"2566-05" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bigge Jerome - Warlady 4 - 2566 Ad)2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Five "Mankind must eventually learn `self-government'," Tais ex- plained further. "You are no longer children who need a spanking from time to time to make you aware of the `rights' of others." Princess Sela is a quite `spankable' wench, I might mention here. "So you will let thousands of people die in battle just to prove your `point'," Sela Dai snapped back, not at all impressed! I was just as glad that Sanda Talen, my Prime Minister, was not here as she is always eager to get into a political "discussion". Sanda believing despite all the teachings of history that the old fashioned idea of "popular democracy" still has some value after its being rather discredited by its own historical failures! It turns out that she is "right" in a way, but that's another story as they often say, and nothing that I want to get into right now! "And what would you have me `DO'?" Tais purred back, there being a "dangerous" edge to her voice now. Sela was dangerously unaware of the true nature of the being that she now was facing I knew from what I'd seen of this woman's "paranormal powers"!!! "Use your `abilities', whatever they are, to determine the `truth' and then see that `justice' is done," Sela snapped back! "And what is `truth', what is `justice'?" Tais smiled back, a glint of "steel" now in those azure eyes. Sela was "smart", but no mental match for the First Priestess whose intelligence I knew even considerably exceeded my own. Raspa by my side like a black statue as she took all of this in through her own ears. A Lorr has no "voice", but they do have a hearing sense like ours. They are not "insects", but their biological nature is "alien". "That Dularn is the `aggressor' in this conflict!" Sela snapped back. Everyone else standing about, watching, and keep- ing their thoughts to themselves. As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone but Sela would have been "brave" enough to challenge Tais the way that she was doing now. And I could only pray to SHE that Tais would understand why little Sela spoke as she did. "Perhaps I should transport you to the North Star out at sea and let you argue the point with Queen Maris herself," Tais then "suggested" with a smile. I have no doubt that Tais did know its location too! There is very little that now escapes the surveil- lance of the Priestesses of Lys. I speak from my own experience. "Enough of this!" Darlanis snapped. "The issue is not whether or not Dularn or California are `right', but the issue of how we are going to resolve this conflict without getting into another winless war like the last one!" That had dragged on for years and years, and had cost thousands of lives on either side! And nothing had ever been "settled" either, I knew so very well!! "Queen Maris is a woman of good character, although she is not of as high a moral character as one might wish," Tais spoke. Her words puzzling us all at the time, although considering what sort of "powers" she has, perhaps she knew of what she spoke of. Upon consideration, I believe that Tais was referring to Maris' marriage to a man she didn't love just to gain wealth and power. The Priestesses of Lys are not "anti-sexual" like the "Christian" religions of my time, but they do speak out against "actions" and "activities" which would be "hurtful" to others. I did not be- lieve that Maris was "happy" in her marriage to Darl Jord, and there is considerable "evidence" that her taking personal command of a raiding vessel as she had done "proved" so far as I was con- cerned that she was "fleeing" an unhappy marriage! I mention these things now as they do have some bearing upon the "adven- tures" that I was soon to have there off the coasts of Dularn! "I'm not `interested' in Maris Jord's `character'," Darlanis snapped back. "I'm only interesting in stopping this damn war!" "But you should be, since it is her own character that de- termines `much' of what she does, your highness," Tais pointed out in reply, giving the Empress of California a smile in return. "What does her `sexual faithfulness' to her husband have to do with anything?" Sela Dai ventured, although Tais didn't exact- ly say that if you will look back just a few paragraphs here. "A person carrying `guilt feelings' will often behave in `counterproductive ways'," I answered for Tais, such being a part of my own training as a "shrink" back in the 20th Century. I am incidentally more "intelligent" than Aurora or Darlanis. I do not consider myself the mental equal of Tais or Raspa for that matter. I also acknowledge that Janet Rogers was my "superior". Janet was an extremely "intelligent" woman, and very "capable". "If I ever get in sword's reach of her she won't have any more `problems' at all to worry about," the Princess of Talon now snapped back. She had met the Queen of Dularn in combat ship to ship. Exchanged several broadsides with the North Star before the outclassed raider turned away and fled the scene of battle. Poor seamanship on the part of Sela's "landlubber" crew having allowed the North Star to escape from the