"2567-07" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 5 - The Warlady Of Dularn)"THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter Seven The bottoms of my feet were "raw" and bruised when we reached the cleared area that composes a part of Lorraine's vast estates. We had, of course, been forced to march barefooted. I wondered how Carol was "doing" there behind me, and how long it would be before Sandi healed from the burn Tirana had given her. The fact that Tirana "treated" the burn surprised me, although I understand now that she was merely "doing" as she saw necessary. Extracting "information" from prisoners is sometimes a part of a Warrioress' duties, and Lady Tirana had viewed her acts as that. I once watched Queen Maris extract "information" from a captured merchant captain, and I had to admit that it wasn't something I'd want to see again. The American Indians (and their counterparts of this era) usually had their women do the "torturing". I have my "suspicions" why this is so, but they have little bearing on this tale as such and I will leave such matters for another time. The estate reminded me muchly of movies I have seen of plan- tations in the deep South before the Civil War with the "excep- tion" of course that one did not see numbers of "black" slaves. The black race as a matter of fact being even less numerous now than are the American Indians, perhaps due to the fact that most blacks died in the Lorr's bombardment of Earth's cities in 2047. Those who survived this then were further killed off in a "race war" that came afterwards, due perhaps to reasons too complex to get into here. There was a large tree shaded manor, and a number of smaller outbuildings of the sort that one might now expect in such a place scattered about. Fields stretched out beyond, with the forests there in the distance. And there before the manor I saw something that left no "doubts" as to just "where" we were! A black "V-tailed" Beechcraft Bonzana, Lorraine's famous "Black Lady", the double barred "Cross of Lorraine" painted there on the fuselage tied down there before the manor. And beside it was a young woman, small, clad in leather, feeding a gigantic bird! A Tarl of Talon, perhaps the biggest raptor of all time, I believe! Its wingspan at least thirty five feet if not more. A bird that in its appearance reminded me considerably of eagles and hawks! On a flagpole too there was a flag, the famous Cross of Lorraine, leaving no doubts in my mind that we had reached "her" estates!* * It should be mentioned here that Lorraine actually "owns" an area measured in hundreds of square miles. I realize that to my Dularnian "readers" such would be almost "unthinkable", but it is the way that the Imperials do still "order" their society. Impe- rial California is actually a "feudalistic" society much like that of Europe during the Middle Ages. It is "democratic", but in a way that reminds me much of my own era where the "people" really did not have often that much of a "say" in things. (R.S.) "You were no doubt sent here to `spy' upon us," Lady Tirana said, addressing us as we stood there exhausted behind her from the nearly twelve mile march. I am in good condition, as was my wife, but such a "forced march" had taken its toll on both of us! In any case, being gagged, there was no reply that we might make. "And I have no doubts either as to just `who' sent you here," she said, her dark eyes burning hotly into mine now through her veil. No doubt "crediting" Queen Maris of Dularn with sending us here! "I've had reports of the North Star being spotted in this area, and I have no doubts that Maris would just love to make trouble!" Her words suddenly now bringing back to me then the "comment" that one of the outlaws had made while discussing what to "do" about Carol about there being a "Dularnian raider" in the area! "I think, however," Tirana smiled, "That you will find that we have better `use' for the two of you than that Lys-damned bitch of yours had!" The very implications of her words leaving no doubts! The thought passing through my mind then that Maris herself had once been a slave on these very estates only a few years ago! I recalled too how she had escaped from Lorraine, the thought going through my mind that perhaps she had "reasons" to fear Lorraine. Or more likely, I think now, Lady Sanda Talen!* * Maris was the "slave girl mistress" of her late husband. Maris of course had little "choice" in the matter (I "suspect" however that she "enjoyed" the relationship while it lasted), but Sanda saw the "opportunity" when Lorraine took over the estates to make life as miserable as possible for the beautiful Dularnian. (R.S.) Tirana then giving a series of orders to those men who came rid- ing up, orders that quickly put into motion an expedition to hunt down the remaining runaway slave girls out there in the forest! Telling the helplessly gagged Sandi that she would soon be back with her "friends", but that all of them this time would soon be enjoying the "pleasures" of "male companionship"! Sandi merely nodding, bowing her head like a properly docile slave girl does! The auburn wench secretly smiling to herself, well aware that she had "tricked" Tirana into a "wild goose chase", Sandi and those of her band having made up carefully thought out "stories" to tell should they ever be "captured" by the likes of Lady Tirana! The courage and bravery of these