"2567-01" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 5 - The Warlady Of Dularn)"THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter One "It was a dark and stormy night". Well, it was! Not that I was paying it that much note just then as I watched my wife Carol finish up her strip dance there on the brightly lit stage. Carol now doing a series of "hip rolls" while supporting herself on her toes and fingertips in a way that left no doubt that for a woman in her late "thirties" she was still in fantastic physical condi- tion. Her 5'7", 37-26-38 body was glistening a bit with sweat under the bright stage lights as my provocative brownette then spread her thighs wide and arched up her curvy behind. Thus giv- ing every man sitting there around the shadowed tables an excel- lent "view" of that narrow strip of buckskin colored chamois that ran up between those lovely tapering muscular thighs of hers! A lovely pair of golden disks covered her pierced nipples. A quick toss of her head, a provocative glance behind her, and then my wife dashed off the stage, followed by the cheers of the men that practically now shook the building! Carol still being the best! "She is an amazing woman," a feminine voice said from behind me, the azure eyes that met mine as I turned owned by a beautiful tall blonde haired woman, one who I suspected from her "accent" was not from any place around here! And the way that her clothes "fitted", the "style", all indicated that she was a "foreigner". And little did I realize just then how truly "foreign" she was! "One of many `talents'," the woman continued, giving me a smile. "Few men, Mr. Simmons, could say the same about their own wives." I supposed it was true, although at the age of forty one after some fifteen years of marriage I loved my Carol as much as ever!! "You are the same woman we met in the supermarket today," I said, remembering. There had been "something" about the woman. "Something" that Carol had said gave her the "creeps" about her! My wife had been unable to explain further, saying it was only a "gut feeling" that she had when they had met, the woman having merely said that she was pleased to meet us, and that she hoped we had enjoyed the books she had sent us. Her words for an in- stant having meant nothing to either of us just then until sud- denly Carol had gasped with shock, remembering the strange books sent to me! Strange leather bound books supposedly written by a woman everyone believed dead! The fantastic Dr. Lorraine M. Duv- al herself! The greatest swordswoman of all time, its been said! Another book by the incredibly beautiful Darlanis of California, the ruler of western North America in the 26th Century! And with the books there had a been a strange golden coin, a large coin of over an ounce of pure gold, stamped with the likeness of a beau- tiful woman, the inscription on the coin in Latin reading "DARLA- NIS, REGINA CALIFORNIA"! The other side showing a crown in front of a background circle of stars that had left little doubt too!!! "I am First Priestess Tais, of whom Lorraine `wrote'," she suddenly spoke to me, her eyes burning down into mine with azure flame. I knew there could be just one "Lorraine" of which she spoke. But everyone believed that she had died at sea in a plane crash years three years ago! Yet "Tais" had just spoken as if Lorraine yet lived! "And soon it will be `time' now," she spoke in tones that made a chill go down my back at their very implica- tion! Lorraine had written of Tais, the First Priestess! A wom- an who lived in the 26th Century, the head of the Priestesses of Lys, who also had appeared to be the world religion of that era! The Priestesses of Lys had also served the "GUARDIANS", beings so powerful that they controlled the destinies of intelligent races through the entire Universe! Serving too the wishes of "SHE", who is "Mistress of All", who Lorraine once "spoke with" on Mars. That "BEING" that mortal men have for centuries now called "GOD"! My first impulse was to reach out and grab her. To shake the "truth", whatever it was, from her! I know now how "futile" that would have been. I think she could have stood up against the entire armed forces of the whole world had she so wished and crushed them, so great was the powers that she commanded! Powers that allowed her to travel through time, back to an era that even to her is I believe still partly "myth". "I will be waiting," she said, strolling off, and leaving me sitting there so stunned that I could only watch her walking through the crowd! A few of the "HUTCH's" male patrons, "drunker" than the others, now trying to "pick her up" without any success. I saw her roughly "shove" one back down into his seat, and thought that it was just as well that she was leaving, as she didn't appear to