"2566-39" - 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 Nine "You felt," I said to Maris, the breeze off the ocean blow- ing her hair, the sunlight dazzling my eyes a bit, "That all I had to do was give an order and this conflict between our two so- cieties would be over?" I suspected that Maris had held just that idea! Perhaps it is "understandable" considering "who" I am. Many people still feel that I am "the `second' Janet Rogers" that will "rescue" all of Mankind from its own foolish "follies". Since the "first" eventually "failed", I fail to see the "reason- ing" here that "another" would do any "better" in the long run... "I am tired of a war we can never win, against a foe that is determined to conquer the world in the name of an `ideal' that died over five hundred years ago," the Queen of Dularn answered. We were now sailing south, the North Star leading my squadron. "Darlanis does have her `dreams'," I smiled in reply. "Of an `empire' that can never be," Maris answered. "I think she sees it differently," I smiled back. "Sail Ho!" the lookout called down then to us. "Perhaps it is Darlanis," I smiled back at Maris. "Impressive," I said to Maris, seeing the ships. "We have `faced' her before," Maris answered back. "I see you came prepared for war," I said to Darlanis. "I came to avenge your death," the Empress smiled back. "Doubtlessly Maris' would have been among them," I noted. "That `thought' has crossed my mind," Darlanis admitted then with a "glance" for Maris. I suspected that Darlanis would have also preferred it to be "blade to blade" in a personal combat... She is truly "of" the Warrioresses in the full sense of the term. "It is said that your skill is second only to hers," Maris spoke, giving the Empress of California a "smile". I had once in passing mentioned such to Maris. Darlanis is awesome in a fight. I can "best" her, but it takes everything I have to do so too... Darlanis' "attire" was that golden mesh for which she is famous. She is awesomely beautiful, like only one "other" who ever lived. It is "said" in the old history books (the ones I have) that the woman Domino Tremaine (who we believe to be a "daughter" of Dar- lanis) was so beautiful that she could almost "hypnotize" men... "I think you would have found it `adequate'," Darlanis said. I could sense the "hostility" that she felt towards the Queen of Dularn. Such "puzzled" me as Darlanis had at one time looked upon Maris in a quite different light only a few months before... "I would prefer to live in peace with you," Maris said then. "I share such feelings in return," Darlanis smiled in reply, the "smile" one that I sensed did not betray her true feelings... "On the other hand you and I both know that Dularn cannot ever allow part of itself to be taken over by `another'," the Queen of Dularn spoke in level tones. Regarding the tall blonde haired beautiful Empress of California from lovely green eyes as we sat there together now in the stern cabin of the North Star. The tension between the two women like the gathering of a storm. "The territory you `claim' was part of the United States of America before `The War' and thus rightfully belongs to me," Dar- lanis retorted, her own voice leaving little doubt as to what her own feelings on this issue were. "I'm sure you have copies of the old maps," the Empress added, holding Maris' eyes with hers. Darlanis having maintained for years that she "represented" the old "United States", although I considered her "claim" here to be rather "fictional", as she certainly didn't control that much of the United States save for the States of California and Oregon. It is probably "correct" to state here that Darlanis does "repre- sent" in a way what those of the past would call "civilization". The area in dispute consists of what would have been the State of Washington back in my own era, I may note here for the curious. In the last war Darlanis' Empire was able to conquer about half of it with heavy losses due to the Dularnian militias which acted mainly as a guerrilla force operating behind the Imperial lines. This, the southern half of what once had been the State of Wash- ington was now "claimed" by both Dularn and the Empire. This is also where, I might note, that I had my "adventures" aboard the Huntress with the people helping out the crew of the Northland. The people in this area consider themselves "Dularnians" just as much as those who live beneath the "maple leaf" flag of Dularn. "Now I know where the term `dumb blonde' came from," I said. "I take it you do not `agree' with me?" Darlanis challenged. "Objectively you have no claim in the legal sense in as so far as I know you have no blood relationships dating back to that era," I pointed