"FREE-26" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 9 - The Freedom Fighters Of Trelandar)Freedom Fighters of Trelandar A Tale of Adventure in the Second Dark Age Book Nine of the Warlady Series By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Six I moved swiftly, but quietly through the woods, using the boles of the trees for "cover", guided by the sounds ahead of me. The sharp barking of the Boston Terrier, the horrid growling and hissing roars of the Garth that Trouble was now harassing. A dog tends to do things that no one with reason would attempt, but the Boston Terrier is a very "protective" dog despite their size, and they will harass dangerous animals far larger than they are here. Trouble weighed about eighteen pounds, and a Garth goes twelve to fifteen hundred as a rule, standing eight to ten feet tall. I should note here that they are not a "hunting" predator as such, but more a scavenger, being too slow to catch a deer or such. On the other hand you cannot out run one, and they are man eaters... "Oh Shit!" I breathed, seeing the scene before me, the black and white Boston Terrier standing there barking at the Garth, the LARGEST GARTH I'D EVER SEEN! THE DAMN THING ELEVEN FEET TALL!!! The creature advancing on the barking dog, then suddenly turning, whipping its heavy powerful tail around, snapping it almost like a whip at the dog! The tip of the tail striking Trouble, sending him flying through the air, his "yip" leaving no doubts here too! The dinosaur then charging its tormentor, the dog limping off on three legs as best he could now, dodging among the trees with the horror close behind him, the great reptile ponderous, slow, obvi- ously very old. Trouble obviously was in a whole lot of trouble! "Lys!" Carl breathed, suddenly at my side, Marta with him. Jerry standing there, his eyes dark pools of horror as he saw it. "Shoot it, mommy, shoot it!" he pleaded, seeing the Garth chasing after the little black and white dog, Trouble having bit- ten off far more here than he could handle! "Shoot it Mommy!!!" "Be Quiet!" Marta snapped, clamping her hand over his mouth! "Maybe this..." Carl breathed, raising his crossbow then. I knew how "inadequate" even it was against such a horror as this! "I'll get its attention!" Marta snapped, handing me Jerry. "Mother..." he "breathed", looking up at me, his eyes wet. Marta stepping forward into the clearing and nocking an arrow to shoot. The bow was mine, a much better weapon than what she had. In comparison to the standard military arm it was equal to one of eighty pounds draw in penetration, but peaked here at fifty five. I'd let her shoot it a couple times, the bow much impressing her. "She is a brave woman..." Carl said, Marta drawing the bow, the arrow streaking out between the trees, the Garth roaring with fury as the arrow buried itself perhaps two feet into that great scaly body. The great reptile turning, charging as Marta shot a second arrow into that horrid scaly greenish body, the thing like a nightmare as it came trotting on towards her, a creature that no hand held weapon of this era could have ever "stopped" here... "Marta! Run!" Carl snapped, Marta getting off a third shot! The Warrioress turning, stumbling to our horror on a root! Going down as Carl took aim, fired his bolt into the horror's neck now! Trouble limping towards us, barking in tiny pitiful yips at it!!! "NO!" I screamed in horror, seeing Marta draw her sword as she laid there, the great head coming down as she thrust up into it, the dinosaur, the Garth seizing her in its jaws, raising up its horrid head, its jaws closing on her body as she struck at it with a fist, the fangs, three inches long, already driving deep!! Her scream of agony a high pitched squeal as the jaws now closed! "SANDA!" I heard Carl yell as I dashed forward, my mother's sword in my hand, the dinosaur before me, Marta in its jaws, the great chest seeming to fill my vision as I thrust into it with both hands, the blade sinking to the hilt. The heavy slam of its forelimb against the side of my head sending me sprawling almost senseless, the creature now turning, one of its great clawed feet lifted to smash down upon me, Trouble there nipping at it, draw- ing its attention, Carl facing it with drawn sword, jabbing it... The horror dropping Marta's body, bloody, her eyes yet open, see- ing, the blood now spurting from her like a punctured wineskin. Trouble dashing in to sink his teeth into it, a great clawed foot coming down, crushing him to a horrid pulp as Carl thrust deep. My vision blurring, everything going dark as I saw the dinosaur stumbling, and then going down with a terrible thud to the earth less than a dozen feet away! The great scaly body twitching, kicking for a few seconds before death finally overtook it here. Jerry came running to me, trying to help me up, Carl