"2568-28" - 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 Eight "North Star reports `enemy in sight', sir," the first lieu- tenant of the Diana said to me, Kathi busy cleaning up the cabin, the steady "beat" of the battleship's triple engines reassuring. It is pleasant to watch such a wench at work, her skirt "short" enough that the masculine eye is drawn to what lies "underneath". "I'll come," I answered, setting down the history book Tasha had given me. One that she had written there in Arsana only a few months ago, drawing upon the work of many other Scribes. She was "smart", a woman who had a better mind than most people of this era. I understood much now that I hadn't before of our his- tory before The War of 2047 changed everything. I think Tasha too had realized that "racism" is a two edged sword that cuts both ways. Her "history" wasn't perfectly "accurate", but she had done a good job of digging up the "truth", the book covering the time period from the American Civil War to the year 2050 A.D. There is a somewhat "similar" book written by Keri Greyson of the same caste as Tasha Cabot, which covers the same era, but from a somewhat different view. Both are well worth reading too. Unfortunately the Lorr as I've noted here put a halt to the hopes of the Priestesses to do their own "exploratory research" in the last decade of the 20th Century and the first decade of the 21st. "What do we have?" I asked, climbing up the metal ladder, captain Sandra Steven now peering through a telescope at the dis- tant mast heads of the North Star there on the horizon. The mid- shipman beside her, the smoke rising up from our triple stacks amidships, the other ships following in a line there behind us. The North Star was acting as a scout, being quite a bit "faster" than the square rigged Imperial steam frigates in sailing to windward. A cool sea breeze blowing off the Pacific as I stood there with them now on the top of the forward quickfirer turret. "Topsail schooner," Sandra answered, reading the flashes. "We're out of Dularnian territorial waters now," I said. "I'd like to go to three quarters," she said to me then. "You won't catch one of those with this," I smiled back. "North Star is still in pursuit," the midshipman spoke. "Signal the other ships," I said to the midshipman. I sus- pected that Darlanis could read our signals, the mast heads of her ship being high enough to see the tops of the North Star's. "You may go to three quarters if you wish," I "added" for Sandra. "North Star's still pulling away from us," Sandra said. I nodded. I was well aware that the North Star was faster than the Diana, especially when under a "combination" of sail and steam... "Stay at three quarters," I answered, climbing the ladder. "Signals from the Imperials?" I asked the midshipman, a young man that I had some "hopes" might turn into a sea officer. The Imperial ships had broken formation, and were now almost up to us, their yards bulging with sails as they now took the wind. I supposed they were trying to get steam up, but that takes time. "None, sir," he answered, his eyes bright with excitement. "It will be the North Star's prize," I pointed out to him. "I don't `envy' those `she' gets her hands on," he replied. I could see the two ships as the Diana came chugging up, the three Imperial steam frigates now holding their position close by, while the Northlight kept its station on us astern. I did not "envy" the captain or crew of the captured raiding vessel, especially as Darlanis is not too "patient" a woman and I expect- ed that she wouldn't be too "gentle" with her captive either now. "The captain `admitted' that they have had `communications' with Princess Tara," Darlanis said to me there in her ornate stern cabin, the sun now settling there in the west over the sea. "Under torture he would tell you `anything' he thought you wanted to hear," I pointed out, the Empress now nodding in reply. I didn't "ask" what sort of "methods" that she'd used, being well aware that aboard a steam ship like this there were lots of hot pipes and such as well as a boiler to heat up various "devices". "If we destroy these pirate bases and their ships, then I think your Queen will grant me the `assistance' I desire," Darla- nis answered, her azure eyes holding mine. I thought of the in- nocents that would be killed, the women and children as our ships fired broadsides of javelins and fire bombs into defenseless vil- lages. I remembered another war, another time now mostly "myth". Burning villages, innocent women and children like burned husks. "In another year new ships will be built, and there will be the same `raids' as before," I answered. These people were poor. All they had was the sea, the lumber to