Red Denver: A Prelude to REHO (The Hegemon Wars) Read Online Free PDF Page B

approached. He looked at each goon, then at Soapy. The massive one they called Smacks back at the betting booth in Red Denver stepped forward first. Reho figured he was here to do what the warbeast couldn’t.
    “We don’t plan to go any farther than right here,” Soapy said, raising his OldWorld rifle at him.
    “You follow me as though you made a promise,” Reho said.
    “I’m just making sure you keep yours,” Soapy replied.
    “Here we are. The Blastlands behind me and Red Denver miles away,” Reho said.
    Reho could tell by Soapy’s snarl that he’d gotten the message about Reho cutting off his face and dragging him into the Blastlands.
    “You idiot. We hunted you down. This is our show,” one of the other goons said from behind Soapy.
    “Boss, let’s blast this guy!” Smacks added, lifting his gun toward him. Reho dove forward, grabbed Smack’s rifle, and knocked it aside. The OldWorld weapon blasted, tearing a hole the size of a loaf of bread into one of the silent goons.
    Reho quickly drew his knife and released it toward his assailant who had just aimed his pulse blaster. It released two energy blasts, both hitting the gunner’s own foot as Reho’s knife struck his chest. Reho lifted the rifle off Smacks and fired twice into him. An explosion of blood and flesh showered the area.
    Panicked, Soapy managed to fire his rifle twice, sending the shots into the ground. Reho fired at Soapy’s arm, which caused him to drop the OldWorld rifle.
    He pulled his knife from the dead goon and approached Soapy.
    “I am breaking my promise. There has been enough death,” he said, kneeling next to Soapy as he attempted to crawl away.
    Soapy turned and fired twice at Reho with an OldWorld pistol he’d tucked behind his back. One shot went wild as the other skimmed Reho’s shoulder. Reho buried his knife deep into Soapy’s leg.
    A scream much like the warbeast’s echoed through the Blastlands.
    “What did you expect? Your arrogance and ignorance brought you out here to the edge of Usona. And it’s your ignorance that got you killed,” Reho said, grabbing Soapy by the collar and dragging him deeper into the Blastlands. He had no intention of keeping his full promise to Soapy, but he did plan to keep the most important part. Soapy would not return to Red Denver and continue to spread his disease of corruption and greed. He checked his AIM. The radiation levels were climbing. A mile into the Blastlands, he let go of Soapy.
    He removed his knife.
    “You’re going to stay here,” Reho said.
    “The radiation will kill me,” Soapy said.
    “I know.”
    “I’m not a freak like you. My body can’t take this stuff.”
    “Could be worse. I could have kept my promise and left you out here without a face. That’s not what you want,” he said. He glanced at his atomic watch; they’d been in the radiation area for almost twenty minutes. Reho stood silent and removed his OldWorld rifle. It still didn’t have any bullets. He wouldn’t need them anyway, as he waited for the first signs of radiation sickness.
    The sun was high in the sky. If he let Soapy go now, he could make it to one of the OldWorld buildings before nightfall.
    Bluargh.
    Soapy vomited. Reho told Soapy to stand. He could see that the man’s skin had begun to redden.
    “Go back to Red Denver. Use the time you have left to do some good. Or don’t.”
    Soapy wobbled then looked up at him.
    “Doesn't matter. Once I’m dead, there’s always another to take my place. You can’t stop us. If it’s not me–” Soapy stopped as another dreadful bout of vomit spewed forth.
    “Then they’ll have to answer for what they do. Just like you,” Reho said, then turned his back and walked away.
    ***
    After two years in Red Denver, he was once again a wanderer. His brief time with Jena had not lasted. His success in the gasolines had only resulted in tragedy.
    For now, he would trek east. On the other side of the Blastlands, the Virginia Bloc community