"2568-32" - 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 Thirty Two "You won a great victory," Carol said, held now in my arms. The great bulk of the Diana there floating over its reflection in the harbor. We had repainted the hull where the Imperial mis- siles had knocked the paint off. Other than that, there was no visible evidence that the Diana had ever been in battle. I looked down into my brownette's hazel eyes, felt the sweet curves of her body against mine through the uniforms we both wore now. "You have given us `allies', `friends' halfway to Alaska," Queen Maris "smiled", standing there beside us, her eyes bright. I could hear the cheering of the people, the clang of the gongs. To everyone in Arsana this was the greatest victory they knew... To the people of Dularn I had actually "beat" Darlanis in battle! "The `end' of an era," I "answered", holding my wife close. In a few more years Dularn would be another "ruled" by Darlanis. "But we `WON'!" Queen Maris exclaimed, sensing my thoughts. "So did Sitting Bull," I answered, seeing Carol nod in turn. "The Empire can build battleships faster than we can," Carol explained. We had a "temporary" advantage over them now, but we both knew that would not last long. I recalled Darlanis' words. We had "won" a battle, but she would in time "win" the war here. "You were `in harm's way', weren't you?" Carol said to me as I looked down at little Hope Simmons there in her crib, the baby happily cooing and making all those "noises" that a baby makes... "I felt pretty `safe' in the Diana," I smiled back at her. "I fear for what the future holds now," Carol replied to me. "Darlanis wants to have me take the Diana down `south' to Mexico," I answered, looking down at Hope thoughtfully. "`Sink' the `Mexican Navy' for her so that she can make the Gulf of Cali- fornia into an `Imperial lake' for her steam frigates." I saw Carol nod, her hazel eyes burning into mine. The Empress' "ambi- tions" knew no bounds. She saw herself as a second Janet Rogers. I knew Darlanis even made the claim (which no one supported) that she was the "representative" of the old United States of America. "She believes sincerely that all of Mankind would be better off under her rule," my wife now said, standing there at my side. Darlanis saw herself as "SHE-RA", as representative of the GOOD. Lorraine had once referred to her as "THE QUEEN OF LIGHT". Even in her description of God as she had seen Her there on Mars Lor- raine had made the comparison of God as "looking like" Darlanis! "Judging from what we know, Janet Rogers was the same way," I answered, recalling what I'd read of her. Unlike the dictators of the 20th Century, Janet had been a warm, loving and benevolent ruler of Mankind. A "Big Sister" who watched out for everyone... "Maybe we'd all be `better off' under Darlanis," Carol re- plied thoughtfully. "At least there wouldn't be any more wars." "I failed you," I said to Tais as she stood there at my side, the lovely white marble city of Shalimar spreading out be- fore us. "Darlanis will eventually end up as Empress over all of western North America despite anything Carol and I can do now." "She is not an evil woman," the First Priestess replied. "But you didn't want her to be able to do this," I said. "We are not `infallible'," Tais smiled back at me then. "She is truly a `Queen of Light'," I spoke thoughtfully. "She does live up to her moral standards," Tais observed. "And she keeps the caste codes," I added with a smile then. "Lys asks little of us but that we keep her teachings," the Priestess smiled. I was familiar with "THE BOOK OF LYS", with its contents. Unlike the "BIBLE" of Christians, Lys is a merci- ful loving God who asks little of us but that we respect others.* * Apparently "Lys" does not "tolerate" other religions very much, or is it the Priestesses of Lys who are "intolerant"? I suspect that the "latter" is more likely the "truth" in this matter here. "A copper for your thoughts," a woman's voice said to me as I sat there at the end of the dock, doing a little fishing along- side the Diana, a pair of beautiful azure eyes meeting mine as I looked up. The Empress of California now giving me a warm smile. "`A penny for your thoughts' back in my time," I smiled back at her, the perfection of her well displayed by her golden mesh. "I am not unfamiliar with the phrase," Darlanis smiled, sit- ting down beside me, slipping off her boots so that she might like me soak her feet in the water, and adjusting her skirt so that she didn't have to sit on the golden links that made it up. Like Carol and Californian women in general, she didn't have the "modesty taboos" that are more commonplace among Dularnian women. "Gold doesn't make that comfortable a dress, does it?" I smiled in reply at her, the fish having so far ignored my worms. "It does rather `pucker' the skin on my rear end," she laughed back, the silver links about her throat reminding me that she was a married woman. I have a "weakness" for blondes, and Darlanis was certainly the "queen of blondes" in every sense too. "I hated having you as an `enemy'," I said to her then. "I have suspected that for some time," she smiled back. "It is just as well that we are both married," I said. "I