build ships to raid upon Dularn, steal the things that they could not make or afford to buy. I wondered if there was another "solution" to this problem? "We need to find a better solution to these problems than killing people with `bigger and better' weapons before we end up dropping atomic bombs in another century or so," I said, standing there... "You `talk' like a Priestess," Darlanis snapped back at me. Such is considered something of an "insult" in this era, I note. It being held that the Priestesses of Lys are always willing to "see the other side", and that they "abhor" war in all its forms. For this reason they will never serve on a ship of war, nor will they "bless" such vessels or anything else having to do with war. They do believe in "self defense", but that is the limit they go. "I think we could `hire' these people to fight for `us'," I said, keeping my voice level, ignoring the Empress' own "insult" which really didn't mean all that "much" to me, not as it might to someone actually "from" this time, who would see it different. And Dularn could use "allies" here, especially as Queen Valeris was starting to "worry" us now with her own "activities", there having been a minor clash between her forces and the Wyomings. I was well aware of the "dangers" of "feminism", especially the "sort" that Queen Valeris represented, in an "era" like this one. An "alliance" between Dularn and the "Northmen" might be useful. The one between Dularn and the Wyomings certainly had been such. "I rather doubt that they will attack the Diana," I said, Sandra nodding as I stepped down into the boat, the village there on shore much like that the Vikings had built sixteen centuries before. With me was the lieutenant from the raider, the vessel having escorted us into this little snug bay. While the Diana was in no danger due to its construction, any wooden ship would have been in a lot of trouble, judging from the catapults set up. "You could end up being held for ransom," Darlanis observed. "I don't think these people are that `stupid'," I replied. "What sort of vessel is that you came in?" she said to me. She was "blonde", tall, the same size physically as Darlanis, but not as good looking. I considered her a doubtlessly "competent" woman, one who no doubt held the loyalty of those men about her. This big building of rough hewn logs now serving as her "palace". She was the "Queen" of these people, her husband having been killed in a battle shortly before against Queen Valeris' forces. Valeris pushing her way "south", armed now with Imperial weapons and "advised" by Imperial military advisors of the Warrioresses. I suspected too that Darlanis was not all that "friendly" towards Dularn as she had seemed. That she still lusted after the "em- pire" of her dreams, a "second Rome" here on the western coast of North America stretching from Baja to Alaska. A social order of semi-independent nations all ruled by that tall Imperial Empress. "It is a steam powered battleship, proof against all, your majesty," I answered, seeing her nod. Her name was Freydis, a fitting name I felt for such a woman. With Dularnian weapons and our own "advisors" she might be able to hold Valeris at bay now. She was clad in leather, a long bladed sword there at her hip. I thought of Lana Clarkson, of the movie "BARBARIAN QUEEN" I'd seen back in the Twentieth Century. Queen Freydis was much like that. "Do you speak for the Queen of Dularn?" Queen Freydis asked, a young woman, blonde like her mother sitting there at her side. "The Queen of Dularn listens to my words, often follows my suggestions," I answered, seeing the Princess nodding in reply... Queen Freydis' son had died with his father in the battle against the "Free Women", their deaths no doubt thanks to Darlanis' own activities here. With better weapons and perhaps assistance from the Wyomings and Dularn we could put a "halt" to Valeris' "march to the south". Otherwise we'd end up some day fighting her our- selves in the forests of Dularn, and no one wanted to see "that"! "The `Queen of the North' has offered us much," she replied. "Things that we've never had before, including the drugs that ex- tend life and medicines to cure diseases we now often die from." Such "medicines" Valeris herself had obtained from California. I recalled the savagery of Valeris' women, their own "cruelty" to- wards men. Such was common knowledge now in Dularn among many. "And `what' has she `asked' in return?" I "challenged" her. "That women `rule'," Queen Freydis answered in level tones. "And that you eventually `become' as them," I added for her. "She has not asked that of us," Freydis answered in reply. "Not yet..." I smiled, standing there before her