<data>
<p>You squeeze the trigger and immediately the rider throws his hands to his face.<footref id="sect23-1" idref="sect23-1-foot"/> He swoons, falls backwards, and then tumbles from the saddle. Before the sidecar rider can jump free, the speeding machine careers off the road into the wall of an office building, and explodes in a searing ball of flame.</p>
<p>With grim satisfaction you stare at the burning wreckage, but your gaze is soon distracted by a column of motorcycles<ch.emdash/>the main body of the clan<ch.emdash/>as it rides into view. They are now less than a mile from the bridge. <quote>C<ch.apos/>mon you two!</quote> shouts Cutter. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s time to go.</quote> The tanker has made it across the platform and is now parked with the other vehicles on the far side of the river. Kate is running towards you from the factory, and as she reaches the bridge, you call out to her: <quote>Set the bomb! I<ch.apos/>ll cover you!</quote></p>
+ <illustration class="inline">
+ <meta>
+ <creator>Melvyn Grant</creator>
+ </meta>
+ <instance class="html" src="small7.png" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/png"/>
+ <instance class="html-compatible" src="small7.gif" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/gif"/>
+ <instance class="pdf" src="small7.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
+ </illustration>
<p>Tensely you watch the clansmen as they gun their bikes along the freeway, and you glance repeatedly over your shoulder, praying for Kate to signal that the bomb is ready. Then <!--ERRTAG-RE-67602-->the front line of bikers opens<!--/ERRTAG-RE-67602--> fire with their machine pistols, and suddenly the air is filled with the whine and whistle of bullets. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s ready!</quote> shouts Kate, and takes off across the bridge at a run.</p>
<p>Add together your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points score and your Stealth skill total. (Note: If your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> is low and you are heavily encumbered, it may be advisable to discard some of your Backpack Items in order to increase your Stealth skill level.)</p>
<choice idref="sect324">If your total is 11 or less, <link-text>turn to 324</link-text>.</choice>
<section class="numbered" id="sect76">
<meta><title>76</title></meta>
+ <footnotes>
+ <footnote id="sect76-1-foot" idref="sect76-1">
+ <p>A Machine Pistol does not count as a Pistol.</p>
+ </footnote>
+ </footnotes>
+
<data>
<p>You swerve to the left and then to the right to deter the rider from making a leap for it, but he is a brave and determined adversary. He makes his jump and lands with a crash on the trunk of your car, his outstretched hands grabbing at the rollbar to prevent himself from falling to his death. You try to dislodge him by braking heavily then accelerating away again, but still he remains glued to your car like a barnacle to a ship<ch.apos/>s hull. The other bikers yell encouragement as he pulls himself slowly towards the driving compartment.</p>
- <choice idref="sect287">If you possess a Pistol, <link-text>turn to 287</link-text>.</choice>
+ <choice idref="sect287">If you possess a Pistol,<footref id="sect76-1" idref="sect76-1-foot"/> <link-text>turn to 287</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect32">If you do not possess this missile weapon, <link-text>turn to 32</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<data>
<p>The colony is divided in opinion. Roughly half urges an investigation of the signal; the other half believes, like you, that it would be foolish to risk walking into an ambush on the dubious merits of such a patchy broadcast.</p>
<p>A vote decides the course of action in your favour, and the convoy prepares for the next stage of its journey to Santo. You lead the way along Freeway 20 and, as you pass by the outskirts of a town called Brock, the sun dips reluctantly below the horizon. A full moon brightens the twilight and the temperature drops rapidly until you find yourself shivering in the cold night wind.</p>
-
<illustration class="inline">
<meta>
<creator>Melvyn Grant</creator>
<instance class="html-compatible" src="small12.gif" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/gif"/>
<instance class="pdf" src="small12.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
</illustration>
-
<p>It takes forty minutes to reach Santo, and another twenty to find a site on which to set up camp overnight. Uncle Jonas orders that the vehicles be drawn into a circle, like a ring of wagons in the wild west, to offer the best protection against the threat of a night raid. Lots are drawn to see who will stand the first watch; unfortunately, you pick the shortest straw.</p>
