"2567-41" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 5 - The Warlady Of Dularn)"THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter Forty One "Go to Hell!" was the "answer" we got from the crippled Swiftstar. Obviously Darlanis had given the order to send "that" instead of a more "proper" reply giving the circumstances. Maris lowered the telescope, her eyes for a brief second meeting mine. The Swiftstar laid helpless in the water, almost defenseless against us with her foremast gone. A more "able" crew might have done something to regain control, I suspected thoughtfully, but Darlanis' own people were doubtlessly unfamilar with fore and aft rigged ships save for Valerie Dunn herself. On the other hand the damage was such that perhaps there was little to be done now. Although I suspect that Maris in Darlanis' place would have done "something". I know Maris. There is no greater sailor anywhere. "When we cross their bow, fire the port broadside," she said. "And tell the crew to `AIM'," she added in level tones. I wondered if they would. I suspected many thought like Carol did. They would be "sitting ducks", almost unable to defend them- selves. "Dead in the water", a floating wreck half dismasted... "We could fire their sails, force them to abandon ship," I said. We could put everyone "ashore" but for Darlanis then too. "She" we could keep as a "hostage" until we got safely to Dularn. "That" would deal with the problem of "Lorraine" out there too... The clipper could be "dealt" with if necessary by fire missiles. "I will not use fire at sea," Maris answered in icy tones. "I'm sorry, Valerie, for being such a `bitch'," Darlanis said, touching the woman's arm. "You were right after all too." It had been her orders that had gotten them all into this "mess"! "We'll take some of them with us to greet Lys," Valerie Dunn answered the Empress, her sword glistening there in her hand. The North Star now closing the range, its "intentions" obvious... "Man those forward ballistae, open fire on them!" Darlanis snapped then. "Get those other ballistae swung around!" There was no hope of victory now, only an honorable death in battle. She wondered what her "fate" would be. Obviously she had sur- vived long enough to give birth to her daughter, although Domino had not mentioned anything more about her on the strange 21st Century computer card that had been found with her remains except to say that she remembered her mother as being "tall and golden". She had often discussed the writings with Lorraine, although the Warlady hadn't been able to help her much with them. On the oth- er hand was she actually the mother of Domino Tremaine? Or had SHARON perhaps been her true mother, and Domino merely recalled her own name as words she'd once heard her own real mother say... I saw a woman hit, pinned like a fly against the main mast! Other such missiles striking the hull, a couple ripping through the sails. A catapult shot ripping a hold in the main sail! I saw Carol lift her sword, then swing it down. The ship shudder- ing as the broadside was now fired. The range was just within bowshot. About a furlong, two hundred and twenty yards, the dis- tance the English longbow could usually be relied upon to shoot. I watched our volley of arrows disappear up into the azure blue. I wondered how many "hits" they'd make now aboard the Swiftstar? "Hard to port, let fly the jib!" Maris suddenly snapped, standing there. "Starboard battery, fire when your weapons bear!" I saw Carol glance up at me as the ship swung around only a hundred yards or so now from the Swiftstar. I think she under- stood the true meaning of "war" now in a way she'd never known it before. Swiftstar was still lying helpless in the waves, only a partial broadside having come our way. Some of their "fire" had been crossbow bolts and arrows. Their main armament difficult to use as long as they lacked the ability to maneuver. I glanced at Maris, our eyes meeting... I didn't want to fire another volley! "I am not proud of what I am doing, but `A Warrioress does not leave a living enemy behind her'," the Queen of Dularn spoke. Such is one of the "sayings" that are part of the "caste codes". "Like Vietnam where we killed women and children," I said. "That war is written up in our history books," she replied. "You were a cruel and `violent' people, more `warlike' than we," she added. I supposed that it might be "possible" in a way too. ***************************************************************** "The North Star is coming about now," Valerie spoke, stand- ing there beside the Empress of California. She watched Darlanis draw her awesome bow, the arrow disappear into the sky towards the enemy. She wanted to tell the Empress to seek what "safety" she could, but as a Warrioress she knew better than to speak so. "We will not be `alone' when we stand before Lys," Darlanis answered, fitting another arrow to her string. The bodies scat- tered here and there on the deck speaking now of the enemy ship's weaponry and missiles. The North Star was just within bowshot... "Your courage