"2566-10" - 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 Ten "Carson here thinks that big Imperial is our own Squala that Jers Bisan took last year with the Seahawk," the first officer of the North Star spoke as he brought forth the grizzled sailorman. Maris marveled at how old "salts" like him could recognize ships. "It's the Squala sure as the Evil One," the man smiled at his beautiful golden haired Queen, Maris fighting down the terror that rose in her heart at the thought of again facing Lorraine!* * There were "reasons" for Maris' "unreasoning" fear of me. (LR) "Lookout!" Maris called, the Queen having a clear ringing voice that carried well, "Can you see the big Imperial's flags?" Vessels that carried royalty often flying a special flag. Those of Lorraine's flew a silver double barred cross on a black field. She also had her own personal flag that only her flagship flew. "It's the Warlady's ship, but she's not aboard it!" he called down after carefully studying the ship there with his telescope. Maris was tempted to breathe a sign of relief at that until she realized that it really didn't make all that much dif- ference if she was captured by any of the Warlady's own vessels! "We could be facing Jon Richards," Maris commented to her first officer, more to make conversation than anything just then. Once there had been "love" between them before their separation. He to command the "Janis" at sea, she to be captured as a spy in Sarn and then sold as a slave girl to a Lady Lana of Trelandar! "Deck there," the lookout called down, "There's another of those big Imperial first rates coming towards us now." The words making Maris shudder in terror. She must have been in front of that entire squadron of Lorraine's she'd heard about from their spies there in the Empire. Five first rates and two third rates that Lorraine was taking to Dularn to spread terror and destruc- tion among the innocent people of her beloved fair country. And what could she do to stop them? Even if she had the other two "North" class ships with her any three Imperial first rates could deal with three "Norths", and there were FIVE of the big Imperi- als now at sea, no doubt all eagerly lusting for her capture and humiliation as a naked slave kneeling before that Imperial Warla- dy! Death in battle would be a better fate than that, she mused! ***************************************************************** "That Dularnian is flying the royal flag!" the lookout called down to the deck of the Squala. Like all those aboard he hoped that there would be a battle. That Squala would get the honors of being the ship who "took" Maris Jord, the Queen of Du- larn captive. The "prize money" would be nice, but avenging the "humiliation" of the Seawolf would be even better. Seeing that damn Dularnian bitch kneeling there on deck, naked, chained, with their Queen of Trelandar standing there tall and proud beside her looking down at her cowering shivering naked body would be some- thing he could tell his wife and children when they all got back! "Queen Maris herself," Sela Dai breathed. She had heard much of her from others. She was the sister of her brother's wife. A tall and golden woman, said by some to be comparable to Darlanis. Why did men make such a "fuss" over women with blonde hair? Sela pondered on that for a moment. Her own brother had fallen head over heels in love with the Princess of Trelandar, and most of that had been because Gayle Marn was a tall blue eyed blonde too! The little brunette almost wishing she was a blonde! "And she's going to be `ours'," Captain Mark Berson breathed in reply, thinking his own thoughts. He had never met the woman, or really knew that much about her, but yet he wanted to see her naked, chained, perhaps with her back yet bleeding from the whip! And with this lovely Princess, Sela Dai of Talon, standing there beside her, making her cower and tremble in fear of another whip- ping! So went Mark's fantasy, featuring both Sela Dai and Maris Jord. Yours truly being totally ignored for the moment as her ship bashed through the waves towards the distant mastheads of a schooner that had only the day before flew her own personal flag! ***************************************************************** "There's no more sail that can be set, your majesty," the captain of Seawolf explained as he looked into my hot angry eyes. It was growing rather obvious to me that these big "Squala" class schooners weren't quite as fast as I had hoped that they would be! I suspected that the original design had been as good a com- promise between "handling" and "speed" that could be done. While the Seawolf was doing as well as could be expected, making nearly ten knots, we were not pulling up on the Squala at all now, much to my own annoyance! On the other hand I could see that the sails were not set quite as well as they could be for making the best use of what wind there was. And trying to explain such de- tails now to captain Hawkins would be just a waste of breath too! "Here, you men!" I ordered, stepping down on the tilting deck, the Seawolf shuddering beneath me as it bashed through the rollers. The growing line of clouds ahead a warning that Maris Jord might very well escape us if she could reach them first! I gave swift orders, commands, had the sails reset just a bit. The Seawolf biting a bit deeper into the waves, perhaps picking up half a knot or a bit better. The "angle of forces" now correct!! ***************************************************************** "We