"2566-34" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 4 - 2566 Ad)2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Thirty Four "Careful!" Maris breathed as the sailors lowered me into the small boat that would take me out to where the North Star was an- chored. She was nervous, jumpy, her nerves obviously bad now! I hoped she would settle down a bit once we reached the North Star. We might need all her judgment as soon as we reached the ocean! The barometer had been falling steadily in the last few hours. "I'm a `tough old bitch'," I assured her, taking her hand. "If anything happens to you...," she breathed. I nodded. "Everything will turn out all right," I assured her, forcing a smile. We would have to catch up with Sela. That might be a bit "difficult" as I had no idea what the Princess would do next! "I wish...," Maris breathed softly, the oarsmen taking their places. I wondered what they thought of all this? Of their own Queen going to sea like this with the "enemy's" very own Warlady! "The day will come when we will all live in peace," I said. "Give way!" the midshipman squeaked, "awed" by being in the same boat with two Queens. Maris was of course more "impressive" than me. I fear I was not just then very much to look at either! My face was pale, drawn, my hair a tangled mass, my body covered by blankets. I probably looked at least a good hundred if not more! (I am referring here of course to how people in the 26th Century look at such ages, as I am of course only an actual "40") "Mankind has been fighting wars for thousands of years," Ma- ris answered, perhaps more to herself than to me as the oars bit into the calm waters of the harbor. The North Star's masts now towering up into the cloud sprinkled sky, while a growing dark- ness to the west made me worry what the weather might be there! "Some have been `justified', some have not," I said to her. "Those who fought in them no doubt thought so," she said. "It is too easy to see the `enemy' as `different'," I said. "As something `hateful' to be destroyed," she smiled back. "Frogs, slopes, geeks, honkies, wops, huns," I agreed. "Yours was a century of wars," Maris noted with a smile. "I `gave you' Janet Rogers," I pointed out with a smile. "You had no way of knowing about the Lorr," Maris replied. "I think the Priestesses of Lys are of `benefit'," I smiled. "Who you `founded'," Maris observed back with another smile. "I fear I am `guilty' of much," I smiled back at her then. "I don't like the way the barometer is falling," Maris said, standing there on the quarterdeck of the North Star as I laid on a cot beside her. She had first wished to have me put below, but I would not hear of it. I had no wish to be alone just now. To lie there in her stern cabin not knowing what was going on above! "I think you are as `good' as Jon or any of my people," I said to her. I had absolute confidence in her abilities to sail her ship through anything. Maris' eyes for a moment glowed into mine as she nodded. I had been studying the North Star's design. I had a pretty good idea now of what the ship was capable of. I had no doubts that it was well commanded. The crew well trained. Maris, I suspected however was a woman plagued with "self-doubt". In that she reminded me much of Darlanis, another much like her. Both grew up without having a mother there when they needed her. "I intend to reach Sana before it hits," she answered, her keen green eyes missing little as the North Star smashed into the now growing seas. Maris carrying more sail than what one would consider "wise" considering the weather. A "driven" woman, I thought to myself, lying there, swaying in my cot on the North Star's quarterdeck, a bit of spray from time to time wetting my face. The sky above now growing dark, the clouds moving swiftly. "Or perhaps drown us all in the attempt," I smiled back at her. Maris nodded, smiled, tucked the blanket up a bit about me. "I am Maris Marn," she said. I understood then her emotion. She had used her maiden name. Darl Jord was but a "bad memory". "The weather grows worse, your majesty!" the North Star's first officer spoke, his voice filled with concern, and perhaps a bit of terror, the North Star now smashing into seas almost a dozen feet high in height. The spray now flying the length of the ship. The sky ahead dark, black, reminding me much of anoth- er time a little less than a year ago. The thought making me smile. I wondered what the 20th Century would have made of this beautiful Queen of Valkyries and her crew of "nordic barbarians". "I have eyes," Maris snapped, dismissing him, glancing down at me. I saw her lips quiver, but no sound came forth from them. I knew what she wished to ask, but dared not for fear of "losing