"2570-44" - 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 Forty Four "They have steam as we do," Janice said, lowering the tele- scope. Her dark eyes meeting mine as I nodded back at her then. She is an attractive woman, tall, slim, dark haired. Much like a daughter of mine would look like, I suspect. I thought highly of her too. Perhaps due to her looks, to what we'd shared together over the years that we'd known each other, the adventures we'd shared together aboard this very ship. Her uniform in the "new style", the black silken tunic and hose, instead of a loose dress like fighting women used to wear even aboard the warships. My own attire was more "feminine", as I suppose befitting a "Queen". "Tara's last vessel also mounted cannon," I commented then. Had it not been for the "intervention" of the Priestesses of Lys and the firepower of the Gaia there would have been nothing left of the North Star. Not even Maris Marn's "abilities" at command had made any difference, I recalled, although her own bravery had left no doubt that she was truly of the Caste of Warrioresses... I'd never thought that much of her, but she'd had plenty of guts! Something there'd been no doubt of either there in the "north"... I recalled too what Darlanis had said of Maris, of her courage, of what they'd learned there in the north, of what they'd SEEN!! And when it had come down to it, she'd been brave too this year. Willing to risk her position, her throne, to fight against Tara. "We would be defenseless against such weapons," Janice said. I suspected that the same thought was shared now by many aboard. The crew of the Huntress were picked men and women, the "best". I could rely upon them to maintain order even under cannon fire. "We can turn and run for Trella," I now smiled back at her. "That probably would be the `wisest' course of action," she answered, knowing that I was often not "wise" at doing such here. "But then we would learn nothing of things," I pointed out. I also had no desire to return to Trella just now either here... Not with the sort of a "mob" that Les Hawkins might be raising! "We may have an `advantage' in speed under steam," she said. The Huntress was newly refitted, and had a powerful engine capa- ble of driving her at six knots under steam power alone. She was not as "fast" under sail perhaps as a Dularnian "North", but on the other hand I did not feel Tara's ship was of the latest type. "My thought exactly," I said, glancing over at Bob and Carol standing there together at the rail. At Joyce watching us, her eyes shielded by a dark cloth from the glare of the bright sun- light. I wondered if it was wise here to risk their lives here. I saw Bob whisper something to Carol, then walk over to the hatch that led below to the engine room. I suspected that a decision had been made. The old Dularnian Warlady giving me a grim smile! "Better this way than in bed," Carol said to me, drawing her sword, the blade glittering there in the reflection of the sun. I nodded, well aware that "history" cannot be changed, the smile curving my lips no doubt making others aware that once again the Warlady of the Empire of California strode the deck of a warship! That once again she scented the odor of battle, my blade suddenly in my hand almost as if it had a mind of its own. The crew hur- rying to their stations, some glancing up at me standing there... "I'm glad to be here," Carol said, joining me then, her old eyes meeting mine. "I'm glad this time we're on the `same side'. That we're together at last," she spoke, cutting the palm of her hand on her blade and offering it to me. I cut my own, tasted of her blood as she did of mine. Such is, I think, meaningful only to those of our caste. I'm glad we shared this "adventure". I still recall her last words when Tais and I helped them pass on. She did "remember" our standing together as she laid beside her husband there in their own beloved home. The poison they took giving them both a peaceful passing into the astral world togeth- er just as they wished it to be. I weep as I write these words. She was a woman I will never forget. A woman I much admire too. "We have `lived' as few have," I said, Carol smiling back. "Definitely a `North'," I said, Janice standing at my side. I nodded to Carol, to this old, gray haired Dularnian Warlady I'd crossed blades with only three years ago. There are many "para- doxes" in time travel. Even though Carol is now "dead", she yet "lives" and it is possible that I will see her again some time... I would also like to meet Janet Rogers again, she who was once my Princess Ann of Trelandar, the child who SHE herself took back in time to the Twentieth Century so that history might be as it was. Bob then rejoining us on deck, an old man, but still in his way a man who had once commanded ships of war, who understood "things". Jon had left the palace the same time I had, with my son and Sue Cross, Yvette, for