have a chance," Maris Jord breathed, glancing behind her ship. The enemy first rate now hull up on the horizon behind them. The little third rate had fallen back a bit, although it too was now gamely pursuing her to the best of its own abilities! "We'll have to shorten sail soon," the first officer breathed, looking at the clouds that now filled the sky ahead of them. The darkness beneath them leaving no doubt of the wind and waves that would be there to greet them. The growing roughness of the waves through which the North Star was now smashing ample proof of that! Maris to his horror then shook her head in reply! "Our only chance is to sail into that with everything set," she answered, her beautiful emerald eyes glowing into his. Like all those aboard the ship he had his own secret fantasies about her. What it would be like to have her naked and warm "in bed". She was a beautiful woman, good with a sword too, he understood. Nicely "full" in the rear end, he'd noticed a few times before... "You'll wreck the ship and leave us helpless before them!" he protested. Once the North Star was dismasted they would be easy prey for even one of the little Imperial third rates. And the Empire would see to it that She at least never ever again saw her own country! That damn Warlady of theirs would see to that!! "We have a well founded ship, and the best crew that any ship ever had," Maris smiled. She didn't bother adding that her own skills at command were almost unparalleled among those of her sex. She was, she knew, the equal of Jon Richards or Jers Bisan. And it would be "seamanship", her seamanship, that would see them through! Her skill at balancing the forces of wind and wave against the pressure of canvas that would save them all from death or capture at the cruel hands of the Imperials now closing the gap behind them! The big first rate now only a few miles be- hind proof of the fate that awaited them if she failed her task! ***************************************************************** "She's got to shorten sail or she'll be dismasted!" Mark breathed. He was playing it too close himself as Squala took the first of the sudden gusts of wind. The odor of rain in the air! "Perhaps she prefers death to capture," Sela breathed beside him. Her dark eyes looking up into his. She knew just enough of ships and storms to be worried what could happen if Mark didn't start shortening sail. The North Star only a mile or so ahead!!! "Signal Huntress to discontinue pursuit," Mark ordered. The little third rate couldn't stand the pounding that Squala could! "Seawolf's signaling!" a man cried, pointing, the three mastheads in a row now having pulled up a bit on them, much to Mark's surprise. In previous voyages the new ships hadn't proved to be any faster than his beloved Squala, but he suspected that Lorraine could get "more" out of a ship than anyone but Maris!!! "`Don't risk ships: Lorraine'," the orders read. He won- dered if the Dularnians could read their signals. It was possi- ble, he mused then. That was why the carbide lights were used. You could point them at the ship you wanted while others could see nothing. There were also signal flags, but the lights were far better and visible at a far greater distance too, he knew! "Shorten sail!" Mark barked, men dashing up the masts to take down the stun sails and top sails, reef the main sails. He could feel Squala slow, the North Star now creeping ahead into the rain, her highly visible roll and obviously overstressed masts proof of how hard the Queen of Dularn was driving her ship! ***************************************************************** Queen Maris flinched as the cold water sprayed over her like a sheet, the North Star smashing into the waves with a force that would in time loosen seams and perhaps even overstress the hull! The man at the helm her best, a sailor willing to obey her orders the instant she gave them without a second thought. Maris using her instinctive ability to calculate the forces of wind and wave directed against her ship, the speaking trumpet in her hand now necessary as she barked out orders that were instantly obeyed!!! "Let's see if that damm 20th Century bitch will follow me into this!" she muttered, the Squala now hidden somewhere behind them by the rain that poured down upon them. She was trying to think of what to do next, as she could not keep ahead of the ene- my ships forever, and unless she could manage to elude them, she would be in just as much trouble as ever once they got free of this storm! There was always the hope that the storm might do enough damage to the Imperials to drive them back to port, but Maris was doubtful of that, since Lorraine's squadron was composed for the most part of her new big first rates, and they probably were well enough constructed to withstand most anything! ***************************************************************** "Shorten sail or you'll have the sticks out of her," I snapped, captain Hawkins looking at me as if I had just kissed him. I guessed that he thought I'd sail right into that storm without ever shortening sail at all. What Queen Maris had done!! "Aye, your majesty," he answered, quickly giving the orders. Men dashing about, some swarming up the masts to shorten sail. I had no fears of damage from the storm, as the Seawolf was a new ship and solidly built, but there was no reason to risk the sails just to pursue that damn blonde who had been making so much trou- ble for everyone! Once again I ruefully