was thinking the exact same thoughts," she admitted. "It must be `hard' for you," I said to her, seeing her nod. "He has `Pussycat' (a slave girl), while I have only my `hand'," she answered, staring out over the still water towards the strait beyond. I recalled hearing other women make much the same comment. While most women do not have strong sexual drives, those who do suffer badly from the "double standard" that allowed married men to seek "relief" with prostitutes and slave girls while denying their wives the same in return. On the other hand sex for a woman is more an "emotional" experience than it is to a man. Carol says that "male prostitutes" wouldn't be "practical". On the other hand does her "viewpoint" reflect that of all women? "Found yourself some `company'?" I heard Carol's voice say, the clump of her boots there on the dock much like that of any other woman's. Women in this era having a "clip-clop" walk just like they did back in the Twentieth Century, doubtless due to the fact that high heels are still just as popular now as back then. Kathi following close behind, a "Hefnerian" dream in her leather. "`Checking up' on your husband?" Darlanis smiled, getting up, standing there barefooted before my wife. The two women just above the "same" in height right now with Carol in her 3" heels. "I don't have any `cause' for concern, do I?" Carol smiled. "Darlanis and I were discussing the `double standard'," I said, giving my wife a smile as I sat there "fishing", the early autumn day pleasant and delightful. The Diana would be "ready" for sea in another couple days, ready to take its long voyage to the south, where in the Gulf of California we would prove to the Imperial Mexican Navy the "destructiveness" of a "battleship"... "Which only proves that men still `rule' women," Carol said. "Seems hard to `believe' when every country from Alaska to Baja is `ruled' by a woman," I smiled back at my brownette wife.* * Queen Valeris just south of Alaska, Queen Freydis further south, our own Queen Maris of Dularn, Queen Sharon of Orgon, Dar- lanis as Queen of Sarn and Empress of California, Queen Lorraine of Trelandar, Queen Dala Dai of Talon. Baja is ruled by Tara's son, Prince Jers, but his wife Lara has much to "say" about it. The Nevadas and Wyomings are "ruled" by men, but they are also "barbarians" and not considered "civilized" by any one now living in the societies that make up the western coast of North America. "Only in Valeris' lands do women actually `rule'," Darlanis said. I supposed it was true as far as it went. I recalled that men of this time had "drawn a line" that no woman dared "cross". Everyone in Dularn still recalled the name of "mad" Queen Kathis, who was dragged from her palace by an enraged mob and hung in the public square! Her sucessor had been Tulis, who most believed to be the mother of Darlanis. No Queen since had dared go as far in the "cause" of women. Maris' outlawing of slave raids against other countries really had been "accepted" as a means of keeping peace with the Empire than anything else. It had not had much effect upon the supply of slave girls flowing into Dularn either! "And she is a `dead end'," Carol commented, slipping off her own boots, her obvious intention being to join me there fishing. I recalled what Tais had "said". It was just as well that Queen Valeris had "obeyed" Darlanis' orders. Otherwise she would have "faced" a great gleaming cylinder floating in the sky, its laser turrets dealing death and destruction like the "wrath" of a god! "Some things `change', some things remain the `same'," the Empress of California smiled, her wet feet leaving marks there on the dock. Carol giving me a kiss and a smile as she plopped her- self down beside me, pulling her pants up as high as she could so that she might wet her own feet in the cool waters of the harbor. Darlanis whispering something to Kathi, who then followed her... I might mention at this point, having "neglected" to do so before for some reason that my wife has had considerable "influ- ence" on clothing styles here in Arsana since our arrival here in 2567. Her "fashion business" is extremely "profitable", (she does do the "designs") enough so that one of the Senators in the Senate recently questioned the fact whether my wife was actually paying enough "attention" to her duties as the Warlady of Dularn! As I mentioned in my previous book Carol did have a "fashion bus- iness" in the 20th Century, and while it was not something that made us "rich", Carol did make a decent profit from it. On the other hand the one she has "here" in Arsana has given us such an income that it now equals the pay we receive from the government. (This is why you now see teen age Dularnian girls in miniskirts.) "I think you could `fall' for `that'," Carol said to me. "She is a very beautiful woman," I admitted to my wife. "And she uses that `beauty' to her advantage," she said. "Maybe there is a `second Janet Rogers'," I said to Carol. "I'm going with you on the Diana," my wife said to me then. "Perhaps to `keep an eye' on your `property'?" I teased her. "Especially when there is a `blonde' like her around," Carol answered, giving me a smile, a delightful twinkle in her