"2568-40" - 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 Forty "Enemy in sight!" the signal came from the Athena just ahead, the flashes of light from the flagship's stern leaving no doubt of what laid ahead! "Five ships!" the flashing light said! "Battle stations, all ahead three quarters," I snapped then. The alarm whistle sounding through the length of the armored Di- ana as we pulled up on the steam frigate ahead and started to move around. I saw the forward hatches being closed, the Diana being "buttoned up" for battle. There was little doubt that the enemy would use fire, although it was not "effective" against us. Lorraine said that she guessed that Princess Tara had given the orders, the Mexican Warlady no doubt now claiming that the use of an invulnerable "ironclad" like the Diana was in violation of the "codes" that govern all naval warfare here in this barbaric era.* * This actually became an "issue" during the construction of the Diana in Arsana. A number of the military castes claiming that the construction of a "battleship" was against the caste codes in that such a "vessel" was "invulnerable" against "ordinary arms". "Three of their first rates, two second rates," Carol said, lowering the telescope. The first rates were square rigged steam frigates, much like the Imperials, but not as well "designed" as Lorraine's ships were in that they still lacked the top gallants. The second rates were simple "sailers", carrying that odd combi- nation of a square and fore and aft rig that the Mexicans seem to like. We were now up alongside the Athena, the crew of the Impe- rial flagship waving and cheering us on. I "assumed" that they were cheering us, judging from their activities, although given the constant heavy "thud-thud" noise of the triple engines and everything else the interior of the Diana when "buttoned up" as we were now is not a quiet place by any means, I can assure you. "Princess Tara has a better `spy network' than even the Im- perials," Sandra commented, it being obvious that the Mexicans had started on building steam frigates almost as soon as Lor- raine's ship had steamed out of Trella's harbor late last winter. "A woman with a well `deserved' reputation," I smiled back, the Princess being quite "familiar" with such designs, no doubt. "Lorraine says that they are building one of these," Carol answered, holding the telescope to her eye, peering through one of the small glass covered slits. I doubted that she saw much... "Man is a `weapon making animal'," I smiled, quoting some now forgotten Twentieth Century author I'd once read so long ago. "If it wasn't for the Priestesses we'd be using cannon now," my wife answered, lowering the telescope. I nodded, smiled back. The basic technology of this era had been severely "strained" by the construction of the Diana. On the other hand muzzle loading cannon wouldn't be that "hard" to make if Tais ever allowed it. And the design of the Diana was "ideal" for such weapons, I felt, visions of "battle" between steam powered "ironclads" in my mind, the famous battle there in the American Civil War coming to mind. "We have never learned to live in peace with ourselves," I heard Sandra suddenly mutter, I think more to herself than to us. I thought it was true. Even after the "experiences" of the past we still fought each other like predatory animals. Perhaps it is the fate of Man to always fight, always to "know" war. We have lived at peace only when under the "heel" of a greater conquering power. One thinks of Rome at its glory, of Janet Rogers' World Federation of the 21st Century. There was no "war" then, al- though Janet certainly had enough "terrorists" to deal with ac- cording to the history books. The "name" changes, but the reali- ty still remains the "same". There are always those who seek to take away the freedoms, the "rights" of others. No doubt they existed when Homo Erectus roamed the Earth half a million years ago. We speak of "great conquerors", of Alexander, Julius Cae- sar, of Napoleon, of Hitler and Stalin, Chairman Mao. Of Janet Rogers, who "conquered" the entire world and made it "her own". Then here in this time we have Darlanis, a woman with "dreams", who perhaps sees herself as being the "second Janet Rogers" now. "On the other hand," Carol replied then, "We `live' in a way that `those' who know not war will never know." I thought then that she spoke the truth. I recalled the words that Lorraine had written about the Lorr, about the Women. Two totally "stagnant" races, one "alien", one "human", sharing a dying desert world. Of the two only the Women had any interest in exploration, in be- ing anything more than just a life form much like the ants unno- ticed there beneath our feet. Perhaps "war" is the price we pay for being an aggressive, assertive life form that perhaps someday will seek the stars if the Priestesses of Lys ever do allow it... "All ahead full," I spoke, breaking into this