"2566-07" - 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 Seven "Please inform Commodore Dai that we are now ready to raise anchor," I told Captain Mark Berson of the Squala as he nodded and gave the orders to the signals' midshipman there waiting. The Seahawk with its "seasoned" crew already had the anchor hove up short, ready to set sail. Jers is extremely "competent". Perhaps not as "experienced" as a long time sea captain like Jon Richards, but I had no doubt that his abilities at least equaled those of Maris Jord! Commodore Dai was of course the lovely Princess of Talon. I considered her capable, if "inexperienced". Such had been the "telling factor" in the battle between the Sea- wolf and the North Star, I had "determined" in my investigation. I turned and waved towards the heavy 56 oared trireme Janis that would be escorting a number of merchantmen south to Baja, then on to Talon's little seaport of Parth there at the foot of the mountains where it would meet up with the Star of Baja, a 50, Tara's former flagship, another heavy trireme. The two then serving as escort vessels along with a smaller bireme for any merchantmen wishing to make the voyage back north to California. The thought going through my mind just then that I might never "see" Jon again. Never again to be held in his strong arms. I could end up slid overboard like so many others I've seen sewed up in a hammock for that last voyage to the bottom of the sea! A catapult shot at my feet to speed me to my "final destination"! "Signal from the Janis, your majesty," the signals midship- man breathed, somewhat awed by the fact that his Queen was stand- ing right there only a dozen feet away. I could read the flashes of light just as easily as he could, and without a telescope too! "`Good Hunting'?" the young man breathed, looking at me. I nodded. We were "hunting big game". A beautiful golden haired Queen. Her younger sister was now the Princess of Talon. I won- dered how Gayle was getting along with her new "mother-in-law". The lovely city of Trella spreading out there before us. Mobs on the docks to see us off. Among them somewhere was a quite preg- nant Prime Minister. The famous Lady Sanda Talen of Trelandar. It was less than a year since Sharon and I had flown into this era through one of those strange mysterious "Gateways" caused by the use of anti-matter weapons in The War between Earth and Mars. "A good day for it," I smiled back. Spring was now in its full glory. The birds singing in the trees, building their nests for the next generation. The Peasants in their fields praying to Lys that it might be a "good year". The year was 2566 A.D. That is what I called it, although to all my friends it was 519 A.W. Less than a year ago I had been a practicing psychiatrist in LA. Unhappily married to Jack Duval, the president of Duval Computer. Filled with dreams of what might someday be that I shared with a young dark haired woman then working her way through college. A young woman who would someday become the first world ruler. We had at the time shared so much. Sanda reminded me a lot of Janet Rogers in a way. I felt that Trelandar was left in "good hands". There was a soft breeze off the sea. It would be necessary to either tack our way out of the harbor or be towed out like some bunch of fat merchantmen behind biremes rowed by convicted felons. It is the policy here in Trelandar to castrate such men. Women are merely sold into slavery. This is not a society where convicted criminals "get off" with easy punishments like they did back in my time. Here if you commit a crime, you pay the price! It is also a lot cheaper than keeping people in prisons, I find!* * The practice of enslaving felons was introduced by Janet Rogers in the 21st Century. I recall once commenting to her that it made more "sense" than imprisoning people for long periods of time at great expense to the taxpayers. The money obtained from the sale of the "slaves" is used to compensate their "victims" after the costs of their trial and so forth is first taken out. The "value" of male slaves is low, no more than half a dozen gold crowns at the best, while "that" of women is considerably higher. "Ships to tack out one by one in order of sailing," I or- dered. Jers and I had worked out a plan of sailing that we felt would make our force as "effective" as possible. Spreading the squadron out so that each could watch as large a part of the ocean as possible. I thought we might get "lucky", and catch one of the Dularnian raiders (there were about half a dozen now out there somewhere) in our "net" as we sailed north to distant Du- larn. A country that less than a year before I once had looked upon as a "home" for Sharon and me under protection of Princess Janis of Dularn. How different "things" would have been had she lived! She had died in Jon's own arms, a victim of a crossbow bolt fired by the dying pirate captain