out. It was true that her "daughter", if Domino Tremaine had been her daughter, had been the last "Leaderess" of the Earth, but this was something nearly impossible to prove now. "Also the nature of your `parentage' would not indicate that you yourself are an `American' in the sense I would have thought of." Darlanis was in reality "half Martian", although this was a "se- cret" that few knew but those close to the Empress of California. "And Maris?" Darlanis challenged, not all that pleasantly! "Is a `Canadian' according to everything I know," I said. "This woman carried out raids on California territory," the Empress pointed out, her azure eyes burning into those of Maris. "She is `objectively' by our laws little more than a `pirate'." "I suppose a `trial' of some sort could be arranged," I smiled. "We could have a `jury' of the Priestesses, the Lorr, and the Women, all of whom I would assume would be `impartial'." "I see you are not yet recovered from your wound," she said. "It is my belief that this present conflict was started by Darl Jord under instruction from Princess Tara Bisan of Baja," I answered. "As you will recall, there were a number of strange `incidents' and `attacks' which leads me to believe that Tara had a ship built similar to my own Squala which was used for raids on Dularn, and maybe there is also another `North Star' somewhere." "The design of my `North class' was well known," Maris said. "As was that of the Squala," I pointed to Darlanis in turn. "I have no desire to have an `enemy army' on my northern flank, or a fleet of `raiders' standing ready to `pounce'," the Empress of California retorted, "Nor another `bunch' of `revolu- tionaries' of the sort I had to `deal with' there in Trelandar." "You cannot win friendship at the point of a sword," I said. "You wanted this `war' against Dularn, I didn't," she spoke, reminding me of comments that I had made a few months before now. "Darl Jord is dead," Maris said, "And from my own dagger." "He did rape me when I was a young girl," Darlanis said. "I have removed the chain from about my neck," Maris an- swered. A widow usually either has the chain "blackened" or wears a black cloth about her throat as a symbol of mourning. Maris had done "neither", as was "proper" considering the "crime" that Darl Jord had committed that had resulted in his own death! "And I have taken back my maiden name as proper," she now added. "The people in the `disputed' territories are `Dularnian'," I said, telling Darlanis of my "experiences" with the villagers. People who had quite willingly "helped" the crew and officers of the "Northland" to attempt to take the Huntress while anchored close off shore. "They have no `love' for your `Empire' either." "I have `lost' Trelandar to you, and I am not going to let everything I've ever fought for slip away now," Darlanis snapped. It was obvious to both me and Maris how Darlanis felt about this. I had discussed this matter with Darlanis earlier to no avail... "You have a `decision' to make," I said to the Empress then. "You can either become what Sharon sees in you, or become just another `conqueror' like hundreds more have been before you." I knew how Darlanis felt about Sharon, how proud she was that Shar- on saw her not as an "Empress", but as an heroic "righter of wrongs". "And that, Darlanis, is a decision only you can make." "I think you will find it more `comfortable' on Sarnian Lady," Darlanis answered, sitting there on the bench beneath the stern windows. "It is rather `spartan' here," she smiled then... "About where are we now?" I asked Maris, an idea "coming". "About fifty miles south of the strait," Maris smiled. "Would you care to join us?" I suggested to Darlanis. "I see you have full use of your mind," she smiled. "This is close enough, anchor!" Maris snapped. I suspected she was a bit "nervous" despite herself. Gathered further out to sea was perhaps the greatest fleet that had ever set sail in this time. Darlanis' and mine together numbered over two dozen heavy ships of war. We had between us half a dozen smaller vessels. I knew too that Darlanis also had tarls and bird girls to fly them. That big blonde tends to be more "competent" than people realize! I could see the village ahead of us there spread out along the shore, a few people peeking out at us here and there, al- though I suspected that most had taken to the forest for safety. "This is territory that is still controlled by Dularn," Dar- lanis said, her eyes holding mine. The "dividing line" was a bit further to the south. I didn't think it would have made any dif- ference. Those who lived to the north of Porlan had little love for the Empire of California. Or, I suspected, for its Empress!! 