be the sort you'd want to get into any sort of a "fight" with! The band now start- ing up, introducing the next strip dancer, Chris, the last dancer of the night. It was Saturday night, the end of the week. And the "end" of far more than Carol and I ever realized then! The "end" of a peaceful life we'd lived for the last fifteen years. And the beginning of an incredible adventure in a future world! "Strange bitch, that one," the waitress commented, stopping by my table there in the back, the blonde now gone from sight, but not from my thoughts. I ordered for Carol, knowing she'd be with me shortly as soon as she got dressed. We usually had a last drink together before leaving. Carol usually being the one to drive us home as after a night of watching her doing her strip dances I often wasn't really in a condition to drive home safely. I watched Carol come through the crowd, moving around the closely set tables with that "confident" stride that she has, the provocative sensual curves of her firm muscular body so beauti- fully displayed there beneath the clinging soft oiled leather of her fitted jumpsuit. The "jut" of her still firm breasts denying the "fact" that she was now in her late thirties. An age when most women, but not yet my Carol, often started "showing their age". I was well "aware" too of the fact that she had nothing on underneath her outer clothing. Strapped around her hard muscular waist a broad leather belt that now supported a long slim dagger on the right hip and a short lightweight sword with a two foot blade on her left. Attire that made her look really "dom" as all get out! Attire that said, "LOOK, BUT DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME"!* * This was of course a "costume", not something that she wore on the "street" back in the 20th Century as she probably would have gotten arrested for "disturbing the peace" or something. Now, of course, things are a bit "different" and my beloved "Warlady" of- ten does go so "attired" here on the streets of Arsana. (R.S.) "You're still the `best'," I said, taking her in my arms, Chris up there on the stage now strutting back and forth in time to the music. Carol's hazel eyes glowing into mine as she nodded back, her rich red mouth sweet and moist as she pressed it up to mine. The very "feel" of that provocative figure like a caress! Mrs. Robert J. Simmons being a woman like no other, I often feel! "You love me too much, Bob," she laughed, seating herself in the chair I held for her, her walnut hair a lovely mane falling about her shoulders. She is to me at least a "beautiful" woman. More of a "woman" than any I've ever met in my entire life, and I include those both of the 20th Century and those of the 26th too! "I'm a lucky man," I smiled, sipping at my drink, feeling its warmth as it trickled down my throat. Carol is the sort of a woman that novelists write about. The sort of a woman that makes getting up in the morning always worthwhile. Her three novels of a "future America" of the 22nd Century "erotic" delights to read! Books that in their way I now think have "shaped" a future world. Queen Maris thinks that they did, and perhaps she is right here. There is also "A KEY TO A WOMAN'S HEART" which my wife wrote just before all this happened. A book that in its own way has altered in many ways the sexual "relationships" between men and women. I should note here, however, that this book was published under the "pen name" of "CAROL" and thus was not identified as being my wife's until Carol herself publicly laid claim to its authorship! "You're a handsome `devil' who could `charm' any woman," my wife smiled, her lips wet now from her drink as I smiled back. I suppose she is "right", although I've never thought about it that way. I am a bit over six, dark, and I suppose rather well built. Carol is the sort who gives you considerable "encouragement" to keep yourself so. A woman who has absolutely no "doubts" about herself as a sexy "desirable" woman. Like Princess Lara of Baja. "That `blonde' was here," I said, wanting Carol to "know". My wife "stiffened" a bit, a look of "concern" filling her face. "She claims to be `Tais', the `First Priestess'," I added, Carol nodding, the look in her hazel eyes now one of almost terror now! My wife of course had also read the strange books we'd been sent. The two written by Lorraine Richards, the other one by Darlanis. Books that told of a strange future civilization of the 26th Cen- tury. Of a world now so much like that of my wife's own novels! "We're getting `out of here', and `NOW'!" Carol snapped, roughly shoving back her chair, her raised voice drawing the at- tention of a nearby couple over the "boom-ra-boom" of the band. I doubted that it would do any good. I didn't think one could "flee" from such infinite power. From