<p>It is an hour after midnight when you see a cluster of lights in the middle distance. They are less than a mile away to the east, and approaching at speed. With only a few minutes at most before the bikers reach the camp, you sound the alarm.</p>
<p>Like a pack of screaming demons the marauding bikers descend on the convoy, shooting wildly as they weave in and out of the circle. One of the bikers guns his machine towards you, forcing you to dive aside to avoid being ridden down. You are staggering to your feet when another attacks you from behind.</p>
<data>
<p>You throw yourself to the ground. Your speedy reactions save you from being cut in half by the deadly tracer shells. The air is alive with bullet fragments and pieces of twisted metal, and you dare not raise your head for fear of being hit. Out of the corner of your eye you see Kate aiming her rifle from the window of the factory. She shoots and immediately the machine gun fire ceases. You look up to see the rider clutching his face with both hands. He swoons, falls backwards, and then tumbles from the saddle. Before the sidecar rider can jump free, the speeding machine careers off the road into the wall of an office building, and explodes in a searing ball of flame.</p>
<p>With a smile you signal a thumbs-up to Kate and she returns your salute with a wave. A few minutes later a column of motorcycles<ch.emdash/>the main body of the clan<ch.emdash/>rides into view. They are now less than a mile from the bridge. <quote>C<ch.apos/>mon you two!</quote> shouts Cutter. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s time to go.</quote> The tanker has made it across the platform and is now parked with the other vehicles on the far side of the river. Kate is running towards you from the factory and, as she reaches the bridge, you call out to her: <quote>Set the bomb! I<ch.apos/>ll cover you!</quote></p>
+ <illustration class="inline">
+ <meta>
+ <creator>Melvyn Grant</creator>
+ </meta>
+ <instance class="html" src="small7.png" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/png"/>
+ <instance class="html-compatible" src="small7.gif" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/gif"/>
+ <instance class="pdf" src="small7.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
+ </illustration>
<p>Tensely you watch the clansmen as they gun their bikes along the freeway, and you glance repeatedly over your shoulder, praying for Kate to signal that the bomb is ready. Then the front line of bikers open fire with their machine pistols, and suddenly the air is filled with the whine and whistle of bullets. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s ready!</quote> shouts Kate, and takes off across the bridge at a run.</p>
<p>Add together your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points score and your Stealth skill total. (NOTE: If your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score is low and you are heavily encumbered, it may be advisable to discard some of your Backpack Items in order to increase your Stealth skill level.)</p>
<choice idref="sect324">If your total is 11 or less, <link-text>turn to 324</link-text>.</choice>
<data>
<p>You fire and immediately the sniper clutches his chest.<footref id="sect229-1" idref="sect229-1-foot"/> He gives a loud scream and then tumbles over the parapet, landing with a thud on the sidewalk below. With grim satisfaction you stare at his body, but your gaze is distracted when a column of motorcycles<ch.emdash/>the main body of the clan<ch.emdash/>rides into view. They are now less than a mile from the bridge. <quote>C<ch.apos/>mon you two!</quote> shouts Cutter. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s time to go.</quote></p>
<p>The tanker has made it across the platform and is now parked with the other vehicles on the far side of the river. You leave the factory and run back towards the bridge. When you reach the position that Kate is defending, you say breathlessly: <quote>Set the bomb<ch.ellips/> I<ch.apos/>ll stay here and cover you!</quote></p>
+ <illustration class="inline">
+ <meta>
+ <creator>Melvyn Grant</creator>
+ </meta>
+ <instance class="html" src="small7.png" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/png"/>
+ <instance class="html-compatible" src="small7.gif" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/gif"/>
+ <instance class="pdf" src="small7.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
+ </illustration>
<p>Tensely you watch the clansmen as they gun their bikes along the freeway, and you glance repeatedly over your shoulder, praying for Kate to signal that the bomb is ready. Then the front line of bikers <!--ERRTAG-RE-313134-->opens fire<!--/ERRTAG-RE-313134--> with their machine pistols, and suddenly the air is filled with the whine and whistle of bullets. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s ready!</quote> <!--ERRTAG-RE-313343-->shouts Kate and takes off<!--/ERRTAG-RE-313343--> across the bridge at a run.</p>