going to Marta and placing his sword in her hand. Closing her fingers about the hilt. The blood pouring from her body as he held her, the blood running from her mouth as he whispered to her the "last words", telling her that she would be gathered into the arms of Lys, that her courage, her bravery here would wipe out any sins. Trouble only a crushed little bit of bloody fur, my eyesight now so blurred that I could see little. The pain and wetness leaving no doubts that the claws of the Garth had cut my scalp, the blow having fortunately been glancing, and no doubt poorly aimed here. Jerry sobbing, clinging to me as I got an arm under myself, now half rolling over as Carl stood up, looking down at Marta there. "I can ride," I said to Carl. Without shovels we had no way of burying Marta, and I had no intention of leaving her body for the beasts. I'd also collected the crushed remains of the dog. We would find a Peasant's hut somewhere, bury them both properly. Jerry just standing there, watching, numb with shock, with loss. Fortunately the claws had not cut my face, but it would be time before my hair grew out to cover the damage the forelimb had made when the dinosaur had struck me. And far longer before I would be able to "forget" what had happened. I did get my son another dog here, Bostons being common here in Trelandar among the upper classes, but the "memory" of "how" Marta Satel died is still yet burned into my memory even now after seventy one years have gone. "I'll be glad when this damned war is over," Carl said then. I thought it a fitting epitaph for those who had died this day... "She was a Warrioress among Warrioresses," I said, standing there in the twilight, the Peasant, his wife and family watching. Carl at my side, my son clinging to me, his eyes wet with tears. We had dug a grave, adequate for Marta's body, and laid upon her breast the crushed remains of a little dog who had been so brave. I had buried her weapons with her, as is felt proper, so that she might greet Lys in the afterlife as a Warrioress should, standing proud before the Mistress of All, the Giver of Life Everlasting. She had died with a sword in her hand, as she would have wished it to have been, died in battle, fighting against a foe, even if the foe had not been human, but just a big dumb stupid animal, a dinosaur created by the atomic radiation of a war five centuries ago. A war between Mankind and an alien species from far off... "And although Marta has now passed on to stand before Lys, yet in our memories she will live on, and inspire us to greater glory," I spoke, the Peasant and his family nodding, perhaps in their own way understanding the meaning of what Marta had done for us all. (a week later) "It is `good' to see you again, sister," Queen Paula said to me, taking my hands in hers, her dark eyes seeking the truth in mine as I smiled back. To her Marta's death would be but one of many who had died in this war with the Imperials. A part of the risks that one took in battle, in this war that we couldn't win. That Darlanis couldn't "win", that could drag on for years now to the "ruin" of two nations until the barbarians came to finish it. Carl standing there with my son, who had seen Paula before, al- though I don't think he quite understood just "who" she was here. Jerry knew she was a Queen, but he didn't really understand just why she was so far more "important" than his own mother was here. I would find him a puppy, a little "pug" boy or girl, another dog to grow up with him, to share his adventures as a young man here. "Is there any truth to the rumor I heard?" I asked her then. "Darlanis has asked for a `truce'," Paula answered me back. "There is `more'?" I asked, looking into Paula's dark eyes. "There have been `violations' of the `caste codes'," Paula said, her attire, her look leaving no doubt that she was a Queen. "Darlanis has stated that we have made war on non combatants..." "She is certainly more `guilty' of that than us!" I retort- ed, well aware of some of the things that Tara had done here now! The burning of villages, the execution of anyone who she thought might be a danger to Imperial ambitions, the slaughter of people who the Imperials "claimed" had in some way tried to resist them! True, I knew of no case where Darlanis had actually ordered "any- thing" like that herself, but she was Queen of Sarn, Empress of California if you accepted her claims here, and "responsible" for everything too that Princess Tara as her Warlady now did here! I certainly didn't believe that the Imperials had any claims here! "Any impartial jury would find her guilty as Hell of `violations' of the caste codes, of the rules of warfare," I continued on now. "And as a lawyer I can tell you that `justice' is on our side..." Paula nodding, her golden crown beautiful against her dark hair. I thought it "fitting" too that Paula was the Queen of Trelandar. Freedom Fighters of Trelandar A Tale of Adventure in the Second Dark Age Book Nine of the Warlady Series By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Six I moved swiftly, but quietly through the woods, using the boles of the trees for "cover", guided by the sounds ahead of me. The sharp barking of the Boston Terrier, the horrid growling and hissing roars of the Garth that Trouble was now harassing. A dog tends to do things that no one with reason would attempt, but the Boston Terrier is a very "protective" dog despite their size, and they will harass dangerous animals far larger than they are here. Trouble weighed about eighteen pounds, and a Garth goes twelve to fifteen hundred as a rule, standing eight to ten feet tall. I should note here that they are not a "hunting" predator as such, but more a scavenger, being too slow to catch a deer or such. On the other hand you cannot out run one, and they are man eaters... "Oh Shit!" I breathed, seeing the scene before me, the black and white Boston Terrier standing there barking at the Garth, the LARGEST GARTH I'D EVER SEEN! THE DAMN THING ELEVEN FEET TALL!!! The creature advancing on the barking dog, then suddenly turning, whipping its heavy powerful tail around, snapping it almost like a whip at the dog! The tip of the tail striking Trouble, sending him flying through the air, his "yip" leaving no doubts here too! The dinosaur then charging its tormentor, the dog limping off on three legs as best he could now, dodging among the trees with the horror close behind him, the great reptile ponderous, slow, obvi- ously very old. Trouble obviously was in a whole lot of trouble! "Lys!" Carl breathed, suddenly at my side, Marta with him. Jerry standing there, his eyes dark pools of horror as he saw it. "Shoot it, mommy, shoot it!" he pleaded, seeing the Garth chasing after the little black and white dog, Trouble having bit- ten off far more here than he could handle! "Shoot it Mommy!!!" "Be Quiet!" Marta snapped, clamping her hand over his mouth! "Maybe this..." Carl breathed, raising his crossbow then. I knew how "inadequate" even it was against such a horror as this! "I'll get its attention!" Marta snapped, handing me Jerry. "Mother..." he "breathed", looking up at me, his eyes wet. Marta stepping forward into the clearing and nocking an arrow to shoot. The bow was mine, a much better weapon than what she had. In comparison to the standard military arm it was equal to one of eighty pounds draw in penetration, but peaked here at fifty five. I'd let her shoot it a couple times, the bow much impressing her. "She is a brave woman..." Carl said, Marta drawing the bow, the arrow streaking out between the trees, the Garth roaring with fury as the arrow buried itself perhaps two feet into that great scaly body. The great reptile turning, charging as Marta shot a second arrow into that horrid scaly greenish body, the thing like a nightmare as it came trotting on towards her, a creature that no hand held weapon of this era could have ever "stopped" here... "Marta! Run!" Carl snapped, Marta getting off a third shot! The Warrioress turning, stumbling to our horror on a root! Going down as Carl took aim, fired his bolt into the horror's neck now! Trouble limping towards us, barking in tiny pitiful yips at it!!! "NO!" I screamed in horror, seeing Marta draw her sword as she laid there, the great head coming down as she thrust up into it, the dinosaur, the Garth seizing her in its jaws, raising up its horrid head, its jaws closing on her body as she struck at it with a fist, the fangs, three inches long, already driving deep!! Her scream of agony a high pitched squeal as the jaws now closed! "SANDA!" I heard Carl yell as I dashed forward, my mother's sword in my hand, the dinosaur before me, Marta in its jaws, the great chest seeming to fill my vision as I thrust into it with both hands, the blade sinking to the hilt. The heavy slam of its forelimb against the side of my head sending me sprawling almost senseless, the creature now turning, one of its great clawed feet lifted to smash down upon me, Trouble there nipping at it, draw- ing its attention, Carl facing it with drawn sword, jabbing it... The horror dropping Marta's body, bloody, her eyes yet open, see- ing, the blood now spurting from her like a punctured wineskin. Trouble dashing in to sink his teeth into it, a great clawed foot coming down, crushing him to a horrid pulp as Carl thrust deep. My vision blurring, everything going dark as I saw the dinosaur stumbling, and then going down with a terrible thud to the earth less than a dozen feet away! The great scaly body twitching, kicking for a few seconds before death finally overtook it here. Jerry came running to me, trying to help me up, Carl going to Marta and placing his sword in her hand. Closing