"2567-19" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 5 - The Warlady Of Dularn)"THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter Nineteen The North Star carried a total of three boats, two large craft thirty feet in length usually carried in between the masts, and a small boat slung over the stern. Depending upon the weath- er, how bad the "seas" are and such, you can carry about fifty to sixty people in the two larger boats, and perhaps a dozen more in the smaller craft. In "landing operations" carried out before my wife and I took charge of things it was usually the practice to have the landing parties row in from a distance out to sea. Such almost "insuring" that they would arrive after a long row some- what "exhausted" from their labors. I on the other hand had the ship tow them in on the end of a long rope, the ship then firing its own armaments as a form of "covering fire" while they made a landing. This quickly became a rather "standard" practice, and was even used by the Imperials themselves under Lorraine before the end of the warfare between the Dularnian Republic and the Em- pire of California in the fall of 2567 with the Treaty of Arsana. The "tactics" were of course based upon the landings made upon the Pacific islands held by the Japanese in the Second World War. The ships off shore firing their heavy guns at the enemy while the landings took place. I am a "Marine". We understand "such". And Carol in her novels developed some "interesting ideas" too! Perhaps Tais "understood" more than I've given her credit for! "We have `our duties to do'," Carol said to me in low tones as the North Star dragged us through the water at a "speed" we'd never have been able to obtain under oar power. The dimly seen, more "sensed" shoreline there to starboard now close by as the second officer took the ship as close in as he dared, relying on the "soundings" made by the men with the leads there in the bow. This was "dangerous" work due to the rocks, many uncharted, but also allowed us a certain degree of "surprise" that we probably wouldn't have had coming in directly straight in from the sea. I had to "smile" a bit at her words there in the darkness, as my wife does not like to be compared to the Imperial Warlady at all! And her "comment" was the sort I'd half expect to hear from her! "I'm glad you're here," I told my Warlady, aware of the warmth of her body, the odor of her perfume as she sat there be- side me, our weapons at our feet. Carol and I have lived togeth- er for fifteen years as man and wife. I have always felt "com- plete" when I had Carol with me. Jon Richards once related to me that he felt much the same about Lorraine. I suspect he loves her as I love my Carol. They are, I think, much "alike" in some ways. More so now than they were in the past. Carol is "hard" in a way. Not like most women. I think that is why I always "liked" her so much right from the beginning. Lila was too "soft", too "submissive". Not the sort of a woman that I "want- ed" as a wife. I didn't know of course about the "interplay" be- tween Carol and Maris there in the hold of the Cleolantis. My wife's establishment of a degree of "sexual dominance" over the Queen of Dularn. The same sort of a "sexual dominance" that Lor- raine might have "had" in the same situation. Maris being the sort of a woman who is capable of being "dominated" by almost any "strong" woman. I note here too that Darlanis (another "domi- nant" woman) was able to somewhat "bluff" Maris during the public debates there in the "disputed territories" much the same way un- til Carol then stepped into the scene to "back up" Maris a bit. "I expect `she' is," Carol answered, indicating the other boat now being dragged alongside our own. I knew that those on the North Star practically "worshiped" Maris, although I also heard that she was not considered a competent military leader. A number of people having said that "old Queen Tulis" would have done a "lot better" against the "Empire" than had Maris so far! It should also be noted here that Darl Jord, Queen Tulis' son, did not desire a wife who had much of a "will" of her own. Maris was probably his "choice" for a wife for reasons that are more "political" in nature than anything else. He practically "ran" Dularn before his death, using Maris as more of a "figurehead" than anything else. She is a "good" Queen, but not a "fighter". The sort of a "Queen" who needs a "CAROL" around to help "defend" her from both the "Darlanis'" and the "Lorraine's" of this world. I recalled a brief conversation I had held with Maris earlier in the evening. "I'm not a `Darlanis'," Maris had said, the "impli- cations" of "that" being something that made me pause for thought just then! "I'm just a `gold digger' who let her `greed' run away with her. Just some jumped up `Vanna White' who `sold' her- self to the Prince of Dularn like any slave girl," she had said.