"2570-26" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 8 - The Queen Of Time)THE QUEEN OF TIME 2570 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Six "Back when my mother `ran things' these `lords' of ours knew their `place'," King Albert spoke, cradling a Boston Terrier in his arms, another in his wife's arms, while a third of the dogs now looked hopefully up at me as I sat there now listening to them tell me of their problems. It being obvious to me that some of the lords had decided that without Amethysta on the throne of Trelandar, they could do pretty much as they wished as once they had before Amethysta had forced them to give her their "fealty". "Your mother was `successful' because she understood the need to `concentrate' her forces," I pointed out. This was in my eyes only "basic tactics", although I supposed it wasn't that easy for two "non-military types" like those I faced to "under- stand" here. These rebellious nobles would have to be dealt with one at a time, and "dealt with" in such a way that they would be "useful" afterwards in dealing with others of their own sort. It would also be necessary to see to it here that they didn't com- bine against us, as their total military strength now considera- bly exceeded our own from what Amethysta's son had told me! What they "expected" me to "do" here about it was yet another matter! "You are a `professional fighting woman'," Hope said to me. She was an excellent swordswoman, but not really a "Warrioress", lacking the "killer instinct" that is the mark of the true "pro- fessional" like myself. Her husband nodding hopefully in turn. "I am only a `visitor' in this time," I pointed out then. "You can't help us?" King Albert then asked me directly. "I will teach you what I know," I spoke, yawning a bit. "And then it will be up to us," Hope concluded for me. "`Leadership' is more important than arms," I smiled. "Perhaps tomorrow then," he smiled, nodding at Hope. ***************************************************************** "My husband is not really a `Warrior'," Hope said to me as we walked the streets of 24th Century Trella, both of us to all appearances just a pair of Warrioresses out seeing the "sights". "His `interests' are in his dogs and his books," she explained, such "information" no doubt known to the "troublemakers" of 2366. "The history of Trelandar does not hold much hope," I said. It was, I suspected, impossible to actually "change" history as such. Hope having told me that no one believed here in this time that we'd actually "crossed" the ruins of Los Angeles there to the north of Trella. Even those people who had seen us no longer believed that we'd actually done anything more than just venture a distance into them, as others had here before us upon a "dare". "And Tais would `stop' you if you `did' anything," she said. "Or `arm' one of these `warlords' against us," I "grinned", well aware that she'd done something like "that" with Bob and Carol, giving the Dularnians a bit of extra "help" against me... "We're like `puppets' controlled by that woman!" she spoke. "She's not a `woman' in the sense we think of one," I said. "More a `Goddess' out of mythology," Hope mused, regarding a fruit sellers' stand as the sun now set there over the harbor. I supposed it was "true" in a way, although I did like Tais a lot. She was, I knew, far more "human" than most First Priestesses had been from what Keri had told me of them. Like Janet Rogers Tais was a person who had a "mission" to carry out for all of Mankind. "I'm wondering if she isn't planning to `transport' people from the Twenty Seventh Century back to eras like this one," I mused thoughtfully, Hope buying an apple and biting into it now. Fruits such as apples were generally safe to eat without washing. I'd told Hope about what I'd seen there aboard the Gaia when we'd accidentally gone further forward in time than we'd "planned" to. "Ever consider that the American Indians took to the horse far swifter than you'd expect?" Hope smiled back, seeing me nod. "Maybe a few Nevadas and Wyomings got sent back," I said. "There are also certain `inventions' way back in history," Hope mused, regarding a prostitute strolling by in her "costume". The attire no more "daring" than what Hope herself had once worn. "How much did your husband `pay' for you?" I grinned back. "I never was a slave girl in the legal sense," she replied. "You were Carol Simmons `daughter'," I smiled, recalling a comment Bob had once made about his wife, that she was to "sex" what I was to swordsmanship. No doubt Carol had trained her well in such arts, Hope having the sort of a figure any man might well lust after, especially when clad in just a bit of leather here... "And we both love Boston Terriers," Hope pointed out to me. "He is a handsome man," I