face". She is a "proud" woman, Queen Maris of Dularn. One who I admire much even if we are perhaps "enemies" thanks to Darlanis. "My confidence is with you," I said. She had so far done as well as I could have. I saw little cause yet for concern as long as she remained in command. She was fully as "competent" as my own husband. A better "captain" I thought than any of my own! "I wish things were `different'," she breathed softly back. "Dularn can never defeat California in battle," I said. Darlanis was not a good military leader, but there were "others" who were. I thought of Lady Tirana. Once she had been Darlanis' Warlady long ago. People had noted how much we looked alike. I flinched as a spray of cold water suddenly splattered across my face. Maris was driving the North Star dangerously hard for such weather. My big first rates like Corsica could stand such, but the North Star was not as heavily built. Maris needed to order a reef in her main sail, and loosen up her jib and spanker a bit!!! "The water's too cold for swimming," Maris suddenly smiled, giving the orders to do exactly what I thought she could do now! "Getting worse," Maris spoke, giving me a smile. I felt my- self in agreement with that. I would have normally have tried to either drop sea-anchors (a special sort of weighted sail that you drop into the ocean to help keep your ship from drifting so much) or simply "run for it", showing just enough sail to keep my way. I didn't much care to be this close to shore in such weather too! Even my big heavy "Squala class" first rates couldn't take this! The lighter North Star now "pounding" heavily, the creaks and groans leaving no doubt in my mind that the ship was overstressed to the point that Maris would either have to "yield" to the weather or have her ship start "breaking up" there beneath her! They had spread an oilcloth over me to protect me from the spray. "How far now?" I asked. I was not that much familiar with things. Maris of course knew just about where she was in rela- tion to Sana. The coastline easily visible there to starboard. I did not give much for our chances if we were driven ashore in such a storm as this. It was starting to rain now, the lightning flashing in the sky. The thunder like a giant beating on drums. The waves were I guessed fifteen to eighteen feet in height now. Whitecapped monsters that came dashing up to smash into the ship. "Around that point there," Maris answered, pointing ahead. "Is there a safe harbor on the other side?" I asked her. "Safe enough," she replied, giving me a smile in turn. "Your majesty!" the bosun cried, "We're taking on water!" "Put the men on the pumps!" Maris snapped, standing there! "I used to `envy' those who lead such lives as ours," I said to Maris. I don't think she "understood" just then what I meant. "Let fly the spanker!" Queen Maris screamed over the sound of the storm. The North Star coming about, the water spraying over the side in a great sheet as I laid there cold and soaking wet on the cot. My teeth chattering from the chill as I watched. A wave, higher than the others, suddenly heeling the North Star far over as she came about, the entire deck tilting, men stum- bling, clutching at ropes, weapons, anything to hang on just now! And there suddenly before us the yet smoldering ruins of what had been Sana! Maris barking out her orders as the North Star like a defeated warrioress now came limping slowly into the anchorage. "Oh Lys!" I heard her whimper, standing there, seeing all! "It was like `something' out of a nightmare," Maris' father, Tarl Marn, the mayor of Sana spoke. The handsome blond haired older Warrior glancing at me as I laid there on Maris' bed, still shivering yet from the chill and exposure. I prayed that I would not come down with some sort of respiratory illness as I had little doubt that it might well be the "end" of me now if I did! "Was there much loss of life?" I asked, dreading the answer. I was very weak, chilled to the bone, muchly aware too of things! Of the "hatred" that no doubt was directed at me for all this!!! "Only one, and she died trying to get something out of her house when it was in flames," the mayor replied. The people had fled into the forest behind the village. Sela had apparently not sought life, but only the destruction of property. Such had been my own orders to those under my command when we had left Trella. "My orders are being obeyed then," I answered softly. I saw Maris' eyes burn into mine like hot coals as she understood! "My mission here was to demonstrate to the people of Dularn that I could destroy everything on the coasts of Dularn from the sea." "There was a war in your era...," Maris breathed softly. "I served in that war," I answered. Maris