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rmed themselves and pulled a coup d'état。
〃I and the others who had been freely elected were hunted down and killed one by one。 Our only hope was to reach the surface。 And six of us made it … through a series of ancient construction tunnels that had failed to collapse entirely after the burial of the city。
〃It was a wild world we encountered。 Supplyless； we decided to head north； toward the United States … or where the United States used to be。 We were Americans。 We hoped to find other Americans。 But all we found was death。
〃You must understand … underground we had no idea it was winter。 Bitter cold。 It was never any season underground。 We had forgotten the word。 We had forgotten the meaning even for bird and cloud … and for one other concept I learned on the perilous trek to this place： beauty。 For this world of yours； regardless of the dangers； is beautiful。 None of us were sorry to leave Eden。 We weren't really alive down there。
〃I really didn't know exactly where we were heading。。。 Our records showed a place called Denver was near the mountains called the Rockies。 We found an old map in an abandoned house and some clothing。 Rags； but they were warmer than our thin clothing。
〃We tried to hunt； with sharpened sticks； but were seldom successful。 We ate the few small animals we killed raw； not even having a means of lighting fires until we found a magnifying glass to focus the sun on twigs。 Of the six who started out from Eden … myself； Run Dutil； Sysin File； the others … I alone survived to reach this area。 And then I was dying； too。 I was delirious； out of my senses。 And； unknown to me； I was about to be eaten by some huge creature … which your patrol men shot dead。 They brought me here； gave me medical attention； and fed me and gave me that delicious thing … coffee … yes； that's it。 Coffee。 Wonderful。
〃I used your rapid…learning tapes； listened to them while I slept。 Absolutely an amazing achievement。 Sleep learning。 Fantastic。 Your kind Dr。 Schecter told me to rest after I had eaten； and attached the asleep…learning device。 It told me all about your fabulous city。 Century City is full of art； of fresh air； and … love。 Yes； love。 Something we had forgotten。 We though of procreation only as a process； not as the result of the love between male and female。 I have learned so much of your people already。 Eden will only live if it bees one of your allied free cities。 Open to the world。 Dedicated to the fighting of the Soviet occupiers。 Help me； Rockson … e back with me and help me free Eden。〃
〃Wow；〃 Rockson said。 He didn't know what else to say。
〃You must go to Eden with Peth Danik； Rockson；〃 Rath said。 〃Not only for their sake； but for our sake。 To stop Stafford； the mad dictator of Eden； from releasing Factor Q。〃
〃Factor Q？ What's that； Danik？〃
〃Rockson； I am sorry to say that when Stafford raided the ancient war supplies stored in Eden； he found a terrible weapon … a germ…warfare canister； Factor Q。 It's sort of a virus really … that spreads on the wind。 Once released on the surface … which is what Stafford has threatened to do … no human will be alive within a week。 The canister must be incinerated without being opened。 Burned totally at high temperature。 That means of its deactivation must be acplished before Stafford uses it。 Stafford says if the people protest his rule； if they wish to try to live on the surface despite his warnings； he will release the virus above Eden。 So that no one could ever hope to live on the surface。〃
〃I see；〃 Rock said grimly。
〃Stafford's a real Jim Jones case；〃 Rath added。 〃Stafford must be stopped。 Will you try； Rockson？〃
Rockson sighed。 〃We're snowbound。。。〃
〃You made it up to Alaska and back once in the winter。〃
〃With sled dogs； and an Eskimo guide。 I don't have either here。。。 Danik； if I mounted an expedition； say a six… or seven…man attack force； can you lead me to Eden？〃
〃I don't know the way there。 I just wandered here。 I don't know the location of Eden。 God； I'm sorry； Rockson。〃 Danik buried his thin face in his hands。
〃You have to find a way to Eden； Rockson；〃 Rath demanded。 〃You will find a way。 You're the Doomsday Warrior。〃
〃Thanks for your confidence。 But there are things I can't do … like miracles。〃
〃You'll find a way。〃
CHAPTER 3
Danik lay down in his warm feather bed and looked up at the softly glowing ceiling above him。 〃Century City；〃 he said softly； to himself。 〃I am in Century City； a free American city。 There is life； life vibrant and healthy； out here in the wilderness of America。 Here are people； not sickly diseased mutations； not cannibals as Stafford had claimed … but good； brave Americans。〃
Danik reached over to the table and took up the asleep…learning earphones and placed them on his head。 He closed his eyes。 Dr。 Schecter had told him to relax； to rest and listen to this particular tape： 〃Accounts of the Exploits of Ted Rockson； by Detroit Green。〃 Schecter reasoned that on hearing of the exploits of Ted Rockson； Danik's unconscious would have to admit the possibility that Ted Rockson could do the impossible。 Namely； that Rockson could go to Eden with his small squad； defeat Stafford； prevent Factor Q from being unleashed。 Schecter believed； along with the psychiatric staff； that Danik's blocked memories of his trek might be released； Danik believed there was hope； 〃You'll remember enough of your trek to lead our man to Eden；〃 Schecter had encouraged。 〃You will。〃
Danik sighed。 He put on the earphones and lay back trying to relax。 He did want to hear of Rockson's exploits。 Danik wanted to know more about this man with the white streak in his hair and mismatched eyes。 The man they called the Doomsday Warrior。
Everyone was depending on him to remember。 And he couldn't。 The only thing he remembered of the trek was ing out of the half…collapsed tunnel from Eden with his panions in the nighttime。 And following the star … the North Star。 Then all was a blank until the moment he was being carried by two men into Century City。 They'd carried him up to a sheer mountain wall； banged on the rocks as if they were knocking on a door。 Then； amazingly； a doorway had opened and they had moved on into a long green…lit corridor； the doorway sealing behind them silently。 He remembered other people … men and gorgeous tall healthy women … ing to meet the men who carried him。 These people wore white uniforms。
He had been placed on the table and wheeled down a maze of corridors to a white room。 He remembered tubes being stuck into his arms and a kindly old man the others called Dr。 Schecter leaning over him and doing things with instruments that beeped and clicked。 Then there had been the blissful warm darkness。 And when he awoke … the doctor had said； 〃How are you？〃
The man called Rath had e； questioned him briefly； and told him to rest again。 In response to Danik's own questions they had given him his first sleep…learning tape； the one that told the history of Century City。 He could practically recite it：
On one fateful fall day in 1989； the skies over America had filled with death。 Death ing in the form of a thousand nuke warheads fired by the Soviet Union； a surprise attack that was to devastate the Uni