a place of safety should the worst happen now. "And if it is Tara's..." Janice said, standing behind me. "Then we will do as we must," I answered in level tones. "We wouldn't stand a chance against cannon," she mused. "A fact I have already `noted'," I smiled back at her. "Only one of our battleships could survive it," she spoke. "Tara used explosive shot before," Sandis North added then. "No doubt then we can expect she will use it again," I said. "Cannon will outrange our own weapons," Bob said to me then. "It is unlikely that her weapons would have a range of more than half a mile," I replied thoughtfully, aware that ours had a far less range, our steam powered weapons being able to fire no more than six hundred yards at the very best. I could "counter" explosive shot with my own fire bombs fired from my catapults. I was not "defenseless" by a long shot, although the longer range of Tara's cannon meant that the Huntress would have to endure be- ing under fire for a period of time before I could return fire... Tara had been able to fire a broadside into the North Star at close range back last year, Maris having had no idea of what she was facing, a situation that would not be repeated in this case! "Our speed through the water is about two hundred yards a minute," Bob observed, mentally doing the same "math" that I was. We would have to withstand at least one broadside fired at long range from the enemy, perhaps two depending upon its commander. Granted such fire would be from a considerable distance, but I had no doubt that we'd take "hits", although how much "damage" we'd suffer was something unpredictable. Maris had been taken by surprise at close range, and Tara herself had been in command. There was also the question of how "good" Tara's gunnery would be. Such weapons violated the edicts of the Priestesses, and it was unlikely that the evil Princess would have been able to train her crew in gunnery to any extent. Also, it was likely that her own first ship had perhaps been pretty much "one of a kind", and this ship might have only a few cannon and not a full complement. "Ship is turning towards us," Janice announced just then. "Signal them again," I ordered, my officer nodding back. "No response," Sandis North spoke, lowering her telescope. "I want the deck soaked down," I spoke, Janice nodding back. "Raise battle flags, load fire bombs in all catapults," I added, her dark eyes briefly holding mine. I knew she "understood"... It could be the "last battle" many of us aboard might ever see. I could, I knew, quite likely be sharing their fate. As for Bob and Carol, I supposed there was little danger for them here now. It is unlikely that any force, any agency less POWERFUL than that of SHE herself can alter such things. I saw Joyce watching me, a mutated horror standing there on the deck, the sun shining on it. "You are she who fought her way across the ruins," she said. No one had ever really believed until Joyce had confirmed it now. "I never would have made it without Hope," I smiled, putting my arm around Carol as she stood there at my side. This old wom- an, dying from an uncurable disease that stole her very memories. "I have taken the `liberty' of hoisting your flag," Janice said to me. That double barred silvery cross on a black field. Tara would have no doubts now as to "who" she faced here. The evil Princess, once the abode of the Queen of Darkness, would be well aware that she faced Lorraine Richards, Queen of Trelandar. "Pass the word to the crew that at my command they are to fall flat to the deck," I spoke, seeing her nod at my order here. The explosive shot fired from Tara's ship would be less effective then. There would be a "gauntlet" that we would have to run be- fore our weapons would be effective in reply to Tara's cannons. "I am glad I am here today," Janice Hill said to me then. "There is the scent of blood in the air," I said to her. "It is the scent of our foes," she answered with a smile, a grim smile that left no doubts that she knew what we faced here!! "Such is part of the caste codes of Warrioresses," Carol ex- plained to Joyce, the old Warlady's memories apparently yet good. She was old, dying, but I thought still proud of her caste here. We of the Warrioresses know that there are no immortals, that it is better to die with a sword in your hand than to live a coward. "Less than a mile now," Janice said to me, the enemy ship not having yet identified itself. I wondered if it was Tara's? I knew of no other ship like it save for the one Tara had built. The same vessel that she had used years ago to provoke a war be- tween Dularn and California. A war that had dragged on for years too before a peace treaty had been signed by Maris and Darlanis. "May Lys have mercy upon our souls," I spoke then in turn. "I am proud to stand beside my Queen," my commodore said. "Better plan to be lying beside her," I grinned back then. THE QUEEN