of the Seahawk. Now Maris Jord, that golden haired slut of a "gold digger", was the Queen of Dularn, and what a "disaster" that had now been for everyone! Jers was technically a part of my command, although I was very much aware of the "political realities" of the situation. We were technically "privateers" sailing under a commission from the Prince of Baja. The Dularnians would no doubt consider us in other terms. Darlanis would keep her "promise" to Queen Tulis. I supposed it was a way of keeping her promise not to attack Du- larn. How "effective" five heavy schooners and two light schoon- ers would be was another question. We had the speed and the firepower to deal with almost anything that Dularn could muster against us, but on the other hand we could only operate for a pe- riod of about six months before cold weather drove us back south! I watched the little Arrow lift anchor, catch the wind in her sails, and sail a zig-zag path for the entrance to the har- bor. The Seahawk following, Jers' long experience at commanding her showing as the big three master took the wind. Sela's own "Squala" class, the big Seawolf, following. The lack of experi- ence among the crew showing a bit as she fell off a little before catching the wind. No doubt the lovely Miss Dai, Talon's Crown Princess, sister-in-law to my Princess, was "sweating" a bit now! "She'll learn," Mark smiled. He was a handsome devil. One who could "stir" the blood of any red-blooded 26th Century woman. On the other hand he was the best captain that I had in my navy. I do not count Jon here, as he was my "Sealord" and not actually a commander of a ship as such any more than I was even although I was at the moment in command of this squadron of seven schooners. "She's a very capable, competent woman," I smiled in reply. "And `beautiful' too," Mark smiled. Princess Sela Dai was. I watched the next ship, the "Nighthawk" raise anchor. Fall off a bit before catching the wind. Its captain a bit better at his trade than Seawolf's had been. He had no doubt taken pains to see that things would be so. A big three masted schooner is easy to handle if you understand the relationship of the sails to the wind and how to apply it to move your ship where you wish it. The third ship, "Corsica" now hoisting sail, its anchor hove short just ahead of us. Mark barking orders to his men as they dashed about the decks getting things ready. With a fore and aft rigged ship you do most of the work from the deck, although it is necessary to ascend the masts to set the topsails and so forth. Behind us I saw men running across the deck of Huntress, a heavy two masted schooner. No match in a fight for a big "North" class schooner, but such a ship could "delay" one long enough for a "Squala" class to come up and finish the job! Corsica ahead of us now setting sail, drifting back a bit before taking the wind. Both Huntress and Corsica were being commanded by women captains. The Corscia by Valerie Dunn, and the Huntress by Janice Hill. "Our turn", I breathed. Mark nodded, his eye on the flags, the ripples in the water as the wind now blew across the harbor. "Hoist the anchor!" Mark called. "Jib and spanker!" The entire harbor seeming to swing about as Squala fell off, took the wind and then responded to the pressure of the sails as the main sail was hoisted. Mark ordering the yard "loosened" a bit as we started to pull up on the Corsica just ahead of us. The line was already a bit "ragged" as the various captains hoisted more sail! I watched Trella seemingly moving back, there being no sen- sation of actual movement in these calm waters. The Huntress now following close behind, a bit of white foam showing at her bow. "Signal `ships to assume patrol formation'," I ordered. The Arrow was now already well out beyond the mouth of the harbor. I saw the Seahawk relay our commands. Jers was "competent". Another like Jon Richards, but without the "combat experience". "I'm running that bunch of `landlubbers' and `clodhoppers' I've got through sail drill," Sela said to me as she stepped aboard the Squala, the sun now but a pale glow there in the west as we laid hove to, gently rolling somewhat now in the swell. I don't think she realized that her activities were quite visible from the other ships through a powerful telescope, especially one like mine. After her "losing" the North Star, she was "touchy". I suspected the problem was her captain, a grizzled old seadog who didn't believe women "belonged" at sea except as slave girls. I had the "hunch" that he wanted to make Miss Dai "look bad" even if it meant letting an enemy ship escape capture! I am not with- out my own "resources" when it comes to such things, and although I could not "prove" it, I did suspect that the captain of the Sea- wolf was willing to "betray" his own "cause" just to get back at being placed under the command of a woman like Princess Sela! While the men of the 