those who were Mistresses of both time and space! I suspected we would soon be seeing her again! And she had said too that the time was drawing near now! I quickly flung a tip down on the table and followed my terrified wife out the door, knowing then as Carol did not that one could not "run" from that which was to be! We had been "sent for"! I did not think it would be long now before we both stood in the presence of a tall brunette Queen, the greatest swordswoman of all time! Mrs. Lorraine Richards, the Queen of Trelandar! War- lady of the Empire of California! I hoped Carol would like the 26th Century. I suspected that we would never see our era again! "Can you drive O.K.?" I asked Carol as we ran out to our car in the parking lot, the rain pouring down upon us in buckets as I opened the Reliant's door for her, both of us getting well soaked by the downpour. The flashing lightning, the heavy drum roll of the thunder leaving no doubts that it was not a very nice night! A good night, I thought, for the sort of thing Tais wished to do! "I'm all right now," Carol answered me, getting in, reaching over as she did to unlock my side. I climbed in, shut the door, and kissed her, feeling Carol for a moment "cling" to me before she got control of herself. I handed her the keys, let her start up our old trusty Reliant. I saw no sign of the mysterious Tais, if that indeed was her name. Had the books, the coin, just been a trick of some sort? That had been Carol's first belief when we had received the books and the coin together in a package through UPS. On the other hand I felt I had "known" Lorraine well enough to know just about how she "thought", and the books were certain- ly written just the way that Lorraine herself would have written! My only regret now was that I had not given them to Janet Rogers. On the other hand had I done so, I doubtlessly would have altered "history" in a way that no one could have predicted. Carol's own three novels, I should mention, have had their own "effects" as history has shown, especially in the field of "feminine attire"! And "A KEY TO A WOMAN'S HEART" is the most popular marriage manu- al of all time, as well as the book that mothers "give" to their sons when they see that their sons have seen there are two sexes! "Carol," I said to her, touching her arm, her eyes gleaming in the light reflected off the windshield from the parking lot lights. "Whatever happens, you're the only one I've ever loved." I wanted her to know that, to understand what the situation had been between Lorraine and me. I didn't know then that she would allowed to accompany me into the future or not. She was my wife. The only woman I've truly loved, the only one I've really loved! The very "odor" of her wet body in its leather comforting to me! "I'm not the `pushover' I was back then," Carol snapped, the "implications" of her words leaving no doubts as to her own feel- ings. I knew that Carol had even learned the sword (and very well too!), learned to be "violent", all because she had once be- lieved I "loved" Lorraine because "she" was all these "things"! "Tais will know where we live," I pointed out. She would no doubt be "waiting" for us there. If she was "what" she appeared to be, and I had no reason to believe otherwise just then, then I felt our best policy was to keep on the "move" until the time passed that Tais would be able to use the thunderstorm as a "pow- er source" for opening a "GATEWAY" back into the 26th Century! It being my theory from what I had read of Lorraine's writings that such thunderstorms were a "power source" for the space-time warps that allowed one to travel from one era of time to another! "I'm not `running'," Carol suddenly spoke, her hands on the steering wheel like she was grasping some weapon. "I'm not going to give that damn bitch the `satisfaction'!" she snapped in cold furious tones that left no doubts as to just "who" she referred to! "And `GOD DAMN IT' as long as I'm your wife no dammed time- traveling bitch is going to snatch away my husband!" she snarled! "Carol," I said, reaching out, touching, the thunder like a drum roll. I saw the look in her eyes, understood much that I had not perhaps "understood" before. I was "more" to her than just her husband. I feared then for what might occur when we met Lorraine. When Tais transported us through time to another era! I hoped Lorraine would "understand" how Carol felt about things! "I wear your neck chain," she spoke in level tones, starting the car, yanking the shift lever into "drive". "`SHE' doesn't."