Station, стр. 61
As they marched headlong into shadow, Cal and Othobegan to look around, their large noses twitching. Cal looked downinto Hadder's questioning eyes and said, "Risers. Lot's of em."Hadder kept a constant pace, not wanting to appear startled, butbegan searching the constrictive space around him. He saw thebriefest of motion in a darkened window on the third floor. Thesoft sound of feet on dirt could be heard everywhere but seennowhere.
The three continued on, wanting nothing more than tobe free of the two monoliths at their sides, having had enough offeeling like cattle being herded to slaughter. As they approachedthe end of the twin buildings, a figure stepped out to block theirpath. Hadder, Cal, and Otho halted, taking a measure of the man.Although dark, the man stood beyond the deep shadows of the largealley, allowing the last rays of Solay to illuminate his frightfulform.
Wearing only dirty jeans and worn black boots, theman didn't need clothes to look dramatic. That effect was createdby the metal tusks that adorned his face, jutting out from eachside of the man's jaw to kiss the air before him with a pointedtouch. Although he had thick, should-length hair, few would notice,their eyes instead being drawn to the metal horns that leaped fromthe man's forehead, curling slightly backward. Not large, the manwas imposing nonetheless, with tensed muscles looking prepared touncoil on anyone foolish enough to get close.
As usual, Hadder was the first to break theuncomfortable silence. "I'm seeking a meeting with The Krown. Ihave a question for him, nothing more."
The man chuckled, making his blue eyes flashbrightly in the dim surroundings. "You think this is aconversation? Or maybe even a negotiation? I can assure you it isneither. Take them."
Cal and Otho immediately dropped into fightingstances, their weapons appearing in their hands as if by magic.Hadder followed their lead, cursing himself for not bringing aninstrument of his own. For the first time, Hadder felt that he mayhave put too much into Rott's promise of safe travel. Had Rottalready lost more power than he imagined?
To either side and behind the trio, men began toemerge directly from the walls of the twin buildings. As theystalked forward, Hadder saw that their skin moved strangely,shifting from that of concrete to a grayish complexion that helpedthem blend into the shadowy background. Scores of the mimicsappeared at once, surrounding the trio on all sides. From above,each window became occupied by a Riser, projectile in hand.
Caught in a trap, Hadder and the Caesars touchedbacks, guarding against sneak attacks. As the throng of mimicstightened around them, Otho grew tired of the posturing, slamminghis broad ax through the meager defenses of a closing mimic and themetal pole it wielded as a weapon, splitting the man in half like apiece of firewood. Gore shot up like a paint bomb, covering mimic,Caesar, and man alike, forcing everyone to literally see red asbattle rage engulfed all.
Hadder welcomed it, giving in to the Rage.
An explosion of action followed, the instantaneousviolence reminding Hadder of the kung fu movies of his youth. Calchopped down with his right sword, which was deflected by a mimic'soversized machete, but immediately backhanded with the same weapon,neatly slicing off the top half of the defending mimic's head.
Hadder wanted nothing more than to enjoy the scenebut quickly found himself fending off attacks from two othermimics. The first came at his chest with a curved knife while thesecond swung a hammer overhand at his head. Hadder caught the wristof the knife-wielder, pushing the blade out to pass in front of hisbody. In the same motion, Hadder executed a front kick on thesecond assailant, a perfect defensive Muay Thai technique forcreating space. Catching the mimic squarely in the chest, air flewfrom the creature's lungs as the hammer flew from his hand. Hadderplucked the hammer from the sky and came down in a single move,caving in the skull of the first attacker, whose body went limp,sending the curved knife to the ground. Not wanting to leavehimself open, Hadder simply kicked at the curved blade, sending itflying towards mimic two, who easily dodged the sloppy attack. Butin doing so, he left his side unguarded, which Hadder happily tookadvantage of, blasting his shoulder with the hammer. The mimic fellto one knee as his clavicle shattered, turning to face Hadder, acurse forming on his lips. The curse fell flat, however, as his jawwas separated from his face by Hadder's next blow.
Pandemonium followed, rendering Hadder unable toeven account for his own actions. Otho swung his giant ax in anarc, keeping fiends at bay, occasionally sending entrails high intothe air. Cal took a more calculated approach, selecting targets andexecuting deft attacks and defensive maneuvers. A mimic's throatwas slashed here, an eye was removed there.
Meanwhile, Hadder had to work extra hard to remainalive, fortunate that most mimic attention was on the imposingCaesars. Facing a variety of opponents, Hadder traded his hammerfor a pickaxe, which he gladly left in the chest of a mimic inexchange for a slim rapier-like blade that almost made him aeunuch. After piercing a charging mimic's heart with the rapier,Hadder was surprised to see that his area had cleared, withoverwhelming attention being placed on the Caesars.
Looking forward, there was nothing between Hadderand the tusk-faced man, who was obviously calling the shots in thebattle. He remained standing at the end of the twin buildings, bodycocked for violence as he surveyed the battle. He looked to Hadderand smiled, a natural act rendered unnatural-looking by the metalimplants. Something snapped in Hadder, and he charged ahead,desperate to cut the accessories from the man's face and end thisfight.
As he ran, Hadder planned his strike, consideringpotential attacks and counterattacks, readying himself for a bloodyaffair. Closing in, however, Hadder was surprised to see that theman had barely moved, had only brought his fingers to his mouth. Ashrill whistle rang out across the alley,