26th Century do not usually have the "male chauvinism" of men of my own era, you still on occasion meet one. "I'm switching commands with you and giving you Squala," I answered. I had no doubt that Mark would enjoy having Sela Dai on board his ship, Sela being a radiantly beautiful woman if a tad short so far as her height went. Miss Dai's seagoing attire being a clinging tunic and skin-tight hose that showed off the perfection of her legs and a teasing bit of her rounded buttocks! "I don't want to give up the Seawolf," Sela pleaded, the twilight a red glow in her face. Mark and his officers standing there silently on the quarterdeck waiting. I shared her feelings about such things. But I needed my force to be just as "effec- tive" as possible, and I could much better deal with a "stubborn" captain than could Sela Dai. Her small size for example making her appear much less "imposing" than a taller woman like myself would be. I also had the nautical knowledge which Sela did not have as yet to know whether or not a crew was doing their "best"! At that moment the boat from Seahawk hooked on and I had no more time to stand there and argue with Sela about such things as much to my surprise Lara climbed up on deck, her halter and short leather skirt as revealing of her figure as that of any slave's! "Is there.....?" I breathed, wondering why Lara was here? "My husband tripped on the quarterdeck steps and broke his arm," Lara smiled. Adding that she had no doubt he would soon be back in control of things. Lara is "competent", surprisingly so. "I can send someone from Squala if you need help," I volun- teered. Lara did have her officers, but they were used to Jers, not to her, and she might be having a bit of trouble right now. "As long as we're out in `open' waters we're O.K.," Lara smiled back in reply as Sela stood there watching, thankfully keeping her thoughts to herself just then, much to my pleasure. The Seahawk would be more difficult to handle in confined waters, but those we would not be getting into for a couple weeks yet when we reached Dularn and ventured into an area that I suspected the Dularnians never thought we would ever come. One where we might for a time at least teach them the meaning of "seapower"! The other captains now coming to Squala's side keeping me busy as Mark guided the two Princesses down below to my lovely cabin. "Lara," Sela breathed softly, touching her arm as the Bajan Princess prepared to leave, the odor of liquor mingled with that of the sea there in the Squala's stern cabin. I watched silently as the scene unfolded there before me. There has always been a subtle "tension" between the two women. Sela feeling that Lara used "sex" to win Jers away from her, while Lara in turn resented the fact that Sela was a woman of "breeding", a true "Princess", something that she could never be. Sela is also the better look- ing of the two, although Lara is more sensual in her appearance. "Yes?" Lara answered, seeming to tower over the smaller wom- an. She was five eight to Sela's five two. She was also wearing high heeled boots, which made her taller yet. Sela was too, but in her case it really didn't make all that much of a difference. "I think Jers made the `right' decision," Sela spoke softly. I had always thought so too, as Lara was more "maternal" and "protective" than Sela would have been had he gone and married her. I suspect that Jers had wanted a woman who would be just that to him. Lara of course had the advantage of being "good in bed". I suspect that her "abilities" in that field are "overrat- ed", but no doubt she is the equal of anyone I've known. She re- minds me a bit of a woman I used to know back in the 20th Cen- tury, although they didn't look anything alike. A woman who I once "wronged" much to my shame. I am not a person of "sterling character" by any means. There are things in my past that I am not proud of. No doubt the day eventually will come as it will for us all when we will have to "answer" for our sins. When I will stand before SHE like those before me to face Her judgement. "I think I've been a better wife to him than I might have been otherwise just because he still has his memories of you to keep me `on my toes'," Lara smiled back. I had wondered about that. If Jers still "felt" anything for the lovely Princess. I knew that Sela had "given" herself to him, that she had bestowed upon him her virginity, which was "important" to a girl like her. Talon being a country like Dularn where such things were thought to be of importance. Such is also true to a certain extent in California among girls of the upper class, although not to the point that it is in Dularn, which is very "Nineteenth Century" in a way. In Dularn it being almost "expected" that a girl of the upper class will still be a "virgin" at the time of her marriage! "We have things to do," I interrupted, clearing my throat. 