"2568-24" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 6 - In Harms Way)"IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Twenty Four "You do have your `share' of `adventures'," Carol said to me as the taxi carriage took us back to the palace where she was now staying with Queen Maris. Such made a lot of sense as Maris had a Physician in attendance and ample slave girls for every "need". Her full breasts in her nursing bra now pushing out her uniform. "And my clothes are `back' where I can never get them," I smiled, Carol having had to get me a complete outfit of clothing. I wondered what the Lorr and her three Servitors would make of my uniform and everything else. They would no doubt take the Portal apart and transport it back to Leith or even to Mars. Then cen- turies later in this time Aurora and her followers would figure out how to make it work as a means of travel between worlds, not realizing that it was also a "time machine" that could "link" two different eras centuries apart. Tais of course had known just "what" could be done with such devices, which is why she had put a "halt" to the work done by the Women there in Leith, Luna, and Mars when she had. Apparently the device was actually "invented" by the Priestesses of Lys sometime in our own future, although it is also possible that they themselves obtained it somewhere else. "We can never go `back' now," Carol said to me, looking out at the passing scenery as the taxi carriage took us back to the Royal Palace of Dularn. "Not with the Lorr waiting for us now." "I didn't think you were ever thinking of `that'," I said. "It has passed my mind from time to time," Carol admitted. "A `return' to the `good old days'?" I smiled back at her. "I think we were `happier' back then," my wife said to me. "The `fantasy' and the `reality' are two different things, aren't they?" I said, taking her hands in mine, her hazel eyes meeting mine as she nodded back. This was not truly our "world". I recalled the conversation I'd once had with Lorraine there that night on the beach before Queen Valeris' Free Women came for us. Lorraine "belonged" in this era, in this time. She fitted here. Her social philosophy, her skills with weapons, all made her a true member of this "world". She had been in the Twentieth Cen- tury only a "misfit", a woman who never did "belong" in it. Here she was at home, a sword at her hip, and "adventure" awaiting... "At least we still have each other," Carol said to me, look- ing into my eyes. I still remembered her there standing in the hot sun baked sands of the Arena in Trella, a sword in her hand, naked but for a bit of leather concealing her sex. I had been very proud of her then. Of the Warrioress she had become, the wife she was to me. There is still only one "Carol", even now... "We have stood together, side by side, back to back," I said to her. That was something no one could ever take away from us. I recalled Lorraine, how I had felt being "bossed around" by her. Carol never ever did that. She never made me feel "inadequate". This is not something in Lorraine's writings. I don't think she is aware of the fact that she is an extremely "dominant" woman... "How did the Priestesses react seeing Tais in a bikini?" my wife asked, a hint of laughter in her voice. I remembered that, Tais jumping through the Portal in that black nylon string of my wife's, the Priestess at the control console staring in open awe. "I don't think she'll live that down for a while," I smiled. Tais had quickly shut off the power, thus isolating the Portal in 1991 from the Portal here in 2568. I supposed that the Lorr and her three Servitors wouldn't take that long getting the Portal disconnected from power and out of the utility room so that they might take it where they could check it out more carefully then. They weren't likely to stick around where someone might see them. "The first `beautiful blonde' that I didn't have to `worry' about," Carol smiled, her hazel eyes glowing warmly up into mine. The sun now sinking in the sky there towards the west, the day almost over. I thought that I was getting my share of adventure! ***************************************************************** "We have a `visitor'," Jard Sandar said to me, poking his head down through the hatch into the semi darkness of the hold as the North Star now sat there in the dry dock being refitted. The sweating men with me looking up from their labors in installing the steam engine there aboard the ship, our new second "steam sailer". While such a vessel was no "match" for a "battleship" such as the Diana, such steam frigates still have considerable "value" as military vessels as they had both sails and an engine. The Northlight, our "first", had been quite a "success". As I had ordered a "spare" engine and boiler set built, Maris had "suggested" that the North Star be the one to receive this engine and boiler set, thus giving Dularn its "second" steam frigate.