throne. "IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Twenty Eight "North Star reports `enemy in sight', sir," the first lieu- tenant of the Diana said to me, Kathi busy cleaning up the cabin, the steady "beat" of the battleship's triple engines reassuring. It is pleasant to watch such a wench at work, her skirt "short" enough that the masculine eye is drawn to what lies "underneath". "I'll come," I answered, setting down the history book Tasha had given me. One that she had written there in Arsana only a few months ago, drawing upon the work of many other Scribes. She was "smart", a woman who had a better mind than most people of this era. I understood much now that I hadn't before of our his- tory before The War of 2047 changed everything. I think Tasha too had realized that "racism" is a two edged sword that cuts both ways. Her "history" wasn't perfectly "accurate", but she had done a good job of digging up the "truth", the book covering the time period from the American Civil War to the year 2050 A.D. There is a somewhat "similar" book written by Keri Greyson of the same caste as Tasha Cabot, which covers the same era, but from a somewhat different view. Both are well worth reading too. Unfortunately the Lorr as I've noted here put a halt to the hopes of the Priestesses to do their own "exploratory research" in the last decade of the 20th Century and the first decade of the 21st. "What do we have?" I asked, climbing up the metal ladder, captain Sandra Steven now peering through a telescope at the dis- tant mast heads of the North Star there on the horizon. The mid- shipman beside her, the smoke rising up from our triple stacks amidships, the other ships following in a line there behind us. The North Star was acting as a scout, being quite a bit "faster" than the square rigged Imperial steam frigates in sailing to windward. A cool sea breeze blowing off the Pacific as I stood there with them now on the top of the forward quickfirer turret. "Topsail schooner," Sandra answered, reading the flashes. "We're out of Dularnian territorial waters now," I said. "I'd like to go to three quarters," she said to me then. "You won't catch one of those with this," I smiled back. "North Star is still in pursuit," the midshipman spoke. "Signal the other ships," I said to the midshipman. I sus- pected that Darlanis could read our signals, the mast heads of her ship being high enough to see the tops of the North Star's. "You may go to three quarters if you wish," I "added" for Sandra. "North Star's still pulling away from us," Sandra said. I nodded. I was well aware that the North Star was faster than the Diana, especially when under a "combination" of sail and steam... "Stay at three quarters," I answered, climbing the ladder. "Signals from the Imperials?" I asked the midshipman, a young man that I had some "hopes" might turn into a sea officer. The Imperial ships had broken formation, and were now almost up to us, their yards bulging with sails as they now took the wind. I supposed they were trying to get steam up, but that takes time. "None, sir," he answered, his eyes bright with excitement. "It will be the North Star's prize," I pointed out to him. "I don't `envy' those `she' gets her hands on," he replied. I could see the two ships as the Diana came chugging up, the three Imperial steam frigates now holding their position close by, while the Northlight kept its station on us astern. I did not "envy" the captain or crew of the captured raiding vessel, especially as Darlanis is not too "patient" a woman and I expect- ed that she wouldn't be too "gentle" with her captive either now. "The captain `admitted' that they have had `communications' with Princess Tara," Darlanis said to me there in her ornate stern cabin, the sun now settling there in the west over the sea. "Under torture he would tell you `anything' he thought you wanted to hear," I pointed out, the Empress now nodding in reply. I didn't "ask" what sort of "methods" that she'd used, being well aware that aboard a steam ship like this there were lots of hot pipes and such as well as a boiler to heat up various "devices". "If we destroy these pirate bases and their ships, then I think your Queen will grant me the `assistance' I desire," Darla- nis answered, her azure eyes holding mine. I thought of the in- nocents that would be killed, the women and children as our ships fired broadsides of javelins and fire bombs into defenseless vil- lages. I remembered another war, another time now mostly "myth". Burning villages, innocent women and children like burned husks. "In another year new ships will be built, and there will be the same `raids' as before," I answered. These people were poor. All they had was the sea, the lumber to build ships to raid upon