Doomsday Warrior 10 - American Nightmare by Ryder Stacy Read Free Book Online Page A

the trigger of his toy weed-burner. White sparks came out of it. Rock jumped involuntarily, backing against the wall.
    “That was good, Daddy,” the boy laughed, as more sparks came out of the burner. “Let’s do it again.”
    “Daddy’s tired, honey. You can show him your knight outfit after dinner,” Kim said, leading the way through the crowded living room into the kitchen. “Barbara, I want you to pick up that chess set and take it into your room. Skippy—Skippy, get off the paper!” The dog barked and jumped down from the comfortable, familiar-looking overstuffed chair.
    Rock stood in the kitchen door as Kim put away the groceries. “It’s the overwork that did this to you. You’re such a hard-working husband.”
    “Yes, maybe I am a bit overtired. Thanks for putting up with me. I know I’ve been acting—”
    “Oh, Rock,” she said, crushing her soft body against him, “you’ll be fine in the morning. You probably haven’t eaten much of anything for a couple of days. I’ll give you a nice steak dinner in just a jiff, as soon as the microwave heats it up.” She smiled her big blues at Rockson. “You shouldn’t have to worry about tomorrow morning. I phoned your boss and said that you needed a couple of days’ rest—that you were sick due to all that overwork. He was very understanding. He said he hated to do without you because of all the accountants under him, that you were the very best. Maybe you’ll get that promotion real soon, after all.” She took him by the hand and led him into the living room. “Why don’t you put on your slippers and read the condo ads,” she suggested as she picked up the paper. “Don’t the State Street Co-ops sound fabulous?” she asked. Kim handed him the real-estate section of the Evening Herald. She clapped her hands together. “Come on, Skippy, time for din-din. Ruff! Ruff!” The dog jumped down from the easy chair and, barking joyfully, ran after her into the kitchen.
    Rockson sat down in his “favorite” chair, shucked off his shoes, and slipped his feet into the velveteen slippers—a perfect fit. Of course, because they’re mine, he thought. He stared at the full page ad. Grand Opening of the State Street Towers. Over 70% sold. Over a hundred floors of the most exciting, exclusive apartments to grace downtown Salt Lake City in years. John Bowles, builder makes a BIG Statement on State Street. His interiors are the State-of-the-Art. Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity to look down on your fellow man. Don’t be afraid to move up to State Street.
    In smaller print it read, Apartments from $499,000, 10% APR. On the bottom of the page in the largest letters yet it read, The sky’s the limit!
    Rockson didn’t know what to make of this. How could he possibly afford such an apartment? Kim did have a point about their living in cramped living quarters.
    He looked around the overfurnished apartment. In the ten-by-twelve-foot living room was the pink morris chair he sat in, a red velvet love seat full of plastic dog toys, a large console TV—Motorola? Then there were two end tables holding giant plastic-shaded lamps that were in the shape of flamingos. Track spotlights on the ceiling shone on the several paintings on velvet, depicting big-eyed, sad children, that were tacked to the wall. Underfoot was a dog-haired shag rug.
    He picked up the news section of the Post-Dispatch on the floor, PEACE TALKS GOING WELL read the headline. That’s good, he thought, reading on. Thursday, September 7 (AP). The peace talks at Lumbini, Nepal World Peace Center, under the auspices of the U.N., are going well, according to Douglas Sweig, Asst. U.S. delegate to the conference. Sweig reports that the Soviet Union and China have agreed in principle to the U.S. proposal to reduce, by 23% a year, the nuclear stockpiles that have accumulated over the past 45 years. By 1993 each state will have only 8% of its current arsenal of ICBMs, SLBMs, and IRBMs. The Soviet Union