eyes... "IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Thirty Two "You won a great victory," Carol said, held now in my arms. The great bulk of the Diana there floating over its reflection in the harbor. We had repainted the hull where the Imperial mis- siles had knocked the paint off. Other than that, there was no visible evidence that the Diana had ever been in battle. I looked down into my brownette's hazel eyes, felt the sweet curves of her body against mine through the uniforms we both wore now. "You have given us `allies', `friends' halfway to Alaska," Queen Maris "smiled", standing there beside us, her eyes bright. I could hear the cheering of the people, the clang of the gongs. To everyone in Arsana this was the greatest victory they knew... To the people of Dularn I had actually "beat" Darlanis in battle! "The `end' of an era," I "answered", holding my wife close. In a few more years Dularn would be another "ruled" by Darlanis. "But we `WON'!" Queen Maris exclaimed, sensing my thoughts. "So did Sitting Bull," I answered, seeing Carol nod in turn. "The Empire can build battleships faster than we can," Carol explained. We had a "temporary" advantage over them now, but we both knew that would not last long. I recalled Darlanis' words. We had "won" a battle, but she would in time "win" the war here. "You were `in harm's way', weren't you?" Carol said to me as I looked down at little Hope Simmons there in her crib, the baby happily cooing and making all those "noises" that a baby makes... "I felt pretty `safe' in the Diana," I smiled back at her. "I fear for what the future holds now," Carol replied to me. "Darlanis wants to have me take the Diana down `south' to Mexico," I answered, looking down at Hope thoughtfully. "`Sink' the `Mexican Navy' for her so that she can make the Gulf of Cali- fornia into an `Imperial lake' for her steam frigates." I saw Carol nod, her hazel eyes burning into mine. The Empress' "ambi- tions" knew no bounds. She saw herself as a second Janet Rogers. I knew Darlanis even made the claim (which no one supported) that she was the "representative" of the old United States of America. "She believes sincerely that all of Mankind would be better off under her rule," my wife now said, standing there at my side. Darlanis saw herself as "SHE-RA", as representative of the GOOD. Lorraine had once referred to her as "THE QUEEN OF LIGHT". Even in her description of God as she had seen Her there on Mars Lor- raine had made the comparison of God as "looking like" Darlanis! "Judging from what we know, Janet Rogers was the same way," I answered, recalling what I'd read of her. Unlike the dictators of the 20th Century, Janet had been a warm, loving and benevolent ruler of Mankind. A "Big Sister" who watched out for everyone... "Maybe we'd all be `better off' under Darlanis," Carol re- plied thoughtfully. "At least there wouldn't be any more wars." "I failed you," I said to Tais as she stood there at my side, the lovely white marble city of Shalimar spreading out be- fore us. "Darlanis will eventually end up as Empress over all of western North America despite anything Carol and I can do now." "She is not an evil woman," the First Priestess replied. "But you didn't want her to be able to do this," I said. "We are not `infallible'," Tais smiled back at me then. "She is truly a `Queen of Light'," I spoke thoughtfully. "She does live up to her moral standards," Tais observed. "And she keeps the caste codes," I added with a smile then. "Lys asks little of us but that we keep her teachings," the Priestess smiled. I was familiar with "THE BOOK OF LYS", with its contents. Unlike the "BIBLE" of Christians, Lys is a merci- ful loving God who asks little of us but that we respect others.* * Apparently "Lys" does not "tolerate" other religions very much, or is it the Priestesses of Lys who are "intolerant"? I suspect that the "latter" is more likely the "truth" in this matter here. "A copper for your thoughts," a woman's voice said to me as I sat there at the end of the dock, doing a little fishing along- side the Diana, a pair of beautiful azure eyes meeting mine as I looked up. The Empress of California now giving me a warm smile. "`A penny for your thoughts' back in my time," I smiled back at her, the perfection of her well displayed by her golden mesh. "I am not unfamiliar with the phrase," Darlanis smiled, sit- ting down beside me, slipping off her boots so that she might like me soak her feet in the water, and adjusting her skirt so that she didn't have to sit on the golden links that made it up. Like Carol and Californian women in general, she didn't have the "modesty taboos" that are more commonplace among Dularnian women. "Gold doesn't make that comfortable a dress, does it?" I smiled in reply at her, the fish having so far ignored my worms. "It does rather `pucker' the skin on my rear end," she laughed back, the silver links about her throat reminding me that she was a married woman. I have a "weakness" for blondes, and Darlanis was certainly the "queen of blondes" in every sense too. "I hated having you as an `enemy'," I said to her then. "I have suspected that for some time," she smiled back. "It is just as well that we are both married," I said. "I was thinking the exact same