2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Seven "Please inform Commodore Dai that we are now ready to raise anchor," I told Captain Mark Berson of the Squala as he nodded and gave the orders to the signals' midshipman there waiting. The Seahawk with its "seasoned" crew already had the anchor hove up short, ready to set sail. Jers is extremely "competent". Perhaps not as "experienced" as a long time sea captain like Jon Richards, but I had no doubt that his abilities at least equaled those of Maris Jord! Commodore Dai was of course the lovely Princess of Talon. I considered her capable, if "inexperienced". Such had been the "telling factor" in the battle between the Sea- wolf and the North Star, I had "determined" in my investigation. I turned and waved towards the heavy 56 oared trireme Janis that would be escorting a number of merchantmen south to Baja, then on to Talon's little seaport of Parth there at the foot of the mountains where it would meet up with the Star of Baja, a 50, Tara's former flagship, another heavy trireme. The two then serving as escort vessels along with a smaller bireme for any merchantmen wishing to make the voyage back north to California. The thought going through my mind just then that I might never "see" Jon again. Never again to be held in his strong arms. I could end up slid overboard like so many others I've seen sewed up in a hammock for that last voyage to the bottom of the sea! A catapult shot at my feet to speed me to my "final destination"! "Signal from the Janis, your majesty," the signals midship- man breathed, somewhat awed by the fact that his Queen was stand- ing right there only a dozen feet away. I could read the flashes of light just as easily as he could, and without a telescope too! "`Good Hunting'?" the young man breathed, looking at me. I nodded. We were "hunting big game". A beautiful golden haired Queen. Her younger sister was now the Princess of Talon. I won- dered how Gayle was getting along with her new "mother-in-law". The lovely city of Trella spreading out there before us. Mobs on the docks to see us off. Among them somewhere was a quite preg- nant Prime Minister. The famous Lady Sanda Talen of Trelandar. It was less than a year since Sharon and I had flown into this era through one of those strange mysterious "Gateways" caused by the use of anti-matter weapons in The War between Earth and Mars. "A good day for it," I smiled back. Spring was now in its full glory. The birds singing in the trees, building their nests for the next generation. The Peasants in their fields praying to Lys that it might be a "good year". The year was 2566 A.D. That is what I called it, although to all my friends it was 519 A.W. Less than a year ago I had been a practicing psychiatrist in LA. Unhappily married to Jack Duval, the president of Duval Computer. Filled with dreams of what might someday be that I shared with a young dark haired woman then working her way through college. A young woman who would someday become the first world ruler. We had at the time shared so much. Sanda reminded me a lot of Janet Rogers in a way. I felt that Trelandar was left in "good hands". There was a soft breeze off the sea. It would be necessary to either tack our way out of the harbor or be towed out like some bunch of fat merchantmen behind biremes rowed by convicted felons. It is the policy here in Trelandar to castrate such men. Women are merely sold into slavery. This is not a society where convicted criminals "get off" with easy punishments like they did back in my time. Here if you commit a crime, you pay the price! It is also a lot cheaper than keeping people in prisons, I find!* * The practice of enslaving felons was introduced by Janet Rogers in the 21st Century. I recall once commenting to her that it made more "sense" than imprisoning people for long periods of time at great expense to the taxpayers. The money obtained from the sale of the "slaves" is used to compensate their "victims" after the costs of their trial and so forth is first taken out. The "value" of male slaves is low, no more than half a dozen gold crowns at the best, while "that" of women is considerably higher. "Ships to tack out one by one in order of sailing," I or- dered. Jers and I had worked out a plan of sailing that we felt would make our force as "effective" as possible. Spreading the squadron out so that each could watch as large a part of the ocean as possible. I thought we might get "lucky", and catch one of the Dularnian raiders (there were about half a dozen now out there somewhere) in our "net" as we sailed north to distant Du- larn. A country that less than a year before I once had looked upon as a "home" for Sharon and me under protection of Princess Janis of Dularn. How different "things" would have been had she lived! She had died in Jon's own arms, a victim of a crossbow bolt fired by the dying pirate captain of the Seahawk. Now Maris Jord, that