* * As I know a fair amount about Vanna White (she did live in our time), I am always "curious" as to where this "term" came from. It appears that any woman who made a lot of money without really "earning" it was later on often called a "Vanna White". Oddly enough this is a Dularnian term and is unknown elsewhere. (R.S.) "Darlanis made it back," Carol breathed beside me, the North Star turning now, setting us free as she fired her broadside at point blank range, the old Cleolantis bursting into flame as the Dularnian raider turned out to sea to come back around to provide us "covering fire" for our landing. The whaleboat under Maris' command already getting its oars into the water for the short row to shore. The thought now occurring to me as it no doubt did to Carol as I gave the orders to do the same that we might be facing a far larger "force" than we had first "expected" to find here! At least it would be easy to tell "friend" from foe, as any "whi- tey" would be an enemy. Such is always a "problem" at night. It is not uncommon in the heat of battle to mistake friend for foe! "Be like a hornet's nest," I heard one of the sailors growl, there being no doubt now that we would be facing the survivors off Sarnian Lady, and they would certainly be ready to fight too! I wondered if Maris would signal the North Star to pick us up? I waited to see the "signal" for that, but the whaleboat was still yet rowing towards shore, the blazing Cleolantis lighting every- thing up as the flames roared up into the cloudy star-less sky! I saw a couple figures "high tailing it" back towards the manor! One male, the other a half naked collared wench! A slave girl! I supposed there had been some sort of a "deck watch" put aboard. "I'm going to tell Maris to `withdraw'," I said to Carol, the whaleboat now pulling up on shore ahead of us, the North Star firing a full broadside over our heads, the bursts of flame ahead of us reminding me much of my old basic training in the Marines! I could see moving spots of light ahead, realized that Darlanis was doubtlessly now fully "aware" of what was happening now too! I suspected I could hear the ring of an alarm bell, giving alarm! The ship was firing alternate fire bombs and patterns of darts, which resemble crossbow bolts. It is an extremely effective weapon against ground forces, but of little use at sea as no catapult is really that accurate and the rolling and movement of the ship reduces the "accuracy" even further. On the other hand as a weapon to be used against ground troops, it is perhaps the best thing available given the current limitations upon technolo- gy imposed upon us by the Priestesses of Lys. While such fire from the ship was not as effective as even a couple 20th Century mortars would have been, on the other hand it sure did the job! I should also mention here that it is possible to fire small clusters of darts from a ballistae. This is the weapon mentioned by Lorraine there in her first book as being used by the Janis to fire "darts" against the pirates in possession of the Seahawk. It is also possible to use these for close range "covering fire". I saw Maris raise her sword, directing the forces under her command, thought of "what" we faced here, and shuddered at the very thought of facing these doubtlessly infuriated Imperials!!! Carol called out to her, but Maris was already dashing ahead of her own forces, her sword glistening there in the light from the burning brush. The first officer leading off his own force. The North Star coming about, and anchoring now at my order, firing a third load of deadly missiles, the ballistae bolts and catapult darts falling far ahead of us! I was aware as perhaps the others were not here that this sort of "fire" was not really all that "effective", but on the other hand it did certainly tend to "de- ter" the Imperials considerably as Darlanis told me later on when Lorraine captured us! The North Star's catapult shot, fired at their maximum range, reaching halfway to the manor house itself a quarter of a mile from the ocean! The ship's own twenty four new "compound ballistae", twelve to a side, each with a range of 550 yards, actually reaching closer to the manor house itself, this being a "new weapon" that so far at least the Imperials had not managed to find out about yet! While these missile weapons were not that "effective" fired as they were, their effect upon the "morale" of Darlanis' people was something else, as they could of course do nothing about it! These new ballistae were "transport- able", I might mention, and could be carried with an invading force to fire over their heads at the enemy. While not all that "effective" used like this, the Imperials did tend to view such "activities" with considerable "concern", as one could not usual- ly see the flying two foot long steel bolts before they struck. Due to the lack of "depth", the North Star had to stay out a fur- long or so from shore to be sure of not "grounding" itself here! "At least there's