replied, "And a gentleman too." "I fear, however, not a true `warrior'," she answered me. "No more than you are a `warrioress'," I pointed out then. "I wish my mom and dad were here," Hope breathed out softly. "When I get a chance to `see' Tais, I'll ask her," I smiled, although I didn't see what Bob and Carol could "do" here either. And any "attempt" on my part to introduce the "weaponry" of the 26th Century would doubtlessly be quickly stopped here by Tais... "You saw the `end of the world', didn't you?" Hope said to me as we stopped and watched the sunset down there by the docks. A few couples strolling hand in hand making me think of Jon then. His chain was locked about my throat, a "replacement" as the one he'd put there originally in 2565 had been removed by Amethysta's people when they'd captured us. The gold links marking me as a wife of more than three years, a woman who could become a mother under the laws laid down for us centuries ago by the Priestesses. "I saw the Earth cold and frozen, circling a neutron star," I answered. Whether or not Tais had taken the Gaia back into the future to see just how and what had happened I didn't know here. "Did I have children?" Hope now asked, standing beside me. "Yes," I answered, having checked on that. Sanda had tried to give me what help she could, as had Keri, but the records were rather "spotty", and we didn't really know that much about Hope except that she had been the Queen of Trelandar for at least the rest of this century, apparently dying early in the 25th Century. The "cause of death" was unknown, and this was something I had no intention of telling her, being well aware that such would only worry her needlessly, there being nothing she could do about it! "It will be your children who will see the end of the world," Hope said to me, voicing thoughts I'd already considered. All three of my adopted daughters would live that long, as would my son and my daughter to be. Whether Jon would was another "is- sue" as he would be very close to the end of his span of life. I would not of course, since given a "normal" life span I would die just around the year 2600, forty eight years before "DOOMSDAY"... "I have `trust' in Tais," I answered, giving her a smile. "If she herself `lives' that long," Hope pointed out to me. "Priestesses seem to have unusually long life spans," I re- plied, recalling the rumors I'd heard from time to time spoken. Those of Mars also had longer life spans than those of Earth, but this was probably due to the effects of lesser gravity upon them. "The `streets' are `unsafe' after dark," Hope smiled at me. "I am of the Warrioresses," I smiled, seeing her "nod" back. "And your trust is in `steel'," Hope added, quoting one of our famous "sayings". I am a swordswoman beyond compare, perhaps the greatest that has ever lived in the history of Mankind here. "And in `keeping our eyes open'," I grinned in addition. "That probably would be `wise'," Hope "agreed" with me. "We do have our `civic duties'," I smiled then in reply. "This is the `worst dive' in Trella!" Hope gasped in horror! "Just the sort of a place to buy a drink," I grinned back, pushing the swinging half doors open and then stepping inside. The odor of strong drink, unwashed men, and marijuana assailing my nostrils as a group of burly longshoremen looked up at the sound of the doors swinging back and forth behind the two of us. "`We' don't `like' your kind around here!" one now snapped. "Perhaps you have `reasons'?" I smiled, my hand on the hilt of my long slim rapier like sword that has taken so many lives... "Lorraine...!" Hope softly pleaded, looking at them there. More men getting up from scattered tables, all of them armed. A "situation" now developing that I hadn't exactly planned on here! "I trust you have not forgot what I taught you," I answered, my blade clearing its sheath with a soft rustle of steel. Hope doing the same, placing her back against mine as we stood there! A SUDDEN "DISORIENTATION" AND THEN WE WERE STANDING ON A MARBLE DAIS, FIRST PRIESTESS TAIS NOW GIVING ME A BIG SMILE OF GREETING! A couple more Priestesses in white gowns quietly watching us all! "May Lys `bless' my soul, you sure are a `determined' one!" Tais exclaimed, regarding me with her hands there on her hips... "It would have been a great fight," I smiled back at her. "I have `need' of you in the `future'," Tais answered me. "The Gaia has reentered our time period," another spoke. "Mother!" Hope gasped, "Dad!" The two standing there. "Up to your `old tricks again', Tais?" Carol smiled. "And my second most favorite Warlady..." Bob grinned. "I'd `better' be `first'," Carol laughed, same as ever! "If you two would step up there," Tais said to Hope and me. "Another `trip in time'?" I asked, Tais grinning up at me. "Just a short trip