"2568-37" - 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 Seven "`Bothers' you, doesn't it?" Carol said to me as she laid there beside me. It was not the "deaths" as such, as aboard any ship of war one must expect such things. It was I think the sense of "invulnerability" that one had aboard the Diana. The sense that nothing could ever harm you beneath its armored hull. "A `lucky shot', I suppose," I answered her, lying there. "Can we make repairs?" my wife asked then, holding me. "Perhaps in La Paz," I answered, kissing her lips. "Princess Lara Bisan," she spoke, standing there. I had no doubts that she was the sort of a woman any man might lust after. She was fuller busted than my wife, a bit heavier in the legs. A sort of "cross" between Kathi and Carol. Her hair a reddish brown shade that went with her gray blue eyes. She had a strik- ing resemblance to a TV and movie actress of the 20th Century, one Catherine Bach. (Daisy Duke, THE DUKES OF HAZARD). She wore the halter and short leather skirt commonly worn by Bajan women. She was sensual and provocative, a woman without any "doubts"... "The Prostitute Princess" many called her, Lara having at one time been the head of the Prostitute Guild, which is almost like a "caste" with its own "laws" each member is supposed to meet. "Admiral Robert Simmons, my wife Carol, Warlady of Dularn," I answered, standing there, "awed" a bit despite myself at Lara. I recalled the books by Lorraine and Darlanis, the role this wom- an had played in them. It had been Jers' love for her that had triggered off the duel between Darlanis and Tara, started this "conflict" between the two women that had almost killed Darlanis. "I am honored," Lara answered, Carol nodding, smiling back. The sun burning down upon us, "hotter" than the summer sun of Du- larn. The Princess of Baja was darkly tanned, almost as dark as the people around us. The men in their open vests and leather kilts, the women in their matching halters and short skirts. All carried swords, Baja being a country that was not a part of ei- ther the Empire of California or of Mexico and had no wish to be. It is "friendly" towards the Empire, but is not really a "part" of it as such, being much like Talon is in that regard, I find. Perhaps like Dularn will be in the future in another year or so.* * The earlier relationship between Lara and Darlanis is quite in- teresting as it shows just what sort of a woman Darlanis actually is. The Empress is not a "dumb blonde" by any means, and she is quite willing to take a "long view" of things if necessary. The Prostitute Guild itself is a "child" of Darlanis', and was "used" for her own benefit in earlier years until the "revolution" in Trelandar in 2565, when Lara decided that she was "Trelandarian". "We will need to make repairs," I said, Lara nodding, her eyes having missed little. I suspected that a lot of people had underestimated her, dismissing her as just another "hip swinger". Considerably older than her boyish husband, I suspected that Lara really was the one who "ran" things here in Baja, her earlier questions about the Diana having left little "doubt" of that now. "We have skilled workers in wood and metal," she smiled back, "And the damage to the wood here is not serious," she ad- ded, referring to the inner side of the protective superstructure just behind her. "This will be a `decisive' weapon only until others like it are constructed," Lara added, giving me a smile... "A `beautiful' woman, and smart too," I whispered to Carol, who nodded thoughtfully back. I think Carol was aware that there was another woman who was just as "sensual" and "provocative" as her! The Princess of Baja carefully studying the Diana, captain Steven at her side, explaining how everything worked on the ship. "And who `runs things' around here," Carol smiled back then, seeing me nod. There was no "doubt" that Lara did rule Baja now. Her husband Prince Jers was in another part of the country just now, the arrival of the Diana having been somewhat "unexpected". "Baja was `friendly' towards Dularn in our last war," I said. Not too "openly" of course, but Maris had said that Dular- nian raiders could put in for refits and supplies in the smaller ports without trouble, the official Bajan position here being "neutral", much to Darlanis' own annoyance, I suspect here now. Our later "agreement" with Trelandar was merely the final blow that eventually forced Darlanis to agree to the "terms" there in the Treaty of Arsana that returned to Dularn what was "Dularn's". "You are welcome to stay with me at the palace, while I will find quarters for your men and officers," the Princess said then. "I fear that this would be rather `uncomfortable' here now in the sun." That was something of an "understatement", as the Diana was not the most "comfortable" ship when in port under a hot sun. "That will be just fine," Carol answered, nodding to Lara. "There will be good food, and dancing," the Princess smiled. "I `fascinate' you," Lara