"2569-44" - 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 Forty Four "I trust you said `good bye' to your mother before coming aboard," I spoke, Diane Wells nodding as she hobbled across the North Star's deck, the "boot" fitted to the girl's right leg gen- tly thumping on the planking with every step that she took now. A gentle warm breeze from the south a delight as we stood there. The sun shining down brightly from a partly clouded azure sky. I noticed that Sarnian Queen had steam up, its anchor hove up short now. I could see the "glitter" of gold on its quarterdeck as the Empress tossed back her cloak, the golden mesh gleaming brightly. I wondered how well a heavy steam frigate would do in the middle of the Pacific. I considered its square rig a bit of a handicap. Prince Serak of the Nevadas had decided to come with his wife... We would stop and visit a day too with Queen Freydis, who Serak's own younger brother had just married a few weeks before here. "I expect we'll have a new Queen of the Wyomings before we get back," my husband smiled, waving to his father on the dock, a blonde haired woman beside him raising her own arm in reply then. "Just as long as we don't have a `new' Queen of Dularn," I smiled back, lifting my own arm in farewell as the men at the capstan drew the North Star up to her anchor. The people of Ar- sana crowded on the docks, well aware that they might never see their Queen or her flagship again should things go "wrong" now... A steady stream of smoke rising up from the funnel left no doubt that I had a full head of steam up. The ship was "heavy" due to its carrying reserve supplies of food and water and spare canvas. "Got a lot of women aboard," my husband grinned at me then. "Most of them have sailed with me before," I smiled back. "Wind's almost dead `foul' for us," my husband observed. "I'm going to leave under steam," I smiled back at him. "We do have a good looking captain," he laughed back then. "And a `long' voyage ahead of us," I answered, going to the rail, giving my orders then that got us under way on this epic voyage to where no North American had been since the middle of the Twenty First Century over five centuries ago. I wondered too what we would "find", what life would be "like" in such a "land"? "`We' are `making history'," my husband said to me, his dark eyes looking into mine as I nodded back. The North Star now un- der full sail as the strait opened up before us into the ocean. I had a first rate crew, perhaps the "best" I'd had since the end of the war with the Empire back in the fall of 2567, or 520 as I usually thought of it, the "old system" being used now only by the Scribes and those who studied the legends and myths of a time now only words in a few musty old books that had survived so far. I was now ahead of Darlanis, the North Star obviously the faster of the two ships under sail as I had suspected that she would be. "We plan to sail as far `north' as we can before cutting across," I answered. Such would allow us to replenish our supply of water, food, and wood as necessary before venturing out into the Pacific towards distant Asia. Once I could have actually sailed in "sight of land" all the way to Asia, but now after what had happened there in the north it was best to avoid the "land of fire" where sixty gigatons of explosive power had driven the EVIL ONE back to the plane of existence that we commonly called HELL. While the HORROR was safely gone, still I had little wish to sail too close to that area of the world, and since there would be no supplies to be obtained there, I felt it just as well to avoid it now. In any case we would make our last "stop" south of there... "Sana," I smiled, the ships having made good time. I had been "exercising" the crew in sail drill, and with the wind as it was I had put aloft every bit of canvas that we could hoist now. My first officer regarded me, her eyes as blue as mine are green. I suspected, however, looking at her eyebrows, that she was not a true "blonde", such women always being thought more "desirable". Sarnian Queen had done well, Darlanis no doubt having taken the precaution of seeing to the quality of her own officers and crew. "You are still the `legend' we all speak of," she said. I had given "orders" that I was be addressed as any sea officer might, not as the Queen of Dularn. Such I thought might be help- ful in maintaining "morale" on a voyage of this type with people who would be for weeks at least out of any sight of land now... "The `old girl' still does sail pretty well," I smiled. "And this is your `first'," my father said, regarding her. In the glow of the lamps the stern cabin was homey, comfortable. Kathi had put out my wines, and a number too of various tidbits. Darlanis sitting there like an