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But the wildswine had suddenly darted sideward with a sharp squeal。 The super…swift porker； a dangerous crossbreed of wild Asian swine and the domestic hog of the twentieth century； also avoided the frying pan。
〃Shit；〃 Rock said； reaching into his quiver and taking out another steel…tipped arrow。 He notched it and said； 〃The pig is over in that jumble of rocks … let's get it。 Rona； you go around the other way。 We'll have pork tonight； or my name isn't Ted Rockson。〃
But as the couple gradually； silently moved to encircle the wildswine； there was a sudden shaking of the ground。 Rock swiveled on his heels to see a giant version of the swine he was stalking tear through a copse of trees the size of telephone poles； knocking them down like toothpicks。 The thing was a pig … but it stood twelve or thirteen feet at its shoulders and was at least twice that length。 It stopped in its tracks； snorted a twin stream of hot steam out of its flaring nostrils。 And then it turned its ugly snout directly in the direction of Rockson and roared out a challenge。
Rona and Rock let fly their arrows； each hitting one of the beast's huge eyes。 But the arrows just bounced。 〃Rona … head for cover in the rocks； I'll lead it away。〃 With that admonition； the twenty…first…century warrior took off at a lope。 The giant swine started pawing the ground； it lowered its head like a bull。 Then it took off after him； like a freight train chasing a stray cat。
〃Rock；〃 Rona yelled； 〃be careful。〃
Rockson was being careful。 He had made for a second outcropping of sharper； tumbled rocks； and now dove in among the boulders； rolled into a crevice。 He removed his shotpistol from his holster and took the safety off。 Just in time。 The giant swine screeched to a stop and leaned its steamy snout down into Rock's hiding place。 Its huge tongue licked down at the Doomsday Warrior。 Naturally； he fired。 Point…blank。
The lower incisors and molars of the beast exploded into chalky fragments tinged with red； and the X…pattern of explosive pellets peppered the sinewy red throat beyond。 But the thing didn't die。 It pulled back； startled by the blast。 Then it charged against the rocks； almost burying Rockson in a shifting mass of granite。 He managed to extricate himself and； not anxious to be buried in the next attack； he took off again。 Rockson was firing over his shoulder when the opportunity presented itself。 Two of his frantic shots hit dead center in the snout of the beast； sending out sprays of nostril meat and blood； but it just sneezed and then continued the chase。
The shotpistol empty。 Rock flung it back； the beast swallowed it without changing pace。 Rockson spotted Rona a hundred feet ahead； running fast； but not as fast as Rockson； and he soon caught up to her。 〃Pour it on； girl；〃 he gasped out； 〃I couldn't stop it。〃
〃Rock； how about my smoke bombs？〃
〃Smokebombs？ Hell； use them； Rona； quickly。〃
Rona was already reaching into her belt pouch。 She tossed a handful of the small glass cylinders behind her。 The pop…pop…pop of the shattering glass was music to Rockson's ears。 The thundering hoofs of their immense pursuer stopped。 There was a great cloud of putrid…smelling black smoke behind the two runners now。 An enormous sneeze reverberated in the cold air。 Imagine what that stuff smells like to its sensitive nostrils。 Rock thought。 That ought to stop him for a while。
But a while was a mere five or six seconds。 Enough for the Freefighters to gain a hundred feet； but then the terrible thundering hoofs started ing again。
Rockson could see the tangle of brambles that he hoped was the encampment wall ahead。 He yelled； 〃Freefighters； set the Liberator rifles on full automatic； we've got supper ing up behind us … don't spare the gunpowder。〃
Rockson's rear end was now less than twenty feet ahead of the razor…sharp tusks。
CHAPTER 10
〃Did you hear that？〃 McCaughlin said； snapping up from where he crouched feeding another stick into the low campfire。 〃Look； over there！〃
Detroit saw where he was pointing； and heard more clearly what Rockson was yelling。 〃Quick；〃 Detroit exclaimed； 〃Aim high； don't hit our friends。 Shoot！〃 Frantically they lifted their rifles。 Chen； wanting accuracy； set down his tripod mount for steadiness atop the small rise； they all fired on full auto at the beast。
The big guns spoke a thousand throaty words。 The simple statement could not be ignored。 It said； 〃Death to big pigs。〃
A shuddering series of impacts on the pig knocked it to the ground。 Splattered pieces of smoking meat and shards of bone matter flew over Rock and Rona as they dove over the brambles to their friends。 All the Freefighters' uniforms were coated with a rain of red blood。 A pulsing bit of pig brain…matter splashed into Scheransky's hands as he tried to cover his face。 Rockson； too； was thoroughly reddened by the rain of blood。 They kept firing for a while … just in case！
Rona jumped across the hollow； and grabbed the Doomsday Warrior into her arms。 〃Oh； you great big hunk of a man；〃 she said； kissing his red…stained face over and over … everywhere。 〃You saved me。 You lured the thing to you； you did it to save me。〃
When she finally let go； Rockson smiled； 〃Not exactly。 I wanted pork chops for supper； that's all。〃
Before the roaring cooking fire had died to red coals in the early darkness； the smell of roast pork spread through the valley。 The fattiest meat was given to the ravenous wolf…dogs； who had endured so much and gotten them over eight hundred miles already。 The Rock Team went to their sleeping bags with a warm glow in their bellies … especially after the Scot passed around his Glenlivet。 〃It's a hundred and six years old； laddies； so don't ye spill a drop。〃
〃Now； that's old scotch。〃 Detroit said； swigging down a large portion。 Danik had a restorative slug too。
〃Save some for the Russkies；〃 said Scheransky； taking the bottle。 〃I prefer vodka； but defectors can't be choosers。 I'll make do。〃 He too took a swig。 And so did the rest of them。 Rona finished it off in two glugs； and wiped her mouth； tossed the bottle into the brush。
〃Now； that's a woman you got there。 Rock；〃 said McCaughlin。
The next day's trek was an uneventful passage over gently rolling snow under pink cirrus clouds。 Rockson； stopping the group at midafternoon； used the navigation devices that Schecter had provided； and also used the toy sextant that Dutil had figured angles and distance with。 He announced that they were well out on the rolling plains of Arizona。 Some divine power must； they reasoned； be favoring their quest。
The citizen of Eden had been extraordinarily quiet。
He was sitting up on Rock's sled； watching the scenery go by。 Rock； hoping he wasn't getting sick again； spoke to him。 〃You all right； Danik？〃
〃Wonderful。 It's so beautiful； that's why I'm quiet。 This land is so beautiful。 What is there to say in the face of such beauty？〃
〃I guess we Americans take for granted the majesty of the countryside； Danik。 It's a good thing someone es along once in a while to tell us what we have。 So we notice it more。 So we appreciate it。 You know it was all almost pletely destroyed a hundred and five years ago … when the two superpowers