conversation. "Forward flamethrowers and quickfirers ready," I barked, my or- ders being swiftly relied by midshipman Anders to those forward. The helmsman then surrendering the wheel and controls to me now. Sandra went below to the main deck to check our battleworthiness. "Once again we stand together," Carol said, her hand on my shoulder, her hazel eyes meeting mine. I thought of the Arena at Trella, of the sands, the sun burning down. Of a brownette naked but for a bit of leather, a sword glistening there in her hand. The five enemy ships were about a couple miles away now, closing the distance between us even though they stood no chance against the Diana. We were "vulnerable" to nothing short of "ramming"... "As it should be," I said, touching her hand with mine now. "I am `part' of you, and you are `part' of me," Carol said. "Lorraine is not the only one who thinks `deep thoughts'," I smiled back at my brownette. I saw Carol nod, a smile curve her lovely lips. We "belonged" together, Carol and I, like few "do". "The `destiny' of a world is in our hands," she said to me. "I'm glad you didn't stay in Arsana," I said to my beloved. "What we `have' is `important' to me," Carol spoke softly. "We don't `belong' in this world," I said to my brownette. "We're just `hired guns' carrying out the wishes of others," my wife answered, staring at the rapidly approaching five ships. "The `cause' for which we fight is `just'," I answered her. "That doesn't alter the `reality' of what we are," she said. "I am going to engage the enemy from seawards," I answered. "That seems wise," the Warlady of Dularn answered me back. The Mexican turned, firing everything he had, trying to ram. I saw the bow of the Diana blazing with burning oil, heard the sound of the forward quickfirers, all four forward and the turret above our heads. Fifteen missiles a second falling like a deadly hail on his decks. The ram hit just astern, the flamethrower now spraying its deadly stream of fire. He was done for even before the Diana broke free to seek her second victim. The second had come about to try to face us, the third following at his heels... "Ram to ram," Carol breathed, the Mexican coming down on us. I reversed the engines, hit him with both flamethrowers, the Di- ana backing away at full power. Daris Adara was good down in the engine room throwing those levers over in that steamy oven below decks. She and her sweating crew now quick to follow my orders. "Third one now," I said, Carol at my side, watching, the Di- ana now again racing forward to meet her "enemy" like a charging iron clad monster. It was hard to see through the flames that burned before the control room slits, the odor of burning lamp oil heavy in the air. Curses from above left no doubts either that some of it had come in through the firing slit over our heads. Midshipman Anders having a rather "surprising" vocabulary for one so "young" and pretty, I laughed to my wife just then. The Diana and the enemy hit almost side to side, the frigate taking the full spray of our flamethrowers as we churned on past. The two second rates running for safety, the Athena charging on down at them. Behind us now three blazing ships, terrified men leaping into the sea to escape the leaping flames as the Diana came about to view the horrors that our flamethrowers had caused. Sandra scrambling up the ladder to stand at my wife's side, the look on the blonde's face leaving no doubts as to her thoughts... "An `impressive' victory," Lorraine said, standing there on the deck of her flagship. Behind us burned the last of the two second rates, the crews having been put ashore and the ships both set ablaze by the Athena's own flamethrowers. The Diana lying alongside like a great monster of the deep, the painted hull now burned in places from the blazing oil that had fallen upon her. "I suppose one could call it that," I answered her back. "No injuries worth noting," Sandra said to me when I stepped back aboard the Diana, the open hatches now clearing the interior of the odor of burning lamp oil. Carol giving me a smile as she stood there beside the captain. The crew of the Diana standing there watching, their own "silence" a tribute to the dead we'd left behind there floating among the drifting embers of the three steam frigates. I recalled the "end" of Sarnian Lady the year before from the use of a flamethrower. The "reactions" of Darla- nis to the "use" of such a weapon. The Mexicans had been much the same. I thought of another era, the "use" of another weapon. The effects of "modern" warfare with the Diana and its weapons were much like that of Hiroshima. As Carol had said, we were but "hired guns". Not really people of this era despite everything. Torn from our home by the awesome power of the Priestesses of Lys to fight in wars six centuries in our future. Unlike the Warlady of the Imperials, we really never had "belonged" in this "world". "IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Forty "Enemy in sight!" the signal came from the Athena just ahead, the flashes of light from the flagship's stern leaving no doubt of what laid ahead! "Five ships!" the flashing light said! "Battle stations, all ahead three quarters," I snapped then. The alarm whistle sounding through the length of the armored Di- ana as we pulled up on the steam frigate ahead and started to move around. I saw the forward hatches being closed, the Diana being "buttoned up" for battle. There was little doubt that the enemy would use fire, although it was not "effective" against us. Lorraine said that she guessed that Princess Tara had given the orders, the Mexican Warlady no doubt now claiming that the use of an invulnerable "ironclad" like the Diana was in violation of the "codes" that govern all naval warfare here in this barbaric era.* * This actually became an "issue" during the construction of the Diana in Arsana. A number of the military castes claiming that the construction of a "battleship" was against the caste codes in that such a "vessel" was "invulnerable" against "ordinary arms". "Three of their first rates, two second rates," Carol said, lowering the telescope. The first rates were square rigged steam frigates, much like the Imperials, but not as well "designed" as Lorraine's ships were in that they still lacked the top gallants. The second rates were simple "sailers", carrying that odd combi- nation of a square and fore and aft rig that the Mexicans seem to like. We were now up alongside the Athena, the crew of the Impe- rial flagship waving and cheering us on. I "assumed" that they were cheering us, judging from their activities, although given the constant heavy "thud-thud" noise of the triple engines and everything else the interior of the Diana when "buttoned up" as we were now is not a quiet place by any means, I can assure you. "Princess Tara has a better `spy network' than even the Im- perials," Sandra commented, it being obvious that the Mexicans had started on building steam frigates almost as soon as Lor- raine's ship had steamed out of Trella's harbor late last winter. "A woman with a well `deserved' reputation," I smiled back, the Princess being quite "familiar" with such designs, no doubt. "Lorraine says that they are building one of these," Carol answered, holding the telescope to her eye, peering through one of the small glass covered slits. I doubted that she saw much... "Man is a `weapon making animal'," I smiled, quoting some now forgotten Twentieth Century author I'd once read so long ago. "If it wasn't for the Priestesses we'd be using cannon now," my wife answered, lowering the telescope. I nodded, smiled back. The basic technology of this era had been severely "strained" by the construction of the Diana. On the other hand muzzle loading cannon wouldn't be that "hard" to make if Tais ever allowed it. And the design of the Diana was "ideal" for such weapons, I felt, visions of "battle" between steam powered "ironclads" in my mind, the famous battle there in the American Civil War coming to mind. "We have never learned to live in peace with ourselves," I heard Sandra suddenly mutter, I think more to herself than to us. I thought it was true. Even after the "experiences" of the past we still fought each other like predatory animals. Perhaps it is the fate of Man to always fight, always to "know" war. We have lived at peace only when under the "heel" of a greater conquering power. One thinks of Rome at its glory, of Janet Rogers' World Federation of the 21st Century. There was no "war" then, al- though Janet certainly had enough "terrorists" to deal with ac- cording to the history books. The "name" changes, but the reali- ty still remains the "same". There are always those who seek to take away the freedoms, the "rights" of others. No doubt they existed when Homo Erectus roamed the Earth half a million years ago. We speak of "great conquerors", of Alexander, Julius Cae- sar, of Napoleon, of Hitler and Stalin, Chairman Mao. Of Janet Rogers, who "conquered" the entire world and made it "her own". Then here in this time we have Darlanis, a woman with "dreams", who perhaps sees herself as being the "second Janet Rogers" now. "On the other hand," Carol replied then, "We `live' in a way that `those' who know not war will never know." I thought then that she spoke the truth. I recalled the words that Lorraine had written about the Lorr, about the Women. Two totally "stagnant" races, one "alien", one "human", sharing a dying desert world. Of the two only the Women had any interest in exploration, in be- ing anything more than just a life form much like the ants unno- ticed there beneath our feet. Perhaps "war" is the price we pay for being an aggressive, assertive life form that perhaps someday will seek the stars if the Priestesses of Lys ever do allow it... "All ahead full," I spoke, breaking into this conversation. "Forward flamethrowers