claimed some such knowledge.
"Sure. It's only a few hours' ride. If we leave soon, we can reach it well
before sunset."
"I'd like my people to accompany us."
"No," Fleur bit out.
Hellstrom directed a dark glare toward her and she averted her gaze. "I see no
problem with that. Besides, your woman may prove valuable in case we run
across some dangers."
"Like what?"
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%2...20-%20Deathlands%2034%20-%20Stone
face.html (78 of 263) [12/29/2004 12:09:41 AM]
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