exotic vision in her golden mesh, her captain, a woman surprising enough, there quiet beside her. Serak with my husband, the two of them talking quietly together. "Lieutenant Karis Valdis," my first officer smiled back. "One of the `old aristocracy'," my father nodded in reply. "Lieutenant Diane Wells," my new second officer smiled then. "My daughters have done `well' for themselves," Tarl said. My sister is a Princess of Talon, and I am the Queen of Dularn. "It gives an old man pride to know how well his girls have done." "You're not that `old', Dad," I smiled, giving him a nod. "I have outlived two wives, seen much of life," he said. "You could always come along," I "suggested" with a smile. "You are the `sailor' in the family now," he replied. I nodded, saw him look away for a brief moment, remembering one who had died upon the deck above not all that long ago. She had died as I think she wished, standing in command on a warship's deck... "This is a great chance to draw our societies together," the Imperial officer smiled, her dark hair reminding me of another's. I had no doubt that her words reflected the opinion of Darlanis. I hoped that Darlanis had picked well, considering what laid ahead for us now when we turned out to sea to cross the Pacific. "My people are doing what they can to help," Queen Freydis said. I supposed some of Valeris' women had survived the blasts. Groups here and there might continue on for generations yet too. "Some will no doubt be `collared'," my husband whispered. The men of the "north" greatly enjoyed having a "collared wench". "A great `threat' to my people is gone now," Freydis said, Serak's own younger brother Orthis like a boy sitting beside her. "I feel `sorry' for them," Darlanis spoke up then, her eyes perhaps seeing something that none of the rest of us could see... "Colder," my husband said, drawing up his jacket. I had no- ticed that. We were far to the north now, past the territory of the Northmen, which we'd left now several days before. The sails of Sarnian Queen gleaming against the darkness of the early dawn. "Clouds to the north," Karis, the "first" said to me then. "I don't think those are the sort of clouds we usually see," I answered, focusing the heavy night glass on them then. "Signal Sarnian Queen that we will close the shore to take on supplies." I suspected that this might be the last time we could do so now. "We're in the southern parts of what was Valeris'," Darlanis said to me. Here she wore more "fitting" attire for the climate. The tunic and woolen hose, a heavy fur lined leather jacket too. I could hear the sound of axes, of men yelling. We had sent out hunting parties, others to find water to "replenish" our supply. "And `that' ahead is the smoke from the volcanoes," I said. The explosion of the six anti-matter missiles having set off a number of volcanoes in the area due to the terrific blast effect. "It appears that my `scouts' have found someone," the Em- press smiled, her eyes glowing into mine as I then nodded back. I knew the Priestesses were doing what they "could", but that was likely to be quite inadequate given the nature of things here... "Only a `memory' now of what once was," Darlanis said, the woman wolfing down the food almost like some starving animal now. I supposed here and there some of the Free Women might survive if Queen Freydis didn't try to take over all their "territory" now. "They did `prove' something," I answered, seeing her nod. "I think it is `best' if we do not venture into the smoke," I said, my husband nodding, the smoke like a great cloud it drifted slowly up into the sky there ahead of us. I then told Diane to signal Sarnian Queen that we were turning due west now. ***************************************************************** "I wonder what they will find there on the other side of the world," Mara mused as she stared out to sea, Tara beside her now. "People like us, but in a way `different'," Tara answered. "Not creatures with hooves, horns, or fur?" Mara asked her. "Not unless they `allowed' that which is `mu' to live," the Princess replied, giving her a smile from inside her robe's hood. "Why do people kill that which is `mu'?" Mara ventured then. "To preserve that which is `hu'," the Princess smiled back. "We are not the fools of the past who would allowed such too..." "Was there ever a man called `Hitler'?" Mara now asked Tara. "He was a `madman' who ruled long, long ago," Tara answered. "Queen Lorraine spoke of him while we were in Trella," Mara replied. "She said that he `existed' because people `trusted' too much in `governments' and let themselves become `enslaved'." "She is a very `smart' woman, but one who has been deluded by `another'," Tara answered, putting her arm then around Mara... 