desperate women speaks of quali- ties that we of the 20th Century only believed men might possess! They were also "intelligent" enough to hide their main camp from the air, knowing of Lady Tirana's bird girl from Talon and her awesome winged mount. Lorraine had earlier attempted to capture these very same women by using Black Lady, but the sound of the airplane's engine gave them enough warning to hide themselves be- fore she flew over. These women under their "Leaderess" later on "served" both Queen Maris and later Carol. They also served with "distinction" there on the North Star when we fought the "Athena" under the command of Lorraine herself almost in sight of Arsana! That "epic battle" that has now become the "stuff" of "legends". A "battle" that was fought between two Warladies burning with ha- tred for one another. Lorraine of California, Carol of Dularn!* * Lorraine claims not to "hate" Carol, although one wonders. (RS) "You are a man that any woman might find `attractive'," Lady Tirana said to me, her dark eyes burning straight into mine as she reached out and gently touched me with her whip while we stood helplessly before her a short time later. Carol "frowning" a bit at her words as she stood there a few feet away. My wife and I shackled by our wrists to rings fixed in the cross beams over our heads, while our ankles were shackled to other rings set in the floor holding us both helplessly spread eagled before her. Tirana herself was now unveiled, a long slim whip a yard long in her hand. I recalled what she had "done" to Sandi and felt con- siderable terror then as we stood there naked before her facing each other! I had no doubt that she desired "information", and I shuddered at the "thought" of how she might now attempt to obtain it from us! We were now in one of the estate's brightly painted wooden outbuildings, one used to house slaves such as ourselves. We were alone with her, although there were men at arms outside should Lady Tirana require any "assistance" in "dealing" with the two of us. Men who might bring instruments of torture if needed! "I'm sure that Carol does," I answered, keeping my voice level despite the terrors that I felt being in Tirana's "power". I recalled what Lorraine had written about the "crossbowman". I knew this was the same woman who had "done" those horrible deeds! My brownette nodding a bit, while wisely keeping her mouth shut. Carol bearing up surprisingly well considering all that had hap- pened to her since we'd both been "teleported" into this century! Her battered face and bruised body was proof of what she endured! A lot of women would have come "unglued" by now from everything she'd been forced to endure, but not Carol! I was proud of her! "Your wife is a very sensual woman, especially for a Dular- nian," Lady Tirana smiled at me, the sun having warmed the build- ing to a point that made it feel like "summer" inside. The women of Dularn having a reputation for being "frigid" due to their different sexual "morality" than those of California. Also per- haps due to the fact that the woman of Dularn usually wears tunic and hose instead of a dress like her Californian sister. I could smell her perfume and hear the soft rustle of her silken dress as she moved about Carol, gently touching her with the whip. Tirana is a tall woman, perhaps five eight or five nine, slim, and I think rather muscular. She looks the part of the Warrioress she is. Like Lorraine, there is no mistaking her for anything else! "Despite what you think, Carol and I are from the Twentieth Century, and not from Dularn, although we have been `transported' here to this era apparently at Lorraine's own request by First Priestess Tais," I said, having already told Tirana this before! The building we were in had a "stink" caused by confined people. It is the "policy" on Lorraine's estates to "chain" all slaves at night. Even those slave girls picked by the men to "pleasure them" must be "chained" after a certain hour, with only the major domo holding the key to their chains. A "policy" that Lorraine herself started after Maris' own escape in 2565 from the estates. "The slave girls we captured with you all claimed that you told them that you were both Dularnians," Tirana now smiled back. She was a highly intelligent woman, almost a match for Lorraine. Not the sort of a woman that it would be "easy" to fool, I knew. "They wanted our assistance in getting them to Dularn," I answered, "And at the time it seemed the `best' thing to do." I saw Carol nod in agreement, my wife's quick wits useful just now! "Your wife is obviously a woman of this era," Tirana pointed out, brushing the tip of her whip up against my chin. "And I am not `interested' in playing these little `games' any more now." There was in the tone of her voice an awesome terrifying warning! "What will be done to us if you find that we are `spies'?" Carol suddenly asked Lady Tirana as my wife stood there helpless- ly half a dozen feet away from me. The feminine "perfection" of her 5 7" body and 37-26-38 figure one that almost any woman might envy. I knew what Tirana had once "done" to a man at Lorraine's behest, and shuddered at the very thought of what she might "do" to us in trying to obtain "information" that we did not possess! "We are a `civilized people' here in Trelandar," Lady Tirana smiled back. "You will be kept as slaves." I had no doubt that the free men here on the estate would