"2569-29" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 7 - The Dularnian Queen)2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Nine "We now have a `common' enemy," King John said, "One that we can unite against, all of us, as `Men' against a common foe." I saw Othis nod, Freydis sitting there at his side like a mother. I had no doubt that such a "war" would be popular here in Dularn. Valeris had "aroused" even more "hatred" than had the Imperials. With Princess Tara dead, Queen Valeris was now the Queen of Evil! I had seen the cartoons in the newspapers, heard speeches made in the Senate. There had been Warriors who had left Dularn for the land of the Northmen just so that they might fight against her! A nod by the head of the Senate here with us leaving no doubts as his wife, a woman with bleached blonde hair, "smiled" over at me. We had ample serving maids, guardswomen on guard at the door, and everything that the palace cook could give us in the way of food. The Mayor of Arsana, a "hard" looking woman, sitting there quiet. Her husband was Chief Engineer on the Diana, our first battle- ship, the Orca being unreliable without Bob to help "fix" it. A group of musicians in the corner playing a soft sweet tune now. Fireplaces snapping and crackling as they drove away the chill... "The `ultimate war'," Lorraine smiled, "Against the ultimate `foe'. What Janet and I used to call `World War Four', the final battle between men and women we knew would be fought someday..." There was something in the tone of her voice that hinted as to her true "feelings" about all this. About this "crusade" against Queen Valeris and her "Free Women" who lived there to the north. "A unifying of all `Mankind' against the common `sexual enemy'." "Against a castrating bitch, a baby killer," Pharis snapped, echoing the commonly known "stories" about Valeris' "activities". "You `castrate' male slaves, and `infanticide' is not un- known," Lorraine smiled. "In the past it was once the `practice' to kill female babies so as to preserve `resources' for males who could when they grew up serve in the military and thus extend the power of the nation," the Imperial Warlady smiled back at Pharis, my "mother in law" obviously far "outclassed" by this amazing woman who has so altered the history of Mankind by her actions... "We are no more `civilized' today than were `those' of that era. Little more than those who burned witches at the stake in Salem." "No doubt you `think' what Valeris does is `right'," Queen Freydis "growled", sitting there across the table from Lorraine. I recalled Bob's comment. She was "built like a battleship" too! "She has lived up to the treaty agreements," Lorraine said. It was common knowledge that Freydis' people had not done so now. This "alliance" of Freydis with the Wyomings and now with the Nevadas left no "doubts" in my mind that a "CRUSADE" was being planned against Valeris. One that the Dularnian Senate would no doubt be happy to involve Dularn in if I "allowed" it to happen!! With my absolute "veto" power I might prevent Dularn from enter- ing such a "war", although I was naturally "aware" of the limits of my power. Of "what" had happened to "mad Kathis". I didn't have an "ambitious" Warlady like she had in Tulis, but any Queen of Dularn is well aware that there are "realities of power" even she must bow to. And I had already been "branded" a "feminist" for my stands on a number of issues, including that of "slavery". "We will allow the Empire to `withdraw' its forces," Othis said then. I had no doubts that in this the Nevadas would act as they saw fit regardless of whatever Darlanis "thought" of it now. I did not think that Darlanis would be foolish enough to resist. "One must `keep' women in their `place'," Lorraine "smiled". "We all know `what' happened back in the Twentieth Century when men foolishly allowed women to have meaningful political power." "`This' has nothing to do with `relationships' between the sexes!" Pharis "snapped" back, sitting there beside her husband. "And we need no more of your Twentieth Century `feminist' ideas!" "`You', like everyone living in this era, are a `barbar- ian'," the Imperial Warlady smiled. "You have little knowledge of the past, of what happened several thousand years ago, or even that of six centuries ago before the `time' of Janet Rogers..." "`Enlighten' us then," King John spoke, touching his wife's hand as she looked over at him. My husband giving me a grin as I looked over at him, no doubt enjoying this "interplay" between the Imperial Warlady, one of the most "intelligent" women of all time, and those gathered around the table with us. Queen Freydis with her arm around Othis, their "relationship" now plain to see. "Far back in history, in the time when the Lorr first came to this world many thousands of years ago, before `Man' as we now know him even existed, it was doubtlessly women who were consid- ered the more `important' of the two sexes as only they could give birth. During the Twentieth Century it was discovered that early primitive Man worshiped a female God, perhaps even our LYS, although there is no way of knowing this now. In any case the `status' of women was higher than that of men until quite recent times when the female `God' was then replaced with a male `God'." The Mayor and I, both "educated" women, nodding in affirmation. "There is considerable historical evidence, including that gath- ered by the Lorr in their observations of our world that up to about four thousand years ago women were considered `worth' more than men, since it is a biological fact of life that we only re- quire about three percent of the present male population to keep the race going, given the fact that Queen Valeris' `Free Women' are `increasing' their population despite the fact that they out- number men by a factor of about thirty to one. And I might note here in passing that there is no evidence that they `mistreat' their males despite whatever you may have heard to the contrary." "No doubt you consider such a `society' desirable," Pharis "snapped", her husband sitting there "smiling" to himself. I was well aware