her fingers about the hilt. The blood pouring from her body as he held her, the blood running from her mouth as he whispered to her the "last words", telling her that she would be gathered into the arms of Lys, that her courage, her bravery here would wipe out any sins. Trouble only a crushed little bit of bloody fur, my eyesight now so blurred that I could see little. The pain and wetness leaving no doubts that the claws of the Garth had cut my scalp, the blow having fortunately been glancing, and no doubt poorly aimed here. Jerry sobbing, clinging to me as I got an arm under myself, now half rolling over as Carl stood up, looking down at Marta there. "I can ride," I said to Carl. Without shovels we had no way of burying Marta, and I had no intention of leaving her body for the beasts. I'd also collected the crushed remains of the dog. We would find a Peasant's hut somewhere, bury them both properly. Jerry just standing there, watching, numb with shock, with loss. Fortunately the claws had not cut my face, but it would be time before my hair grew out to cover the damage the forelimb had made when the dinosaur had struck me. And far longer before I would be able to "forget" what had happened. I did get my son another dog here, Bostons being common here in Trelandar among the upper classes, but the "memory" of "how" Marta Satel died is still yet burned into my memory even now after seventy one years have gone. "I'll be glad when this damned war is over," Carl said then. I thought it a fitting epitaph for those who had died this day... "She was a Warrioress among Warrioresses," I said, standing there in the twilight, the Peasant, his wife and family watching. Carl at my side, my son clinging to me, his eyes wet with tears. We had dug a grave, adequate for Marta's body, and laid upon her breast the crushed remains of a little dog who had been so brave. I had buried her weapons with her, as is felt proper, so that she might greet Lys in the afterlife as a Warrioress should, standing proud before the Mistress of All, the Giver of Life Everlasting. She had died with a sword in her hand, as she would have wished it to have been, died in battle, fighting against a foe, even if the foe had not been human, but just a big dumb stupid animal, a dinosaur created by the atomic radiation of a war five centuries ago. A war between Mankind and an alien species from far off... "And although Marta has now passed on to stand before Lys, yet in our memories she will live on, and inspire us to greater glory," I spoke, the Peasant and his family nodding, perhaps in their own way understanding the meaning of what Marta had done for us all. (a week later) "It is `good' to see you again, sister," Queen Paula said to me, taking my hands in hers, her dark eyes seeking the truth in mine as I smiled back. To her Marta's death would be but one of many who had died in this war with the Imperials. A part of the risks that one took in battle, in this war that we couldn't win. That Darlanis couldn't "win", that could drag on for years now to the "ruin" of two nations until the barbarians came to finish it. Carl standing there with my son, who had seen Paula before, al- though I don't think he quite understood just "who" she was here. Jerry knew she was a Queen, but he didn't really understand just why she was so far more "important" than his own mother was here. I would find him a puppy, a little "pug" boy or girl, another dog to grow up with him, to share his adventures as a young man here. "Is there any truth to the rumor I heard?" I asked her then. "Darlanis has asked for a `truce'," Paula answered me back. "There is `more'?" I asked, looking into Paula's dark eyes. "There have been `violations' of the `caste codes'," Paula said, her attire, her look leaving no doubt that she was a Queen. "Darlanis has stated that we have made war on non combatants..." "She is certainly more `guilty' of that than us!" I retort- ed, well aware of some of the things that Tara had done here now! The burning of villages, the execution of anyone who she thought might be a danger to Imperial ambitions, the slaughter of people who the Imperials "claimed" had in some way tried to resist them! True, I knew of no case where Darlanis had actually ordered "any- thing" like that herself, but she was Queen of Sarn, Empress of California if you accepted her claims here, and "responsible" for everything too that Princess Tara as her Warlady now did here! I certainly didn't believe that the Imperials had any claims here! "Any impartial jury would find her guilty as Hell of `violations' of the caste codes, of the rules of warfare," I continued on now. "And as a lawyer I can tell you that `justice' is on our side..." Paula nodding, her golden crown beautiful against her dark hair. I thought it "fitting" too that Paula was the Queen of Trelandar. |
|
|