greatly enjoy having a "slave girl" like Carol around! I'd seen only one woman so far, Tirana's own slave girl, a delightful ripe bodied blondish wench, who could surpass my delightfully "provocative" brownette, and I suspected that Kathi might not hold her position as "sex prin- cess" among the slave girls here very long if my wife didn't wish her to do so! Nor would she who was now "first girl" keep hers. I might note here that it is customary when one has a number of slaves to appoint one as "first" to act as "head nigger" over the others. The fact that the term "head nigger" has survived since the Nineteenth Century is only further proof that slave owners have always used such means to better control their slaves. Usually the "first girl" is the most "favored" of slave girls, although she can also be the best "fighter", as was the case with Carol when she held the position. If men decide "who" will be "first girl", it is usually the best looking wench among the slave girls, while if the slave girls themselves are allowed to "settle" the issue, she will be the best "fighter" among the group. This was the case here. In the case of men other consid- erations such as "fairness" determine just "who" is to become the "head nigger" over them. Sometimes however such decisions are "made" the same way that women make them, although not "often". Men tend to "co-operate" better together than women do, it seems. The "reasons" for this are well beyond the "scope" of this book. "We are off the raider `North Star'," Carol said quickly, giving me a quick wink that I hoped Lady Tirana had "missed" just then. "And our mission here is exactly what you suspect it is." As I think I once said, Carol is a rather "crafty" gal at times! "I think you might have `fooled' Lorraine," Tirana smiled. "That Queen of yours is a `crafty bitch' that is always a `jump' ahead of us," Tirana smiled, regarding Carol as she stood there. I wondered if it was "wise" to try to "deceive" Tirana this way, but I supposed there really wasn't any other "decision" that we could make! Especially as Tirana was obviously willing to use torture to find out what she would have considered "THE TRUTH"!!! "You are of the `Warrioresses'?" Tirana smiled. I don't think she had any "doubts" about Carol, my wife's muscular build from her dancing and exercise obviously that of a fighting woman! "The Caste marks were removed by a member of the Physicians," I quickly answered, Carol nodding in agreement. If Tirana was to believe that we were indeed "spies" from the North Star, then we would have to make her believe we were just that! "We do not `abuse' slaves here, but they are kept under strict discipline," Tirana "warned", calling for the men outside. "THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter Seven The bottoms of my feet were "raw" and bruised when we reached the cleared area that composes a part of Lorraine's vast estates. We had, of course, been forced to march barefooted. I wondered how Carol was "doing" there behind me, and how long it would be before Sandi healed from the burn Tirana had given her. The fact that Tirana "treated" the burn surprised me, although I understand now that she was merely "doing" as she saw necessary. Extracting "information" from prisoners is sometimes a part of a Warrioress' duties, and Lady Tirana had viewed her acts as that. I once watched Queen Maris extract "information" from a captured merchant captain, and I had to admit that it wasn't something I'd want to see again. The American Indians (and their counterparts of this era) usually had their women do the "torturing". I have my "suspicions" why this is so, but they have little bearing on this tale as such and I will leave such matters for another time. The estate reminded me muchly of movies I have seen of plan- tations in the deep South before the Civil War with the "excep- tion" of course that one did not see numbers of "black" slaves. The black race as a matter of fact being even less numerous now than are the American Indians, perhaps due to the fact that most blacks died in the Lorr's bombardment of Earth's cities in 2047. Those who survived this then were further killed off in a "race war" that came afterwards, due perhaps to reasons too complex to get into here. There was a large tree shaded manor, and a number of smaller outbuildings of the sort that one might now expect in such a place scattered about. Fields stretched out beyond, with the forests there in the distance. And there before the manor I saw something that left no "doubts" as to just "where" we were! A black "V-tailed" Beechcraft Bonzana, Lorraine's famous "Black Lady", the double barred "Cross of Lorraine" painted there on the fuselage tied down there before the manor. And beside it was a young woman, small, clad in leather, feeding a gigantic bird! A Tarl of Talon, perhaps the biggest raptor of all time, I believe! Its wingspan at least thirty five feet if not more. A bird that in its appearance reminded me considerably of eagles and hawks! On a flagpole too there was a flag, the famous Cross of Lorraine, leaving no doubts in my mind that we had reached "her" estates!