inspires...," Valerie started to say, the ar- row from the North Star piercing her heart just at that moment!!! ***************************************************************** "Missed the bitch!" Carol snarled to herself, fitting anoth- er arrow on her string. She'd been shooting at Darlanis, but without any success, although she'd apparently hit Valerie Dunn! Darlanis now couching over the woman, her golden body visible to the brownette's hazel eyes. She wondered if the myths about the Empress of California were true. Was Darlanis the mother of the woman who Bob and she had met there in Spain only a year ago...? "Someone got their captain," Maris said, lowering the tele- scope. The crew of the Swiftstar was still shooting at us, how- ever. I suspected that as long as Darlanis lived they would con- tinue to fight regardless of the odds against them. A crossbow bolt thunking into the binnacle beside us ample "proof" of that!! "Clipper's getting close now," I said, reminding Maris of that "threat" to us. True, the clipper was no true "match" for us, but it did carry a dozen ballistae a side, and doubtlessly I knew there would be those aboard who knew how to use a bow or a crossbow. Such weapons being carried as policy against pirates. It also had a heavy steel ram, and the weight to smash our ship! "Set all sail, course due north!" Maris snapped, having made her "decision" regardless of what others might say later of this! We could have perhaps fired another volley into the Swiftstar be- fore leaving, but I think Maris too had little wish to do so now! ***************************************************************** "They're leaving!" the first officer cried, the delight now showing in his voice as Darlanis looked up at him, the lifeless body of Valerie Dunn in her arms. The Empress having had no doubts that Maris Marn would have continued her attacks until there was no longer any "resistance" from the Swiftstar had the clipper not come for them despite its own "vulnerability" to the raider. She wondered too how badly damaged the ship was from the hits by the ballistae bolts, which did have the capability she knew to pierce the hulls of most ships. The sails of the clipper lovely against the azure blue of the sky, the green of the sea. "Her blood is on my hands," Darlanis said, kneeling there beside the body. She was "responsible" for the deaths, the in- jured now below. A blurring of her vision making her wipe at her eyes as she stood. The sails of the North Star to the north. Now it would be up to Lorraine. The Warlady of Imperial Califor- nia. "THE GREATEST FIGHTING WOMAN OF ALL TIME!" Darlanis mused to herself, turning away from the others so that they might not see the tears in her eyes. Lorraine would destroy the North Star, and that would be the "end" to all this. To Maris Marn and those two from the 20th Century. Perhaps it was just as well that their "blood" would be on Lorraine's hands instead of hers. ***************************************************************** "We `beat' Darlanis," Carol said, standing there beside Ma- ris, looking astern at the two ships now side by side. I didn't think it was all that much of a "victory". We had "tricked" Dar- lanis into wrecking her ship in her pursuit of us. No doubt had the clipper not intervened we would have been able to either cap- ture or kill the Empress, although I didn't think that the latter was "possible". Darlanis would live to give birth, to raise a little girl who in 2047, five hundred and twenty years before, would write as a dying woman her last memories of her beloved mother there far underneath the great stone castle of Triskelion. "I feel `sorry' for her," Maris then said, turning away now. "What do you mean...?" Carol snapped, my wife looking up at me as I took her arm, guided her away from the Queen of Dularn. I understood if Carol had not how "unequal" this fight had been. "Darlanis is a proud woman," I said to Carol. "She has lost much this day." My brownette nodding, her hazel eyes meeting the darkness of my own. I think Carol "understood". She too takes considerable pride in her own fighting abilities, her leadership. ***************************************************************** "Is there anything I can do for you?" the captain of the clipper said, well "aware" of his Empress' own "discomfort" now. With the help of his men it had been possible to effect some de- gree of repairs to the Swiftstar. Enough in any case that the ship could be sailed to a coastal seaport for additional repairs. "There are the dead to be buried at sea," she answered. He nodded, well aware of what would be "said" when the ship reached port. He'd already heard the stories of Darlanis' "incompetency" at command. Of the fact that she had given orders that had re- sulted in the partial dismasting of the Swiftstar while in pur- suit of the North Star. There would be those in the Empire who would call into question now the golden Empress' own ability to rule her people. Those who would say that the Queen of Trelan- dar, the incomparable Lorraine, was a more "fit" Imperial ruler! "THE WARLADY OF DULARN" 2567 A.D.! By Jerome Bigge Chapter Forty One "Go to Hell!" was the "answer" we got from the crippled Swiftstar. Obviously Darlanis had given the order to send "that" instead of a more "proper" reply giving the circumstances. Maris lowered the telescope, her eyes for a brief second meeting mine. The Swiftstar laid helpless in the water, almost defenseless against us with her foremast gone. A more "able" crew might have done something to regain control, I suspected thoughtfully, but Darlanis' own people were doubtlessly unfamilar with fore and aft rigged ships save for Valerie Dunn herself. On the other hand the damage was such that perhaps there was little to be done now. Although I suspect that Maris in Darlanis' place would have done "something". I know Maris. There is no greater sailor anywhere. "When we cross their bow, fire the port broadside," she said. "And tell the crew to `AIM'," she added in level tones. I wondered if they would. I suspected many thought like Carol did. They would be "sitting ducks", almost unable to defend them- selves. "Dead in the water", a floating wreck half dismasted... "We could fire their sails, force them to abandon ship," I said. We could put everyone "ashore" but for Darlanis then too. "She" we could keep as a "hostage" until we got safely to Dularn. "That" would deal with the problem of "Lorraine" out there too... The clipper could be "dealt" with if necessary by fire missiles. "I will not use fire at sea," Maris answered in icy tones. "I'm sorry, Valerie, for being such a `bitch'," Darlanis said, touching the woman's arm. "You were right after all too." It had been her orders that had gotten them all into this "mess"! "We'll take some of them with us to greet Lys," Valerie Dunn answered the Empress, her sword glistening there in her hand. The North Star now closing the range, its "intentions" obvious... "Man those forward ballistae, open fire on them!" Darlanis snapped then. "Get those other ballistae swung around!" There was no hope of victory now, only an honorable death in battle. She wondered what her "fate" would be. Obviously she had sur- vived long enough to give birth to her daughter, although Domino had not mentioned anything more about her on the strange 21st Century computer card that had been found with her remains except to say that she remembered her mother as being "tall and golden". She had often discussed the writings with Lorraine, although the Warlady hadn't been able to help her much with them. On the oth- er hand was she actually the mother of Domino Tremaine? Or had SHARON perhaps been her true mother, and Domino merely recalled her own name as words she'd once heard her own real mother say... I saw a woman hit, pinned like a fly against the main mast! Other such missiles striking the hull, a couple ripping through the sails. A catapult shot ripping a hold in the main sail! I saw Carol lift her sword, then swing it down. The ship shudder- ing as the broadside was now fired. The range was just within bowshot. About a furlong, two hundred and twenty yards, the dis- tance the English longbow could usually be relied upon to shoot. I watched our volley of arrows disappear up into the azure blue. I wondered how many "hits" they'd make now aboard the Swiftstar? "Hard to port, let fly the jib!" Maris suddenly snapped, standing there. "Starboard battery, fire when your weapons bear!" I saw Carol glance up at me as the ship swung around only a hundred yards or so now from the Swiftstar. I think she under- stood the true meaning of "war" now in a way she'd never known it before. Swiftstar was still lying helpless in the waves, only a partial broadside having come our way. Some of their "fire" had been crossbow bolts and arrows. Their main armament difficult to use as long as they lacked the ability to maneuver. I glanced at Maris, our eyes meeting... I didn't want to fire another volley! "I am not proud of what I am doing, but `A Warrioress does not leave a living enemy behind her'," the Queen of Dularn spoke. Such is one of the "sayings" that are part of the "caste codes". "Like Vietnam where we killed women and children," I said. "That war is written up in our history books," she replied. "You were a cruel and `violent' people, more `warlike' than we," she added. I supposed that it might be "possible" in a way too. ***************************************************************** "The North Star is coming about now," Valerie spoke, stand- ing there beside the Empress of California. She watched Darlanis draw her awesome bow, the arrow disappear into the sky towards the enemy. She wanted to tell the Empress to seek what "safety" she could, but as a Warrioress she knew better than to speak so. "We will not be `alone' when we stand before Lys," Darlanis answered, fitting another arrow to her string. The bodies scat- tered here and there on the deck speaking now of the enemy ship's weaponry and missiles. The North Star was just within bowshot... "Your courage inspires...," Valerie started to say, the ar- row from the North Star