Perception Fault

by James Axler

  He also knew that the Bunker had sent its wondrous drone aircraft aloft since the time and location of the meeting had been set, in order to keep tabs on the surrounding area and make sure that nothing out of the ordinary happened at the site. No doubt he also had reserves he could call on in an emergency, too, probably waiting at the base or a mile away, ready to rush in if needed. All in all, it looked like they had the place sewn up tighter than a gnat’s ass just before it hit a windshield.

  As for Ryan and his companions, they’d been given their weapons, but not the clothes they’d been captured in. Compared to the firepower around them, his group was toting the equivalent of slingshots, but Ryan knew just how much damage one shot in the right place could do.

  Despite all the precautions, Ryan couldn’t help poking the administrator a bit. “Just like your guys were able to take care of that Indian problem you had before we showed up.”

  Carr choked on the sip of water he had taken, and tapped his chest to ease it away. “That was fighting a guerrilla insurgency. This is gaining the upper hand through a show of formidable strength.”

  “Well, having been around these kinds of folks all my life, I wouldn’t put too much stock into your little show here. People like Carrington and Tellen don’t get to where they are by spooking easy.”

  “I don’t wish for them to ‘spook,’ as you so quaintly put it, I wish for them to recognize that a superior force has entered the equation, and that they should adjust their plans accordingly. They should realize how that changes things, and be willing to come to the table to discuss how we might be all able to work toward a common goal.”

  It was these last words that had Ryan a bit worried. It was all well and good for Carr to want to make a place of safety in the Deathlands, he just wasn’t sure how the other two would react to the idea, particularly since, if taken wrong, it could smack of “let us help you fix your problems,” only to find that the “helpers” were suddenly running the show before you knew it.

  And in the Deathlands, the surest way to stop this progression was to cut it off before it really got started—preferably with a lot of bullets.

  Waltrop raised a hand to his headset. “Sir, we have a dust trail from due west coming toward us, fast. Drone reads heat signatures of four vehicles. Image coming onscreen now.” He hit a button on the portable monitor, which flickered into life to reveal an overhead view of a four-vehicle convoy, two Hummers, one at the front and one behind two large olive-green trucks, their framed cargo areas concealed by heavy canvas tarps.

  “Looks like someone else had the same idea you have,” Ryan said. He still couldn’t believe that both men had agreed to meet with Carr in the first place. Of course, the fact that each one didn’t know the other was attending probably had something to do with it. No doubt both Carrington and Tellen each had the same idea—enlist the new group to wipe out their enemy.

  Someone’s gonna be very surprised when this all goes down—the only problem is, I haven no bastard idea who that’s gonna be, Ryan thought, his eye glued to the screen.

  “Commander Waltrop, please send out a vehicle to escort our guests into the perimeter.”

  The sec man spoke into his mouthpiece, and one of the APCs roared into life, accelerating away in a spurt of dust.

  Once it was gone, Ryan nodded at the other tent. “Before they get here, I want to check on my friends, make sure they’re doing all right in this heat.”

  “By all means.” Carr dismissed him with a wave of his hand as he sipped water and regarded the screen. Ryan left the comparative comfort of the canopy, feeling the heat beat down on him for the few steps between the tents, and entered the shadow of the second one, smiling tightly at the group. His people feigned being relaxed very well, with Jak and J.B. sitting against different tent poles, Krysty conversing with Doc, and Mildred watching the dust cloud grow larger as it approached.

  Rachel and Caddeus were another matter. Carrington’s daughter, wearing a frown, had earned her very own personal sec man. Caddeus was right at her side, looking none the worse for wear, considering the injury he’d suffered three days ago.

  “How’s everyone doing?” Ryan asked as he walked under the protective covering.

  A ragged chorus of replies greeted him, but Ryan made sure that all his people’s eyes were on him when he made the brief signal that told them when the shooting started, to get out any way they could. He saw the understanding in everyone’s eyes or a brief nod of assent, then went to Caddeus and Rachel, plopping down beside them and rubbing his right foot. “How are you guys holding up?”