* * It should be mentioned here that Lorraine actually "owns" an area measured in hundreds of square miles. I realize that to my Dularnian "readers" such would be almost "unthinkable", but it is the way that the Imperials do still "order" their society. Impe- rial California is actually a "feudalistic" society much like that of Europe during the Middle Ages. It is "democratic", but in a way that reminds me much of my own era where the "people" really did not have often that much of a "say" in things. (R.S.) "You were no doubt sent here to `spy' upon us," Lady Tirana said, addressing us as we stood there exhausted behind her from the nearly twelve mile march. I am in good condition, as was my wife, but such a "forced march" had taken its toll on both of us! In any case, being gagged, there was no reply that we might make. "And I have no doubts either as to just `who' sent you here," she said, her dark eyes burning hotly into mine now through her veil. No doubt "crediting" Queen Maris of Dularn with sending us here! "I've had reports of the North Star being spotted in this area, and I have no doubts that Maris would just love to make trouble!" Her words suddenly now bringing back to me then the "comment" that one of the outlaws had made while discussing what to "do" about Carol about there being a "Dularnian raider" in the area! "I think, however," Tirana smiled, "That you will find that we have better `use' for the two of you than that Lys-damned bitch of yours had!" The very implications of her words leaving no doubts! The thought passing through my mind then that Maris herself had once been a slave on these very estates only a few years ago! I recalled too how she had escaped from Lorraine, the thought going through my mind that perhaps she had "reasons" to fear Lorraine. Or more likely, I think now, Lady Sanda Talen!* * Maris was the "slave girl mistress" of her late husband. Maris of course had little "choice" in the matter (I "suspect" however that she "enjoyed" the relationship while it lasted), but Sanda saw the "opportunity" when Lorraine took over the estates to make life as miserable as possible for the beautiful Dularnian. (R.S.) Tirana then giving a series of orders to those men who came rid- ing up, orders that quickly put into motion an expedition to hunt down the remaining runaway slave girls out there in the forest! Telling the helplessly gagged Sandi that she would soon be back with her "friends", but that all of them this time would soon be enjoying the "pleasures" of "male companionship"! Sandi merely nodding, bowing her head like a properly docile slave girl does! The auburn wench secretly smiling to herself, well aware that she had "tricked" Tirana into a "wild goose chase", Sandi and those of her band having made up carefully thought out "stories" to tell should they ever be "captured" by the likes of Lady Tirana! The courage and bravery of these desperate women speaks of quali- ties that we of the 20th Century only believed men might possess! They were also "intelligent" enough to hide their main camp from the air, knowing of Lady Tirana's bird girl from Talon and her awesome winged mount. Lorraine had earlier attempted to capture these very same women by using Black Lady, but the sound of the airplane's engine gave them enough warning to hide themselves be- fore she flew over. These women under their "Leaderess" later on "served" both Queen Maris and later Carol. They also served with "distinction" there on the North Star when we fought the "Athena" under the command of Lorraine herself almost in sight of Arsana! That "epic battle" that has now become the "stuff" of "legends". A "battle" that was fought between two Warladies burning with ha- tred for one another. Lorraine of California, Carol of Dularn!* * Lorraine claims not to "hate" Carol, although one wonders. (RS) "You are a man that any woman might find `attractive'," Lady Tirana said to me, her dark eyes burning straight into mine as she reached out and gently touched me with her whip while we stood helplessly before her a short time later. Carol "frowning" a bit at her words as she stood there a few feet away. My wife and I shackled by our wrists to rings fixed in the cross beams over our heads, while our ankles were shackled to other rings set in the floor holding us both helplessly spread eagled before her. Tirana herself was now unveiled, a long slim whip a yard long in her hand. I recalled what she had "done" to Sandi and felt con- siderable terror then as we stood there naked before her facing each other! I had no doubt that she desired "information", and I shuddered at the "thought" of how she might now attempt to obtain it from us! We were now in one of the estate's brightly painted wooden outbuildings, one used to house slaves such as ourselves. We were alone with her, although there were men at arms outside should Lady Tirana require any "assistance" in "dealing" with the two of us. Men who might bring instruments of torture if needed! "I'm sure that Carol does," I answered, keeping my voice level despite the terrors that I felt being in Tirana's "power". I recalled what Lorraine had written about the "crossbowman". I knew this was the same woman who had "done" those horrible deeds! My brownette nodding a bit, while wisely keeping her mouth shut. Carol bearing up surprisingly well considering all that had hap- pened to her since we'd both been "teleported" into this century! Her battered face and bruised body was proof of what she endured! A lot of women would have come "unglued" by now from everything she'd been forced to endure, but not Carol! I was proud of her! "Your wife is a very sensual woman, especially for a