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The badly damaged calliope was in the middle of being repaired, and every now and
again there would be a brief burst of music from the shrouding fog.
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Axler, James - Deathlands 33 - Eclipse at Noon
First it was a shredded version of a blaring Sousa march, followed by a melancholy, bass-
heavy attempt at the predark weepy "I Will Always Love You." Now they heard a florid
half verse of "Shenandoah."
"Away you rolling river." Doc said mournfully. "Not that you can possibly locate the
damned river with this fog. The way it progresses, you won't be able to see a hand in
front of your foot."
"What?" Jak said.
"I said you would shortly be unable to make out your knee in front of your ears. No, I am
getting fearfully confused. What an addle-brain I have become." He closed his pale blue
eyes and concentrated. "One will not see one's hand in front of one's face. That is it."
The calliope had broken into a lively version of "Dixie," steam rising from the pipes of
the organ and mingling with the layers of fog.
One of the crew of the Golden Eagle had been working at the davits of a lifeboat, slung
close to where Ryan and the others had been standing. Now he was almost invisible in
the fog. Ryan turned and found the man was staring at him, hammer poised, starting to
pound at the davit with great vigor.
Krysty sensed something wasn't right and also turned. "What is it, lover?" she asked
quietly.
"Think that man's been put there to watch us," he replied. "Could be in Wolfram's pay."
"Sure you aren't getting paranoid?"
He managed a half smile. "Mebbe. When you're dealing with people like the Magus and
Wolfram, then a touch of paranoia isn't a bad idea."
THE ORNATE BOAT was barely crawling along. The banks were totally invisible, and
Captain Huston was using the mournful whistle at regular intervals, warning anyone else
foolish enough to be out on the Sippi that the Golden Eagle was in command of the
center of the current. It hadn't made any difference to the gamblers.
The little old ladies with gloved hands still battled endlessly with the fruit machines, the
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Axler, James - Deathlands 33 - Eclipse at Noon
whirring of the gears interrupted occasionally by the soft tinkling of jack spilling into the
winning trays, to be swept by the eager players into the waiting plastic cups.
Roulette wheels spun, the ivory balls rattling and bouncing from slot to slot, and the
croupiers carried out their business with the solemn reverence of acolytes, worshiping at
the shrine of the great god Chance.
The air was thick with expensive cigar smoke, reeking with the scent of brandy and
whiskey. Outside, on the slippery decks, the long rows of multicolored lights that draped
the vessel glowed dimly through the mist, showing the diminishing outline of the Golden
Eagle.
A pair of officers loomed from the fog in front of them, both saluting smartly.
"Ryan Cawdor?"
"Yes."
The taller of them had a long, drooping mustache that was dripping with water from the
mist. "We have a problem, and Captain Huston wondered whether you and your
companion, John Dix, might be able to help us."
"Problem?" the Armorer repeated. "What kind of problem are we talking about?"
"Best the skipper tells you himself. But it could involve some shooting."
Ryan laid his right hand on the butt of the SIG-Sauer. "We're ready."
"Sure are," J.B. agreed, showing the Uzi to the two officers.
"I'll come," Jak said.
"We can all come," Mildred added.
The officer hesitated. "Captain said he didn't want to start a panic. Asked if just the two
of you could come. Might need the rest of you later."
Ryan considered the request. His first thought was that it might be part of some dark plan
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Axler, James - Deathlands 33 - Eclipse at Noon
of the Magus and Wolfram, but it didn't seem likely. He would back himself and J.B.
against any sec-man ambush they might try.
He turned to the others. "Be back soon. Go straight down to our cabin and keep the doors
bolted."
Krysty tugged at his arm. "Don't like this, lover. Got a bad feel."
"Got to take some chances," he said. "They could have chilled us any time, before we
knew they were aboard."
"Quick as you can, sir," the mustached officer said, glancing at a gleaming silver half
hunter that dangled from a chain across his midriff.
Ryan nodded. "Don't forget. Keep the bolts across. And if we aren't back in sixty minutes
from now "
"No harm'll come to you or your friend, sir," the other officer stated. "I reckon we can
more or less guarantee that."
"Glad to hear it." He kissed Krysty on the cheek, tasting the fog in her hair. J.B. kissed
Mildred, and the two old friends followed the sailors across the deck. Within ten paces
they'd vanished into the mist.
J.B WAS ALONGSIDE RYAN, "You sure you're sure about this, compadre?"
"You sure you're sure?"
"We're ready for anything they might try."
"Guess so."
One of the officers turned to make sure they were following him, smiling encouragingly.
The calliope was still going at full blast, pumping out a jazzed-up version of "This Land
Is Your Land," drowning out any other sounds.
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Axler, James - Deathlands 33 - Eclipse at Noon
A set of iron stairs loomed out of the swirling mist ahead of them, and they climbed to a
higher deck, continuing toward the high bridge.
"She's stopped," J.B. said, head on one side. "Feel the vibration. Paddle's not turning."
The sun was veiled, and the morning was as dark as late evening. It was also bitterly
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