Survivalist - 20 - Firestorm by Jerry Ahern Read Free Book Online Page B

wrench nests in here,” Rourke showed him, “in this slot on the side of the unit itself. Just twist and pull it out, use it to tighten the suppressor once it’s threaded on, then reinsert k in the side here and twist and the wrench is anchored in place until you need it again to remove the unit. The slide’s been fitted with a lock to seal the breach. Thafs where a lot of the gas escapes and makes noise on pistols which aren’t fitted with a lock. I had Colonel Mann’s people make me up a batch of subsonic ammunition. The recoil spring was specially modified-the tension reduced-so the pistol would function with the lower energy loads without having to trick up the gun by lightening the slide. They used to do that with movie guns, sometimes, lighten the slide so the action would cycle with blanks. Same idea, basically, but we were able to avoid that. The magazines I have for it all have the feed hps adjusted for the peculiar shape of the bullet itself.”
    Rourke opened a plain black plastic box, taking from it one of the special subsonic cartridges. The bullet was coated with a black plastic, along the lines of the Nyclad ammunition made by Federal before the Night of the War. But the bullet, although a hollow point, was more truncated and longer than conventional 9mm Parabellums. “Twelve rounds in the magazine. After each shot, if you use the slide lock, work the lock down, cycle the action by hand and raise the lock for the next shot. Without the lock being raised, the pistol functions as it normally would, but of course the noise suppression isn’t quite as effective. Depends on the situation in which you’re using it.”
    Rourke set the pistol and suppressor down, then looked at his friend. “When Annie and Natalia and Maria get here, I want you to talk with Annie alone,” Rourke told Paul. Rourke’s hands were sweating. “If, in her judgement, Natalia’s pretty much all right, then do as we planned. Rejoin me. If there’s any doubt in Annie’s mind about Natalia’s stability under the controlled circumstances here, just have the pilot get a message to me or use the radio. But stay put. The Retreat should be as safe as church. Thafs from the outside. Know what I mean, Paul?”
    Paul Rubenstein licked his lips. “Yeah. I dont like leaving them here alone, but I don’t want to be sitting back here with four women making me hot meals while you’re out there, either, John. But 111 talk with Annie. She’s -Natalia, I mean-she’s supposed to be all right, or close to it, right?”
    “I think so. I pray that she is. I know she wouldn’t harm anyone, but she might harm herself. You’ve gotta be sure, Paul. If you aren’t, then don’t come. Stay here. Eat those hot meals until you are sure.”
    The younger man nodded his head. “You know I will.”
    “Annie should have my note by now.” And John Rourke began to pack the pistol, the suppressor, the extra baffle material to refurbish the suppressor, the ammunition. He kept his hands busy so he wouldn’t have to speak, the sausage shaped suppressor slick over its anodizing with moisture from his hands …
    Annie Rourke Rubenstein felt her eyes widen as she unfolded the message. It had been slid under her door while she was away at the hospital visiting Natalia. Natalia seemed stronger, happier every day. She set down her purse. She wondered if she’d ever get used to carrying one on a regular basis. High heels. They made her legs feel good because they made her legs look pretty but they made her feet hurt. She kicked out of them, sinking to the carpeted floor and wiggling her toes. No more did she have her Shore Patrol guardian angels. She traveled Mid-Wake as she pleased. The note in her hands, she crossed the small room and sat on the small window seat, pulling her legs up under her.
    “Annie,
    “Your mother was forced to kill a man named Damien Rausch during the battle here with the Soviets. Rausch was a Neo-Nazi. Along with a gang of men, he