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course plotting program to judge from the maps Mildred had found that would
assist the driver. However, there was a fail safe device on the dash that
enabled the driver to switch over to manual, which was perhaps how the wag had
fired up again during battle.
What it meant, more importantly, was that the wag could be fully operational
as transport without using the comps. The sec devices on the wag wouldn't be
of any use, but as there were notably few other wags in the Deathlands that
had anything even approaching such a sophisticated system, this was hardly
something that would bother the attack party. The important thing was that the
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wag worked, and could be used as the decoy to gain access to the redoubt.
Especially as the braking and drive systems were in full working order. J.B.
and Dean had now ascertained this, and were quickly checking the casings
beneath for any other damage, as a safety check lest the vehicle suddenly give
out on the way to the redoubt.
"Everything's A-OK here," Dean yelled over the engine noise.
"Yeah, same here," J.B. gritted, sweat spangling his brow.
"Let's get out from under here."
Even though he spoke almost too softly to be heard over the roar of the
engine, Dean was able to ascertain his meaning, and
was as swift as the Armorer in scrambling out from underneath the wag.
"Kill the engine, Millie," J.B. yelled, wondering if it would be possible for
Mildred to hear him over the wag noise.
Obviously, it was possible for her to hear him. Mildred turned off the wag's
ignition, and the vehicle shuddered on its jack supports so violently that the
wag shifted, the weight redistribution proving too much for the rusty jacks to
support.
With a creak, and the sharp snap of breaking metal, the jacks gave way under
the wag first two at diagonal corners, then the other two rapidly following as
they found themselves unable to adjust to the sudden sharp increase in weight
that they were forced to bear. With a crash that made the wag vibrate
violently and raised clouds of dirt and tarmac riddled dust, the vehicle
crashed to the road.
"Hot pipe, that could have been us under there," Dean breathed.
"Good thing it wasn't," J.B. returned, "but Millie's still inside."
Without waiting for an answer from the younger Cawdor, the
Armorer rushed toward the wag. He reached it as the side exit door opened, and
a visibly shaken Mildred climbed out.
"You okay?" J.B. asked anxiously, grabbing her as she stumbled and nearly
fell.
"Yeah, I think so, John," she replied slowly. "I think I might have picked up
a little whiplash, as I wasn't ready for that, but otherwise& I feel like I
ache all over."
"It wasn't that bad a crash," Dean said, approaching her.
Mildred looked at him and laughed. "Could have put that a little better, but
you're right. Normally I could have ridden that without blinking. But I'm
getting weaker all the time. Jak and
Doc must be, as well. It's this damn disease. The sooner we get after the
redoubt the better."
Ryan and Yardie had heard the crash as they left the baron's house, and came
running.
"Fireblast! You okay, Mildred?" Ryan asked.
"Sure. What did Robertson have to say?" she returned, not wanting to dwell on
her own problems and keen to make progress with the objective.
Ryan filled them in as Yardie arrived, puffing and blowing hard. The sec man
agreed with Ryan that his people would help in whatever way they could,
although he was quick to point out that the Gate and the companions were far
better equipped for the task. It may have seemed like cowardice on first
hearing, but there was little doubt that the sec chief was correct. The
Crossroads dwellers had spent too long living a relatively danger free life to
really have any grasp of serious combat.
"So, what now?" Dean asked when his father had finished.
"Round up the others. I've got to find Gloria and Tammy. We need to get the
plan into place so we all know what we're doing."
He looked up at the sky. Twilight was fast turning into night.
"The dark will help us, if we can move in the next hour or two, then we can
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reach the redoubt and get in before sunrise, which'll give us better cover.
But we'll have to move it."
"Leave it to me," Dean said. "If J.B. and Mildred stay here, I'll find Jak,
Doc and Krysty. I figure I know where they may be, anyway."
"Okay," Ryan said grimly. "Let's go to it. There's no time to lose."
While the one-eyed man headed off to the area where the
Gate appeared to be gathered, Dean headed toward the hospital.
Along the way, he detoured toward the barn where the two wheel drive tractors
had been found. The barn was on the edge of town, and was silent and dark as
he approached. But he had a notion that he would find Jak still there, as the
albino hadn't returned with the salvaged tires.
Dean approached openly, using what little light there was so that Jak would be
able to see him and not mistake him for an attacker. At all times, the albino
was always on the defensive.
"Jak, you there?" he called softly as he reached the open doors of the barn.
There was no answer, and as he peered into the darkness, it was impossible to
make out any shapes within.
"Jak?" he repeated a little louder.
A white wraith, like a shadow in negative, rose from the recesses at the back
of the barn.
"Dean? What want?" Jak's voice was small, like one roused from sleep. At the
same time, he sounded weary.
"We're meeting to plan the attack. Got to round up Doc and
Krysty, too, but I figured I'd find you here."
"Why?" Jak was still at the back of the barn, moving slowly as he dressed.
Dean shrugged. "Figured you'd need some rest, and mebbe you'd find the
quietest place."
"Figure right," Jak replied, moving forward, now fully dressed. "Tired easily.
Pox eating me. Clothes hurt on skin, needed to let it breathe. Mebbe try relax
totally. Need quiet for that."
"Damn sorry I had to disturb you," Dean said, the concern in his voice showing
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