thoughts," she admitted. "It must be `hard' for you," I said to her, seeing her nod. "He has `Pussycat' (a slave girl), while I have only my `hand'," she answered, staring out over the still water towards the strait beyond. I recalled hearing other women make much the same comment. While most women do not have strong sexual drives, those who do suffer badly from the "double standard" that allowed married men to seek "relief" with prostitutes and slave girls while denying their wives the same in return. On the other hand sex for a woman is more an "emotional" experience than it is to a man. Carol says that "male prostitutes" wouldn't be "practical". On the other hand does her "viewpoint" reflect that of all women? "Found yourself some `company'?" I heard Carol's voice say, the clump of her boots there on the dock much like that of any other woman's. Women in this era having a "clip-clop" walk just like they did back in the Twentieth Century, doubtless due to the fact that high heels are still just as popular now as back then. Kathi following close behind, a "Hefnerian" dream in her leather. "`Checking up' on your husband?" Darlanis smiled, getting up, standing there barefooted before my wife. The two women just above the "same" in height right now with Carol in her 3" heels. "I don't have any `cause' for concern, do I?" Carol smiled. "Darlanis and I were discussing the `double standard'," I said, giving my wife a smile as I sat there "fishing", the early autumn day pleasant and delightful. The Diana would be "ready" for sea in another couple days, ready to take its long voyage to the south, where in the Gulf of California we would prove to the Imperial Mexican Navy the "destructiveness" of a "battleship"... "Which only proves that men still `rule' women," Carol said. "Seems hard to `believe' when every country from Alaska to Baja is `ruled' by a woman," I smiled back at my brownette wife.* * Queen Valeris just south of Alaska, Queen Freydis further south, our own Queen Maris of Dularn, Queen Sharon of Orgon, Dar- lanis as Queen of Sarn and Empress of California, Queen Lorraine of Trelandar, Queen Dala Dai of Talon. Baja is ruled by Tara's son, Prince Jers, but his wife Lara has much to "say" about it. The Nevadas and Wyomings are "ruled" by men, but they are also "barbarians" and not considered "civilized" by any one now living in the societies that make up the western coast of North America. "Only in Valeris' lands do women actually `rule'," Darlanis said. I supposed it was true as far as it went. I recalled that men of this time had "drawn a line" that no woman dared "cross". Everyone in Dularn still recalled the name of "mad" Queen Kathis, who was dragged from her palace by an enraged mob and hung in the public square! Her sucessor had been Tulis, who most believed to be the mother of Darlanis. No Queen since had dared go as far in the "cause" of women. Maris' outlawing of slave raids against other countries really had been "accepted" as a means of keeping peace with the Empire than anything else. It had not had much effect upon the supply of slave girls flowing into Dularn either! "And she is a `dead end'," Carol commented, slipping off her own boots, her obvious intention being to join me there fishing. I recalled what Tais had "said". It was just as well that Queen Valeris had "obeyed" Darlanis' orders. Otherwise she would have "faced" a great gleaming cylinder floating in the sky, its laser turrets dealing death and destruction like the "wrath" of a god! "Some things `change', some things remain the `same'," the Empress of California smiled, her wet feet leaving marks there on the dock. Carol giving me a kiss and a smile as she plopped her- self down beside me, pulling her pants up as high as she could so that she might wet her own feet in the cool waters of the harbor. Darlanis whispering something to Kathi, who then followed her... I might mention at this point, having "neglected" to do so before for some reason that my wife has had considerable "influ- ence" on clothing styles here in Arsana since our arrival here in 2567. Her "fashion business" is extremely "profitable", (she does do the "designs") enough so that one of the Senators in the Senate recently questioned the fact whether my wife was actually paying enough "attention" to her duties as the Warlady of Dularn! As I mentioned in my previous book Carol did have a "fashion bus- iness" in the 20th Century, and while it was not something that made us "rich", Carol did make a decent profit from it. On the other hand the one she has "here" in Arsana has given us such an income that it now equals the pay we receive from the government. (This is why you now see teen age Dularnian girls in miniskirts.) "I think you could `fall' for `that'," Carol said to me. "She is a very beautiful woman," I admitted to my wife. "And she uses that `beauty' to her advantage," she said. "Maybe there is a `second Janet Rogers'," I said to Carol. "I'm going with you on the Diana," my wife said to me then. "Perhaps to `keep an eye' on your `property'?" I teased her. "Especially when there is a `blonde' like her around," Carol answered, giving me a smile, a delightful twinkle in her eyes... |
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