said to me as we danced. She was a "better" dancer than Darlanis in that she didn't "lead", the rich sensual curves of her body now an erotic delight pressed up against mine. While not extremely "beautiful" as such, Lara is the sort of a woman that no man will ever forget if he meets her. The formal attire of a Bajan woman can be quite provocative. The Princess' was, Lara being a woman who leaves no "doubts" either!! "You are one of the few women I've ever met that I would se- riously consider being unfaithful to my wife for," I smiled back. "I suspect that Carol and I share the same `background'," Lara said. "There is in your wife a `quality' I have seen in few others. She is not a woman like most." I knew "that" was true. "Carol was a `prostitute' before I met her," I said to Lara. "This was Tara's before it became `mine'," Lara said to me, changing the subject, her eyes glowing warmly straight into mine. "It dates back even before my time," I said, aware that Triskelion itself dated back to the time of the Spanish Conquest. "The Priestesses came and removed everything left over from the "time of legend"," Lara said, using the term often used for the era before The War of 2047 altered all of Mankind's history. I supposed that had been a "wise" move on Tais' part considering what sort of "equipment" had been left behind by Domino Tremaine, the last "Leaderess" of the World Federation, whose dried remains were found beneath Triskelion by Princess Tara some years before. "`Enjoying yourself'?" Carol asked, her smile a bit drunken. "A very `interesting' woman," I said, the "topic" of our "conversation" now talking to some of her nobility and military. "A woman like that is more dangerous than any blonde," Carol said. The implications of her words not missed. Lara was that. "Another `legend' like Darlanis," I smiled back at my wife. "What I would have been had I been born here," Carol smiled. "Prince Jers Bisan," he spoke, a young handsome boyish man, his wife standing there possessively at his side. It was quite "obvious" too who "wore the pants" around here. I suppose it was natural enough considering "who" his mother had been. The embit- tered, "vicious" Princess Tara who was now the Warlady of Mexico. "Carol Simmons, Warlady of Dularn, my husband Robert, Admi- ral of the Royal Navy," my wife answered, giving Jers a "smile". "You are the couple from the past, from before The War," he said, Lara at his side, her arm possessively around him. About her throat was the golden neck chain of a wife of more than three years. Such "chains" are felt by some to "symbolize" the submis- sion of the wife to her husband. I did not think this was "true" in this case at least. Lara was "more" than just a wife to Jers. Once she had been a prostitute, he a prince who his mother had wished to see married to Sela Dai, the Princess of Talon. That had been before he'd met Lara, who had supplied more than "sex". Lara was now both "mother" and "wife", and Jers was hers totally. "The Athena," Prince Jers said to me, standing on the top of the Diana's forward quickfirer turret, lowering the telescope he had used to identify the approaching Imperial steam frigate. "A woman that lives up to her title of `Warlady'," Jers then smiled. "The Imperials seem to be holding their own," I said, seeing him nod. The Empire of California was well aware that Mexico, with its interior lines of communication, would eventually "win" a war of this nature if it dragged on for year after year. Only the fact that the Empire had been forced to hold Mexico at "bay" had saved Dularn from having to face alone the Imperial might... "Lorraine is `competent' at what she does," he smiled back. "We `meet' again," Lorraine smiled, standing there, the sun beating down upon us, striking highlights in that coal black hair of hers. "And this `time' against a common foe," she added then. The Athena now floating above its reflection there in the harbor. The Diana there at the dock, like some sleeping deep sea monster. Jon Richards, her husband, standing at the side of his "Warlady". "Let us pray for the day when there is no `need' for `Warla- dies'," Carol "spoke" from beside me. I didn't think we'd ever live to see that. Mankind is extremely "warlike" by his nature. Peace has only existed when enforced by the sword of conquerors and men have become "less" than men as happened back in the past. "No doubt the people of that time will `read' of us and envy the fact that we lived in a time of `adventure'," Lorraine smiled back, her black silk and leather trappings seeming "fitting" on her like nothing else would be. She is truly what she appears... A living legend that men will speak of for thousands of years. "On the other hand I grow weary of fighting `winless wars' like this one," the Queen of Trelandar said, her eyes holding Carol's. "And what Maris has done in Dularn must be done here," she added. "We must eventually put a halt to feminine slavery as `normal'." "IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Thirty Seven "`Bothers' you, doesn't it?" Carol said to me as she laid there beside me. It was not the "deaths" as such, as aboard any ship of war one must expect such things. It was I think the sense of "invulnerability" that one had aboard the Diana. The sense that nothing could ever harm you beneath its armored hull. "A `lucky shot', I suppose," I answered her, lying there. "Can we make repairs?" my wife asked then, holding me. "Perhaps in La Paz," I answered, kissing her lips. "Princess Lara Bisan," she spoke, standing there. I had no doubts that she was the sort of a woman any man might lust after. She was fuller busted than my wife, a bit heavier in the legs. A sort of "cross" between Kathi and Carol. Her hair a reddish brown shade that went with her gray blue eyes. She had a strik- ing resemblance to a TV and movie actress of the 20th Century, one Catherine Bach. (Daisy Duke, THE DUKES OF HAZARD). She wore the halter and short leather skirt commonly worn by Bajan women. She was sensual and provocative, a woman without any "doubts"... "The Prostitute Princess" many called her, Lara having at one time been the head of the Prostitute Guild, which is almost like a "caste" with its own "laws" each member is supposed to meet. "Admiral Robert Simmons, my wife Carol, Warlady of Dularn," I answered, standing there, "awed" a bit despite myself at Lara. I recalled the books by Lorraine and Darlanis, the role this wom- an had played in them. It had been Jers' love for her that had triggered off the duel between Darlanis and Tara, started this "conflict" between the two women that had almost killed Darlanis. "I am honored," Lara answered, Carol nodding, smiling back. The sun burning down upon us, "hotter" than the summer sun of Du- larn. The Princess of Baja was darkly tanned, almost as dark as the people around us. The men in their open vests and leather kilts, the women in their matching halters and short skirts. All carried swords, Baja being a country that was not a part of ei- ther the Empire of California or of Mexico and had no wish to be. It is "friendly" towards the Empire, but is not really a "part" of it as such, being much like Talon is in that regard, I find. Perhaps like Dularn will be in the future in another year or so.* * The earlier relationship between Lara and Darlanis is quite in- teresting as it shows just what sort of a woman Darlanis actually is. The Empress is not a "dumb blonde" by any means, and she is quite willing to take a "long view" of things if necessary. The Prostitute Guild itself is a "child" of Darlanis', and was "used" for her own benefit in earlier years until the "revolution" in Trelandar in 2565, when Lara decided that she was "Trelandarian". "We will need to make repairs," I said, Lara nodding, her eyes having missed little. I suspected that a lot of people had underestimated her, dismissing her as just another "hip swinger". Considerably older than her boyish husband, I suspected that Lara really was the one who "ran" things here in Baja, her earlier questions about the Diana having left little "doubt" of that now. "We have skilled workers in wood and metal," she smiled back, "And the damage to the wood here is not serious," she ad- ded, referring to the inner side of the protective superstructure just behind her. "This will be a `decisive' weapon only until others like it are constructed," Lara added, giving me a smile... "A `beautiful' woman, and smart too," I whispered to Carol, who nodded thoughtfully back. I think Carol was aware that there was another woman who was just as "sensual" and "provocative" as her! The Princess of Baja carefully studying the Diana, captain Steven at her side, explaining how everything worked on the ship. "And who `runs things' around here," Carol smiled back then, seeing me nod. There was no "doubt" that Lara did rule Baja now. Her husband Prince Jers was in another part of the country just now, the arrival of the Diana having been somewhat "unexpected". "Baja was `friendly' towards Dularn in our last war," I said. Not too "openly" of course, but Maris had said that Dular- nian raiders could put in for refits and supplies in the smaller ports without trouble, the official Bajan position here being "neutral", much to Darlanis' own annoyance, I suspect here now. Our later "agreement" with Trelandar was merely the final blow that eventually forced Darlanis to agree to the "terms" there in the Treaty of Arsana that returned to Dularn what was "Dularn's". "You are welcome to stay with me at the palace, while I will find quarters for your men and officers," the Princess said then. "I fear that this would be rather `uncomfortable' here now in the sun." That was something of an "understatement", as the Diana was not the most "comfortable" ship when in port under a hot sun. "That will be just fine," Carol answered, nodding to Lara. "There will be good food, and dancing," the Princess smiled. "I `fascinate' you," Lara said to me as we danced. She