2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Thirty Nine "You felt," I said to Maris, the breeze off the ocean blow- ing her hair, the sunlight dazzling my eyes a bit, "That all I had to do was give an order and this conflict between our two so- cieties would be over?" I suspected that Maris had held just that idea! Perhaps it is "understandable" considering "who" I am. Many people still feel that I am "the `second' Janet Rogers" that will "rescue" all of Mankind from its own foolish "follies". Since the "first" eventually "failed", I fail to see the "reason- ing" here that "another" would do any "better" in the long run... "I am tired of a war we can never win, against a foe that is determined to conquer the world in the name of an `ideal' that died over five hundred years ago," the Queen of Dularn answered. We were now sailing south, the North Star leading my squadron. "Darlanis does have her `dreams'," I smiled in reply. "Of an `empire' that can never be," Maris answered. "I think she sees it differently," I smiled back. "Sail Ho!" the lookout called down then to us. "Perhaps it is Darlanis," I smiled back at Maris. "Impressive," I said to Maris, seeing the ships. "We have `faced' her before," Maris answered back. "I see you came prepared for war," I said to Darlanis. "I came to avenge your death," the Empress smiled back. "Doubtlessly Maris' would have been among them," I noted. "That `thought' has crossed my mind," Darlanis admitted then with a "glance" for Maris. I suspected that Darlanis would have also preferred it to be "blade to blade" in a personal combat... She is truly "of" the Warrioresses in the full sense of the term. "It is said that your skill is second only to hers," Maris spoke, giving the Empress of California a "smile". I had once in passing mentioned such to Maris. Darlanis is awesome in a fight. I can "best" her, but it takes everything I have to do so too... Darlanis' "attire" was that golden mesh for which she is famous. She is awesomely beautiful, like only one "other" who ever lived. It is "said" in the old history books (the ones I have) that the woman Domino Tremaine (who we believe to be a "daughter" of Dar- lanis) was so beautiful that she could almost "hypnotize" men... "I think you would have found it `adequate'," Darlanis said. I could sense the "hostility" that she felt towards the Queen of Dularn. Such "puzzled" me as Darlanis had at one time looked upon Maris in a quite different light only a few months before... "I would prefer to live in peace with you," Maris said then. "I share such feelings in return," Darlanis smiled in reply, the "smile" one that I sensed did not betray her true feelings... "On the other hand you and I both know that Dularn cannot ever allow part of itself to be taken over by `another'," the Queen of Dularn spoke in level tones. Regarding the tall blonde haired beautiful Empress of California from lovely green eyes as we sat there together now in the stern cabin of the North Star. The tension between the two women like the gathering of a storm. "The territory you `claim' was part of the United States of America before `The War' and thus rightfully belongs to me," Dar- lanis retorted, her own voice leaving little doubt as to what her own feelings on this issue were. "I'm sure you have copies of the old maps," the Empress added, holding Maris' eyes with hers. Darlanis having maintained for years that she "represented" the old "United States", although I considered her "claim" here to be rather "fictional", as she certainly didn't control that much of the United States save for the States of California and Oregon. It is probably "correct" to state here that Darlanis does "repre- sent" in a way what those of the past would call "civilization". The area in dispute consists of what would have been the State of Washington back in my own era, I may note here for the curious. In the last war Darlanis' Empire was able to conquer about half of it with heavy losses due to the Dularnian militias which acted mainly as a guerrilla force operating behind the Imperial lines. This, the southern half of what once had been the State of Wash- ington was now "claimed" by both Dularn and the Empire. This is also where, I might note, that I had my "adventures" aboard the Huntress with the people helping out the crew of the Northland. The people in this area consider themselves "Dularnians" just as much as those who live beneath the "maple leaf" flag of Dularn. "Now I know where the term `dumb blonde' came from," I said. "I take it you do not `agree' with me?" Darlanis challenged. "Objectively you have no claim in the legal sense in as so far as I know you have no blood relationships dating back to that era," I pointed out. It was true that her "daughter", if Domino Tremaine had been her daughter, had been the last "Leaderess" of the Earth, but this was something nearly impossible to prove now. "Also the nature of your `parentage' would not indicate that you yourself are an `American' in the sense I would have thought of." Darlanis was in reality "half Martian", although this was a "se- cret" that few knew but those close to the Empress of California. "And Maris?" Darlanis challenged, not all that pleasantly! "Is a `Canadian' according to everything I know," I said. "This woman carried out raids on California territory," the Empress pointed out, her azure eyes burning into those of Maris. "She is `objectively' by our laws little more than a `pirate'." "I suppose a `trial' of some sort could be arranged," I smiled. "We could have a `jury' of the Priestesses, the Lorr, and the Women, all of whom I would assume would be `impartial'." "I see you are not yet recovered from your wound," she said. "It is my belief that this present conflict was started by Darl Jord under instruction from Princess Tara Bisan of Baja," I answered. "As you will recall, there were a number of strange `incidents' and `attacks' which leads me to believe that Tara had a ship built similar to my own Squala which was used for raids on Dularn, and maybe there is also another `North Star' somewhere." "The design of my `North class' was well known," Maris said. "As was that of the Squala," I pointed to Darlanis in turn. "I have no desire to have an `enemy army' on my northern flank, or a fleet of `raiders' standing ready to `pounce'," the Empress of California retorted, "Nor another `bunch' of `revolu- tionaries' of the sort I had to `deal with' there in Trelandar." "You cannot win friendship at the point of a sword," I said. "You wanted this `war' against Dularn, I didn't," she spoke, reminding me of comments that I had made a few months before now. "Darl Jord is dead," Maris said, "And from my own dagger." "He did rape me when I was a young girl," Darlanis said. "I have removed the chain from about my neck," Maris an- swered. A widow usually either has the chain "blackened" or wears a black cloth about her throat as a symbol of mourning. Maris had done "neither", as was "proper" considering the "crime" that Darl Jord had committed that had resulted in his own death! "And I have taken back my maiden name as proper," she now added. "The people in the `disputed' territories are `Dularnian'," I said, telling Darlanis of my "experiences" with the villagers. People who had quite willingly "helped" the crew and officers of the "Northland" to attempt to take the Huntress while anchored close off shore. "They have no `love' for your `Empire' either." "I have `lost' Trelandar to you, and I am not going to let everything I've ever fought for slip away now," Darlanis snapped. It was obvious to both me and Maris how Darlanis felt about this. I had discussed this matter with Darlanis earlier to no avail... "You have a `decision' to make," I said to the Empress then. "You can either become what Sharon sees in you, or become just another `conqueror' like hundreds more have been before you." I knew how Darlanis felt about Sharon, how proud she was that Shar- on saw her not as an "Empress", but as an heroic "righter of wrongs". "And that, Darlanis, is a decision only you can make." "I think you will find it more `comfortable' on Sarnian Lady," Darlanis answered, sitting there on the bench beneath the stern windows. "It is rather `spartan' here," she smiled then... "About where are we now?" I asked Maris, an idea "coming". "About fifty miles south of the strait," Maris smiled. "Would you care to join us?" I suggested to Darlanis. "I see you have full use of your mind," she smiled. "This is close enough, anchor!" Maris snapped. I suspected she was a bit "nervous" despite herself. Gathered further out to sea was perhaps the greatest fleet that had ever set sail in this time. Darlanis' and mine together numbered over two dozen heavy ships of war. We had between us half a dozen smaller vessels. I knew too that Darlanis also had tarls and bird girls to fly them. That big blonde tends to be more "competent" than people realize! I could see the village ahead of us there spread out along the shore, a few people peeking out at us here and there, al- though I suspected that most had taken to the forest for safety. "This is territory that is still controlled by Dularn," Dar- lanis said, her eyes holding mine. The "dividing line" was a bit further to the south. I didn't think it would have made any dif- ference. Those who lived to the north of Porlan had little love for the Empire of California. Or, I suspected, for its Empress!! |
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