golden haired slut of a "gold digger", was the Queen of Dularn, and what a "disaster" that had now been for everyone! Jers was technically a part of my command, although I was very much aware of the "political realities" of the situation. We were technically "privateers" sailing under a commission from the Prince of Baja. The Dularnians would no doubt consider us in other terms. Darlanis would keep her "promise" to Queen Tulis. I supposed it was a way of keeping her promise not to attack Du- larn. How "effective" five heavy schooners and two light schoon- ers would be was another question. We had the speed and the firepower to deal with almost anything that Dularn could muster against us, but on the other hand we could only operate for a pe- riod of about six months before cold weather drove us back south! I watched the little Arrow lift anchor, catch the wind in her sails, and sail a zig-zag path for the entrance to the har- bor. The Seahawk following, Jers' long experience at commanding her showing as the big three master took the wind. Sela's own "Squala" class, the big Seawolf, following. The lack of experi- ence among the crew showing a bit as she fell off a little before catching the wind. No doubt the lovely Miss Dai, Talon's Crown Princess, sister-in-law to my Princess, was "sweating" a bit now! "She'll learn," Mark smiled. He was a handsome devil. One who could "stir" the blood of any red-blooded 26th Century woman. On the other hand he was the best captain that I had in my navy. I do not count Jon here, as he was my "Sealord" and not actually a commander of a ship as such any more than I was even although I was at the moment in command of this squadron of seven schooners. "She's a very capable, competent woman," I smiled in reply. "And `beautiful' too," Mark smiled. Princess Sela Dai was. I watched the next ship, the "Nighthawk" raise anchor. Fall off a bit before catching the wind. Its captain a bit better at his trade than Seawolf's had been. He had no doubt taken pains to see that things would be so. A big three masted schooner is easy to handle if you understand the relationship of the sails to the wind and how to apply it to move your ship where you wish it. The third ship, "Corsica" now hoisting sail, its anchor hove short just ahead of us. Mark barking orders to his men as they dashed about the decks getting things ready. With a fore and aft rigged ship you do most of the work from the deck, although it is necessary to ascend the masts to set the topsails and so forth. Behind us I saw men running across the deck of Huntress, a heavy two masted schooner. No match in a fight for a big "North" class schooner, but such a ship could "delay" one long enough for a "Squala" class to come up and finish the job! Corsica ahead of us now setting sail, drifting back a bit before taking the wind. Both Huntress and Corsica were being commanded by women captains. The Corscia by Valerie Dunn, and the Huntress by Janice Hill. "Our turn", I breathed. Mark nodded, his eye on the flags, the ripples in the water as the wind now blew across the harbor. "Hoist the anchor!" Mark called. "Jib and spanker!" The entire harbor seeming to swing about as Squala fell off, took the wind and then responded to the pressure of the sails as the main sail was hoisted. Mark ordering the yard "loosened" a bit as we started to pull up on the Corsica just ahead of us. The line was already a bit "ragged" as the various captains hoisted more sail! I watched Trella seemingly moving back, there being no sen- sation of actual movement in these calm waters. The Huntress now following close behind, a bit of white foam showing at her bow. "Signal `ships to assume patrol formation'," I ordered. The Arrow was now already well out beyond the mouth of the harbor. I saw the Seahawk relay our commands. Jers was "competent". Another like Jon Richards, but without the "combat experience". "I'm running that bunch of `landlubbers' and `clodhoppers' I've got through sail drill," Sela said to me as she stepped aboard the Squala, the sun now but a pale glow there in the west as we laid hove to, gently rolling somewhat now in the swell. I don't think she realized that her activities were quite visible from the other ships through a powerful telescope, especially one like mine. After her "losing" the North Star, she was "touchy". I suspected the problem was her captain, a grizzled old seadog who didn't believe women "belonged" at sea except as slave girls. I had the "hunch" that he wanted to make Miss Dai "look bad" even if it meant letting an enemy ship escape capture! I am not with- out my own "resources" when it comes to such things, and although I could not "prove" it, I did suspect that the captain of the Sea- wolf was willing to "betray" his own "cause" just to get back at being placed under the command of a woman like Princess Sela! While the men of the 26th Century do not usually have