that he usually let his wife do most of the "talking". She had been a bit of a "trouble-maker' here in Dularn, which is one of the reasons that I sent her to the Wyomings as ambassador. I had no way of knowing of course that she was an agent of Tara. "It is `viable'," Lorraine answered. "And left to them- selves, I think the `Free Women' would be a success," she smiled. "They are a threat to no one but your own egos," Lorraine added. "In a few months they will be only `history'," Pharis said, the "implications" of her words leaving no doubts as Freydis now nodded. "And we will see no more like Valeris," she now added... "May I be excused?" Lorraine spoke, rising from her seat. I nodded, well aware of the emotions this argument had aroused now. The Imperial Warlady then taking her leave of us, pausing only to speak briefly to one of the guardswomen before then disappearing from sight. I did not think that we had heard the last of this!! "You didn't get into `this'," I said to my Prince as we shared a drink later on in our own chambers, my husband smiling. "Lorraine spoke the `truth', unpleasant as it might be," he said, swirling the brandy there in his glass. "We are going to fight a `war' not because of any `threat', but because Valeris is in the eyes of many men a `symbol' of something `terrifying'..." "Like a `demon' out of the past," I spoke, remembering what I knew of the history of "Western society" before Janet Rogers. Janet herself as ruler of the Earth had "ended" many of the spe- cial "privileges" that women had enjoyed, such as "alimony" and the infamous "double standard" that had "favored" women in so many ways. Women were no longer members of the "Privileged Sex". Prostitution and pornography once again became "legal", much against the wishes of many women, who of course were well "aware" of the "implications" of such things. Of the reduction in their "power" over men in a society where such things were now "legal". At one time just before the election of Janet Rogers it was said that being born a man was as much as a handicap as being born of the Black race, the politicians having pandered so to women then! "I've a hunch that Lorraine may have something up her sleeve here," he grinned back. "That woman is not one that you ever want to underestimate," he added, regarding me sitting there be- side him. "And I think she can be more `dangerous' than anyone realizes if you `push' too hard," he spoke, seeing me nod back... "I'm considered a `feminist'," I said, giving him a "smile". Those of the past would not have considered me so, I suppose now, but by the standards of the 26th Century I was thought to be one. "You're a Dularnian Queen, and a good one," he said, setting down his glass, turning my face to his, and kissing me then. My mouth now almost instantly opening under his. I took his hands, guided them to my breasts beneath my gown, my raspy tongue flirt- ing with his as my arms then tightened even more around his neck. "I hope Kathi didn't forget to `warm' the bed," I said then. "I don't think it will require `warming'," he smiled back. 2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Nine "We now have a `common' enemy," King John said, "One that we can unite against, all of us, as `Men' against a common foe." I saw Othis nod, Freydis sitting there at his side like a mother. I had no doubt that such a "war" would be popular here in Dularn. Valeris had "aroused" even more "hatred" than had the Imperials. With Princess Tara dead, Queen Valeris was now the Queen of Evil! I had seen the cartoons in the newspapers, heard speeches made in the Senate. There had been Warriors who had left Dularn for the land of the Northmen just so that they might fight against her! A nod by the head of the Senate here with us leaving no doubts as his wife, a woman with bleached blonde hair, "smiled" over at me. We had ample serving maids, guardswomen on guard at the door, and everything that the palace cook could give us in the way of food. The Mayor of Arsana, a "hard" looking woman, sitting there quiet. Her husband was Chief Engineer on the Diana, our first battle- ship, the Orca being unreliable without Bob to help "fix" it. A group of musicians in the corner playing a soft sweet tune now. Fireplaces snapping and crackling as they drove away the chill... "The `ultimate war'," Lorraine smiled, "Against the ultimate `foe'. What Janet and I used to call `World War Four', the final battle between men and women we knew would be fought someday..." There was something in the tone of her voice that hinted as to her true "feelings" about all this. About this "crusade" against Queen Valeris and her "Free Women" who lived there to the north. "A unifying of all `Mankind' against the common `sexual enemy'." "Against a castrating bitch, a baby killer," Pharis snapped, echoing the commonly known "stories" about Valeris' "activities". "You `castrate' male slaves, and `infanticide' is not un- known," Lorraine smiled. "In the past it was once the `practice' to kill female babies so as to preserve `resources' for males who could when they grew up serve in the military and thus extend the power of the nation," the Imperial Warlady smiled back at Pharis, my "mother in law" obviously far "outclassed" by this amazing woman who has so altered the history of Mankind by her actions... "We are no more `civilized' today than were `those' of that era. Little more than those who burned witches at the stake in Salem." "No doubt you `think' what Valeris does is `right'," Queen Freydis "growled", sitting there across the table from Lorraine. I recalled Bob's comment. She was "built like a battleship" too! "She has lived up to the treaty agreements," Lorraine said. It was common knowledge that Freydis' people had not done so now. This "alliance" of Freydis with the Wyomings and now with the Nevadas left no "doubts" in my mind that a "CRUSADE" was being planned against Valeris. One that the Dularnian Senate would no doubt be happy to involve Dularn in if I "allowed" it to happen!! With my absolute "veto" power I might prevent Dularn from enter- ing such a "war", although I was naturally "aware" of the