  “What the hell is going on, Cawdor? Have you and the runt over there—” she pointed at Carr with her chin “—made a deal to sell me to Tellen?”

  “Fireblast, you just don’t let up, do you?” Ryan shook his head. “I’m actually trying to prevent a bloodbath out here. Carr wants to meet with your father and Tellen and make them agree to a truce so they can all begin working together.”

  She stared at him, incredulous, then chuckled, the bitter laugh escaping through clenched teeth. “Surely you told him that would be impossible, especially after what Tellen tried on me.”

  Ryan leaned close to her and lowered his voice. “Actually, I never told them who you were. I assume you didn’t, either.”

  “Hell, no. I’m not about to give them that kind of bargaining tool. But thanks for not telling them, either.”

  Ryan’s eyebrow quirked at the unexpected gratitude, but he immediately regained his composure. “You’re welcome. Would you speak for the idea? You know, try to convince your father.”

  “It wouldn’t do any good. Carr there thinks he’s so bastard smart. He has no idea just how much of a hornet’s nest he’s about to stir up.”

  Ryan nodded. “Yeah, I was afraid something like that might happen.” He rubbed his foot more, wincing. “Hey, there’s something you could do for me.”

  “What?”

  Ryan pointed at the table of water bottles and covered platters of food on the other side of the tent. “Damn sprain is acting up from when I fell in that fireblasted pit. Could you get me a bottle of water? I’m parched.”

  She stared at him, her brows lowering, and Ryan swore he saw the wheels turning in her head as she tried to figure out his angle. But he just licked his dry lips and stared at her until she rose to her feet and stalked across the dirt floor.

  “Not the smoothest move I ever saw, but it did the trick.” Ryan turned to see Caddeus regarding him, the black man’s face expressionless. “I bet your foot suddenly heals very nicely once we’re done talking.”

  “Only got a few seconds, so listen up. You know what’s happening here?” Ryan barely waited for the other man’s nod before continuing. “You need to stick with her like stink on shit, understand? Get her out of here and back to the city in one piece.”

  “Already one step ahead of you.” Caddeus shrugged his jumpsuit leg up to reveal the end of what looked like a pipe hidden inside, along with the smooth metal and plastic of a prosthetic leg where it went down into his boot. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll make it out all right.”

  “Okay. How’s the new foot?”

  Now Caddeus grinned. “Better than my old one. It’s only been three days, but I’m walking on it like it was my own flesh and blood.”

  A shadow fell across him, and Ryan looked up to see Rachel holding out a container of water just as Carr called out to him.

  “Ryan, we need you!”

  “Thanks, Rachel.” Ryan stood and accepted the water, pouring half of it down his throat in one long, satisfying gulp. He looked at the plastic cover she held in her other hand, then took it and screwed it on the top. He hefted the metal cylinder in his hand, feeling the liquid inside slosh back and forth, then walked back over to Carr and Waltrop under the tent.

  “Looks like Tellen’s the first to arrive,” Carr said, still watching the overhead view from the drone. Ryan wasn’t surprised at that, although he’d tried to get Carri
ngton on-site first, figuring him for the slightly more sane of the two—he’d expected Tellen to show up as soon as he could. He watched as the convoy was brought in and stopped about a hundred yards away from the Bunker’s people. The two trucks came to a halt, still in a line, and the mil wag began driving toward the tent, covering about twenty yards before the APC flanking it sprouted a half dozen weapons as missiles and machine guns appeared from the various pods on its roof and sides, all aimed at the wag, which quickly came to a stop. A door opened, and several sec men spilled out in uniform precision, taking up positions in a semicircle around the stopped off-roader.

  “That certainly got his attention.” A thin smile played around Carr’s lips. “Waltrop, bring them to me.”

  A strange noise, like a sandy hiss, caught Ryan’s attention as he watched the squad escort the men out of the Hummer, relieving them of weapons and patting them all down. He looked around, but nothing had changed—only a puff of dust from the rear wheel of the large APC, as if the tire had broken through a sinkhole or something. With a frown, he turned back to the group now entering the tent.