Dular- nian," Lady Tirana smiled at me, the sun having warmed the build- ing to a point that made it feel like "summer" inside. The women of Dularn having a reputation for being "frigid" due to their different sexual "morality" than those of California. Also per- haps due to the fact that the woman of Dularn usually wears tunic and hose instead of a dress like her Californian sister. I could smell her perfume and hear the soft rustle of her silken dress as she moved about Carol, gently touching her with the whip. Tirana is a tall woman, perhaps five eight or five nine, slim, and I think rather muscular. She looks the part of the Warrioress she is. Like Lorraine, there is no mistaking her for anything else! "Despite what you think, Carol and I are from the Twentieth Century, and not from Dularn, although we have been `transported' here to this era apparently at Lorraine's own request by First Priestess Tais," I said, having already told Tirana this before! The building we were in had a "stink" caused by confined people. It is the "policy" on Lorraine's estates to "chain" all slaves at night. Even those slave girls picked by the men to "pleasure them" must be "chained" after a certain hour, with only the major domo holding the key to their chains. A "policy" that Lorraine herself started after Maris' own escape in 2565 from the estates. "The slave girls we captured with you all claimed that you told them that you were both Dularnians," Tirana now smiled back. She was a highly intelligent woman, almost a match for Lorraine. Not the sort of a woman that it would be "easy" to fool, I knew. "They wanted our assistance in getting them to Dularn," I answered, "And at the time it seemed the `best' thing to do." I saw Carol nod in agreement, my wife's quick wits useful just now! "Your wife is obviously a woman of this era," Tirana pointed out, brushing the tip of her whip up against my chin. "And I am not `interested' in playing these little `games' any more now." There was in the tone of her voice an awesome terrifying warning! "What will be done to us if you find that we are `spies'?" Carol suddenly asked Lady Tirana as my wife stood there helpless- ly half a dozen feet away from me. The feminine "perfection" of her 5 7" body and 37-26-38 figure one that almost any woman might envy. I knew what Tirana had once "done" to a man at Lorraine's behest, and shuddered at the very thought of what she might "do" to us in trying to obtain "information" that we did not possess! "We are a `civilized people' here in Trelandar," Lady Tirana smiled back. "You will be kept as slaves." I had no doubt that the free men here on the estate would greatly enjoy having a "slave girl" like Carol around! I'd seen only one woman so far, Tirana's own slave girl, a delightful ripe bodied blondish wench, who could surpass my delightfully "provocative" brownette, and I suspected that Kathi might not hold her position as "sex prin- cess" among the slave girls here very long if my wife didn't wish her to do so! Nor would she who was now "first girl" keep hers. I might note here that it is customary when one has a number of slaves to appoint one as "first" to act as "head nigger" over the others. The fact that the term "head nigger" has survived since the Nineteenth Century is only further proof that slave owners have always used such means to better control their slaves. Usually the "first girl" is the most "favored" of slave girls, although she can also be the best "fighter", as was the case with Carol when she held the position. If men decide "who" will be "first girl", it is usually the best looking wench among the slave girls, while if the slave girls themselves are allowed to "settle" the issue, she will be the best "fighter" among the group. This was the case here. In the case of men other consid- erations such as "fairness" determine just "who" is to become the "head nigger" over them. Sometimes however such decisions are "made" the same way that women make them, although not "often". Men tend to "co-operate" better together than women do, it seems. The "reasons" for this are well beyond the "scope" of this book. "We are off the raider `North Star'," Carol said quickly, giving me a quick wink that I hoped Lady Tirana had "missed" just then. "And our mission here is exactly what you suspect it is." As I think I once said, Carol is a rather "crafty" gal at times! "I think you might have `fooled' Lorraine," Tirana smiled. "That Queen of yours is a `crafty bitch' that is always a `jump' ahead of us," Tirana smiled, regarding Carol as she stood there. I wondered if it was "wise" to try to "deceive" Tirana this way, but I supposed there really wasn't any other "decision" that we could make! Especially as Tirana was obviously willing to use torture to find out what she would have considered "THE TRUTH"!!! "You are of the `Warrioresses'?" Tirana smiled. I don't think she had any "doubts" about Carol, my wife's muscular build from her dancing and exercise obviously that of a fighting woman! "The Caste marks were removed by a member of the Physicians," I quickly answered, Carol nodding in agreement. If Tirana was to believe that we were indeed "spies" from the North Star, then we would have to make her believe we were just that! "We do not `abuse' slaves here, but they are kept under strict discipline," Tirana "warned", calling for the men outside. |
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