from `here' to `there'," she smiled... THE QUEEN OF TIME 2570 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Six "Back when my mother `ran things' these `lords' of ours knew their `place'," King Albert spoke, cradling a Boston Terrier in his arms, another in his wife's arms, while a third of the dogs now looked hopefully up at me as I sat there now listening to them tell me of their problems. It being obvious to me that some of the lords had decided that without Amethysta on the throne of Trelandar, they could do pretty much as they wished as once they had before Amethysta had forced them to give her their "fealty". "Your mother was `successful' because she understood the need to `concentrate' her forces," I pointed out. This was in my eyes only "basic tactics", although I supposed it wasn't that easy for two "non-military types" like those I faced to "under- stand" here. These rebellious nobles would have to be dealt with one at a time, and "dealt with" in such a way that they would be "useful" afterwards in dealing with others of their own sort. It would also be necessary to see to it here that they didn't com- bine against us, as their total military strength now considera- bly exceeded our own from what Amethysta's son had told me! What they "expected" me to "do" here about it was yet another matter! "You are a `professional fighting woman'," Hope said to me. She was an excellent swordswoman, but not really a "Warrioress", lacking the "killer instinct" that is the mark of the true "pro- fessional" like myself. Her husband nodding hopefully in turn. "I am only a `visitor' in this time," I pointed out then. "You can't help us?" King Albert then asked me directly. "I will teach you what I know," I spoke, yawning a bit. "And then it will be up to us," Hope concluded for me. "`Leadership' is more important than arms," I smiled. "Perhaps tomorrow then," he smiled, nodding at Hope. ***************************************************************** "My husband is not really a `Warrior'," Hope said to me as we walked the streets of 24th Century Trella, both of us to all appearances just a pair of Warrioresses out seeing the "sights". "His `interests' are in his dogs and his books," she explained, such "information" no doubt known to the "troublemakers" of 2366. "The history of Trelandar does not hold much hope," I said. It was, I suspected, impossible to actually "change" history as such. Hope having told me that no one believed here in this time that we'd actually "crossed" the ruins of Los Angeles there to the north of Trella. Even those people who had seen us no longer believed that we'd actually done anything more than just venture a distance into them, as others had here before us upon a "dare". "And Tais would `stop' you if you `did' anything," she said. "Or `arm' one of these `warlords' against us," I "grinned", well aware that she'd done something like "that" with Bob and Carol, giving the Dularnians a bit of extra "help" against me... "We're like `puppets' controlled by that woman!" she spoke. "She's not a `woman' in the sense we think of one," I said. "More a `Goddess' out of mythology," Hope mused, regarding a fruit sellers' stand as the sun now set there over the harbor. I supposed it was "true" in a way, although I did like Tais a lot. She was, I knew, far more "human" than most First Priestesses had been from what Keri had told me of them. Like Janet Rogers Tais was a person who had a "mission" to carry out for all of Mankind. "I'm wondering if she isn't planning to `transport' people from the Twenty Seventh Century back to eras like this one," I mused thoughtfully, Hope buying an apple and biting into it now. Fruits such as apples were generally safe to eat without washing. I'd told Hope about what I'd seen there aboard the Gaia when we'd accidentally gone further forward in time than we'd "planned" to. "Ever consider that the American Indians took to the horse far swifter than you'd expect?" Hope smiled back, seeing me nod. "Maybe a few Nevadas and Wyomings got sent back," I said. "There are also certain `inventions' way back in history," Hope mused, regarding a prostitute strolling by in her "costume". The attire no more "daring" than what Hope herself had once worn. "How much did your husband `pay' for you?" I grinned back. "I never was a slave girl in the legal sense," she replied. "You were Carol Simmons `daughter'," I smiled, recalling a comment Bob had once made about his wife, that she was to "sex" what I was to swordsmanship. No doubt Carol had trained her well in such arts, Hope having the sort of a figure any man might well lust after, especially when clad in just a bit of leather here... "And we both love Boston Terriers," Hope pointed out to me. "He is a handsome man," I replied, "And a gentleman too." "I