°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡He¡¡followed¡¡a¡¡familiar¡¡route¡¡to¡¡the¡¡barracks¡¡where¡¡he'd¡¡lived¡¡with¡¡William¡¡and¡¡the¡¡civilian£»¡¡swinging¡¡and¡¡dancing¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side¡¡on¡¡the¡¡slippery¡¡surface¡¡because¡¡the¡¡car¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡his¡¡every¡¡whim¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡spin¡¡in¡¡a¡¡plete¡¡circle¡¡and¡¡e¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡with¡¡the¡¡nose¡¡pointing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡proper¡¡direction£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡slide¡¡sideways¡¡without¡¡threatening¡¡to¡¡topple£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡bite¡¡into¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡leap¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡a¡¡minimum¡¡of¡¡slippage¡¡if¡¡just¡¡one¡¡wheel¡¡had¡¡a¡¡decent¡¡purchase¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡four¡wheel¡drive¡¡electric¡¡cars¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡invented¡¡a¡¡century¡¡ago¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡stopped¡¡in¡¡dismay¡¡at¡¡the¡¡barracks¡at¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡barracks¡¡had¡¡been¡£¡¡He¡¡very¡¡nearly¡¡missed¡¡the¡¡site¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡antiquated¡¡buildings¡¡had¡¡burned¡¡to¡¡their¡¡concrete¡¡foundations£»¡¡nearly¡¡hiding¡¡them¡¡from¡¡sight¡£¡¡He¡¡got¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car¡¡to¡¡stare¡¡at¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lonely¡¡shadows¡¡cast¡¡by¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡sun¡£
¡¡¡¡Feeling¡¡depressed£»¡¡Saltus¡¡drove¡¡over¡¡to¡¡E¡¡Street¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡north¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡recreation¡¡area¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡parked¡¡the¡¡car¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡surrounding¡¡the¡¡patio¡¡and¡¡prowled¡¡cautiously¡¡through¡¡the¡¡entranceway¡¡to¡¡scan¡¡the¡¡interior¡£¡¡The¡¡unmarked¡¡snow¡¡was¡¡reassuring¡¡but¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡lull¡¡him¡¡into¡¡a¡¡false¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡security¡£¡¡Rifle¡¡ready£»¡¡pausing¡¡every¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡to¡¡look¡¡and¡¡listen¡¡and¡¡smell¡¡the¡¡wind£»¡¡Saltus¡¡advanced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tiled¡¡rim¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pool¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡down¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡empty£»¡¡drained¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡diving¡¡board¡¡taken¡¡away¡£
¡¡¡¡Nearly¡¡empty£º¡¡a¡¡half¡¡dozen¡¡long¡¡lumps¡¡huddled¡¡under¡¡the¡¡blanket¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom£»¡¡lumps¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡men¡£¡¡Two¡¡GI¡¡helmet¡¡liners¡¡lay¡¡nearby£»¡¡recognizable¡¡by¡¡their¡¡shapes¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡covering¡¡snow¡£¡¡A¡¡naked£»¡¡frozen¡¡foot¡¡protruded¡¡through¡¡the¡¡blanket¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡sunshine¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡turned¡¡away£»¡¡expelling¡¡a¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡bitter¡¡disappointment£»¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡sure¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡after¡¡so¡¡long¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡certainly¡¡not¡¡that¡not¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡station¡¡personnel¡¡dumped¡¡into¡¡an¡¡uncovered¡¡grave¡£¡¡The¡¡GI¡¡liners¡¡suggested¡¡their¡¡identities¡¡and¡¡suggested¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡dumped¡¡there¡¡by¡¡outsiders¡by¡¡ramjets¡£¡¡Survivors¡¡on¡¡station¡¡would¡¡have¡¡buried¡¡the¡¡bodies¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡image¡¡of¡¡Katrina¡¡in¡¡that¡¡pool¡Katrina£»¡¡nearly¡¡naked£»¡¡scantily¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡that¡¡lovely£»¡¡sexy¡¡swim¡¡suit¡and¡¡himself¡¡chasing¡¡after¡¡her£»¡¡wanting¡¡the¡¡feel¡¡of¡¡that¡¡wet¡¡and¡¡splendid¡¡body¡¡under¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡teased¡¡him£»¡¡run¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡but¡¡pretending¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡aware£º¡¡that¡¡added¡¡to¡¡the¡¡excitement¡£¡¡And¡¡Chaney£¡¡¡The¡¡poor¡¡out¡gunned¡¡civilian¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡and¡¡burned¡¡with¡¡a¡¡green£»¡¡suiphurous¡¡envy£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡but¡¡not¡¡daring¡¡to¡£¡¡Damn£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡a¡¡day¡¡to¡¡be¡¡remembered£¡