limits of my power. Of "what" had happened to "mad Kathis". I didn't have an "ambitious" Warlady like she had in Tulis, but any Queen of Dularn is well aware that there are "realities of power" even she must bow to. And I had already been "branded" a "feminist" for my stands on a number of issues, including that of "slavery". "We will allow the Empire to `withdraw' its forces," Othis said then. I had no doubts that in this the Nevadas would act as they saw fit regardless of whatever Darlanis "thought" of it now. I did not think that Darlanis would be foolish enough to resist. "One must `keep' women in their `place'," Lorraine "smiled". "We all know `what' happened back in the Twentieth Century when men foolishly allowed women to have meaningful political power." "`This' has nothing to do with `relationships' between the sexes!" Pharis "snapped" back, sitting there beside her husband. "And we need no more of your Twentieth Century `feminist' ideas!" "`You', like everyone living in this era, are a `barbar- ian'," the Imperial Warlady smiled. "You have little knowledge of the past, of what happened several thousand years ago, or even that of six centuries ago before the `time' of Janet Rogers..." "`Enlighten' us then," King John spoke, touching his wife's hand as she looked over at him. My husband giving me a grin as I looked over at him, no doubt enjoying this "interplay" between the Imperial Warlady, one of the most "intelligent" women of all time, and those gathered around the table with us. Queen Freydis with her arm around Othis, their "relationship" now plain to see. "Far back in history, in the time when the Lorr first came to this world many thousands of years ago, before `Man' as we now know him even existed, it was doubtlessly women who were consid- ered the more `important' of the two sexes as only they could give birth. During the Twentieth Century it was discovered that early primitive Man worshiped a female God, perhaps even our LYS, although there is no way of knowing this now. In any case the `status' of women was higher than that of men until quite recent times when the female `God' was then replaced with a male `God'." The Mayor and I, both "educated" women, nodding in affirmation. "There is considerable historical evidence, including that gath- ered by the Lorr in their observations of our world that up to about four thousand years ago women were considered `worth' more than men, since it is a biological fact of life that we only re- quire about three percent of the present male population to keep the race going, given the fact that Queen Valeris' `Free Women' are `increasing' their population despite the fact that they out- number men by a factor of about thirty to one. And I might note here in passing that there is no evidence that they `mistreat' their males despite whatever you may have heard to the contrary." "No doubt you consider such a `society' desirable," Pharis "snapped", her husband sitting there "smiling" to himself. I was well aware that he usually let his wife do most of the "talking". She had been a bit of a "trouble-maker' here in Dularn, which is one of the reasons that I sent her to the Wyomings as ambassador. I had no way of knowing of course that she was an agent of Tara. "It is `viable'," Lorraine answered. "And left to them- selves, I think the `Free Women' would be a success," she smiled. "They are a threat to no one but your own egos," Lorraine added. "In a few months they will be only `history'," Pharis said, the "implications" of her words leaving no doubts as Freydis now nodded. "And we will see no more like Valeris," she now added... "May I be excused?" Lorraine spoke, rising from her seat. I nodded, well aware of the emotions this argument had aroused now. The Imperial Warlady then taking her leave of us, pausing only to speak briefly to one of the guardswomen before then disappearing from sight. I did not think that we had heard the last of this!! "You didn't get into `this'," I said to my Prince as we shared a drink later on in our own chambers, my husband smiling. "Lorraine spoke the `truth', unpleasant as it might be," he said, swirling the brandy there in his glass. "We are going to fight a `war' not because of any `threat', but because Valeris is in the eyes of many men a `symbol' of something `terrifying'..." "Like a `demon' out of the past," I spoke, remembering what I knew of the history of "Western society" before Janet Rogers. Janet herself as ruler of the Earth had "ended" many of the spe- cial "privileges" that women had enjoyed, such as "alimony" and the infamous "double standard" that had "favored" women in so many ways. Women were no longer members of the "Privileged Sex". Prostitution and pornography once again became "legal", much against the wishes of many women, who of course were well "aware" of the "implications" of such things. Of the reduction in their "power" over men in a society where such things were now "legal". At one time just before the election of Janet Rogers it was said that being born a man was as much as a handicap as being born of the Black race, the politicians having pandered so to women then! "I've a hunch that Lorraine may have something up her sleeve here," he grinned back. "That woman is not one that you ever want to underestimate," he added, regarding me sitting there be- side him. "And I think she can be more `dangerous' than anyone realizes if you `push' too hard," he spoke, seeing me nod back... "I'm considered a `feminist'," I said, giving him a "smile". Those of the past would not have considered me so, I suppose now, but by the standards of the 26th Century I was thought to be one. "You're a Dularnian Queen, and a good one," he said, setting down his glass, turning my face to his, and kissing me then. My mouth now almost instantly opening under his. I took his hands, guided them to my breasts beneath my gown, my raspy tongue flirt- ing with his as my arms then tightened even more around his neck. "I hope Kathi didn't forget to `warm' the bed," I said then. "I don't think it will require `warming'," he smiled back. |
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