was a "better" dancer than Darlanis in that she didn't "lead", the rich sensual curves of her body now an erotic delight pressed up against mine. While not extremely "beautiful" as such, Lara is the sort of a woman that no man will ever forget if he meets her. The formal attire of a Bajan woman can be quite provocative. The Princess' was, Lara being a woman who leaves no "doubts" either!! "You are one of the few women I've ever met that I would se- riously consider being unfaithful to my wife for," I smiled back. "I suspect that Carol and I share the same `background'," Lara said. "There is in your wife a `quality' I have seen in few others. She is not a woman like most." I knew "that" was true. "Carol was a `prostitute' before I met her," I said to Lara. "This was Tara's before it became `mine'," Lara said to me, changing the subject, her eyes glowing warmly straight into mine. "It dates back even before my time," I said, aware that Triskelion itself dated back to the time of the Spanish Conquest. "The Priestesses came and removed everything left over from the "time of legend"," Lara said, using the term often used for the era before The War of 2047 altered all of Mankind's history. I supposed that had been a "wise" move on Tais' part considering what sort of "equipment" had been left behind by Domino Tremaine, the last "Leaderess" of the World Federation, whose dried remains were found beneath Triskelion by Princess Tara some years before. "`Enjoying yourself'?" Carol asked, her smile a bit drunken. "A very `interesting' woman," I said, the "topic" of our "conversation" now talking to some of her nobility and military. "A woman like that is more dangerous than any blonde," Carol said. The implications of her words not missed. Lara was that. "Another `legend' like Darlanis," I smiled back at my wife. "What I would have been had I been born here," Carol smiled. "Prince Jers Bisan," he spoke, a young handsome boyish man, his wife standing there possessively at his side. It was quite "obvious" too who "wore the pants" around here. I suppose it was natural enough considering "who" his mother had been. The embit- tered, "vicious" Princess Tara who was now the Warlady of Mexico. "Carol Simmons, Warlady of Dularn, my husband Robert, Admi- ral of the Royal Navy," my wife answered, giving Jers a "smile". "You are the couple from the past, from before The War," he said, Lara at his side, her arm possessively around him. About her throat was the golden neck chain of a wife of more than three years. Such "chains" are felt by some to "symbolize" the submis- sion of the wife to her husband. I did not think this was "true" in this case at least. Lara was "more" than just a wife to Jers. Once she had been a prostitute, he a prince who his mother had wished to see married to Sela Dai, the Princess of Talon. That had been before he'd met Lara, who had supplied more than "sex". Lara was now both "mother" and "wife", and Jers was hers totally. "The Athena," Prince Jers said to me, standing on the top of the Diana's forward quickfirer turret, lowering the telescope he had used to identify the approaching Imperial steam frigate. "A woman that lives up to her title of `Warlady'," Jers then smiled. "The Imperials seem to be holding their own," I said, seeing him nod. The Empire of California was well aware that Mexico, with its interior lines of communication, would eventually "win" a war of this nature if it dragged on for year after year. Only the fact that the Empire had been forced to hold Mexico at "bay" had saved Dularn from having to face alone the Imperial might... "Lorraine is `competent' at what she does," he smiled back. "We `meet' again," Lorraine smiled, standing there, the sun beating down upon us, striking highlights in that coal black hair of hers. "And this `time' against a common foe," she added then. The Athena now floating above its reflection there in the harbor. The Diana there at the dock, like some sleeping deep sea monster. Jon Richards, her husband, standing at the side of his "Warlady". "Let us pray for the day when there is no `need' for `Warla- dies'," Carol "spoke" from beside me. I didn't think we'd ever live to see that. Mankind is extremely "warlike" by his nature. Peace has only existed when enforced by the sword of conquerors and men have become "less" than men as happened back in the past. "No doubt the people of that time will `read' of us and envy the fact that we lived in a time of `adventure'," Lorraine smiled back, her black silk and leather trappings seeming "fitting" on her like nothing else would be. She is truly what she appears... A living legend that men will speak of for thousands of years. "On the other hand I grow weary of fighting `winless wars' like this one," the Queen of Trelandar said, her eyes holding Carol's. "And what Maris has done in Dularn must be done here," she added. "We must eventually put a halt to feminine slavery as `normal'." |
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