¡¡¡¡Arthur¡¡Saltus¡¡scanned¡¡the¡¡street¡¡and¡¡then¡¡climbed¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡car¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡large¡¡holes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡surrounding¡¡the¡¡station¡¡at¡¡the¡¡northwest¡¡corner¡£¡¡Action¡¡from¡¡outside¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡both¡¡penetrations¡£¡¡The¡¡shell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡burnedout¡¡truck¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡rusted¡¡shell¡¡still¡¡occupied¡¡the¡¡hole¡£¡¡A¡¡mortar¡¡had¡¡torn¡¡through¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shallow¡¡cavity¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡directly¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡second¡¡hole£»¡¡a¡¡cavity¡¡scooped¡¡out¡¡by¡¡another¡¡exploding¡¡mortar¡¡round¡£¡¡Snow¡covered¡¡objects¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡men¡¡dotted¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fence¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡recognizable¡¡hulk¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thoroughly¡¡demolished¡¡automobile¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡probed¡¡the¡¡wreckage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car£»¡¡turning¡¡over¡¡wheels¡¡with¡¡shredded¡¡tires£»¡¡poking¡¡among¡¡the¡¡jumble¡¡of¡¡machined¡¡parts£»¡¡picking¡¡up¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡with¡¡mild¡¡wonder¡¡a¡¡windshield¡¡fashioned¡¡of¡¡transparent¡¡plastic¡¡so¡¡sturdy¡¡it¡¡had¡¡popped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡place¡¡and¡¡fallen¡¡undamaged¡¡several¡¡feet¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hulk¡£¡¡He¡¡pared¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡windshield¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡car£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡identicaL¡¡The¡¡batteries¡¡had¡¡been¡¡carried¡¡away¡or¡¡were¡¡entirely¡¡demolished£»¡¡the¡¡little¡¡motor¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡fused¡¡metal¡£
¡¡¡¡As¡¡best¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡Saltus¡¡scraped¡¡snow¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡something¡¡to¡¡indicate¡¡that¡¡William¡¡Moresby¡¡had¡¡died¡¡here¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡likely¡¡that¡¡William¡¡had¡¡found¡¡his¡¡car¡¡in¡¡the¡¡parking¡¡lot¡a¡¡twin¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡vehicle¡and¡¡drove¡¡it¡¡north¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡the¡¡skirmish¡£¡¡To¡¡here¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡hell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡note¡¡if¡¡the¡¡man¡¡had¡¡died¡¡before¡¡he¡¡got¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car¡£¡¡Old¡¡William¡¡deserved¡¡a¡¡better¡¡break¡¡than¡¡that¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡found¡¡nothing¡not¡¡even¡¡a¡¡scrap¡¡of¡¡uniform¡¡in¡¡the¡¡debris£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡was¡¡encouraging¡£
¡¡¡¡Down¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡a¡¡cluster¡¡of¡¡tree¡¡stumps¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sagging¡¡billboard¡¡were¡¡visible¡£¡¡Saltus¡¡went¡¡down¡¡to¡¡see¡¡them¡£¡¡A¡¡snow¡blanketed¡¡body¡¡lay¡¡smashed¡¡against¡¡a¡¡stump¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡all£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡weapon¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡blown¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡one¡¡mortar¡¡lay¡¡around¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡billboard¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡piece£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡guess¡¡that¡¡a¡¡faulty¡¡shell¡¡had