  Tellen was dressed immaculately in clean, but not pressed fatigues. His blond crew cut stuck straight up, giving him the barest hint of another inch on his small frame. His men had been relieved of their weapons, but flanked him protectively, as if they were still armed. Tellen’s gaze picked out Ryan first, then went to Administrator Carr, who was still watching the monitor, and finally passed over Waltrop dismissively.

  “Ryan, you’ve done all I expected and more. Care to make the introductions?”

  Ryan bared his teeth in what could loosely be called a smile. “You got the ‘and more’ part right.” Before Tellen could ask what he meant, Ryan charged on. “This is Administrator Carr, who helps to run the Bunker, the compound located underneath the Denver Airport. He’s the one who suggested this little meeting.” Ryan glanced at Carr. “We’re just waiting for the last person to arrive.”

  Carr nodded, his eyes flicking to the monitor. “He’s approaching now.” He finally looked up at Tellen. “An old friend of yours, I believe.”

  The shot was perfect. Tellen’s mask of composure slipped just enough as he grabbed the monitor, causing all four guards at the corners of the canopy to turn and aim their drawn sidearms at him, regardless of the bodyguards that interposed themselves between the sec men and their leader.

  Tellen was oblivious to the threat, his icy-blue eyes locked on the monitor, which showed an overhead view of another convoy heading their way, this one composed of four mil wags, each one armed with a man in a turret. Another APC came at them from the east, stopping in front of them and signaling the small procession to follow it.

  When Tellen looked up again, his face was composed, and he even sketched a mocking bow toward the whitecoat. “Well played, sir. It would seem that I have underestimated you.”

  “Oh, I can’t take all the credit. After all, it was Ryan’s idea not to tell each of you that the other was coming.” Carr turned to Waltrop, leaving Ryan and Tellen to exchange pointed glares. “Bring the girl and her escort to us, please.”

  “You wanted in, well, here’s your chance,” Ryan said.

  “Like I said, you did all I expected and more.” Tellen’s smile as he pulled out a chair and sat was equally discomfiting, like he knew something no one else did. Again Ryan looked around, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. His gaze met Krysty’s in the other tent, and even across the distance the question was asked.

  Trouble?

  His brief nod was all she needed. A nudge to J.B., and they were immediately deep in whispered conversation. Meanwhile, Ryan glanced past the diminutive would-be dictator to his mil wag, which was still being guarded by two of his men, and ten of the Bunker’s security force.

  A commotion from the other side accompanied Rachel and Caddeus’s arrival, making the space under the canopy even more crowded. “You!” Rachel spit upon seeing Tellen, who flourished his hand at her.

  “The same. Don’t tell me you’re also trying to work out some kind of deal here?”

  “I’d rather eat glass and throw it up in your face than have anything to do with you, traitor!”

  Tellen turned to the other men with an injured look. “And this is who the Free City of Denver is pinning their hopes for the future on?”

  Tensing, Rachel would have gone for him right then and there, but was restrained by Caddeus’s hand on her arm. Carr regarded the conversation with a slight frown.

  “We’ll wait for our other guests to arrive and then begin. Can I offer anyone anything, water, food?”

  “A table in the presence of my enemies?” Tellen answered with a bright smile. “Some water for my men, if you can spare it.”

  “Of course.” Carr motioned to the table. “They are free to help themselves.”

  The two sec men didn’t move until Tellen nodded at them, then they each walked to the table and took a bottle one at a time. Ryan watched every step each one took, all the while wishing that Carrington would hurry up and get his ass over here.

  He arrived a few minutes later, trailed by Major Kelor, Carrington’s smile at seeing his daughter again— Ryan had managed to let him know she was safe in his radio message—collapsing when he saw his enemy seated at the table. “What the hell is he doing here?” Carrington spit, his eyes flashing. “Cawdor, what have you done—”

  Carr held up his hand to forestall any further outburst. “I’m afraid the deception was necessary, Mr. Carrington, to bring both of you together in one place. But first, I imagine you’d like to make sure that your daughter in uninjured while in our care.”