* * These vessels were fore and aft rigged, not square rigged, but as they were both "steam sailers", they were considered frigates. "Send them down," I replied, turning again to my work of su- pervising the work crew in getting the steam engine installed as Queen Maris wanted it, somewhat "annoyed" just then at being "bothered" by some idle "curious" of the sort I'd met before. Doubtlessly another Senator or other high Dularnian "official". Such people, especially the women, being a real "pain", especial- ly as they didn't "understand" half of what they saw before them. "I think you'd better come look for yourself," he answered. "Looks like Darlanis herself is paying us a visit this time..." "Her Imperial Majesty, Darlanis Marden, Queen of Sarn, Em- press of California!" the Royal Crier announced standing there. The big blonde in her golden mesh now striding into the throne room like she "owned" the place. There were people in Dularn who actually "favored" her over Maris, perhaps due to the fact that Darlanis is supposedly the "daughter" of Queen Tulis, who was the Queen of Dularn before Maris Marn. Darlanis also is somewhat more "impressive" than Maris, and "looks" the part of what one thinks an Empress should look like. A "Shannon Tweed" on "ster- oids" is a pretty damn good "description" of the Empress. I do "admire" the woman, although she isn't all that "bright" in some ways, Darlanis being something of a "dumb blonde" in some ways... "Trouble in high heels," Carol whispered, giving me a smile. My wife in a long green gown, the first time that she'd worn such since giving birth to our baby daughter some ten days before now. Her hair was attractively done, with a number of small diamonds set in its darkness. Carol was wearing a nursing halter under- neath the clinging silken gown, since otherwise her heavy milk filled breasts would have drooped somewhat unattractively just now. The Lords and Ladies of Dularn all gathered in their formal dress to "honor" the Empress of California. Darlanis nodding to them. In her spike heels she towered over every woman there too! "Hugh Hefner would have loved her," I whispered back to her. Darlanis is one of the most beautiful women who has ever lived. She is "awesome", a big tall (5'10") rather "muscular" blonde. A "SHE-RA" of the 26th Century. Incredibly courageous, but not considered by most as being much of a military commander. On the other hand she had done rather well against the Alaskan pirates who had kidnaped Sharon some months before, so she was obviously more "competent" than most people gave her "credit" for being. "She `wants' something from us," Maris said from beside me. Darlanis had brought three steam frigates with her, stating that she was going to be "pirate hunting" there to the north of Du- larn. As most pirate vessels would easily outrun her steam frig- ates, I suspected that she had plans to wage a campaign of mass destruction against whatever coastal villages she could burn up!! "Probably to `stay out of her way'," my wife "suggested"... "I understand you are now a father," Darlanis said to me as we danced. I'd always wondered what it would be "like" to dance with Darlanis. To hold that magnificent perfect body to yours. The "reality" turning out to be something of a "disappointment". Her husband was off fighting another war somewhere in the east. The Nevadas are a warlike people, always "fighting" somebody... "You probably met up with Lorraine," I smiled back at her. "I understand the Diana's maiden voyage was successful," the Empress said, her azure eyes burning into mine from inches away. "I'm glad that you desire peaceful relations with us," I an- swered, seeing Darlanis "smile" in reply, there being no "answer" she could give to a comment like that except to "agree" with me. "I have learned a bit of `wisdom' over the years," Darlanis smiled. "And sometimes the sword is unsuited for certain tasks." "You have a beautiful daughter," Darlanis said, looking down at Hope as she sucked away at her mother's breast, Carol holding a folded cloth over herself as nursing women now do in this era. "Perhaps she can grow up without knowing war," Carol said. "That is the wish of every mother," Darlanis smiled back. "Man has never known `peace' since The War," I pointed out. "And before it Man lived under a `political tyranny'," the Queen of Dularn observed, giving me a smile as I now nodded back. By Dularnian "standards" the World Federation "was", although by the "standards" of Twentieth Century America it probably wasn't. Janet did run things with a "tight rein", but on the other hand she was smart enough to know when to leave well enough alone too! "Those who lived in the World Federation for the most part did not consider it so," Darlanis smiled back in honeyed tones... "Just as those who live under my rule do not see `things' as you do." Those azure eyes blazing