heavier "Squala" class three masted schooner she had been commanding. The "North" class is both "handy" and "fast". The "Squala" class schooner is even "faster", but not as "handy". There was also "Swiftstar", which was both as "fast" as my "Squalas" and quite a bit "handier" if not as "seaworthy" as the heavier and sturdier "North" class is. "You should `adopt' her," Darlanis suggested to me, a smile curving her perfect lips as she stood there taking this all in! I nodded, gave her a smile back in return. I did like the little 5'2" "spitfire" of a Princess with a rather "maternal" affection! Sela Dai being the sort of a woman I'd be proud to call "mine"! "We'd probably better get this `treaty' of yours signed," Tais then suggested to Darlanis, perhaps hoping to avoid further argument with the little "spitfire" from Talon there at my side. "This is a proud and historic moment for all of us here," Darlanis spoke to everyone watching as Aurora and Tais initialed the treaty of alliance between Talon and the Empire of California that Dala Dai had just signed. I wondered if it really mattered all that much. We were like small children playing our war games out in the front yard while overhead roared mighty bombers carry- ing the H-bomb. If there was to be "war" between California and Dularn it would be because this one white gowned woman allowed it to happen, I mused to myself as I stood there beside my husband. I was not drunk, but neither was I now completely sober. I won- dered if all those there in the great throne room understood the true meaning of Tais being here. That "SHE", not Darlanis, was the person who truly ruled the Empire of California. The crowds there on the floor and gathered on the balconies hushed in awe at being in the very "presence" of this legendary woman. Darlanis' security was tight. Her warrioresses everywhere. I suspected we were being "shown" who was the true "ruler" of the solar system. "Lorraine," Aurora said, touching my arm, those lovely jade green eyes looking into mine as Raspa stood silently at my side. She is tall, 5'9", near the same height as Darlanis. A woman who appears "ageless". One who has seen the stars from out in space. She had "risked all" for a "dream" that had now been suddenly taken from her. We had been told that we, Human, Woman, Lorr, were all "unworthy" of being allowed to travel to other worlds outside our own solar system. For us of Earth it meant little, but I suspected that to Aurora, it had meant the crushing of a long held "dream". The Women had their "freedom" now, but they had merely freed themselves of one "master", the Lorr, to find a new "master" whose power they could not so easily free themselves of. One who had told them like little children that they could not "cross the street". I suspected Aurora in a way "blamed" me for what had happened, as I was "responsible" for the Priestesses in the sense that I had been the one to "suggest" them to Janet. "I'll leave you two be," Jon said to me, strolling off. I saw Sela dancing with the captain of Squala, Mark Berson. He is tall, blond haired. Like a "Viking" from a long distant past. I thought it a good "match" even if she was the Princess of Talon. "I once had a `dream'," I said to Aurora. She nodded, her own recent experiences no doubt allowing her to almost sense the thoughts that passed through my mind just then. I had once thought I had the "answer" to every problem that the human race faced. Now I wasn't so "sure" anymore. The ideas, concepts I had discussed with Janet Rogers had been flawed by my own "arro- gance" in believing I had "all the answers". That the best "so- lution" to Man's problems was a benevolent dictatorship by some- one "intelligent" enough to "guide" Mankind on the path to the stars. Janet Rogers had been my "choice". In some ways it had been a "golden age", but only for a few decades. It was, I knew, possible to "do it over" once again with the Priestesses of Lys. Yet, I wondered if "that" really the "answer"? I no longer felt "sure" any more of what I had once so confidently believed in be- fore. I no longer believed that I had all the "answers" anymore. "I did too," Aurora smiled, glancing at Tais. I knew of the Valkyrie there on the Moon at Farside. In theory it could reach the stars. We had, however, been "forbidden" the stars by Tais. Others, beings living on other worlds, had decided "such" for us. "I fear we have all `lost' our `dreams'," I said to Aurora. "We are as `little children' before `them'," she said then. There was little need to ask who she was referring to just then. The true "rulers" of the Universe considered us as "barbarians". They, "THE GUARDIANS", had "spoken to us" through the lips of Tais. Had imposed upon us all their own version of the "EDICT". We would not be allowed to use the "starship" there on the Moon. For all of us the stars would remain only just "points of light". "WHAT DID YOU TWO DO!" I gasped, seeing that silver neck- chain there about Gayle's lovely throat. There being no doubt in my mind of what these two "children" had just done either! And what Priestess had been "dumb" enough to marry a pair like these? Such were my thoughts as I stood there "stunned" with