* * It was always a bit of a puzzlement to me where the ideas came from for "clips" and "straps", for "neck chains" and so forth. I never was able to obtain a satisfactory answer to these questions from anyone until the time there on the North Star that Maris Marn showed me the tattered remains of one of Carol's own novels. Then I realized just "who" had actually invented these things. I regret to say however that Carol and I are bitter enemies, at least she still is towards me, although I bear her no dislike. I am of course a bit "uncomfortable" with her use of me as a char- acter in her books, (I am nothing like her "Queen Lorraine"!) and I am at least thankful that she has not written any more! (L.R.) "We've had a good fifteen years together," I said to Carol as the outskirts of Seaside fell behind us, the windshield wipers going "click-clack" as they swept aside the downpour that fell from the lightning streaked sky overhead. The lightning from time to time lighting up the trees that now grew on either side of the rural road. The forest moving to enclose us now on both sides as we now left the last traces of our civilization behind. "And we're going to have a lot more," Carol promised me. The headlights lit up the woman as she stood there alongside our hidden forest home, the home in which Carol had lived with me for the last twelve years. That hidden "earth home" we had both loved so well. I hated the thought of "leaving it". Tais stand- ing there before us, dry as a bone despite the rain pouring down only a further "proof" if any was needed of her awesome "powers"! The wet leaves in the trees dripping as the rain yet poured down. "It is now `TIME'," Tais said to us as we stepped out of the car, her voice soft, but yet audible over the sound of the thun- derstorm. Carol standing there with her hand on the hilt of her sword like some "gunfighter" out of the Nineteenth Century going out to "fight"! "It would be best if you joined hands," she sug- gested then to us. The lightning seeming to grow worse now, a series of constant brilliant flashes and deafening bangs as Tais raised her arms, an awesome "glow" of some hellish blue-green light now surrounding her as she stood there! I felt an electri- cal "tingle" go through me, Carol's hair standing up around her head, the car starting to stutter and miss now due perhaps to some strange electrical effect as the glow that surrounded Tais now grew rapidly larger and larger! The car then sputtering out! "Beam us up, Scotty!" Carol spoke softly, her eyes glowing up into mine as I clutched her to me, clinging to her "reality"! Holding her, clinging to her as everything suddenly went "blank"! "THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter One "It was a dark and stormy night". Well, it was! Not that I was paying it that much note just then as I watched my wife Carol finish up her strip dance there on the brightly lit stage. Carol now doing a series of "hip rolls" while supporting herself on her toes and fingertips in a way that left no doubt that for a woman in her late "thirties" she was still in fantastic physical condi- tion. Her 5'7", 37-26-38 body was glistening a bit with sweat under the bright stage lights as my provocative brownette then spread her thighs wide and arched up her curvy behind. Thus giv- ing every man sitting there around the shadowed tables an excel- lent "view" of that narrow strip of buckskin colored chamois that ran up between those lovely tapering muscular thighs of hers! A lovely pair of golden disks covered her pierced nipples. A quick toss of her head, a provocative glance behind her, and then my wife dashed off the stage, followed by the cheers of the men that practically now shook the building! Carol still being the best! "She is an amazing woman," a feminine voice said from behind me, the azure eyes that met mine as I turned owned by a beautiful tall blonde haired woman, one who I suspected from her "accent" was not from any place around here! And the way that her clothes "fitted", the "style", all indicated that she was a "foreigner". And little did I realize just then how truly "foreign" she was! "One of many `talents'," the woman continued, giving me a smile. "Few men, Mr. Simmons, could say the same about their own wives." I supposed it was true, although at the age of forty one after some fifteen years of marriage I loved my Carol as much as ever!! "You are the same woman we met in the supermarket today," I said, remembering. There had been "something" about the woman. "Something" that Carol had said gave her the "creeps" about her! My wife had been unable to explain further, saying it was only a "gut feeling" that she had when they had met, the woman having merely said that she was pleased to meet us, and that she hoped we had enjoyed the books she had sent us. Her words for an in- stant having meant nothing to either of us just then until sud- denly Carol had gasped with shock, remembering the strange books sent to me! Strange leather bound books supposedly written by a woman everyone believed