  As Ryan frowned at the admission that Carr knew Rachel’s identity, Carr motioned to Waltrop, who stood aside, letting Rachel go to her father, Caddeus following a step behind. Ryan tensed as the two met, sure that Tellen would spring any trap or surprise he might have planned at that moment. But as they came together, Tellen lounged in his chair, drinking from the water container handed to him by one of his men.

  Josiah and Rachel exchanged a brief conversation, then the elder Carrington turned back to the assembled group, inserting himself between his daughter and the rest of the men. “So, you have us here. Now, what’s this all about?”

  Carr was about to reply when Tellen beat him to it. “While Mr.—Carr, is it?—thinks he’s running the show, the real reason you are both here is so that I can receive your complete and total surrender to my forces.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Tellen’s calm statement certainly got everyone’s attention. Carrington and Carr both stared at the small man in disbelief before they both starting talking at once, with Rachel chiming in a moment later.

  “Are you serious, man? Do you not see the force that surrounds you and your men—”

  “I always knew you were insane, Tellen, but this proves it—”

  “You can’t possibly be asking for—”

  “Enough!” Tellen slammed both fists on the table, making the monitor fall over, the chorus of voices quiet, and Ryan edged his hand even closer toward the butt of his blaster. Once he had restored order, the small man leaned back in his chair. “I meant every word. As commander of the Free Army of Denver, I hereby demand your immediate and unconditional surrender, both of yourselves and all of the forces under your jurisdiction. Once the official transfer of power has occurred, we can begin assimilating the various men from the city and your complex into the already existing units. All I require is that you both make the necessary announcements to your men and women, and we’ll begin making the arrangements immediately afterward.”

  Carr and Carrington glanced at each other, suddenly allied against their common enemy. Carr spoke first, before Carrington gave himself a stroke trying to force a conversation with his adversary. “Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you are serious—”

  Tellen simply nodded.

  “Look around you.” Carr swept the area with his arm, taking in the looming AP
Cs, the armed and armored men, the overwhelming numbers on his side. “Surely you don’t possibly think you can force us to capitulate with just the men you’ve brought?”

  “Yes, I do. Although you may not realize it, even at this moment you’re all surrounded by my own people,” Tellen replied.

  Frowning, Carr shot a look at Waltrop, who muttered into his headset mike, then spoke louder a few seconds later. “Sentries report no hostiles within view.”

  With a nod, Carr turned back to Tellen. “If you are a madman, sir, you are a clever one, but mad nonetheless. I think we should dismiss your nonsensical talk about surrender, and perhaps discuss a more rational way forward—”

  Josiah broke in. “You’re wasting your breath, Carr. He’s a mad dog in human guise. You’ll never reason with him.”

  “It does take one to know one, doesn’t it, Josiah?” Tellen smiled that strange smile once again. “I have spoken nothing but the truth here today, but obviously you all need more proof, therefore…”

  He raised his hand into the air, drawing more attention from the corner sec men, but Tellen only shook his head. “Carr, tell your men to stand down. I’m hardly going to call a strike on the position where I’m sitting.”

  After a tense few moments, Carr nodded at Waltrop, who signaled his men to put up their weapons. The moment they did that, Tellen dropped his hand.

  The canvas covering the backs of the two cargo trucks dropped away, revealing the beds of both vehicles in the bright sunlight. Each cargo area was packed with what looked like people, but as Ryan squinted to see better, the horrific realization of what he was looking at became clear.

  Loaded into each cage were at least two dozen stickies, maybe more, all milling around uncertainly. Each one had a familiar black band around its neck, the mysterious collars that Ryan had found on the ones he had encountered in the ruins to the south. When their eyes had adjusted to the light, the muties noticed the group of people nearby and rushed at the bars, suckered hands outstretched to attempt to grab and rend human flesh. Their sudden movement was so fierce it rocked the truck’s suspension as all of them crowded onto one side, making those strange snuffling noises as they sighted fresh meat.