surprise as the pair came strolling in as if nothing important had happened! "Darlanis `suggested it'," the young Prince of Talon smiled. I didn't think his mother would be that "delighted" with things! He was legally old enough to marry, but neither Dala Dai or I had thought either Carl or Gayle was really "mature" enough for it!!! "And I agreed that it was a good idea," Gayle now added, her arm around her husband. She suddenly seemed a lot more "mature"! More a "woman" now, and not the "child" that I had loved so much! The gleaming links of the silver chain around her throat telling its own story to anyone who saw her that she was now "his" wife! "I see," I breathed, glancing across the room to where the "topic of discussion" was now busily talking with her own mother. Carl's mother now strolling up like an approaching thundercloud, the look in her dark eyes speaking much of how she had felt hav- ing her own royal son and my beautiful foster daughter suddenly "disappear" and then come back married to each other! I didn't know then of course what Darlanis had "seen", or I would have had some choice comments of my own to make to Gayle about certain matters! As you will note, I had feared such a thing happening! "Carl! Why didn't you speak to me first!" the little Queen of Talon breathed, her dark eyes burning up into mine as I nodded in agreement. Neither of us were that "delighted" with this turn of events, but neither of us really knew what to do about it now! "I love her, mother, and she agreed to marry me," Carl told his mother as she stood there, "fire" in her dark eyes. It is quite obvious where Sela gets her "spirit" after you meet her mother. Dala Dai turning, giving me the sort of a look that said entire paragraphs and chapters without even saying a single word! "Oh, Wow!" Sharon breathed, having stuck her nose into this! Lara and Jers standing to one side, while Darlanis spoke softly to Aurora. I saw Lynn speaking to Yvette, the guards at the door watching, their expressions "wooden" as I now glanced up at them. Sela hanging back, along with Jon Richards and Prince Serak. I suspected that Darlanis had some "explaining" to do here too!!! The couple dozen Imperial V.I.P.'S smiling to themselves as they stood there near the table holding their drinks and snacks. Yvette, Lynn, and Serena whispering to each other, all with de- lightful smiles at this utterly surprising turn of events. Dala and I glanced meaningfully at each other. It was time to con- front a certain golden haired Empress and learn the truth! Find out just what laid behind this new and shocking state of affairs! 2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Five "Mankind must eventually learn `self-government'," Tais ex- plained further. "You are no longer children who need a spanking from time to time to make you aware of the `rights' of others." Princess Sela is a quite `spankable' wench, I might mention here. "So you will let thousands of people die in battle just to prove your `point'," Sela Dai snapped back, not at all impressed! I was just as glad that Sanda Talen, my Prime Minister, was not here as she is always eager to get into a political "discussion". Sanda believing despite all the teachings of history that the old fashioned idea of "popular democracy" still has some value after its being rather discredited by its own historical failures! It turns out that she is "right" in a way, but that's another story as they often say, and nothing that I want to get into right now! "And what would you have me `DO'?" Tais purred back, there being a "dangerous" edge to her voice now. Sela was dangerously unaware of the true nature of the being that she now was facing I knew from what I'd seen of this woman's "paranormal powers"!!! "Use your `abilities', whatever they are, to determine the `truth' and then see that `justice' is done," Sela snapped back! "And what is `truth', what is `justice'?" Tais smiled back, a glint of "steel" now in those azure eyes. Sela was "smart", but no mental match for the First Priestess whose intelligence I knew even considerably exceeded my own. Raspa by my side like a black statue as she took all of this in through her own ears. A Lorr has no "voice", but they do have a hearing sense like ours. They are not "insects", but their biological nature is "alien". "That Dularn is the `aggressor' in this conflict!" Sela snapped back. Everyone else standing about, watching, and keep- ing their thoughts to themselves. As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone but Sela would have been "brave" enough to challenge Tais the way that she was doing now. And I could only pray to SHE that Tais would understand why little Sela spoke as she did. "Perhaps I should transport you to the North Star out at sea and let you argue the point with Queen Maris herself," Tais then "suggested" with a smile. I have no doubt that Tais did know its location too! There is very little that now escapes the surveil- lance of the Priestesses of Lys. I speak from my own experience. "Enough of this!" Darlanis snapped. "The issue is not whether or not Dularn or California are `right', but the issue of how we are going to resolve this conflict