dead! The fantastic Dr. Lorraine M. Duv- al herself! The greatest swordswoman of all time, its been said! Another book by the incredibly beautiful Darlanis of California, the ruler of western North America in the 26th Century! And with the books there had a been a strange golden coin, a large coin of over an ounce of pure gold, stamped with the likeness of a beau- tiful woman, the inscription on the coin in Latin reading "DARLA- NIS, REGINA CALIFORNIA"! The other side showing a crown in front of a background circle of stars that had left little doubt too!!! "I am First Priestess Tais, of whom Lorraine `wrote'," she suddenly spoke to me, her eyes burning down into mine with azure flame. I knew there could be just one "Lorraine" of which she spoke. But everyone believed that she had died at sea in a plane crash years three years ago! Yet "Tais" had just spoken as if Lorraine yet lived! "And soon it will be `time' now," she spoke in tones that made a chill go down my back at their very implica- tion! Lorraine had written of Tais, the First Priestess! A wom- an who lived in the 26th Century, the head of the Priestesses of Lys, who also had appeared to be the world religion of that era! The Priestesses of Lys had also served the "GUARDIANS", beings so powerful that they controlled the destinies of intelligent races through the entire Universe! Serving too the wishes of "SHE", who is "Mistress of All", who Lorraine once "spoke with" on Mars. That "BEING" that mortal men have for centuries now called "GOD"! My first impulse was to reach out and grab her. To shake the "truth", whatever it was, from her! I know now how "futile" that would have been. I think she could have stood up against the entire armed forces of the whole world had she so wished and crushed them, so great was the powers that she commanded! Powers that allowed her to travel through time, back to an era that even to her is I believe still partly "myth". "I will be waiting," she said, strolling off, and leaving me sitting there so stunned that I could only watch her walking through the crowd! A few of the "HUTCH's" male patrons, "drunker" than the others, now trying to "pick her up" without any success. I saw her roughly "shove" one back down into his seat, and thought that it was just as well that she was leaving, as she didn't appear to be the sort you'd want to get into any sort of a "fight" with! The band now start- ing up, introducing the next strip dancer, Chris, the last dancer of the night. It was Saturday night, the end of the week. And the "end" of far more than Carol and I ever realized then! The "end" of a peaceful life we'd lived for the last fifteen years. And the beginning of an incredible adventure in a future world! "Strange bitch, that one," the waitress commented, stopping by my table there in the back, the blonde now gone from sight, but not from my thoughts. I ordered for Carol, knowing she'd be with me shortly as soon as she got dressed. We usually had a last drink together before leaving. Carol usually being the one to drive us home as after a night of watching her doing her strip dances I often wasn't really in a condition to drive home safely. I watched Carol come through the crowd, moving around the closely set tables with that "confident" stride that she has, the provocative sensual curves of her firm muscular body so beauti- fully displayed there beneath the clinging soft oiled leather of her fitted jumpsuit. The "jut" of her still firm breasts denying the "fact" that she was now in her late thirties. An age when most women, but not yet my Carol, often started "showing their age". I was well "aware" too of the fact that she had nothing on underneath her outer clothing. Strapped around her hard muscular waist a broad leather belt that now supported a long slim dagger on the right hip and a short lightweight sword with a two foot blade on her left. Attire that made her look really "dom" as all get out! Attire that said, "LOOK, BUT DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME"!* * This was of course a "costume", not something that she wore on the "street" back in the 20th Century as she probably would have gotten arrested for "disturbing the peace" or something. Now, of course, things are a bit "different" and my beloved "Warlady" of- ten does go so "attired" here on the streets of Arsana. (R.S.) "You're still the `best'," I said, taking her in my arms, Chris up there on the stage now strutting back and forth in time to the music. Carol's hazel eyes glowing into mine as she nodded back, her rich red mouth sweet and moist as she pressed it up to mine. The very "feel" of that provocative figure like a caress! Mrs. Robert J. Simmons being a woman like no other, I often feel! "You love me too much, Bob," she laughed, seating herself in the chair