nothing wrong with Maris' courage," Carol spoke as we leaped from our boat on to the shore, the blazing Cleolantis lighting things up almost as bright as daylight! And also additionally making excellent "targets" out of us for any enemy archers or crossbowmen! The ship firing another broadside over our heads. Such fire being "directed" by signal lights so that it could be directed on the enemy by forward spotters! Much as what was done by similar people back in the Twentieth Century. These tactics were completely "unknown" when we first applied them in this era, and served to greatly demoralize the Imperials who instead of being able to close with our usually militarily inferior forces on a hand to hand basis, first had to endure the firepower of a Dularnian warship's major armament! Also, Carol's practice of staging only night attacks, of face blackening, of hair dying, of using black clothing, also served to hinder the military effectiveness of the enemy in any direct battle with us. I will admit however, that Lorraine got "wise" pretty fast, and at the end of the war was using our own tactics back against us! "Scatter, take cover!" I snapped, motioning with my free hand, my compound crossbow in the other, a couple of riders now galloping towards us. Women with long lances! Our men and women now scattering, seeking the darkness. I heard the "twang" of Carol's compound, saw a saddle "empty", took aim with my Dularni- an crossbow, put a bolt through the neck of the unicorn and its lovely feminine rider, dropping both only a dozen feet before me! "She's dead, Bob!" Carol snapped, pulling me away from the body of the woman I'd killed. I felt "sick", knowing I'd killed her. I remembered hauling her over the side of the Cleolantis. She had been one of Darlanis' warrioresses. An Imperial woman. Glistening about her throat was the gold of a neck chain. I won- dered if she was a mother. Had children whom she had held in her arms. Had once nursed at her bosom. I didn't "feel" quite so "warlike" then. War is much "better" when the enemy is just fig- ures in uniforms that you shoot at from hundreds of yards away! Not quite so nice when the "enemy" is both blonde and beautiful. I muttered something to Carol, followed her, paused for a second to recock my crossbow with the belt hook, put another bolt on the magnetic track. I felt like a "murderer", not a "Warrior" then. "War is truly hell!" I growled, then following my wife. "My `sentiments' exactly," Carol answered in reply! "THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter Nineteen The North Star carried a total of three boats, two large craft thirty feet in length usually carried in between the masts, and a small boat slung over the stern. Depending upon the weath- er, how bad the "seas" are and such, you can carry about fifty to sixty people in the two larger boats, and perhaps a dozen more in the smaller craft. In "landing operations" carried out before my wife and I took charge of things it was usually the practice to have the landing parties row in from a distance out to sea. Such almost "insuring" that they would arrive after a long row some- what "exhausted" from their labors. I on the other hand had the ship tow them in on the end of a long rope, the ship then firing its own armaments as a form of "covering fire" while they made a landing. This quickly became a rather "standard" practice, and was even used by the Imperials themselves under Lorraine before the end of the warfare between the Dularnian Republic and the Em- pire of California in the fall of 2567 with the Treaty of Arsana. The "tactics" were of course based upon the landings made upon the Pacific islands held by the Japanese in the Second World War. The ships off shore firing their heavy guns at the enemy while the landings took place. I am a "Marine". We understand "such". And Carol in her novels developed some "interesting ideas" too! Perhaps Tais "understood" more than I've given her credit for! "We have `our duties to do'," Carol said to me in low tones as the North Star dragged us through the water at a "speed" we'd never have been able to obtain under oar power. The dimly seen, more "sensed" shoreline there to starboard now close by as the second officer took the ship as close in as he dared, relying on the "soundings" made by the men with the leads there in the bow. This was "dangerous" work due to the rocks, many uncharted, but also allowed us a certain degree of "surprise" that we probably wouldn't have had coming in directly straight in from the sea. I had to "smile" a bit at her words there in the darkness, as my wife does not like to be compared to the Imperial Warlady at all! And her "comment" was the sort I'd half expect to hear from her! "I'm glad you're here," I told my Warlady, aware of the warmth of her body, the odor of her perfume as she sat there be- side me, our weapons at our feet. Carol and I have lived togeth- er for fifteen years as man and wife. I