without getting into another winless war like the last one!" That had dragged on for years and years, and had cost thousands of lives on either side! And nothing had ever been "settled" either, I knew so very well!! "Queen Maris is a woman of good character, although she is not of as high a moral character as one might wish," Tais spoke. Her words puzzling us all at the time, although considering what sort of "powers" she has, perhaps she knew of what she spoke of. Upon consideration, I believe that Tais was referring to Maris' marriage to a man she didn't love just to gain wealth and power. The Priestesses of Lys are not "anti-sexual" like the "Christian" religions of my time, but they do speak out against "actions" and "activities" which would be "hurtful" to others. I did not be- lieve that Maris was "happy" in her marriage to Darl Jord, and there is considerable "evidence" that her taking personal command of a raiding vessel as she had done "proved" so far as I was con- cerned that she was "fleeing" an unhappy marriage! I mention these things now as they do have some bearing upon the "adven- tures" that I was soon to have there off the coasts of Dularn! "I'm not `interested' in Maris Jord's `character'," Darlanis snapped back. "I'm only interesting in stopping this damn war!" "But you should be, since it is her own character that de- termines `much' of what she does, your highness," Tais pointed out in reply, giving the Empress of California a smile in return. "What does her `sexual faithfulness' to her husband have to do with anything?" Sela Dai ventured, although Tais didn't exact- ly say that if you will look back just a few paragraphs here. "A person carrying `guilt feelings' will often behave in `counterproductive ways'," I answered for Tais, such being a part of my own training as a "shrink" back in the 20th Century. I am incidentally more "intelligent" than Aurora or Darlanis. I do not consider myself the mental equal of Tais or Raspa for that matter. I also acknowledge that Janet Rogers was my "superior". Janet was an extremely "intelligent" woman, and very "capable". "If I ever get in sword's reach of her she won't have any more `problems' at all to worry about," the Princess of Talon now snapped back. She had met the Queen of Dularn in combat ship to ship. Exchanged several broadsides with the North Star before the outclassed raider turned away and fled the scene of battle. Poor seamanship on the part of Sela's "landlubber" crew having allowed the North Star to escape from the heavier "Squala" class three masted schooner she had been commanding. The "North" class is both "handy" and "fast". The "Squala" class schooner is even "faster", but not as "handy". There was also "Swiftstar", which was both as "fast" as my "Squalas" and quite a bit "handier" if not as "seaworthy" as the heavier and sturdier "North" class is. "You should `adopt' her," Darlanis suggested to me, a smile curving her perfect lips as she stood there taking this all in! I nodded, gave her a smile back in return. I did like the little 5'2" "spitfire" of a Princess with a rather "maternal" affection! Sela Dai being the sort of a woman I'd be proud to call "mine"! "We'd probably better get this `treaty' of yours signed," Tais then suggested to Darlanis, perhaps hoping to avoid further argument with the little "spitfire" from Talon there at my side. "This is a proud and historic moment for all of us here," Darlanis spoke to everyone watching as Aurora and Tais initialed the treaty of alliance between Talon and the Empire of California that Dala Dai had just signed. I wondered if it really mattered all that much. We were like small children playing our war games out in the front yard while overhead roared mighty bombers carry- ing the H-bomb. If there was to be "war" between California and Dularn it would be because this one white gowned woman allowed it to happen, I mused to myself as I stood there beside my husband. I was not drunk, but neither was I now completely sober. I won- dered if all those there in the great throne room understood the true meaning of Tais being here. That "SHE", not Darlanis, was the person who truly ruled the Empire of California. The crowds there on the floor and gathered on the balconies hushed in awe at being in the very "presence" of this legendary woman. Darlanis' security was tight. Her warrioresses everywhere. I suspected we were being "shown" who was the true "ruler" of the solar system. "Lorraine," Aurora said, touching my arm, those lovely jade green eyes looking into mine as Raspa stood silently at my side. She is tall, 5'9", near the same height as Darlanis. A woman who appears "ageless". One who has seen the stars from out in space. She had "risked all" for a "dream" that had now been suddenly taken from her. We had been told that we, Human, Woman, Lorr, were all "unworthy" of being allowed to travel to other worlds outside our own solar system. For us of Earth it meant little, but I suspected that to Aurora, it had meant the crushing of a long held "dream". The Women had their "freedom" now, but they had merely freed themselves of one "master", the Lorr, to find a new "master" whose power they could not so easily