¡¡exploded¡¡within¡¡the¡¡tube£»¡¡destroying¡¡the¡¡usefulness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡weapon¡¡and¡¡probably¡¡killing¡¡the¡¡operator¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡corpse¡¡here¡¡to¡¡back¡¡up¡¡that¡¡guess£»¡¡unless¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡hurled¡¡against¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡stump¡£¡¡The¡¡second¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡mortars¡¡mentioned¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tape¡¡was¡¡missing¡taken¡¡away¡£¡¡The¡¡winners¡¡of¡¡this¡¡skirmish¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡ramjets£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡their¡¡remaining¡¡mortar¡¡and¡¡retired¡or¡¡had¡¡penetrated¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡to¡¡invade¡¡the¡¡station¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡picked¡¡his¡¡way¡¡back¡¡up¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fence¡£¡¡The¡¡snow¡¡pattern¡¡dipped¡¡gracefully£»¡¡following¡¡the¡¡rounded¡¡rough¡bottomed¡¡contour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cavity¡£¡¡His¡¡foot¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡something¡¡unseen¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡and¡¡he¡¡struggled¡¡to¡¡save¡¡his¡¡balance¡£¡¡A¡¡cold¡¡wind¡¡blew¡¡across¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slope£»¡¡numbing¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡and¡¡stinging¡¡his¡¡face¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡began¡¡the¡¡distasteful¡¡task¡¡of¡¡scraping¡¡snow¡¡off¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡man¡objects£»¡¡brushing¡¡away¡¡just¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rotting¡¡cloth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡uniform¡£¡¡The¡¡defenders¡¡had¡¡worn¡¡Army¡¡tans£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡still¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡GI¡¡dogtag¡¡around¡¡his¡¡neck£»¡¡in¡¡another¡¡place¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡a¡¡Corporal's¡¡stripes¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡sleeve£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡far¡¡away¡¡was¡¡an¡¡empty¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡shoes¡£¡¡William¡¡Moresby's¡¡dress¡¡blues¡¡were¡¡not¡¡found¡£
¡¡¡¡An¡¡oversight¡¡nagged¡¡at¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡retraced¡¡his¡¡steps¡¡down¡¡the¡¡slope£»¡¡annoyed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡oversight¡¡and¡¡annoyed¡¡again¡¡by¡¡the¡¡futility¡¡of¡¡it£º¡¡he¡¡uncovered¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡civilians¡¡wearing¡¡nondescript¡¡civilian¡¡clothing£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡yellow¡¡armband¡£¡¡A¡¡faded¡¡black¡¡cross¡¡on¡¡a¡¡rotting¡¡patch¡¡of¡¡yellow¡¡goods¡¡meant¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡him¡¡but¡¡he¡¡folded¡¡it¡¡away¡¡for¡¡later¡¡examination¡£¡¡Katrina¡¡would¡¡want¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡ramjets¡¡themselves¡¡were¡¡beyond¡¡identification£»¡¡sixteen¡¡months¡¡of¡¡exposure¡¡had¡¡made¡¡them¡¡as¡¡unrecognizable¡¡as¡¡those¡¡other¡¡bodies¡¡above¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡line¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡new¡¡he'd¡¡learned¡¡was¡¡that¡¡civilians¡¡were¡¡the¡¡bandits¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tape£»¡¡civilians¡¡equipped¡¡with¡¡mortars¡¡and¡¡some¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡central¡¡organization¡maybe¡¡the¡¡same¡¡group¡¡that¡¡had¡¡called¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Harry¡¡on¡¡Chicago¡£¡¡Ramjets¡¡allied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Chinese¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡inviting¡¡their¡¡cooperation¡£
¡¡¡¡To¡¡Saltus¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡read¡¡civil¡¡war¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡the¡¡next¡¡thought£»¡¡staring¡¡with¡¡hard¡¡surprise¡¡at¡¡the¡¡covered¡¡bodies¡£¡¡Ramjets¡¡blowing¡¡Chicago¡in¡¡retaliation£¿¡¡Ramjets¡¡losing¡¡in¡¡Chicago¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡trapped¡¡behind¡¡their¡¡own¡¡wall£»¡¡but¡¡striking¡¡back¡¡in¡¡harsh¡¡retaliation¡¡now£¿¡¡Ramjets¡¡working¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Chinese£»¡¡welded¡¡together¡¡by¡¡a¡¡mutual¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡establishment£¿
¡¡¡¡He¡¡picked¡¡again¡¡at¡¡the¡¡body¡¡against¡¡the¡¡stump£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡color¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡lost¡£
¡¡¡¡Arthur¡¡Saltus¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡slope¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡world¡¡was¡¡strangely¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡empty¡deserted¡£¡¡He'd¡¡seen¡¡no¡¡traffic¡¡on¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡highway¡¡nor¡¡on¡¡the¡¡nearer¡¡railroad£»¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡was¡¡unmonly¡¡bare¡¡of¡¡aircraft¡£¡¡He¡¡stayed¡¡continually¡¡on¡¡the¡¡alert¡¡for¡¡danger£»¡¡but¡¡sighted¡¡no¡¡one£»¡¡nothing¡even¡¡animal¡¡tracks¡¡were¡¡missing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡snow¡£¡¡Deserted¡¡world¡or¡¡more¡¡likely£»¡¡a¡¡concealed¡¡world¡£¡¡That¡¡angry¡¡voice¡¡on¡¡the¡¡radio¡¡had¡¡ordered¡¡him¡¡to¡¡silence¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡betray¡¡his¡¡cover¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡stayed¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡longer¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡upper¡¡slope£»¡¡standing¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡debris¡¡of¡¡the¡¡smashed¡¡car¡£¡¡He¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡God¡¡that¡¡William¡¡had¡¡jumped¡¡clear¡¡before¡¡the¡¡mortar¡¡smashed¡¡in¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡boy¡¡deserved¡¡at¡¡least¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡whacks¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bandits¡¡before¡¡his¡¡doom¡¡prophets¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡finally¡¡convinced¡¡the¡¡Major¡¡had¡¡died¡¡there¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡drove¡¡by¡¡the¡¡mess¡¡hail¡¡with¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡passing¡¡glance¡£¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡barracks£»¡¡the¡¡wooden¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡structure¡¡were¡¡burned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡concrete¡¡block¡¡foundation¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡likely¡¡the¡¡ramjets¡¡had¡¡swept¡¡the¡¡station¡¡after¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡was¡¡breached£»¡¡burning¡¡what¡¡was¡¡flammable¡¡and¡¡stealing¡¡or¡¡destroying¡¡the¡¡remainder¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡blessing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lab¡¡had¡¡been¡¡built¡¡to¡¡withstand¡¡war¡¡and¡¡earthquake£»¡¡or¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡emerged¡¡into¡¡a¡¡room¡¡open¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡climbed¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡vehicle¡¡into¡¡snow¡£¡¡He¡¡hoped¡¡the¡¡bandits¡¡had¡¡long¡¡since¡¡starved¡¡to¡¡death¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡pilfered¡¡stores¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shelter¡£
¡¡¡¡That¡¡bandit¡¡hadn't¡¡starved£»¡¡but¡¡neither¡¡had¡¡he¡¡fed¡¡his¡¡fellows¡£¡¡How¡¡had¡¡he¡¡gotten¡¡through¡¡the¡¡locked¡¡door£¿¡¡He¡¡would¡¡need¡¡both¡¡keys¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡take¡¡them¡¡from¡¡William¡but¡¡a¡¡direct¡¡hit¡¡on¡¡the¡¡car¡¡would¡¡have¡¡scattered¡¡the¡¡keys¡¡as¡¡thoroughly¡¡as¡¡the¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡auto¡¡itself¡£¡¡Assuming¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡keys£»¡¡why¡¡hadn't¡¡the¡¡bandit£»¡¡thrown¡¡open¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡to¡¡his¡¡panions£¿¡¡Why¡¡hadn't¡¡the¡¡stores¡¡been¡¡looted£»¡¡cleaned¡¡out£»¡¡the¡¡lab¡¡ransacked£¿¡¡Was¡¡the¡¡man¡¡so¡¡selfish¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fed¡¡only¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡let¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡go¡¡hang£¿¡¡Perhaps¡£¡¡But¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡boots¡¡was¡¡missing¡£
¡¡¡¡Saltus¡¡turned¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡at¡¡a¡¡fast¡¡clip£»¡¡skidding¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡then¡¡straightening¡¡his¡¡cou