in open challenge as Maris nodded. "IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Twenty Four "You do have your `share' of `adventures'," Carol said to me as the taxi carriage took us back to the palace where she was now staying with Queen Maris. Such made a lot of sense as Maris had a Physician in attendance and ample slave girls for every "need". Her full breasts in her nursing bra now pushing out her uniform. "And my clothes are `back' where I can never get them," I smiled, Carol having had to get me a complete outfit of clothing. I wondered what the Lorr and her three Servitors would make of my uniform and everything else. They would no doubt take the Portal apart and transport it back to Leith or even to Mars. Then cen- turies later in this time Aurora and her followers would figure out how to make it work as a means of travel between worlds, not realizing that it was also a "time machine" that could "link" two different eras centuries apart. Tais of course had known just "what" could be done with such devices, which is why she had put a "halt" to the work done by the Women there in Leith, Luna, and Mars when she had. Apparently the device was actually "invented" by the Priestesses of Lys sometime in our own future, although it is also possible that they themselves obtained it somewhere else. "We can never go `back' now," Carol said to me, looking out at the passing scenery as the taxi carriage took us back to the Royal Palace of Dularn. "Not with the Lorr waiting for us now." "I didn't think you were ever thinking of `that'," I said. "It has passed my mind from time to time," Carol admitted. "A `return' to the `good old days'?" I smiled back at her. "I think we were `happier' back then," my wife said to me. "The `fantasy' and the `reality' are two different things, aren't they?" I said, taking her hands in mine, her hazel eyes meeting mine as she nodded back. This was not truly our "world". I recalled the conversation I'd once had with Lorraine there that night on the beach before Queen Valeris' Free Women came for us. Lorraine "belonged" in this era, in this time. She fitted here. Her social philosophy, her skills with weapons, all made her a true member of this "world". She had been in the Twentieth Cen- tury only a "misfit", a woman who never did "belong" in it. Here she was at home, a sword at her hip, and "adventure" awaiting... "At least we still have each other," Carol said to me, look- ing into my eyes. I still remembered her there standing in the hot sun baked sands of the Arena in Trella, a sword in her hand, naked but for a bit of leather concealing her sex. I had been very proud of her then. Of the Warrioress she had become, the wife she was to me. There is still only one "Carol", even now... "We have stood together, side by side, back to back," I said to her. That was something no one could ever take away from us. I recalled Lorraine, how I had felt being "bossed around" by her. Carol never ever did that. She never made me feel "inadequate". This is not something in Lorraine's writings. I don't think she is aware of the fact that she is an extremely "dominant" woman... "How did the Priestesses react seeing Tais in a bikini?" my wife asked, a hint of laughter in her voice. I remembered that, Tais jumping through the Portal in that black nylon string of my wife's, the Priestess at the control console staring in open awe. "I don't think she'll live that down for a while," I smiled. Tais had quickly shut off the power, thus isolating the Portal in 1991 from the Portal here in 2568. I supposed that the Lorr and her three Servitors wouldn't take that long getting the Portal disconnected from power and out of the utility room so that they might take it where they could check it out more carefully then. They weren't likely to stick around where someone might see them. "The first `beautiful blonde' that I didn't have to `worry' about," Carol smiled, her hazel eyes glowing warmly up into mine. The sun now sinking in the sky there towards the west, the day almost over. I thought that I was getting my share of adventure! ***************************************************************** "We have a `visitor'," Jard Sandar said to me, poking his head down through the hatch into the semi darkness of the hold as the North Star now sat there in the dry dock being refitted. The sweating men with me looking up from their labors in installing the steam engine there aboard the ship, our new second "steam sailer". While such a vessel was no "match" for a "battleship" such as the Diana, such steam frigates still have considerable "value" as military vessels as they had both sails and an engine. The Northlight, our "first", had been quite a "success". As I had ordered a "spare" engine and boiler set built, Maris had "suggested" that the North Star be the one to receive this engine and boiler set, thus giving Dularn its "second" steam frigate.