I held for her, her walnut hair a lovely mane falling about her shoulders. She is to me at least a "beautiful" woman. More of a "woman" than any I've ever met in my entire life, and I include those both of the 20th Century and those of the 26th too! "I'm a lucky man," I smiled, sipping at my drink, feeling its warmth as it trickled down my throat. Carol is the sort of a woman that novelists write about. The sort of a woman that makes getting up in the morning always worthwhile. Her three novels of a "future America" of the 22nd Century "erotic" delights to read! Books that in their way I now think have "shaped" a future world. Queen Maris thinks that they did, and perhaps she is right here. There is also "A KEY TO A WOMAN'S HEART" which my wife wrote just before all this happened. A book that in its own way has altered in many ways the sexual "relationships" between men and women. I should note here, however, that this book was published under the "pen name" of "CAROL" and thus was not identified as being my wife's until Carol herself publicly laid claim to its authorship! "You're a handsome `devil' who could `charm' any woman," my wife smiled, her lips wet now from her drink as I smiled back. I suppose she is "right", although I've never thought about it that way. I am a bit over six, dark, and I suppose rather well built. Carol is the sort who gives you considerable "encouragement" to keep yourself so. A woman who has absolutely no "doubts" about herself as a sexy "desirable" woman. Like Princess Lara of Baja. "That `blonde' was here," I said, wanting Carol to "know". My wife "stiffened" a bit, a look of "concern" filling her face. "She claims to be `Tais', the `First Priestess'," I added, Carol nodding, the look in her hazel eyes now one of almost terror now! My wife of course had also read the strange books we'd been sent. The two written by Lorraine Richards, the other one by Darlanis. Books that told of a strange future civilization of the 26th Cen- tury. Of a world now so much like that of my wife's own novels! "We're getting `out of here', and `NOW'!" Carol snapped, roughly shoving back her chair, her raised voice drawing the at- tention of a nearby couple over the "boom-ra-boom" of the band. I doubted that it would do any good. I didn't think one could "flee" from such infinite power. From those who were Mistresses of both time and space! I suspected we would soon be seeing her again! And she had said too that the time was drawing near now! I quickly flung a tip down on the table and followed my terrified wife out the door, knowing then as Carol did not that one could not "run" from that which was to be! We had been "sent for"! I did not think it would be long now before we both stood in the presence of a tall brunette Queen, the greatest swordswoman of all time! Mrs. Lorraine Richards, the Queen of Trelandar! War- lady of the Empire of California! I hoped Carol would like the 26th Century. I suspected that we would never see our era again! "Can you drive O.K.?" I asked Carol as we ran out to our car in the parking lot, the rain pouring down upon us in buckets as I opened the Reliant's door for her, both of us getting well soaked by the downpour. The flashing lightning, the heavy drum roll of the thunder leaving no doubts that it was not a very nice night! A good night, I thought, for the sort of thing Tais wished to do! "I'm all right now," Carol answered me, getting in, reaching over as she did to unlock my side. I climbed in, shut the door, and kissed her, feeling Carol for a moment "cling" to me before she got control of herself. I handed her the keys, let her start up our old trusty Reliant. I saw no sign of the mysterious Tais, if that indeed was her name. Had the books, the coin, just been a trick of some sort? That had been Carol's first belief when we had received the books and the coin together in a package through UPS. On the other hand I felt I had "known" Lorraine well enough to know just about how she "thought", and the books were certain- ly written just the way that Lorraine herself would have written! My only regret now was that I had not given them to Janet Rogers. On the other hand had I done so, I doubtlessly would have altered "history" in a way that no one could have predicted. Carol's own three novels, I should mention, have had their own "effects" as history has shown, especially in the field of "feminine attire"! And "A KEY TO A WOMAN'S HEART" is the most popular marriage manu- al of all time, as well as the book that mothers "give" to their sons when they see that their sons have seen there are two sexes! "Carol," I said to her, touching her arm, her eyes gleaming in the light reflected off the windshield from the parking lot lights. "Whatever happens, you're the only one I've ever loved." I wanted her