2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Forty Four "I trust you said `good bye' to your mother before coming aboard," I spoke, Diane Wells nodding as she hobbled across the North Star's deck, the "boot" fitted to the girl's right leg gen- tly thumping on the planking with every step that she took now. A gentle warm breeze from the south a delight as we stood there. The sun shining down brightly from a partly clouded azure sky. I noticed that Sarnian Queen had steam up, its anchor hove up short now. I could see the "glitter" of gold on its quarterdeck as the Empress tossed back her cloak, the golden mesh gleaming brightly. I wondered how well a heavy steam frigate would do in the middle of the Pacific. I considered its square rig a bit of a handicap. Prince Serak of the Nevadas had decided to come with his wife... We would stop and visit a day too with Queen Freydis, who Serak's own younger brother had just married a few weeks before here. "I expect we'll have a new Queen of the Wyomings before we get back," my husband smiled, waving to his father on the dock, a blonde haired woman beside him raising her own arm in reply then. "Just as long as we don't have a `new' Queen of Dularn," I smiled back, lifting my own arm in farewell as the men at the capstan drew the North Star up to her anchor. The people of Ar- sana crowded on the docks, well aware that they might never see their Queen or her flagship again should things go "wrong" now... A steady stream of smoke rising up from the funnel left no doubt that I had a full head of steam up. The ship was "heavy" due to its carrying reserve supplies of food and water and spare canvas. "Got a lot of women aboard," my husband grinned at me then. "Most of them have sailed with me before," I smiled back. "Wind's almost dead `foul' for us," my husband observed. "I'm going to leave under steam," I smiled back at him. "We do have a good looking captain," he laughed back then. "And a `long' voyage ahead of us," I answered, going to the rail, giving my orders then that got us under way on this epic voyage to where no North American had been since the middle of the Twenty First Century over five centuries ago. I wondered too what we would "find", what life would be "like" in such a "land"? "`We' are `making history'," my husband said to me, his dark eyes looking into mine as I nodded back. The North Star now un- der full sail as the strait opened up before us into the ocean. I had a first rate crew, perhaps the "best" I'd had since the end of the war with the Empire back in the fall of 2567, or 520 as I usually thought of it, the "old system" being used now only by the Scribes and those who studied the legends and myths of a time now only words in a few musty old books that had survived so far. I was now ahead of Darlanis, the North Star obviously the faster of the two ships under sail as I had suspected that she would be. "We plan to sail as far `north' as we can before cutting across," I answered. Such would allow us to replenish our supply of water, food, and wood as necessary before venturing out into the Pacific towards distant Asia. Once I could have actually sailed in "sight of land" all the way to Asia, but now after what had happened there in the north it was best to avoid the "land of fire" where sixty gigatons of explosive power had driven the EVIL ONE back to the plane of existence that we commonly called HELL. While the HORROR was safely gone, still I had little wish to sail too close to that area of the world, and since there would be no supplies to be obtained there, I felt it just as well to avoid it now. In any case we would make our last "stop" south of there... "Sana," I smiled, the ships having made good time. I had been "exercising" the crew in sail drill, and with the wind as it was I had put aloft every bit of canvas that we could hoist now. My first officer regarded me, her eyes as blue as mine are green. I suspected, however, looking at her eyebrows, that she was not a true "blonde", such women always being thought more "desirable". Sarnian Queen had done well, Darlanis no doubt having taken the precaution of seeing to the quality of her own officers and crew. "You are still the `legend' we all speak of," she said. I had given "orders" that I was be addressed as any sea officer might, not as the Queen of Dularn. Such I thought might be help- ful in maintaining "morale" on a voyage of this type with people who would be for weeks at least out of any sight of land now... "The `old girl' still does sail pretty well," I smiled. "And this is your `first'," my father said, regarding her. In the glow of the lamps the stern cabin was homey, comfortable. Kathi had put out my wines, and a number too of various tidbits. Darlanis sitting there like an exotic vision in her golden mesh, her