nodded back. 2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Thirty Four "Careful!" Maris breathed as the sailors lowered me into the small boat that would take me out to where the North Star was an- chored. She was nervous, jumpy, her nerves obviously bad now! I hoped she would settle down a bit once we reached the North Star. We might need all her judgment as soon as we reached the ocean! The barometer had been falling steadily in the last few hours. "I'm a `tough old bitch'," I assured her, taking her hand. "If anything happens to you...," she breathed. I nodded. "Everything will turn out all right," I assured her, forcing a smile. We would have to catch up with Sela. That might be a bit "difficult" as I had no idea what the Princess would do next! "I wish...," Maris breathed softly, the oarsmen taking their places. I wondered what they thought of all this? Of their own Queen going to sea like this with the "enemy's" very own Warlady! "The day will come when we will all live in peace," I said. "Give way!" the midshipman squeaked, "awed" by being in the same boat with two Queens. Maris was of course more "impressive" than me. I fear I was not just then very much to look at either! My face was pale, drawn, my hair a tangled mass, my body covered by blankets. I probably looked at least a good hundred if not more! (I am referring here of course to how people in the 26th Century look at such ages, as I am of course only an actual "40") "Mankind has been fighting wars for thousands of years," Ma- ris answered, perhaps more to herself than to me as the oars bit into the calm waters of the harbor. The North Star's masts now towering up into the cloud sprinkled sky, while a growing dark- ness to the west made me worry what the weather might be there! "Some have been `justified', some have not," I said to her. "Those who fought in them no doubt thought so," she said. "It is too easy to see the `enemy' as `different'," I said. "As something `hateful' to be destroyed," she smiled back. "Frogs, slopes, geeks, honkies, wops, huns," I agreed. "Yours was a century of wars," Maris noted with a smile. "I `gave you' Janet Rogers," I pointed out with a smile. "You had no way of knowing about the Lorr," Maris replied. "I think the Priestesses of Lys are of `benefit'," I smiled. "Who you `founded'," Maris observed back with another smile. "I fear I am `guilty' of much," I smiled back at her then. "I don't like the way the barometer is falling," Maris said, standing there on the quarterdeck of the North Star as I laid on a cot beside her. She had first wished to have me put below, but I would not hear of it. I had no wish to be alone just now. To lie there in her stern cabin not knowing what was going on above! "I think you are as `good' as Jon or any of my people," I said to her. I had absolute confidence in her abilities to sail her ship through anything. Maris' eyes for a moment glowed into mine as she nodded. I had been studying the North Star's design. I had a pretty good idea now of what the ship was capable of. I had no doubts that it was well commanded. The crew well trained. Maris, I suspected however was a woman plagued with "self-doubt". In that she reminded me much of Darlanis, another much like her. Both grew up without having a mother there when they needed her. "I intend to reach Sana before it hits," she answered, her keen green eyes missing little as the North Star smashed into the now growing seas. Maris carrying more sail than what one would consider "wise" considering the weather. A "driven" woman, I thought to myself, lying there, swaying in my cot on the North Star's quarterdeck, a bit of spray from time to time wetting my face. The sky above now growing dark, the clouds moving swiftly. "Or perhaps drown us all in the attempt," I smiled back at her. Maris nodded, smiled, tucked the blanket up a bit about me. "I am Maris Marn," she said. I understood then her emotion. She had used her maiden name. Darl Jord was but a "bad memory". "The weather grows worse, your majesty!" the North Star's first officer spoke, his voice filled with concern, and perhaps a bit of terror, the North Star now smashing into seas almost a dozen feet high in height. The spray now flying the length of the ship. The sky ahead dark, black, reminding me much of anoth- er time a little less than a year ago. The thought making me smile. I wondered what the 20th Century would have made of this beautiful Queen of Valkyries and her crew of "nordic barbarians". "I have eyes," Maris snapped, dismissing him, glancing down at me. I saw her lips quiver, but no sound came forth from them. I knew what she wished to ask, but dared not for fear of "losing face". She is a "proud" woman, Queen Maris of Dularn. One who I