reflected upon my own lack of experience back then that had allowed Maris to escape me! ***************************************************************** "We could be sailing right down Lorraine's throat!" Maris' first officer protested as his Queen turned the North Star, the turn fraught with considerable danger considering the amount of sail that was still hoisted. Only Maris' unique ability to "see" the forces of wind and wave on her ship having allowed her to do such a thing! The North Star heeling far over as she came around in response to the rubber and the loosening of the spanker so that the jib might play its part. The hundred twenty foot three master swinging around, turning to the southeast, the rain so heavy that one could hardly see past the jutting bowsprit! Maris smiling to herself, well aware of the dangers that might come racing out of the rain towards them! It being her intention to double back, using the storm for "cover", and thus allowing her enemy to continue sailing north in the opposite direction!* * And it did work too! Maris is one "crafty" wench! (LR) "And can you think of a better way of giving her the slip?" Maris challenged him in reply. She was soaking wet, her tunic plastered to her body. Revealing that perfect five eight figure. That same body that had once aroused the lusts of dozens of men. For a moment she thought of her younger sister, who had become the Crown Princess of Trelandar, Lorraine's own adopted daughter! Once she had dreamed of "rescuing" Gayle, of sailing with her back to Dularn, but then after she had learned what she had from Sharon, she knew that such an idea was only a mere "fantasy" now! Maris had liked Sharon from the first, the girl being "down to earth" and nothing like her step-mother, who was out to "re- form the world" whether or not it wanted to be "reformed" or not. Why Lorraine felt that her own era was so far "superior" to this was something Maris had never been able to figure out. Lorraine being obviously the sort of a person who felt that she was "supe- rior" to everyone else, and wanted to prove it without any doubt! Thankfully First Priestess Tais had put a "halt" to Lorraine's "reinvention" of 20th Century weapons, or Maris suspected that by now she would have been facing something like a heavy frigate from the Nelsonian era! Some big square rigger with forty four cannons if not more! Perhaps another like the "Constitution"! "We should be through their line by now," Maris spoke to her first officer as he stood there swaying with the motion of the ship. The heavy swells rolling the North Star from side to side. "And no one but you could have done it!" he smiled at her. It would be but another part of the growing "Queen Maris Legend"! 2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Ten "Carson here thinks that big Imperial is our own Squala that Jers Bisan took last year with the Seahawk," the first officer of the North Star spoke as he brought forth the grizzled sailorman. Maris marveled at how old "salts" like him could recognize ships. "It's the Squala sure as the Evil One," the man smiled at his beautiful golden haired Queen, Maris fighting down the terror that rose in her heart at the thought of again facing Lorraine!* * There were "reasons" for Maris' "unreasoning" fear of me. (LR) "Lookout!" Maris called, the Queen having a clear ringing voice that carried well, "Can you see the big Imperial's flags?" Vessels that carried royalty often flying a special flag. Those of Lorraine's flew a silver double barred cross on a black field. She also had her own personal flag that only her flagship flew. "It's the Warlady's ship, but she's not aboard it!" he called down after carefully studying the ship there with his telescope. Maris was tempted to breathe a sign of relief at that until she realized that it really didn't make all that much dif- ference if she was captured by any of the Warlady's own vessels! "We could be facing Jon Richards," Maris commented to her first officer, more to make conversation than anything just then. Once there had been "love" between them before their separation. He to command the "Janis" at sea, she to be captured as a spy in Sarn and then sold as a slave girl to a Lady Lana of Trelandar! "Deck there," the lookout called down, "There's another of those big Imperial first rates coming towards us now." The words making Maris shudder in terror. She must have been in front of that entire squadron of Lorraine's she'd heard about from their spies there in the Empire. Five first rates and two third rates that Lorraine was taking to Dularn to spread terror and destruc- tion among the innocent people of her beloved fair country. And what could she do to stop them? Even if she had the other two "North" class ships with her any three Imperial first rates could deal with three "Norths", and there were FIVE of the big Imperi- als now at sea, no doubt all eagerly lusting for her capture and humiliation as a naked slave kneeling before that Imperial Warla- dy! Death in battle would be a better fate than that, she mused! ***************************************************************** "That Dularnian is flying the royal flag!" the lookout called down to the deck of the Squala. Like all those aboard he hoped that there would be a battle. That Squala would get the honors of being the ship who "took" Maris Jord, the Queen of Du- larn captive. The "prize money" would be nice, but avenging the "humiliation" of the Seawolf would be even better. Seeing that damn