captain, a woman surprising enough, there quiet beside her. Serak with my husband, the two of them talking quietly together. "Lieutenant Karis Valdis," my first officer smiled back. "One of the `old aristocracy'," my father nodded in reply. "Lieutenant Diane Wells," my new second officer smiled then. "My daughters have done `well' for themselves," Tarl said. My sister is a Princess of Talon, and I am the Queen of Dularn. "It gives an old man pride to know how well his girls have done." "You're not that `old', Dad," I smiled, giving him a nod. "I have outlived two wives, seen much of life," he said. "You could always come along," I "suggested" with a smile. "You are the `sailor' in the family now," he replied. I nodded, saw him look away for a brief moment, remembering one who had died upon the deck above not all that long ago. She had died as I think she wished, standing in command on a warship's deck... "This is a great chance to draw our societies together," the Imperial officer smiled, her dark hair reminding me of another's. I had no doubt that her words reflected the opinion of Darlanis. I hoped that Darlanis had picked well, considering what laid ahead for us now when we turned out to sea to cross the Pacific. "My people are doing what they can to help," Queen Freydis said. I supposed some of Valeris' women had survived the blasts. Groups here and there might continue on for generations yet too. "Some will no doubt be `collared'," my husband whispered. The men of the "north" greatly enjoyed having a "collared wench". "A great `threat' to my people is gone now," Freydis said, Serak's own younger brother Orthis like a boy sitting beside her. "I feel `sorry' for them," Darlanis spoke up then, her eyes perhaps seeing something that none of the rest of us could see... "Colder," my husband said, drawing up his jacket. I had no- ticed that. We were far to the north now, past the territory of the Northmen, which we'd left now several days before. The sails of Sarnian Queen gleaming against the darkness of the early dawn. "Clouds to the north," Karis, the "first" said to me then. "I don't think those are the sort of clouds we usually see," I answered, focusing the heavy night glass on them then. "Signal Sarnian Queen that we will close the shore to take on supplies." I suspected that this might be the last time we could do so now. "We're in the southern parts of what was Valeris'," Darlanis said to me. Here she wore more "fitting" attire for the climate. The tunic and woolen hose, a heavy fur lined leather jacket too. I could hear the sound of axes, of men yelling. We had sent out hunting parties, others to find water to "replenish" our supply. "And `that' ahead is the smoke from the volcanoes," I said. The explosion of the six anti-matter missiles having set off a number of volcanoes in the area due to the terrific blast effect. "It appears that my `scouts' have found someone," the Em- press smiled, her eyes glowing into mine as I then nodded back. I knew the Priestesses were doing what they "could", but that was likely to be quite inadequate given the nature of things here... "Only a `memory' now of what once was," Darlanis said, the woman wolfing down the food almost like some starving animal now. I supposed here and there some of the Free Women might survive if Queen Freydis didn't try to take over all their "territory" now. "They did `prove' something," I answered, seeing her nod. "I think it is `best' if we do not venture into the smoke," I said, my husband nodding, the smoke like a great cloud it drifted slowly up into the sky there ahead of us. I then told Diane to signal Sarnian Queen that we were turning due west now. ***************************************************************** "I wonder what they will find there on the other side of the world," Mara mused as she stared out to sea, Tara beside her now. "People like us, but in a way `different'," Tara answered. "Not creatures with hooves, horns, or fur?" Mara asked her. "Not unless they `allowed' that which is `mu' to live," the Princess replied, giving her a smile from inside her robe's hood. "Why do people kill that which is `mu'?" Mara ventured then. "To preserve that which is `hu'," the Princess smiled back. "We are not the fools of the past who would allowed such too..." "Was there ever a man called `Hitler'?" Mara now asked Tara. "He was a `madman' who ruled long, long ago," Tara answered. "Queen Lorraine spoke of him while we were in Trella," Mara replied. "She said that he `existed' because people `trusted' too much in `governments' and let themselves become `enslaved'." "She is a very `smart' woman, but one who has been deluded by `another'," Tara answered, putting her arm then around Mara... |
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