admire much even if we are perhaps "enemies" thanks to Darlanis. "My confidence is with you," I said. She had so far done as well as I could have. I saw little cause yet for concern as long as she remained in command. She was fully as "competent" as my own husband. A better "captain" I thought than any of my own! "I wish things were `different'," she breathed softly back. "Dularn can never defeat California in battle," I said. Darlanis was not a good military leader, but there were "others" who were. I thought of Lady Tirana. Once she had been Darlanis' Warlady long ago. People had noted how much we looked alike. I flinched as a spray of cold water suddenly splattered across my face. Maris was driving the North Star dangerously hard for such weather. My big first rates like Corsica could stand such, but the North Star was not as heavily built. Maris needed to order a reef in her main sail, and loosen up her jib and spanker a bit!!! "The water's too cold for swimming," Maris suddenly smiled, giving the orders to do exactly what I thought she could do now! "Getting worse," Maris spoke, giving me a smile. I felt my- self in agreement with that. I would have normally have tried to either drop sea-anchors (a special sort of weighted sail that you drop into the ocean to help keep your ship from drifting so much) or simply "run for it", showing just enough sail to keep my way. I didn't much care to be this close to shore in such weather too! Even my big heavy "Squala class" first rates couldn't take this! The lighter North Star now "pounding" heavily, the creaks and groans leaving no doubt in my mind that the ship was overstressed to the point that Maris would either have to "yield" to the weather or have her ship start "breaking up" there beneath her! They had spread an oilcloth over me to protect me from the spray. "How far now?" I asked. I was not that much familiar with things. Maris of course knew just about where she was in rela- tion to Sana. The coastline easily visible there to starboard. I did not give much for our chances if we were driven ashore in such a storm as this. It was starting to rain now, the lightning flashing in the sky. The thunder like a giant beating on drums. The waves were I guessed fifteen to eighteen feet in height now. Whitecapped monsters that came dashing up to smash into the ship. "Around that point there," Maris answered, pointing ahead. "Is there a safe harbor on the other side?" I asked her. "Safe enough," she replied, giving me a smile in turn. "Your majesty!" the bosun cried, "We're taking on water!" "Put the men on the pumps!" Maris snapped, standing there! "I used to `envy' those who lead such lives as ours," I said to Maris. I don't think she "understood" just then what I meant. "Let fly the spanker!" Queen Maris screamed over the sound of the storm. The North Star coming about, the water spraying over the side in a great sheet as I laid there cold and soaking wet on the cot. My teeth chattering from the chill as I watched. A wave, higher than the others, suddenly heeling the North Star far over as she came about, the entire deck tilting, men stum- bling, clutching at ropes, weapons, anything to hang on just now! And there suddenly before us the yet smoldering ruins of what had been Sana! Maris barking out her orders as the North Star like a defeated warrioress now came limping slowly into the anchorage. "Oh Lys!" I heard her whimper, standing there, seeing all! "It was like `something' out of a nightmare," Maris' father, Tarl Marn, the mayor of Sana spoke. The handsome blond haired older Warrior glancing at me as I laid there on Maris' bed, still shivering yet from the chill and exposure. I prayed that I would not come down with some sort of respiratory illness as I had little doubt that it might well be the "end" of me now if I did! "Was there much loss of life?" I asked, dreading the answer. I was very weak, chilled to the bone, muchly aware too of things! Of the "hatred" that no doubt was directed at me for all this!!! "Only one, and she died trying to get something out of her house when it was in flames," the mayor replied. The people had fled into the forest behind the village. Sela had apparently not sought life, but only the destruction of property. Such had been my own orders to those under my command when we had left Trella. "My orders are being obeyed then," I answered softly. I saw Maris' eyes burn into mine like hot coals as she understood! "My mission here was to demonstrate to the people of Dularn that I could destroy everything on the coasts of Dularn from the sea." "There was a war in your era...," Maris breathed softly. "I served in that war," I answered. Maris nodded back. |
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