and quickfirers ready," I barked, my or- ders being swiftly relied by midshipman Anders to those forward. The helmsman then surrendering the wheel and controls to me now. Sandra went below to the main deck to check our battleworthiness. "Once again we stand together," Carol said, her hand on my shoulder, her hazel eyes meeting mine. I thought of the Arena at Trella, of the sands, the sun burning down. Of a brownette naked but for a bit of leather, a sword glistening there in her hand. The five enemy ships were about a couple miles away now, closing the distance between us even though they stood no chance against the Diana. We were "vulnerable" to nothing short of "ramming"... "As it should be," I said, touching her hand with mine now. "I am `part' of you, and you are `part' of me," Carol said. "Lorraine is not the only one who thinks `deep thoughts'," I smiled back at my brownette. I saw Carol nod, a smile curve her lovely lips. We "belonged" together, Carol and I, like few "do". "The `destiny' of a world is in our hands," she said to me. "I'm glad you didn't stay in Arsana," I said to my beloved. "What we `have' is `important' to me," Carol spoke softly. "We don't `belong' in this world," I said to my brownette. "We're just `hired guns' carrying out the wishes of others," my wife answered, staring at the rapidly approaching five ships. "The `cause' for which we fight is `just'," I answered her. "That doesn't alter the `reality' of what we are," she said. "I am going to engage the enemy from seawards," I answered. "That seems wise," the Warlady of Dularn answered me back. The Mexican turned, firing everything he had, trying to ram. I saw the bow of the Diana blazing with burning oil, heard the sound of the forward quickfirers, all four forward and the turret above our heads. Fifteen missiles a second falling like a deadly hail on his decks. The ram hit just astern, the flamethrower now spraying its deadly stream of fire. He was done for even before the Diana broke free to seek her second victim. The second had come about to try to face us, the third following at his heels... "Ram to ram," Carol breathed, the Mexican coming down on us. I reversed the engines, hit him with both flamethrowers, the Di- ana backing away at full power. Daris Adara was good down in the engine room throwing those levers over in that steamy oven below decks. She and her sweating crew now quick to follow my orders. "Third one now," I said, Carol at my side, watching, the Di- ana now again racing forward to meet her "enemy" like a charging iron clad monster. It was hard to see through the flames that burned before the control room slits, the odor of burning lamp oil heavy in the air. Curses from above left no doubts either that some of it had come in through the firing slit over our heads. Midshipman Anders having a rather "surprising" vocabulary for one so "young" and pretty, I laughed to my wife just then. The Diana and the enemy hit almost side to side, the frigate taking the full spray of our flamethrowers as we churned on past. The two second rates running for safety, the Athena charging on down at them. Behind us now three blazing ships, terrified men leaping into the sea to escape the leaping flames as the Diana came about to view the horrors that our flamethrowers had caused. Sandra scrambling up the ladder to stand at my wife's side, the look on the blonde's face leaving no doubts as to her thoughts... "An `impressive' victory," Lorraine said, standing there on the deck of her flagship. Behind us burned the last of the two second rates, the crews having been put ashore and the ships both set ablaze by the Athena's own flamethrowers. The Diana lying alongside like a great monster of the deep, the painted hull now burned in places from the blazing oil that had fallen upon her. "I suppose one could call it that," I answered her back. "No injuries worth noting," Sandra said to me when I stepped back aboard the Diana, the open hatches now clearing the interior of the odor of burning lamp oil. Carol giving me a smile as she stood there beside the captain. The crew of the Diana standing there watching, their own "silence" a tribute to the dead we'd left behind there floating among the drifting embers of the three steam frigates. I recalled the "end" of Sarnian Lady the year before from the use of a flamethrower. The "reactions" of Darla- nis to the "use" of such a weapon. The Mexicans had been much the same. I thought of another era, the "use" of another weapon. The effects of "modern" warfare with the Diana and its weapons were much like that of Hiroshima. As Carol had said, we were but "hired guns". Not really people of this era despite everything. Torn from our home by the awesome power of the Priestesses of Lys to fight in wars six centuries in our future. Unlike the Warlady of the Imperials, we really never had "belonged" in this "world". |
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