fear, however, not a true `warrior'," she answered me. "No more than you are a `warrioress'," I pointed out then. "I wish my mom and dad were here," Hope breathed out softly. "When I get a chance to `see' Tais, I'll ask her," I smiled, although I didn't see what Bob and Carol could "do" here either. And any "attempt" on my part to introduce the "weaponry" of the 26th Century would doubtlessly be quickly stopped here by Tais... "You saw the `end of the world', didn't you?" Hope said to me as we stopped and watched the sunset down there by the docks. A few couples strolling hand in hand making me think of Jon then. His chain was locked about my throat, a "replacement" as the one he'd put there originally in 2565 had been removed by Amethysta's people when they'd captured us. The gold links marking me as a wife of more than three years, a woman who could become a mother under the laws laid down for us centuries ago by the Priestesses. "I saw the Earth cold and frozen, circling a neutron star," I answered. Whether or not Tais had taken the Gaia back into the future to see just how and what had happened I didn't know here. "Did I have children?" Hope now asked, standing beside me. "Yes," I answered, having checked on that. Sanda had tried to give me what help she could, as had Keri, but the records were rather "spotty", and we didn't really know that much about Hope except that she had been the Queen of Trelandar for at least the rest of this century, apparently dying early in the 25th Century. The "cause of death" was unknown, and this was something I had no intention of telling her, being well aware that such would only worry her needlessly, there being nothing she could do about it! "It will be your children who will see the end of the world," Hope said to me, voicing thoughts I'd already considered. All three of my adopted daughters would live that long, as would my son and my daughter to be. Whether Jon would was another "is- sue" as he would be very close to the end of his span of life. I would not of course, since given a "normal" life span I would die just around the year 2600, forty eight years before "DOOMSDAY"... "I have `trust' in Tais," I answered, giving her a smile. "If she herself `lives' that long," Hope pointed out to me. "Priestesses seem to have unusually long life spans," I re- plied, recalling the rumors I'd heard from time to time spoken. Those of Mars also had longer life spans than those of Earth, but this was probably due to the effects of lesser gravity upon them. "The `streets' are `unsafe' after dark," Hope smiled at me. "I am of the Warrioresses," I smiled, seeing her "nod" back. "And your trust is in `steel'," Hope added, quoting one of our famous "sayings". I am a swordswoman beyond compare, perhaps the greatest that has ever lived in the history of Mankind here. "And in `keeping our eyes open'," I grinned in addition. "That probably would be `wise'," Hope "agreed" with me. "We do have our `civic duties'," I smiled then in reply. "This is the `worst dive' in Trella!" Hope gasped in horror! "Just the sort of a place to buy a drink," I grinned back, pushing the swinging half doors open and then stepping inside. The odor of strong drink, unwashed men, and marijuana assailing my nostrils as a group of burly longshoremen looked up at the sound of the doors swinging back and forth behind the two of us. "`We' don't `like' your kind around here!" one now snapped. "Perhaps you have `reasons'?" I smiled, my hand on the hilt of my long slim rapier like sword that has taken so many lives... "Lorraine...!" Hope softly pleaded, looking at them there. More men getting up from scattered tables, all of them armed. A "situation" now developing that I hadn't exactly planned on here! "I trust you have not forgot what I taught you," I answered, my blade clearing its sheath with a soft rustle of steel. Hope doing the same, placing her back against mine as we stood there! A SUDDEN "DISORIENTATION" AND THEN WE WERE STANDING ON A MARBLE DAIS, FIRST PRIESTESS TAIS NOW GIVING ME A BIG SMILE OF GREETING! A couple more Priestesses in white gowns quietly watching us all! "May Lys `bless' my soul, you sure are a `determined' one!" Tais exclaimed, regarding me with her hands there on her hips... "It would have been a great fight," I smiled back at her. "I have `need' of you in the `future'," Tais answered me. "The Gaia has reentered our time period," another spoke. "Mother!" Hope gasped, "Dad!" The two standing there. "Up to your `old tricks again', Tais?" Carol smiled. "And my second most favorite Warlady..." Bob grinned. "I'd `better' be `first'," Carol laughed, same as ever! "If you two would step up there," Tais said to Hope and me. "Another `trip in time'?" I asked, Tais grinning up at me. "Just a short trip from `here' to `there'," she smiled... |
|
|