Dularnian bitch kneeling there on deck, naked, chained, with their Queen of Trelandar standing there tall and proud beside her looking down at her cowering shivering naked body would be some- thing he could tell his wife and children when they all got back! "Queen Maris herself," Sela Dai breathed. She had heard much of her from others. She was the sister of her brother's wife. A tall and golden woman, said by some to be comparable to Darlanis. Why did men make such a "fuss" over women with blonde hair? Sela pondered on that for a moment. Her own brother had fallen head over heels in love with the Princess of Trelandar, and most of that had been because Gayle Marn was a tall blue eyed blonde too! The little brunette almost wishing she was a blonde! "And she's going to be `ours'," Captain Mark Berson breathed in reply, thinking his own thoughts. He had never met the woman, or really knew that much about her, but yet he wanted to see her naked, chained, perhaps with her back yet bleeding from the whip! And with this lovely Princess, Sela Dai of Talon, standing there beside her, making her cower and tremble in fear of another whip- ping! So went Mark's fantasy, featuring both Sela Dai and Maris Jord. Yours truly being totally ignored for the moment as her ship bashed through the waves towards the distant mastheads of a schooner that had only the day before flew her own personal flag! ***************************************************************** "There's no more sail that can be set, your majesty," the captain of Seawolf explained as he looked into my hot angry eyes. It was growing rather obvious to me that these big "Squala" class schooners weren't quite as fast as I had hoped that they would be! I suspected that the original design had been as good a com- promise between "handling" and "speed" that could be done. While the Seawolf was doing as well as could be expected, making nearly ten knots, we were not pulling up on the Squala at all now, much to my own annoyance! On the other hand I could see that the sails were not set quite as well as they could be for making the best use of what wind there was. And trying to explain such de- tails now to captain Hawkins would be just a waste of breath too! "Here, you men!" I ordered, stepping down on the tilting deck, the Seawolf shuddering beneath me as it bashed through the rollers. The growing line of clouds ahead a warning that Maris Jord might very well escape us if she could reach them first! I gave swift orders, commands, had the sails reset just a bit. The Seawolf biting a bit deeper into the waves, perhaps picking up half a knot or a bit better. The "angle of forces" now correct!! ***************************************************************** "We have a chance," Maris Jord breathed, glancing behind her ship. The enemy first rate now hull up on the horizon behind them. The little third rate had fallen back a bit, although it too was now gamely pursuing her to the best of its own abilities! "We'll have to shorten sail soon," the first officer breathed, looking at the clouds that now filled the sky ahead of them. The darkness beneath them leaving no doubt of the wind and waves that would be there to greet them. The growing roughness of the waves through which the North Star was now smashing ample proof of that! Maris to his horror then shook her head in reply! "Our only chance is to sail into that with everything set," she answered, her beautiful emerald eyes glowing into his. Like all those aboard the ship he had his own secret fantasies about her. What it would be like to have her naked and warm "in bed". She was a beautiful woman, good with a sword too, he understood. Nicely "full" in the rear end, he'd noticed a few times before... "You'll wreck the ship and leave us helpless before them!" he protested. Once the North Star was dismasted they would be easy prey for even one of the little Imperial third rates. And the Empire would see to it that She at least never ever again saw her own country! That damn Warlady of theirs would see to that!! "We have a well founded ship, and the best crew that any ship ever had," Maris smiled. She didn't bother adding that her own skills at command were almost unparalleled among those of her sex. She was, she knew, the equal of Jon Richards or Jers Bisan. And it would be "seamanship", her seamanship, that would see them through! Her skill at balancing the forces of wind and wave against the pressure of canvas that would save them all from death or capture at the cruel hands of the Imperials now closing the gap behind them! The big first rate now only a few miles be- hind proof of the fate that awaited them if she failed her task! ***************************************************************** "She's got to shorten sail or she'll be dismasted!" Mark breathed. He was playing it too close himself as Squala took the first of the sudden gusts of wind. The odor of rain in the air! "Perhaps she prefers death to capture," Sela breathed beside him. Her dark eyes looking up into his. She knew just enough of ships and storms to be worried what could happen if Mark didn't start shortening sail. The North Star only a mile or so ahead!!! "Signal Huntress to discontinue pursuit," Mark ordered. The little third rate couldn't stand the pounding that Squala could! "Seawolf's signaling!" a man cried, pointing, the three mastheads in a row now having pulled up a bit on them, much to Mark's surprise. In previous voyages the new ships hadn't proved to be any faster than