have always felt "com- plete" when I had Carol with me. Jon Richards once related to me that he felt much the same about Lorraine. I suspect he loves her as I love my Carol. They are, I think, much "alike" in some ways. More so now than they were in the past. Carol is "hard" in a way. Not like most women. I think that is why I always "liked" her so much right from the beginning. Lila was too "soft", too "submissive". Not the sort of a woman that I "want- ed" as a wife. I didn't know of course about the "interplay" be- tween Carol and Maris there in the hold of the Cleolantis. My wife's establishment of a degree of "sexual dominance" over the Queen of Dularn. The same sort of a "sexual dominance" that Lor- raine might have "had" in the same situation. Maris being the sort of a woman who is capable of being "dominated" by almost any "strong" woman. I note here too that Darlanis (another "domi- nant" woman) was able to somewhat "bluff" Maris during the public debates there in the "disputed territories" much the same way un- til Carol then stepped into the scene to "back up" Maris a bit. "I expect `she' is," Carol answered, indicating the other boat now being dragged alongside our own. I knew that those on the North Star practically "worshiped" Maris, although I also heard that she was not considered a competent military leader. A number of people having said that "old Queen Tulis" would have done a "lot better" against the "Empire" than had Maris so far! It should also be noted here that Darl Jord, Queen Tulis' son, did not desire a wife who had much of a "will" of her own. Maris was probably his "choice" for a wife for reasons that are more "political" in nature than anything else. He practically "ran" Dularn before his death, using Maris as more of a "figurehead" than anything else. She is a "good" Queen, but not a "fighter". The sort of a "Queen" who needs a "CAROL" around to help "defend" her from both the "Darlanis'" and the "Lorraine's" of this world. I recalled a brief conversation I had held with Maris earlier in the evening. "I'm not a `Darlanis'," Maris had said, the "impli- cations" of "that" being something that made me pause for thought just then! "I'm just a `gold digger' who let her `greed' run away with her. Just some jumped up `Vanna White' who `sold' her- self to the Prince of Dularn like any slave girl," she had said.* * As I know a fair amount about Vanna White (she did live in our time), I am always "curious" as to where this "term" came from. It appears that any woman who made a lot of money without really "earning" it was later on often called a "Vanna White". Oddly enough this is a Dularnian term and is unknown elsewhere. (R.S.) "Darlanis made it back," Carol breathed beside me, the North Star turning now, setting us free as she fired her broadside at point blank range, the old Cleolantis bursting into flame as the Dularnian raider turned out to sea to come back around to provide us "covering fire" for our landing. The whaleboat under Maris' command already getting its oars into the water for the short row to shore. The thought now occurring to me as it no doubt did to Carol as I gave the orders to do the same that we might be facing a far larger "force" than we had first "expected" to find here! At least it would be easy to tell "friend" from foe, as any "whi- tey" would be an enemy. Such is always a "problem" at night. It is not uncommon in the heat of battle to mistake friend for foe! "Be like a hornet's nest," I heard one of the sailors growl, there being no doubt now that we would be facing the survivors off Sarnian Lady, and they would certainly be ready to fight too! I wondered if Maris would signal the North Star to pick us up? I waited to see the "signal" for that, but the whaleboat was still yet rowing towards shore, the blazing Cleolantis lighting every- thing up as the flames roared up into the cloudy star-less sky! I saw a couple figures "high tailing it" back towards the manor! One male, the other a half naked collared wench! A slave girl! I supposed there had been some sort of a "deck watch" put aboard. "I'm going to tell Maris to `withdraw'," I said to Carol, the whaleboat now pulling up on shore ahead of us, the North Star firing a full broadside over our heads, the bursts of flame ahead of us reminding me much of my old basic training in the Marines! I could see moving spots of light ahead, realized that Darlanis was doubtlessly now fully "aware" of what was happening now too! I suspected I could hear the ring of an alarm bell, giving alarm! The ship was firing alternate fire bombs and patterns of darts, which resemble crossbow bolts. It is an extremely effective weapon against ground forces, but of little use at sea as no catapult is really that accurate and the rolling and movement of the ship reduces the "accuracy" even further. On the other hand as a weapon to be used against ground troops, it is perhaps the best thing available given the current