piercing her heart just at that moment!!! ***************************************************************** "Missed the bitch!" Carol snarled to herself, fitting anoth- er arrow on her string. She'd been shooting at Darlanis, but without any success, although she'd apparently hit Valerie Dunn! Darlanis now couching over the woman, her golden body visible to the brownette's hazel eyes. She wondered if the myths about the Empress of California were true. Was Darlanis the mother of the woman who Bob and she had met there in Spain only a year ago...? "Someone got their captain," Maris said, lowering the tele- scope. The crew of the Swiftstar was still shooting at us, how- ever. I suspected that as long as Darlanis lived they would con- tinue to fight regardless of the odds against them. A crossbow bolt thunking into the binnacle beside us ample "proof" of that!! "Clipper's getting close now," I said, reminding Maris of that "threat" to us. True, the clipper was no true "match" for us, but it did carry a dozen ballistae a side, and doubtlessly I knew there would be those aboard who knew how to use a bow or a crossbow. Such weapons being carried as policy against pirates. It also had a heavy steel ram, and the weight to smash our ship! "Set all sail, course due north!" Maris snapped, having made her "decision" regardless of what others might say later of this! We could have perhaps fired another volley into the Swiftstar be- fore leaving, but I think Maris too had little wish to do so now! ***************************************************************** "They're leaving!" the first officer cried, the delight now showing in his voice as Darlanis looked up at him, the lifeless body of Valerie Dunn in her arms. The Empress having had no doubts that Maris Marn would have continued her attacks until there was no longer any "resistance" from the Swiftstar had the clipper not come for them despite its own "vulnerability" to the raider. She wondered too how badly damaged the ship was from the hits by the ballistae bolts, which did have the capability she knew to pierce the hulls of most ships. The sails of the clipper lovely against the azure blue of the sky, the green of the sea. "Her blood is on my hands," Darlanis said, kneeling there beside the body. She was "responsible" for the deaths, the in- jured now below. A blurring of her vision making her wipe at her eyes as she stood. The sails of the North Star to the north. Now it would be up to Lorraine. The Warlady of Imperial Califor- nia. "THE GREATEST FIGHTING WOMAN OF ALL TIME!" Darlanis mused to herself, turning away from the others so that they might not see the tears in her eyes. Lorraine would destroy the North Star, and that would be the "end" to all this. To Maris Marn and those two from the 20th Century. Perhaps it was just as well that their "blood" would be on Lorraine's hands instead of hers. ***************************************************************** "We `beat' Darlanis," Carol said, standing there beside Ma- ris, looking astern at the two ships now side by side. I didn't think it was all that much of a "victory". We had "tricked" Dar- lanis into wrecking her ship in her pursuit of us. No doubt had the clipper not intervened we would have been able to either cap- ture or kill the Empress, although I didn't think that the latter was "possible". Darlanis would live to give birth, to raise a little girl who in 2047, five hundred and twenty years before, would write as a dying woman her last memories of her beloved mother there far underneath the great stone castle of Triskelion. "I feel `sorry' for her," Maris then said, turning away now. "What do you mean...?" Carol snapped, my wife looking up at me as I took her arm, guided her away from the Queen of Dularn. I understood if Carol had not how "unequal" this fight had been. "Darlanis is a proud woman," I said to Carol. "She has lost much this day." My brownette nodding, her hazel eyes meeting the darkness of my own. I think Carol "understood". She too takes considerable pride in her own fighting abilities, her leadership. ***************************************************************** "Is there anything I can do for you?" the captain of the clipper said, well "aware" of his Empress' own "discomfort" now. With the help of his men it had been possible to effect some de- gree of repairs to the Swiftstar. Enough in any case that the ship could be sailed to a coastal seaport for additional repairs. "There are the dead to be buried at sea," she answered. He nodded, well aware of what would be "said" when the ship reached port. He'd already heard the stories of Darlanis' "incompetency" at command. Of the fact that she had given orders that had re- sulted in the partial dismasting of the Swiftstar while in pur- suit of the North Star. There would be those in the Empire who would call into question now the golden Empress' own ability to rule her people. Those who would say that the Queen of Trelan- dar, the incomparable Lorraine, was a more "fit" Imperial ruler! |
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