Station, стр. 80

Jules, not as broad as most Caesars but a headtaller than all, looked down at Cal, his shoulder-length blue hairblowing across his face in the soft breeze. "Not sure. Just makingsure they don't try to cross. Only been at it a few minutes."

Giving the Caesars their privacy, Hadder walkedaway, staring intently at the Risers not but thirty yards away.Work continued on the ground, men and women alike laughing over thetraces of pained cries. A glint of light caught Hadder's attention,and he looked over to see Wagner standing to the side of theRisers, staring daggers at his old nemesis, his metal tusks andhorns polished to a high shine.

Hadder couldn't help himself. "Wagner! How's ithanging, pig-man? Having trouble with a few South Risers? How areyou going to conquer the world if you can't even clean up your ownbackyard?"

Wagner smiled wickedly, and Hadder immediatelyrecognized that he had read the situation wrong. "Hadder," thetusked man called, "You cannot imagine how happy I am to see youhere. I mean, what are the odds? The Gods of war are truly smilingdown on me this Solay."

Worry seeped in through crevices, a knot formed inHadder's stomach. "What are you about Wagner, you lap-dog?"

"You must not have heard, Marlin Hadder. The RiserWars are over. I mean, they were over the moment my king split theskull of that obese turd, but today even the denouement draws to aclose. I am here to place a period at the end of that smallchapter. So, without further ado, I give you the last of theresistance and the dawn of a wholly unified Riser empire."

His speech concluded, Wagner gave an upward motionto the Risers working on the ground. As one, the Risers knelt andlifted something substantial into the air, driving its base into ahole they had dug, locking the tall construct upright.

Although Hadder knew it was fated to happen, hisheart still broke at the gruesome scene before him. A naked Kamariahovered in the air, crucified, bleeding from countless wounds, andtattooed with numerous burns. Although obviously in tremendouspain, Kamaria's eyes still burned with defiance as she spat at herabductors below. One of the female Risers who was struck withspittle angrily picked up a rock and hurled it at the defenselesswoman's head, striking Kamaria in the temple and sending her headlolling to the side. The Risers giggled like stupid children whohad been sniffing paint.

Hadder made a move towards the Risers but waseffortlessly held back with one arm by Cal, who looked down as ifto say, "not here, not now." Hadder redirected his energy intoglaring at Wagner, creating mental images of the man's chestexploding into a pink mist.

"She is more of a fighter than anyone you have inyour soft Setting," said Wagner, addressing both Hadder and theassembled residents. "And look at her now. The great Kamaria, nomore than a lawn ornament. Although I would rather burn you allalive, my king is a benevolent king. He has tasked me withspreading the word. Come to him now, pledge your allegiance, pickup arms against the lazy Setters, and prepare for world domination.Do this now, and you will enjoy all the benefits that we will reapas we harvest the world and take what is owed to us. Failure to dothis will result in what you see here today."

Wagner motioned again, and a Riser wielding a wickedbladed staff slashed quickly across Kamaria's belly, sending herentrails spilling out to hang low on her body. The proud womancried out once in pain, then remained silent, summoning a strengthHadder had never known. "Tough to the end," stated Wagner beforemotioning once more. Risers from the back stepped forward, carryingburlap sacks that shifted with activity from within. Standing atthe base of the cross, the Risers emptied their bags, sendingmalnourished rats scurrying about the ground. Kamaria's eyes wentwide with terror, and tears trickled down her dark cheeks as therats began to climb the wood in search of the sweet, warm meat theydetected.

Hadder's stomach lurched, and he looked away,turning back only when a scream from Kamaria demanded hisattention. The rats covered her exposed organs, greedily devouringthe soft flesh. Some had even begun to enter the wound, findingadditional warmth and food in her body cavity. Kamaria shook fromthe torment, her eyes screaming when her mouth would not. Someresidents ran from the horrible sight, others vomited where theystood. Many others looked on frozen, their minds unable tocomprehend what their eyes were telling them.

Hadder locked eyes with Kamaria, hoping he couldgive her something to focus on, something to take her away from thegruesome reality of what was happening to her once formidable body.Minutes felt like days as the vermin continued their dirty work,sending Karmaria into convulsions of agony. Through it all,however, she kept her eyes on Hadder, eyes that were thankfullybeginning to dim. Finally, the shaking subsided, and a look ofgentle acceptance fell over Kamaria's face like a veil. Looking atHadder, the corners of her mouth curled in a Mona Lisa smile, andshe mouthed the words "kill them all" before letting out one lastscream of defiance, shouting the word "Ego" as her head fell andher eyes glazed over.

A stillness fell over both Riser and Setter, withmore than a few Risers looking off-put by the macabre display.Wagner sauntered to the edge of the Skirt; the Caesars tightenedtheir grips on their weapons. "Tell your friends what you saw heretoday. Let them know what awaits those who oppose The Krown. Cometo us now and welcome a new life at the top of the food chain."

Wagner moved further up the Skirt to stand directlyacross from Hadder. "And Marlin Hadder. I'll see you on thebattlefield. My tusks ache to touch your flesh."

"Just make sure you actually stand and fight thistime, not let your lackeys shoot me from the rooftops."

"Do not worry, Setter, The Krown has outlawedprojectiles for the Invasion. He wants every Riser to taste theblood on their hands. I can't wait to taste yours."

"I am going to kill you, pig-man. You need to knowthat."

Wagner pointed to the husk of Kamaria. "Funny, shesaid the