the "male chauvinism" of men of my own era, you still on occasion meet one. "I'm switching commands with you and giving you Squala," I answered. I had no doubt that Mark would enjoy having Sela Dai on board his ship, Sela being a radiantly beautiful woman if a tad short so far as her height went. Miss Dai's seagoing attire being a clinging tunic and skin-tight hose that showed off the perfection of her legs and a teasing bit of her rounded buttocks! "I don't want to give up the Seawolf," Sela pleaded, the twilight a red glow in her face. Mark and his officers standing there silently on the quarterdeck waiting. I shared her feelings about such things. But I needed my force to be just as "effec- tive" as possible, and I could much better deal with a "stubborn" captain than could Sela Dai. Her small size for example making her appear much less "imposing" than a taller woman like myself would be. I also had the nautical knowledge which Sela did not have as yet to know whether or not a crew was doing their "best"! At that moment the boat from Seahawk hooked on and I had no more time to stand there and argue with Sela about such things as much to my surprise Lara climbed up on deck, her halter and short leather skirt as revealing of her figure as that of any slave's! "Is there.....?" I breathed, wondering why Lara was here? "My husband tripped on the quarterdeck steps and broke his arm," Lara smiled. Adding that she had no doubt he would soon be back in control of things. Lara is "competent", surprisingly so. "I can send someone from Squala if you need help," I volun- teered. Lara did have her officers, but they were used to Jers, not to her, and she might be having a bit of trouble right now. "As long as we're out in `open' waters we're O.K.," Lara smiled back in reply as Sela stood there watching, thankfully keeping her thoughts to herself just then, much to my pleasure. The Seahawk would be more difficult to handle in confined waters, but those we would not be getting into for a couple weeks yet when we reached Dularn and ventured into an area that I suspected the Dularnians never thought we would ever come. One where we might for a time at least teach them the meaning of "seapower"! The other captains now coming to Squala's side keeping me busy as Mark guided the two Princesses down below to my lovely cabin. "Lara," Sela breathed softly, touching her arm as the Bajan Princess prepared to leave, the odor of liquor mingled with that of the sea there in the Squala's stern cabin. I watched silently as the scene unfolded there before me. There has always been a subtle "tension" between the two women. Sela feeling that Lara used "sex" to win Jers away from her, while Lara in turn resented the fact that Sela was a woman of "breeding", a true "Princess", something that she could never be. Sela is also the better look- ing of the two, although Lara is more sensual in her appearance. "Yes?" Lara answered, seeming to tower over the smaller wom- an. She was five eight to Sela's five two. She was also wearing high heeled boots, which made her taller yet. Sela was too, but in her case it really didn't make all that much of a difference. "I think Jers made the `right' decision," Sela spoke softly. I had always thought so too, as Lara was more "maternal" and "protective" than Sela would have been had he gone and married her. I suspect that Jers had wanted a woman who would be just that to him. Lara of course had the advantage of being "good in bed". I suspect that her "abilities" in that field are "overrat- ed", but no doubt she is the equal of anyone I've known. She re- minds me a bit of a woman I used to know back in the 20th Cen- tury, although they didn't look anything alike. A woman who I once "wronged" much to my shame. I am not a person of "sterling character" by any means. There are things in my past that I am not proud of. No doubt the day eventually will come as it will for us all when we will have to "answer" for our sins. When I will stand before SHE like those before me to face Her judgement. "I think I've been a better wife to him than I might have been otherwise just because he still has his memories of you to keep me `on my toes'," Lara smiled back. I had wondered about that. If Jers still "felt" anything for the lovely Princess. I knew that Sela had "given" herself to him, that she had bestowed upon him her virginity, which was "important" to a girl like her. Talon being a country like Dularn where such things were thought to be of importance. Such is also true to a certain extent in California among girls of the upper class, although not to the point that it is in Dularn, which is very "Nineteenth Century" in a way. In Dularn it being almost "expected" that a girl of the upper class will still be a "virgin" at the time of her marriage! "We have things to do," I interrupted, clearing my throat. |
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