return to Vista, Rick Coburn has appointed himself Baron of the ville. Though he cannot simply let the companions go, owing to their direct involvement in the death of the previous Baron, Coburn gives them a two-hour head start after leaving the ville before he and his sec men come after them. The companions are able to make it to the redoubt with Coburn still trailing behind, but nearing. Ryan enters the standard door activation code, but the heavy metal blast door fails to open. After another failed attempt he curses as he realizes the door is not functional, and he and his friends now have nowhere to flee to as Rick Coburn and his armed posse nears. Cultural references The acting troupe mentions a number of real-world plays, and the troupe's leader at one point quotes directly from The Tempest. Wizard Sidler's movie theater shows a number of real-world Western films which, though not named directly, are described in sufficient detail. External links JamesAxler.com 1993 American novels Deathlands novels 1993 science fiction novels Works published under a pseudonym Harlequin books