<p>Add together your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points score and your Stealth skill total. (Note: If your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score is low and you are heavily encumbered, it may be advisable to discard some of your Backpack Items in order to increase your Stealth skill level).</p>
<choice idref="sect324">If your total is 11 or less, <link-text>turn to 324</link-text>.</choice>
<data>
<p><quote>The hell you will!</quote> shouts Cutter in reply, and looses off a round from his old Colt .45 to reinforce his answer. You glance over the top of the slope and try to estimate the enemy<ch.apos/>s strength. The punks are well hidden but three motorcycles are visible in the distance. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s a bluff</quote>, you whisper. <quote>I reckon there can only be six of them at most.</quote></p>
+ <illustration class="inline">
+ <meta>
+ <creator>Melvyn Grant</creator>
+ </meta>
+ <instance class="html" src="small7.png" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/png"/>
+ <instance class="html-compatible" src="small7.gif" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/gif"/>
+ <instance class="pdf" src="small7.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
+ </illustration>
<p>The muffled sounds of crying can be heard aboard the bus as the children take fright at the unexpected sound of gunfire. Uncle Jonas and Harvey Harlan, known affectionately as <quote>Hammer Harlan</quote> by the rest of DC1, jump out of the boarding door and run towards you, both of them cradling loaded shotguns. Hurriedly you make a plan: Uncle Jonas, Kate, and Hammer will stay here and give covering fire while you and Cutter circle around behind the punks<ch.apos/> positions and attempt to flush them out into the open. It is a bold move but one that must be attempted. If the punks manage to pin you down until more of their gang arrive, then the fate of the convoy will be sealed.</p>
<choice idref="sect37">If you possess a Shotgun, <link-text>turn to 37</link-text>.</choice>
<choice idref="sect208">If you do not possess this missile weapon, <link-text>turn to 208</link-text>.</choice>
<p>Instinctively you dive away from the window, your speedy reactions saving you from being cut down by the swathe of bullets. Then you hear a man scream and abruptly the firing ceases. You chance a glance out of the window to see the sniper falling from the parapet, clutching at his chest as he crashes to the sidewalk below. With a smile you signal a thumbs-up to Kate and she returns your thanks with a wave of her rifle.</p>
<p>A few minutes later a column of motorcycles<ch.emdash/>the main body of the clan<ch.emdash/>rides into view. They are now less than a mile from the bridge, <quote>C<ch.apos/>mon you two!</quote> shouts Cutter. <quote>It<ch.apos/>s time to go.</quote></p>
<p>The tanker has made it across the platform and is now parked with the other vehicles on the far side of the river. You leave the factory and run back towards the bridge. When you reach the position that Kate is defending, you say breathlessly: <quote>Set the bomb<ch.ellips/> I<ch.apos/>ll stay here and cover you!</quote></p>
+ <illustration class="inline">
+ <meta>
+ <creator>Melvyn Grant</creator>
+ </meta>
+ <instance class="html" src="small7.png" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/png"/>
+ <instance class="html-compatible" src="small7.gif" width="386" height="150" mime-type="image/gif"/>
+ <instance class="pdf" src="small7.pdf" width="386" height="150"/>
+ </illustration>
<p>Tensely you watch the clansmen as they gun their bikes along the freeway, and you glance repeatedly over your shoulder, praying for Kate to signal that the bomb is ready. Then the front line of bikers <!--ERRTAG-RE-346349-->opens fire<!--/ERRTAG-RE-346349--> with their machine pistols, and suddenly the air is filled with the whine and whistle of bullets. <quote>Its ready!</quote> <!--ERRTAG-RE-346548-->shouts Kate and takes off<!--/ERRTAG-RE-346548--> across the bridge at a run.</p>
<p>Add together your current <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> points score and your stealth skill total. (NOTE: if your <typ class="attribute">ENDURANCE</typ> score is low and you are heavily encumbered, it may be advisable to discard some of your Backpack Items in order to increase your Stealth skill level.)</p>
<choice idref="sect324">If your total is 11 or less, <link-text>turn to 324</link-text>.</choice>
<data>