free themselves of. One who had told them like little children that they could not "cross the street". I suspected Aurora in a way "blamed" me for what had happened, as I was "responsible" for the Priestesses in the sense that I had been the one to "suggest" them to Janet. "I'll leave you two be," Jon said to me, strolling off. I saw Sela dancing with the captain of Squala, Mark Berson. He is tall, blond haired. Like a "Viking" from a long distant past. I thought it a good "match" even if she was the Princess of Talon. "I once had a `dream'," I said to Aurora. She nodded, her own recent experiences no doubt allowing her to almost sense the thoughts that passed through my mind just then. I had once thought I had the "answer" to every problem that the human race faced. Now I wasn't so "sure" anymore. The ideas, concepts I had discussed with Janet Rogers had been flawed by my own "arro- gance" in believing I had "all the answers". That the best "so- lution" to Man's problems was a benevolent dictatorship by some- one "intelligent" enough to "guide" Mankind on the path to the stars. Janet Rogers had been my "choice". In some ways it had been a "golden age", but only for a few decades. It was, I knew, possible to "do it over" once again with the Priestesses of Lys. Yet, I wondered if "that" really the "answer"? I no longer felt "sure" any more of what I had once so confidently believed in be- fore. I no longer believed that I had all the "answers" anymore. "I did too," Aurora smiled, glancing at Tais. I knew of the Valkyrie there on the Moon at Farside. In theory it could reach the stars. We had, however, been "forbidden" the stars by Tais. Others, beings living on other worlds, had decided "such" for us. "I fear we have all `lost' our `dreams'," I said to Aurora. "We are as `little children' before `them'," she said then. There was little need to ask who she was referring to just then. The true "rulers" of the Universe considered us as "barbarians". They, "THE GUARDIANS", had "spoken to us" through the lips of Tais. Had imposed upon us all their own version of the "EDICT". We would not be allowed to use the "starship" there on the Moon. For all of us the stars would remain only just "points of light". "WHAT DID YOU TWO DO!" I gasped, seeing that silver neck- chain there about Gayle's lovely throat. There being no doubt in my mind of what these two "children" had just done either! And what Priestess had been "dumb" enough to marry a pair like these? Such were my thoughts as I stood there "stunned" with surprise as the pair came strolling in as if nothing important had happened! "Darlanis `suggested it'," the young Prince of Talon smiled. I didn't think his mother would be that "delighted" with things! He was legally old enough to marry, but neither Dala Dai or I had thought either Carl or Gayle was really "mature" enough for it!!! "And I agreed that it was a good idea," Gayle now added, her arm around her husband. She suddenly seemed a lot more "mature"! More a "woman" now, and not the "child" that I had loved so much! The gleaming links of the silver chain around her throat telling its own story to anyone who saw her that she was now "his" wife! "I see," I breathed, glancing across the room to where the "topic of discussion" was now busily talking with her own mother. Carl's mother now strolling up like an approaching thundercloud, the look in her dark eyes speaking much of how she had felt hav- ing her own royal son and my beautiful foster daughter suddenly "disappear" and then come back married to each other! I didn't know then of course what Darlanis had "seen", or I would have had some choice comments of my own to make to Gayle about certain matters! As you will note, I had feared such a thing happening! "Carl! Why didn't you speak to me first!" the little Queen of Talon breathed, her dark eyes burning up into mine as I nodded in agreement. Neither of us were that "delighted" with this turn of events, but neither of us really knew what to do about it now! "I love her, mother, and she agreed to marry me," Carl told his mother as she stood there, "fire" in her dark eyes. It is quite obvious where Sela gets her "spirit" after you meet her mother. Dala Dai turning, giving me the sort of a look that said entire paragraphs and chapters without even saying a single word! "Oh, Wow!" Sharon breathed, having stuck her nose into this! Lara and Jers standing to one side, while Darlanis spoke softly to Aurora. I saw Lynn speaking to Yvette, the guards at the door watching, their expressions "wooden" as I now glanced up at them. Sela hanging back, along with Jon Richards and Prince Serak. I suspected that Darlanis had some "explaining" to do here too!!! The couple dozen Imperial V.I.P.'S smiling to themselves as they stood there near the table holding their drinks and snacks. Yvette, Lynn, and Serena whispering to each other, all with de- lightful smiles at this utterly surprising turn of events. Dala and I glanced meaningfully at each other. It was time to con- front a certain golden haired Empress and learn the truth! Find out just what laid behind this new and shocking state of affairs! |
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