* * These vessels were fore and aft rigged, not square rigged, but as they were both "steam sailers", they were considered frigates. "Send them down," I replied, turning again to my work of su- pervising the work crew in getting the steam engine installed as Queen Maris wanted it, somewhat "annoyed" just then at being "bothered" by some idle "curious" of the sort I'd met before. Doubtlessly another Senator or other high Dularnian "official". Such people, especially the women, being a real "pain", especial- ly as they didn't "understand" half of what they saw before them. "I think you'd better come look for yourself," he answered. "Looks like Darlanis herself is paying us a visit this time..." "Her Imperial Majesty, Darlanis Marden, Queen of Sarn, Em- press of California!" the Royal Crier announced standing there. The big blonde in her golden mesh now striding into the throne room like she "owned" the place. There were people in Dularn who actually "favored" her over Maris, perhaps due to the fact that Darlanis is supposedly the "daughter" of Queen Tulis, who was the Queen of Dularn before Maris Marn. Darlanis also is somewhat more "impressive" than Maris, and "looks" the part of what one thinks an Empress should look like. A "Shannon Tweed" on "ster- oids" is a pretty damn good "description" of the Empress. I do "admire" the woman, although she isn't all that "bright" in some ways, Darlanis being something of a "dumb blonde" in some ways... "Trouble in high heels," Carol whispered, giving me a smile. My wife in a long green gown, the first time that she'd worn such since giving birth to our baby daughter some ten days before now. Her hair was attractively done, with a number of small diamonds set in its darkness. Carol was wearing a nursing halter under- neath the clinging silken gown, since otherwise her heavy milk filled breasts would have drooped somewhat unattractively just now. The Lords and Ladies of Dularn all gathered in their formal dress to "honor" the Empress of California. Darlanis nodding to them. In her spike heels she towered over every woman there too! "Hugh Hefner would have loved her," I whispered back to her. Darlanis is one of the most beautiful women who has ever lived. She is "awesome", a big tall (5'10") rather "muscular" blonde. A "SHE-RA" of the 26th Century. Incredibly courageous, but not considered by most as being much of a military commander. On the other hand she had done rather well against the Alaskan pirates who had kidnaped Sharon some months before, so she was obviously more "competent" than most people gave her "credit" for being. "She `wants' something from us," Maris said from beside me. Darlanis had brought three steam frigates with her, stating that she was going to be "pirate hunting" there to the north of Du- larn. As most pirate vessels would easily outrun her steam frig- ates, I suspected that she had plans to wage a campaign of mass destruction against whatever coastal villages she could burn up!! "Probably to `stay out of her way'," my wife "suggested"... "I understand you are now a father," Darlanis said to me as we danced. I'd always wondered what it would be "like" to dance with Darlanis. To hold that magnificent perfect body to yours. The "reality" turning out to be something of a "disappointment". Her husband was off fighting another war somewhere in the east. The Nevadas are a warlike people, always "fighting" somebody... "You probably met up with Lorraine," I smiled back at her. "I understand the Diana's maiden voyage was successful," the Empress said, her azure eyes burning into mine from inches away. "I'm glad that you desire peaceful relations with us," I an- swered, seeing Darlanis "smile" in reply, there being no "answer" she could give to a comment like that except to "agree" with me. "I have learned a bit of `wisdom' over the years," Darlanis smiled. "And sometimes the sword is unsuited for certain tasks." "You have a beautiful daughter," Darlanis said, looking down at Hope as she sucked away at her mother's breast, Carol holding a folded cloth over herself as nursing women now do in this era. "Perhaps she can grow up without knowing war," Carol said. "That is the wish of every mother," Darlanis smiled back. "Man has never known `peace' since The War," I pointed out. "And before it Man lived under a `political tyranny'," the Queen of Dularn observed, giving me a smile as I now nodded back. By Dularnian "standards" the World Federation "was", although by the "standards" of Twentieth Century America it probably wasn't. Janet did run things with a "tight rein", but on the other hand she was smart enough to know when to leave well enough alone too! "Those who lived in the World Federation for the most part did not consider it so," Darlanis smiled back in honeyed tones... "Just as those who live under my rule do not see `things' as you do." Those azure eyes blazing in open challenge as Maris nodded. |
|
|