<p>You manage to avoid two more patrols before escaping from the mall and meeting up with Cutter at the truck depot. You are both relieved to discover the place empty and unguarded, and quickly you make your way to the stores building. You find the records office, but without electricity you cannot access the computer files to pinpoint the exact location of the spare you need. With mounting fear you realize that in order to find a new steering linkage you will have to search every one of the 1,600 storage bays that occupy the building.</p>
- <p><quote>We<ch.apos/>ll be here forever if we have to search the shelves,</quote> you whisper. <quote>I guess you<ch.apos/>re right,</quote> replies Cutter, <quote>but I think I know a quicker way of finding what we need. Follow me.</quote></p>
+ <p><quote>We<ch.apos/>ll be here forever if we have to search the shelves,</quote> you whisper.</p>
+ <p><quote>I guess you<ch.apos/>re right,</quote> replies Cutter, <quote>but I think I know a quicker way of finding what we need. Follow me.</quote></p>
<p>Intrigued by Cutter<ch.apos/>s reply, you follow him out of the stores building, across a parking lot and into another section of the depot that is marked:</p>
<signpost>ZONE 3: MUNICIPAL VEHICLE SERVICING</signpost>
<p>After searching four of the dozen service bays, finally he discovers what he is looking for: a school bus. <quote>Cal, you keep y<ch.apos/>eyes open while I strip the linkage out o<ch.apos/> this baby. Give me an hour an<ch.apos/> we<ch.apos/>ll be on our way.</quote></p>
<section class="numbered" id="sect297">
<meta><title>297</title></meta>
+ <footnotes>
+ <footnote id="sect297-1-foot" idref="sect297-1">
+ <p>You may also fill your canteen.</p>
+ </footnote>
+ </footnotes>
+
<data>
<p>Carefully, Kate examines a package she has removed from the saddle-bag. It is about the size of a man<ch.apos/>s shoe, covered with a shiny black plastic wrapping, and has a keypad and timer attached to its side.</p>
<p><quote>Well, it looks like we got ourselves one mighty big fire-cracker here,</quote> she says, offering it to you for inspection.</p>
<p><quote>That<ch.apos/>s some fire-cracker!</quote> you reply, uneasily.</p>
<p><quote>Don<ch.apos/>t worry, it<ch.apos/>s safe,</quote> she assures you, taking the explosive from your trembling hands. <quote>I saw the Lions use this stuff in Oklahoma. It<ch.apos/>s as stable as clay until you prime and time it, then<ch.ellips/> boom! I think I<ch.apos/>ll hang on to it. It could come in useful.</quote> She slips the Zevatec into her bag and then walks back towards the lake.</p>
<p><quote>C<ch.apos/>mon Cal,</quote> she says. <quote>We<ch.apos/>d better hustle that water. When that scout gets back to the Lions, Mad Dog<ch.apos/>s gonna be hot on our heels.</quote></p>
- <p>You fill the containers and hurry back to Sweetwater as fast as you can. When you tell Uncle Jonas what has happened at the lake, he cancels the food search and recalls everyone to the bus. As soon as all are safely aboard, you head back onto the freeway and begin the sixty-six mile journey to Big Spring.</p>
+ <p>You fill the containers<footref id="sect297-1" idref="sect297-1-foot"/> and hurry back to Sweetwater as fast as you can. When you tell Uncle Jonas what has happened at the lake, he cancels the food search and recalls everyone to the bus. As soon as all are safely aboard, you head back onto the freeway and begin the sixty-six mile journey to Big Spring.</p>
<choice idref="sect36"><link-text>Turn to 36</link-text>.</choice>
</data>
</section>
<p>(<a idref="sect269">269</a>) Replaced <quote>Weapons list</quote> with <quote>Weapons List</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect270">270</a>) Replaced <quote>water canteen</quote> with <quote>Water Canteen</quote>.<!--ERRTAG-RE-355780-ITEM--> Replaced <quote>Sabanna River</quote> with <quote>Sabana River</quote>.<!--/ERRTAG-RE-355780-ITEM--></p>
<p>(<a idref="sect271">271</a>)<!--ERRTAG-RE-357909-ITEM--> Replaced <quote>A volley of shots ricochet</quote> with <quote>A volley of shots ricochets</quote>.<!--/ERRTAG-RE-357909-ITEM--></p>
+ <p>(<a idref="sect273">273</a>) Started a new paragraph between <quote>you whisper.</quote> and <quote><ch.thinspace/><ch.lsquot/>I guess</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect279">279</a>) Added <quote>ONLY</quote> to the end of the sign to properly parallel <a idref="sect334">Section 334</a>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect280">280</a>) Replaced <quote>bread, <ch.lsquot/>it<ch.apos/>ll</quote> with <quote>bread. <ch.lsquot/>It<ch.apos/>ll</quote>.</p>
<p>(<a idref="sect285">285</a>) Replaced <quote>visible, the</quote> with <quote>visible; the</quote>.<!--ERRTAG-RE-375260-ITEM--> Replaced <quote>A muffled boom and a plume of dust marks</quote> with <quote>A muffled boom and a plume of dust mark</quote>.<!--/ERRTAG-RE-375260-ITEM--></p>
Project Aon Git Repositories / project-aon.git / commitdiff