to know that, to understand what the situation had been between Lorraine and me. I didn't know then that she would allowed to accompany me into the future or not. She was my wife. The only woman I've truly loved, the only one I've really loved! The very "odor" of her wet body in its leather comforting to me! "I'm not the `pushover' I was back then," Carol snapped, the "implications" of her words leaving no doubts as to her own feel- ings. I knew that Carol had even learned the sword (and very well too!), learned to be "violent", all because she had once be- lieved I "loved" Lorraine because "she" was all these "things"! "Tais will know where we live," I pointed out. She would no doubt be "waiting" for us there. If she was "what" she appeared to be, and I had no reason to believe otherwise just then, then I felt our best policy was to keep on the "move" until the time passed that Tais would be able to use the thunderstorm as a "pow- er source" for opening a "GATEWAY" back into the 26th Century! It being my theory from what I had read of Lorraine's writings that such thunderstorms were a "power source" for the space-time warps that allowed one to travel from one era of time to another! "I'm not `running'," Carol suddenly spoke, her hands on the steering wheel like she was grasping some weapon. "I'm not going to give that damn bitch the `satisfaction'!" she snapped in cold furious tones that left no doubts as to just "who" she referred to! "And `GOD DAMN IT' as long as I'm your wife no dammed time- traveling bitch is going to snatch away my husband!" she snarled! "Carol," I said, reaching out, touching, the thunder like a drum roll. I saw the look in her eyes, understood much that I had not perhaps "understood" before. I was "more" to her than just her husband. I feared then for what might occur when we met Lorraine. When Tais transported us through time to another era! I hoped Lorraine would "understand" how Carol felt about things! "I wear your neck chain," she spoke in level tones, starting the car, yanking the shift lever into "drive". "`SHE' doesn't."* * It was always a bit of a puzzlement to me where the ideas came from for "clips" and "straps", for "neck chains" and so forth. I never was able to obtain a satisfactory answer to these questions from anyone until the time there on the North Star that Maris Marn showed me the tattered remains of one of Carol's own novels. Then I realized just "who" had actually invented these things. I regret to say however that Carol and I are bitter enemies, at least she still is towards me, although I bear her no dislike. I am of course a bit "uncomfortable" with her use of me as a char- acter in her books, (I am nothing like her "Queen Lorraine"!) and I am at least thankful that she has not written any more! (L.R.) "We've had a good fifteen years together," I said to Carol as the outskirts of Seaside fell behind us, the windshield wipers going "click-clack" as they swept aside the downpour that fell from the lightning streaked sky overhead. The lightning from time to time lighting up the trees that now grew on either side of the rural road. The forest moving to enclose us now on both sides as we now left the last traces of our civilization behind. "And we're going to have a lot more," Carol promised me. The headlights lit up the woman as she stood there alongside our hidden forest home, the home in which Carol had lived with me for the last twelve years. That hidden "earth home" we had both loved so well. I hated the thought of "leaving it". Tais stand- ing there before us, dry as a bone despite the rain pouring down only a further "proof" if any was needed of her awesome "powers"! The wet leaves in the trees dripping as the rain yet poured down. "It is now `TIME'," Tais said to us as we stepped out of the car, her voice soft, but yet audible over the sound of the thun- derstorm. Carol standing there with her hand on the hilt of her sword like some "gunfighter" out of the Nineteenth Century going out to "fight"! "It would be best if you joined hands," she sug- gested then to us. The lightning seeming to grow worse now, a series of constant brilliant flashes and deafening bangs as Tais raised her arms, an awesome "glow" of some hellish blue-green light now surrounding her as she stood there! I felt an electri- cal "tingle" go through me, Carol's hair standing up around her head, the car starting to stutter and miss now due perhaps to some strange electrical effect as the glow that surrounded Tais now grew rapidly larger and larger! The car then sputtering out! "Beam us up, Scotty!" Carol spoke softly, her eyes glowing up into mine as I clutched her to me, clinging to her "reality"! Holding her, clinging to her as everything suddenly went "blank"! |
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