OF TIME 2570 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Forty Four "They have steam as we do," Janice said, lowering the tele- scope. Her dark eyes meeting mine as I nodded back at her then. She is an attractive woman, tall, slim, dark haired. Much like a daughter of mine would look like, I suspect. I thought highly of her too. Perhaps due to her looks, to what we'd shared together over the years that we'd known each other, the adventures we'd shared together aboard this very ship. Her uniform in the "new style", the black silken tunic and hose, instead of a loose dress like fighting women used to wear even aboard the warships. My own attire was more "feminine", as I suppose befitting a "Queen". "Tara's last vessel also mounted cannon," I commented then. Had it not been for the "intervention" of the Priestesses of Lys and the firepower of the Gaia there would have been nothing left of the North Star. Not even Maris Marn's "abilities" at command had made any difference, I recalled, although her own bravery had left no doubt that she was truly of the Caste of Warrioresses... I'd never thought that much of her, but she'd had plenty of guts! Something there'd been no doubt of either there in the "north"... I recalled too what Darlanis had said of Maris, of her courage, of what they'd learned there in the north, of what they'd SEEN!! And when it had come down to it, she'd been brave too this year. Willing to risk her position, her throne, to fight against Tara. "We would be defenseless against such weapons," Janice said. I suspected that the same thought was shared now by many aboard. The crew of the Huntress were picked men and women, the "best". I could rely upon them to maintain order even under cannon fire. "We can turn and run for Trella," I now smiled back at her. "That probably would be the `wisest' course of action," she answered, knowing that I was often not "wise" at doing such here. "But then we would learn nothing of things," I pointed out. I also had no desire to return to Trella just now either here... Not with the sort of a "mob" that Les Hawkins might be raising! "We may have an `advantage' in speed under steam," she said. The Huntress was newly refitted, and had a powerful engine capa- ble of driving her at six knots under steam power alone. She was not as "fast" under sail perhaps as a Dularnian "North", but on the other hand I did not feel Tara's ship was of the latest type. "My thought exactly," I said, glancing over at Bob and Carol standing there together at the rail. At Joyce watching us, her eyes shielded by a dark cloth from the glare of the bright sun- light. I wondered if it was wise here to risk their lives here. I saw Bob whisper something to Carol, then walk over to the hatch that led below to the engine room. I suspected that a decision had been made. The old Dularnian Warlady giving me a grim smile! "Better this way than in bed," Carol said to me, drawing her sword, the blade glittering there in the reflection of the sun. I nodded, well aware that "history" cannot be changed, the smile curving my lips no doubt making others aware that once again the Warlady of the Empire of California strode the deck of a warship! That once again she scented the odor of battle, my blade suddenly in my hand almost as if it had a mind of its own. The crew hur- rying to their stations, some glancing up at me standing there... "I'm glad to be here," Carol said, joining me then, her old eyes meeting mine. "I'm glad this time we're on the `same side'. That we're together at last," she spoke, cutting the palm of her hand on her blade and offering it to me. I cut my own, tasted of her blood as she did of mine. Such is, I think, meaningful only to those of our caste. I'm glad we shared this "adventure". I still recall her last words when Tais and I helped them pass on. She did "remember" our standing together as she laid beside her husband there in their own beloved home. The poison they took giving them both a peaceful passing into the astral world togeth- er just as they wished it to be. I weep as I write these words. She was a woman I will never forget. A woman I much admire too. "We have `lived' as few have," I said, Carol smiling back. "Definitely a `North'," I said, Janice standing at my side. I nodded to Carol, to this old, gray haired Dularnian Warlady I'd crossed blades with only three years ago. There are many "para- doxes" in time travel. Even though Carol is now "dead", she yet "lives" and it is possible that I will see her again some time... I would also like to meet Janet Rogers again, she who was once my Princess Ann of Trelandar, the child who SHE herself took back in time to the Twentieth Century so that history might be as it was. Bob then rejoining us on deck, an old man, but still in his way a man who had once commanded ships of war, who understood "things". Jon had left the palace the same time I had, with my son and Sue