his beloved Squala, but he suspected that Lorraine could get "more" out of a ship than anyone but Maris!!! "`Don't risk ships: Lorraine'," the orders read. He won- dered if the Dularnians could read their signals. It was possi- ble, he mused then. That was why the carbide lights were used. You could point them at the ship you wanted while others could see nothing. There were also signal flags, but the lights were far better and visible at a far greater distance too, he knew! "Shorten sail!" Mark barked, men dashing up the masts to take down the stun sails and top sails, reef the main sails. He could feel Squala slow, the North Star now creeping ahead into the rain, her highly visible roll and obviously overstressed masts proof of how hard the Queen of Dularn was driving her ship! ***************************************************************** Queen Maris flinched as the cold water sprayed over her like a sheet, the North Star smashing into the waves with a force that would in time loosen seams and perhaps even overstress the hull! The man at the helm her best, a sailor willing to obey her orders the instant she gave them without a second thought. Maris using her instinctive ability to calculate the forces of wind and wave directed against her ship, the speaking trumpet in her hand now necessary as she barked out orders that were instantly obeyed!!! "Let's see if that damm 20th Century bitch will follow me into this!" she muttered, the Squala now hidden somewhere behind them by the rain that poured down upon them. She was trying to think of what to do next, as she could not keep ahead of the ene- my ships forever, and unless she could manage to elude them, she would be in just as much trouble as ever once they got free of this storm! There was always the hope that the storm might do enough damage to the Imperials to drive them back to port, but Maris was doubtful of that, since Lorraine's squadron was composed for the most part of her new big first rates, and they probably were well enough constructed to withstand most anything! ***************************************************************** "Shorten sail or you'll have the sticks out of her," I snapped, captain Hawkins looking at me as if I had just kissed him. I guessed that he thought I'd sail right into that storm without ever shortening sail at all. What Queen Maris had done!! "Aye, your majesty," he answered, quickly giving the orders. Men dashing about, some swarming up the masts to shorten sail. I had no fears of damage from the storm, as the Seawolf was a new ship and solidly built, but there was no reason to risk the sails just to pursue that damn blonde who had been making so much trou- ble for everyone! Once again I ruefully reflected upon my own lack of experience back then that had allowed Maris to escape me! ***************************************************************** "We could be sailing right down Lorraine's throat!" Maris' first officer protested as his Queen turned the North Star, the turn fraught with considerable danger considering the amount of sail that was still hoisted. Only Maris' unique ability to "see" the forces of wind and wave on her ship having allowed her to do such a thing! The North Star heeling far over as she came around in response to the rubber and the loosening of the spanker so that the jib might play its part. The hundred twenty foot three master swinging around, turning to the southeast, the rain so heavy that one could hardly see past the jutting bowsprit! Maris smiling to herself, well aware of the dangers that might come racing out of the rain towards them! It being her intention to double back, using the storm for "cover", and thus allowing her enemy to continue sailing north in the opposite direction!* * And it did work too! Maris is one "crafty" wench! (LR) "And can you think of a better way of giving her the slip?" Maris challenged him in reply. She was soaking wet, her tunic plastered to her body. Revealing that perfect five eight figure. That same body that had once aroused the lusts of dozens of men. For a moment she thought of her younger sister, who had become the Crown Princess of Trelandar, Lorraine's own adopted daughter! Once she had dreamed of "rescuing" Gayle, of sailing with her back to Dularn, but then after she had learned what she had from Sharon, she knew that such an idea was only a mere "fantasy" now! Maris had liked Sharon from the first, the girl being "down to earth" and nothing like her step-mother, who was out to "re- form the world" whether or not it wanted to be "reformed" or not. Why Lorraine felt that her own era was so far "superior" to this was something Maris had never been able to figure out. Lorraine being obviously the sort of a person who felt that she was "supe- rior" to everyone else, and wanted to prove it without any doubt! Thankfully First Priestess Tais had put a "halt" to Lorraine's "reinvention" of 20th Century weapons, or Maris suspected that by now she would have been facing something like a heavy frigate from the Nelsonian era! Some big square rigger with forty four cannons if not more! Perhaps another like the "Constitution"! "We should be through their line by now," Maris spoke to her first officer as he stood there swaying with the motion of the ship. The heavy swells rolling the North Star from side to side. "And no one but you could have done it!" he smiled at her. It would be but another part of the growing "Queen Maris Legend"! |
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