limitations upon technolo- gy imposed upon us by the Priestesses of Lys. While such fire from the ship was not as effective as even a couple 20th Century mortars would have been, on the other hand it sure did the job! I should also mention here that it is possible to fire small clusters of darts from a ballistae. This is the weapon mentioned by Lorraine there in her first book as being used by the Janis to fire "darts" against the pirates in possession of the Seahawk. It is also possible to use these for close range "covering fire". I saw Maris raise her sword, directing the forces under her command, thought of "what" we faced here, and shuddered at the very thought of facing these doubtlessly infuriated Imperials!!! Carol called out to her, but Maris was already dashing ahead of her own forces, her sword glistening there in the light from the burning brush. The first officer leading off his own force. The North Star coming about, and anchoring now at my order, firing a third load of deadly missiles, the ballistae bolts and catapult darts falling far ahead of us! I was aware as perhaps the others were not here that this sort of "fire" was not really all that "effective", but on the other hand it did certainly tend to "de- ter" the Imperials considerably as Darlanis told me later on when Lorraine captured us! The North Star's catapult shot, fired at their maximum range, reaching halfway to the manor house itself a quarter of a mile from the ocean! The ship's own twenty four new "compound ballistae", twelve to a side, each with a range of 550 yards, actually reaching closer to the manor house itself, this being a "new weapon" that so far at least the Imperials had not managed to find out about yet! While these missile weapons were not that "effective" fired as they were, their effect upon the "morale" of Darlanis' people was something else, as they could of course do nothing about it! These new ballistae were "transport- able", I might mention, and could be carried with an invading force to fire over their heads at the enemy. While not all that "effective" used like this, the Imperials did tend to view such "activities" with considerable "concern", as one could not usual- ly see the flying two foot long steel bolts before they struck. Due to the lack of "depth", the North Star had to stay out a fur- long or so from shore to be sure of not "grounding" itself here! "At least there's nothing wrong with Maris' courage," Carol spoke as we leaped from our boat on to the shore, the blazing Cleolantis lighting things up almost as bright as daylight! And also additionally making excellent "targets" out of us for any enemy archers or crossbowmen! The ship firing another broadside over our heads. Such fire being "directed" by signal lights so that it could be directed on the enemy by forward spotters! Much as what was done by similar people back in the Twentieth Century. These tactics were completely "unknown" when we first applied them in this era, and served to greatly demoralize the Imperials who instead of being able to close with our usually militarily inferior forces on a hand to hand basis, first had to endure the firepower of a Dularnian warship's major armament! Also, Carol's practice of staging only night attacks, of face blackening, of hair dying, of using black clothing, also served to hinder the military effectiveness of the enemy in any direct battle with us. I will admit however, that Lorraine got "wise" pretty fast, and at the end of the war was using our own tactics back against us! "Scatter, take cover!" I snapped, motioning with my free hand, my compound crossbow in the other, a couple of riders now galloping towards us. Women with long lances! Our men and women now scattering, seeking the darkness. I heard the "twang" of Carol's compound, saw a saddle "empty", took aim with my Dularni- an crossbow, put a bolt through the neck of the unicorn and its lovely feminine rider, dropping both only a dozen feet before me! "She's dead, Bob!" Carol snapped, pulling me away from the body of the woman I'd killed. I felt "sick", knowing I'd killed her. I remembered hauling her over the side of the Cleolantis. She had been one of Darlanis' warrioresses. An Imperial woman. Glistening about her throat was the gold of a neck chain. I won- dered if she was a mother. Had children whom she had held in her arms. Had once nursed at her bosom. I didn't "feel" quite so "warlike" then. War is much "better" when the enemy is just fig- ures in uniforms that you shoot at from hundreds of yards away! Not quite so nice when the "enemy" is both blonde and beautiful. I muttered something to Carol, followed her, paused for a second to recock my crossbow with the belt hook, put another bolt on the magnetic track. I felt like a "murderer", not a "Warrior" then. "War is truly hell!" I growled, then following my wife. "My `sentiments' exactly," Carol answered in reply! |
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