Cross, Yvette, for a place of safety should the worst happen now. "And if it is Tara's..." Janice said, standing behind me. "Then we will do as we must," I answered in level tones. "We wouldn't stand a chance against cannon," she mused. "A fact I have already `noted'," I smiled back at her. "Only one of our battleships could survive it," she spoke. "Tara used explosive shot before," Sandis North added then. "No doubt then we can expect she will use it again," I said. "Cannon will outrange our own weapons," Bob said to me then. "It is unlikely that her weapons would have a range of more than half a mile," I replied thoughtfully, aware that ours had a far less range, our steam powered weapons being able to fire no more than six hundred yards at the very best. I could "counter" explosive shot with my own fire bombs fired from my catapults. I was not "defenseless" by a long shot, although the longer range of Tara's cannon meant that the Huntress would have to endure be- ing under fire for a period of time before I could return fire... Tara had been able to fire a broadside into the North Star at close range back last year, Maris having had no idea of what she was facing, a situation that would not be repeated in this case! "Our speed through the water is about two hundred yards a minute," Bob observed, mentally doing the same "math" that I was. We would have to withstand at least one broadside fired at long range from the enemy, perhaps two depending upon its commander. Granted such fire would be from a considerable distance, but I had no doubt that we'd take "hits", although how much "damage" we'd suffer was something unpredictable. Maris had been taken by surprise at close range, and Tara herself had been in command. There was also the question of how "good" Tara's gunnery would be. Such weapons violated the edicts of the Priestesses, and it was unlikely that the evil Princess would have been able to train her crew in gunnery to any extent. Also, it was likely that her own first ship had perhaps been pretty much "one of a kind", and this ship might have only a few cannon and not a full complement. "Ship is turning towards us," Janice announced just then. "Signal them again," I ordered, my officer nodding back. "No response," Sandis North spoke, lowering her telescope. "I want the deck soaked down," I spoke, Janice nodding back. "Raise battle flags, load fire bombs in all catapults," I added, her dark eyes briefly holding mine. I knew she "understood"... It could be the "last battle" many of us aboard might ever see. I could, I knew, quite likely be sharing their fate. As for Bob and Carol, I supposed there was little danger for them here now. It is unlikely that any force, any agency less POWERFUL than that of SHE herself can alter such things. I saw Joyce watching me, a mutated horror standing there on the deck, the sun shining on it. "You are she who fought her way across the ruins," she said. No one had ever really believed until Joyce had confirmed it now. "I never would have made it without Hope," I smiled, putting my arm around Carol as she stood there at my side. This old wom- an, dying from an uncurable disease that stole her very memories. "I have taken the `liberty' of hoisting your flag," Janice said to me. That double barred silvery cross on a black field. Tara would have no doubts now as to "who" she faced here. The evil Princess, once the abode of the Queen of Darkness, would be well aware that she faced Lorraine Richards, Queen of Trelandar. "Pass the word to the crew that at my command they are to fall flat to the deck," I spoke, seeing her nod at my order here. The explosive shot fired from Tara's ship would be less effective then. There would be a "gauntlet" that we would have to run be- fore our weapons would be effective in reply to Tara's cannons. "I am glad I am here today," Janice Hill said to me then. "There is the scent of blood in the air," I said to her. "It is the scent of our foes," she answered with a smile, a grim smile that left no doubts that she knew what we faced here!! "Such is part of the caste codes of Warrioresses," Carol ex- plained to Joyce, the old Warlady's memories apparently yet good. She was old, dying, but I thought still proud of her caste here. We of the Warrioresses know that there are no immortals, that it is better to die with a sword in your hand than to live a coward. "Less than a mile now," Janice said to me, the enemy ship not having yet identified itself. I wondered if it was Tara's? I knew of no other ship like it save for the one Tara had built. The same vessel that she had used years ago to provoke a war be- tween Dularn and California. A war that had dragged on for years too before a peace treaty had been signed by Maris and Darlanis. "May Lys have mercy upon our souls," I spoke then in turn. "I am proud to stand beside my Queen," my commodore said. "Better plan to be lying beside her," I grinned back then. |
|
|