Dularn, steal the things that they could not make or afford to buy. I wondered if there was another "solution" to this problem? "We need to find a better solution to these problems than killing people with `bigger and better' weapons before we end up dropping atomic bombs in another century or so," I said, standing there... "You `talk' like a Priestess," Darlanis snapped back at me. Such is considered something of an "insult" in this era, I note. It being held that the Priestesses of Lys are always willing to "see the other side", and that they "abhor" war in all its forms. For this reason they will never serve on a ship of war, nor will they "bless" such vessels or anything else having to do with war. They do believe in "self defense", but that is the limit they go. "I think we could `hire' these people to fight for `us'," I said, keeping my voice level, ignoring the Empress' own "insult" which really didn't mean all that "much" to me, not as it might to someone actually "from" this time, who would see it different. And Dularn could use "allies" here, especially as Queen Valeris was starting to "worry" us now with her own "activities", there having been a minor clash between her forces and the Wyomings. I was well aware of the "dangers" of "feminism", especially the "sort" that Queen Valeris represented, in an "era" like this one. An "alliance" between Dularn and the "Northmen" might be useful. The one between Dularn and the Wyomings certainly had been such. "I rather doubt that they will attack the Diana," I said, Sandra nodding as I stepped down into the boat, the village there on shore much like that the Vikings had built sixteen centuries before. With me was the lieutenant from the raider, the vessel having escorted us into this little snug bay. While the Diana was in no danger due to its construction, any wooden ship would have been in a lot of trouble, judging from the catapults set up. "You could end up being held for ransom," Darlanis observed. "I don't think these people are that `stupid'," I replied. "What sort of vessel is that you came in?" she said to me. She was "blonde", tall, the same size physically as Darlanis, but not as good looking. I considered her a doubtlessly "competent" woman, one who no doubt held the loyalty of those men about her. This big building of rough hewn logs now serving as her "palace". She was the "Queen" of these people, her husband having been killed in a battle shortly before against Queen Valeris' forces. Valeris pushing her way "south", armed now with Imperial weapons and "advised" by Imperial military advisors of the Warrioresses. I suspected too that Darlanis was not all that "friendly" towards Dularn as she had seemed. That she still lusted after the "em- pire" of her dreams, a "second Rome" here on the western coast of North America stretching from Baja to Alaska. A social order of semi-independent nations all ruled by that tall Imperial Empress. "It is a steam powered battleship, proof against all, your majesty," I answered, seeing her nod. Her name was Freydis, a fitting name I felt for such a woman. With Dularnian weapons and our own "advisors" she might be able to hold Valeris at bay now. She was clad in leather, a long bladed sword there at her hip. I thought of Lana Clarkson, of the movie "BARBARIAN QUEEN" I'd seen back in the Twentieth Century. Queen Freydis was much like that. "Do you speak for the Queen of Dularn?" Queen Freydis asked, a young woman, blonde like her mother sitting there at her side. "The Queen of Dularn listens to my words, often follows my suggestions," I answered, seeing the Princess nodding in reply... Queen Freydis' son had died with his father in the battle against the "Free Women", their deaths no doubt thanks to Darlanis' own activities here. With better weapons and perhaps assistance from the Wyomings and Dularn we could put a "halt" to Valeris' "march to the south". Otherwise we'd end up some day fighting her our- selves in the forests of Dularn, and no one wanted to see "that"! "The `Queen of the North' has offered us much," she replied. "Things that we've never had before, including the drugs that ex- tend life and medicines to cure diseases we now often die from." Such "medicines" Valeris herself had obtained from California. I recalled the savagery of Valeris' women, their own "cruelty" to- wards men. Such was common knowledge now in Dularn among many. "And `what' has she `asked' in return?" I "challenged" her. "That women `rule'," Queen Freydis answered in level tones. "And that you eventually `become' as them," I added for her. "She has not asked that of us," Freydis answered in reply. "Not yet..." I smiled, standing there before her throne. |
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